The Beginning of a Sunflower

Today my friend Bernadette told me that every time she looks out her window at her sunflowers, she thinks of me. She was inspired by my photos of sunflowers, a couple of blog-posts ago. The sunflowers that I captured in my pictures, ironically, were growing in front of a school where she used to teach.

We are kindred spirits in a way, both having been raised as "Catlicks" (that's Catholics to the rest of you!) in the Valley. Mine was the Lackawanna Valley and hers was the Wilkes Barre Valley. So, these Bernadette, are for you!

Cornfields and Silos

A pretty familiar sight in Bradford County late in the summer. These silos are right up the road from me.

Bright Red Barn

Different parts of Pennsylvania have different traditions of barn architecture and color. Bright red is a staple of Bradford County Barns. Nothing looks prettier against a bright blue sky.

Troy Town Cruisers, Part 2

(I think my dad had a car similar to the blue one above!)

After receiving advice from some antique, car-loving cousins, I went back for a second try. I discovered that taking photos of old cars is kind of hard, especially in a crowded parking lot. But, I will say this, the Troy Town Cruisers LOVE their cars, and have a great time showing them off. There is always a large crowd, both spectators and owners, with a lot of interaction, music, and ice cream!

You can see the whole collection in my google + album!

Little League World Series

 

Every year, in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, people gather from all over the world to watch 11 and 12 year old baseball players compete in the Little League World Series. Williamsport, PA is known as the birthplace of Little League. Famous for it's natural amphitheater, spectators gather either in the bleachers or on the hills that surround the outfield. A popular activity for children is to slide  joyfully down the grassy hill on a piece of cardboard. On rainy days, this can become a muddy water slide that delights fans of all ages.

The Little League International Grove hosts the players from around the world in dormitories that provide swimming, ping pong, and other recreational activities. Famous sportscasters from ABC and ESPN can be seen mingling in with the crowd, as well as the occasional professional baseball player who once graced the playing field in South Williamsport.

Fans of all ages enjoy the inexpensive and delicious food prepared by local volunteers. Another favorite activity is exchanging pins among players and fans. A youngster's collection of pins can weigh several pounds, and require a suitcase for transportation.

Families, tourists, grandparents, and baseball fans of all ages enjoy the sight of youngsters playing baseball without the threat of steroids, players' strikes, or high salaries. The managers and coaches are dads and uncles, and the loudest fans are moms and grandmas. The hot, dusty days of August are perfect for enjoying an afternoon of baseball at the Little League World Series.

You can see more Little League World Series photographs in my google + album!

The Windmill Farm and Craft Market

The Windmill Farm and Craft Market in the Fingerlakes Region of New York State is located between Penn Yan and Dundee, NY. It is open on Saturdays between April and October, and has over 200 shops. Everything from crafts to fresh fruits and vegetables to wine can be found here. There are quite a few eating establishments, as well as fresh baked Amish goods. You can find homemade furniture, candles, and even baby bonnets! There might even be entertainment, like a high school steel drum band!

You can see more pictures in my google + album!

Face the Sun

Sunflowers...aren't they fun? They are such happy flowers, growing tall and facing the sun!

Cone Flowers

I just love purple cone flowers, otherwise known as Echinacea. The way they bend and sway as they face the sun in very appealing. Their visual appearance is almost as healing as their herbal powers!

Almost a Flower

The shadow of a faded bloom on an old weathered fence.

Armenia Mountain Windmills

The Armenia Mountain Wind Farm starts in Armenia Township in Bradford County and travels to Tioga County. It has 67 wind turbines that began spinning in January 2010.  The Armenia Mountain Wind Farm produces enough electicity for 40,000 homes. But it does not deliver electicity to Bradford County. Instead it is sold to power companies in Virginia and the Delmarva Power and Light Company. Each windmill is approximately 252 feet high. The elevation range of Armenia Mountain is 2440 - 2460 ft. It is the highest point in Bradford County.

Watkins Glen, New York

The Watkins Glen State Park is the oldest and most renowned state park in the Fingerlakes Region of New York. These photos were taken at the lower end of the gorge, picturing one of 19 waterfalls in the park. The bridge in the photos is Sentry Bridge, a CCC-era bridge that crosses Entrance Cascade. The centerpiece of the park is a 400-foot-deep (120 m) narrow gorge cut through rock by a stream – Glen Creek – that was left hanging when glaciers of the Ice Age deepened the Seneca Valley.

Nothing But Blue Skies

A couple of shots from the archives that show what a beautiful shade of blue the sky turns here in Bradford County. We don't have a lot of pollution or smog in the air. I love it when the sky is this perfect shade of blue! It sure does make a couple of weeds look pretty!

Black Eyed Susans

These are some new shots from my garden of the Black-Eyed Susans. They are both new plants this year, and I hope they bloom bigger and better every year!

Towanda, Pennsylvania

Digging into the archives again, for some shots taken in downtown Towanda, Pennsylvania. Towanda is the county seat of Bradford County and home to the historical courthouse. It sits along the main branch of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River flows upstream from it's source at Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. It travels through Binghamton, New York and joins the Chemung River in Athens, Pennsylvania, and then flows south through the Endless Mountains to towns with names such as Wyalusing, Laceyville, Meshoppen, Tunkhannock, and Wilkes Barre, Nanticoke and Bloomsburg.

The Susquehanna River travels the entire length of Pennsylvania, through the state capital of Harrisburg after it joins the West Branch of the Susquehanna in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. The bridge in the photo connects Towanda with East Towanda/Wysox on the eastern side of the river.

The Susquehanna River is the longest river that drains into the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern coast of the United States. It flows through three states: New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and it provides the largest source of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

The name "Towanda" is the Algonquin Indian name for "burial ground." Towanda was settled in 1784, and incorporated in 1828. It was at one time a center of the lumbering industry. Towanda is home to many historic Victorian homes and buildings, some dating back to the early 1800's.

Down on the Farm

A couple of shots from the archives, from Harper's Fairview Farm in West Burlington, PA.

Out on the Pond

Ready for a boat ride? The kind where you row!

Dirty Windows....Pretty Flowers

Such a contrast in what you notice....is it the dirty windows or the pretty flowers, or the way they complement each other. These are a few photos from the archives, taken a few years ago at the Barnstead, formerly Alderfer's, in the old red barn, Troy, PA.