a gloomy mood day

It wasn't the weather, but today I felt a dark gloom all day, even with the sun out. No one on the beach except a man and his rambunctious dog. The sun now sets so far to the left of the LIPA power plant and in the summer it's all the way over to the right. Is that LIPA plant moving, or what?

Art is every where

After several days of being pummeled by the wind, the Bay was a paradise. Cold, but still a paradise. Mother Nature showed off her talent for making art every where-in the sand, in the rippled waves that move over the sand bars and in the tiny pebbles that are exposed at low tide. A group of young boys, (maybe Scouts?) with their brave parents and backpacks hiked on the shore. I bet they're headed to the Big Rock. The baby mussels have tripled in size. Last night I saw one shooting star and will be out again tonight. Remember the Geminid meteor shower!

Look up! In the sky! It's...

Just when it gets too cold to swim, Mother Nature gives us other cool stuff. The Geminid Meteor Shower will be appearing in our skies now through December 17, but the peak nights for viewing will be December 13 and 14. I figure since it will be below 30 degrees at night I will wait for the “peak” night before schlepping down to the beach at 12:10 a.m. on Dec. 14 (the absolute peak-iest time, according to NASA) with my blanket. The view from Smithtown Bay should be great because there is really very little polluting light in the sky, considering that you are on Long Island. For more information about the meteor shower visit http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/08dec_geminids.htm

In the dark

It's been almost two days since I have been down to the beach because my JOB is getting in the way of my beach guardianship work. The only solution is selling my autobiography for millions so I can just hang out and watch the beach. There's a nice wish for 2010. Meanwhile, I may venture down to the beach in the dark and cold, but I cannot promise any new photos. This one is from the springtime when my friends and I made a Rock Lady. I love the Rock Lady but she only stuck around until high tide.

Okay, now it's cold

This morning a thin veneer of frost was on the staircase down to the beach. A winter blast blew in last night for sure. Even the seagulls were a little sluggish from the cold air. The low tide exposed their breakfast of mussels but most of them seemed to be waiting for something better. There was a flock of ducks but I couldn't get close enough to see what kind. Jeez, they are very shy. I guess when some people shoot at you, you tend to get that way.

One of the 10 best

Who would think a December day could be truly one of the best weather days all year? It was like summer came back for one more kiss before leaving. The beach was still churning this morning with the aftermath of last night's storm. The waves came in orderly, long rows, about 2 feet high. Late in the day the clouds appeared but my friends and I were enjoying our cherry tart cocktails on the beach to notice much. (that's a secret recipe to be revealed only if I have more than three) I have been on vacation this week so I am feeling very fortunate to have caught so many sunsets. Here's tonight's (see photo) There was just enough clear sky on the horizon for the sun to peek out like someone had opened a window just a bit. On Monday when I return to work it will be dark when I get home.

A Zen day

Today the Bay threw in a little bit of everything, starting out this morning with white caps and a cold wind, but by 3:30 p.m. as low tide showed up the water had calmed significantly. I went for the mile hike from my beach to 'the big rock" located somewhere between Crane Neck and Old Field lighthouse. I don't know if the rock has an official name but it's known as the Big Rock at my house. It looks its best bathed in the low light of a sunset and it's orange and gold hues sparkle. It's like a giant crystal left behind by a glacier (before my time) and it can be seen from miles away. I read that way back an Irish resident of Old Field had painted a giant Shamrock on it, but that has since been covered up with paint. I would send that guy out there with a toothbrush and some paint remover if it were up to me. On the walk there the beach changes into something resembling Montauk Point more than the North Shore with lots of large boulders. This is where the seals hang out in the winter months and I have been lucky enough to see them several times. On the return trip the setting sun and the almost-full moon shared the sky for a while, the moon in the east and sun in the west (that's left of the LIPA plant, isn't that poetic?)