March Images....

Look for my new photo-and artwork website which will soon house and index selected photos and paintings at higher quality and more professionally which I am very excited about...~Thanks-Pat

"Warm Embrace"-Statue at Utica College

"Sheep 3"-Farm near Bridgwater

-Farm near Walesvile

March in the Mohawk Valley;Rome

Defense has been a part of Rome's history right from it's early days when colonists and the Oneidas defended Ft. Stanwix from the British and Indian allies, right through the Cold War and the First Irag War when Griffiss was a large Air Force installation which housed a squadron of B52's and KC 135 tankers. Now home to a partially filled business park that still includes some military including NEADS (Northeast Air Defense) which monitored the hijacked United flights, and dispatched the military aircraft during 9/11

Ft Stanwix ramparts in foreground, with skyline of Rome in back

B52;"The Mohawk Valley" parked at South entrance of Griffiss business park

East Entrance to Griffiss

Valley View Series Continued....

Our crude civilization engenders a multitude of wants, and law-givers are ever at their wit's end devising. The hall and the theater and the church have been invented, and compulsory education. Why not add compulsory recreation? Our forefathers forged chains of duty and habit, which bind us notwithstanding our boasted freedom, and we ourselves in desperation add link to link, groaning and making medicinal laws for relief. Yet few think of pure rest or of the healing power of Nature.~John Muir

If you prefer this as a full color set...can do! Plus I have other panorama shots that works well with this grouping

Valley View...

In the wake of the snowfall, looking at the city below. Afar, and blanketed in snow, She looks so perfect and clean...

...the blemishes, the decay, seemingly melt away. All seems right here, perfect it seems. Like heaven on earth, or perhaps... a beautiful dream. Some images from the Parkway, Valley View area in Utica

Mohawk Valley Barns....selecting sets and displaying photos or artwork

When selecting photos for display, try different, sizes, angles and distances to create visual interest while keeping in mind that maintaining continuity and theme including the frames and mats is important, unless you are looking for a whimsical or eclectic look....don't forget if you like or follow my blog then you receive 10% off or free shipping which ever is greater on orders over $100.00. Also, I provide layout services for your proposed space (price dependent on complexity) on site plus travel expenses. To my original GI friends and friends from FB, I do not charge in most cases and only ask that you send me seeds or bulbs from your garden, or favorite seeds from the garden store, which I will attempt to successfully grow and photograph.

Utica Retro Look Photo Series

Tired of looking at that boring motivational poster or canned artwork that's been there since who knows when? How about a distinctive new localized look for your office, to freshen things up and to motivate your colleagues? This exciting new series just might be the solution you've been looking for...call me today to see the selections and talk about the possibilities....

That ain't the way to have fun, son....

an oldie's lyrics came to mind as I was cutting my way through wind, ice, slush, gush, mush etc. etc at the Lake Effect Inaugural Half-Marathon; "mama told me not to come, mama told me not to come, this ain't the way to have fun, son!,this ain't the way to have fun, son"! Nature did everything possible to make sure it lived up to it's name. I dubbed it the race when hell froze over. After running more than 30+ over 15K Races, and dozens of smaller ones, I can honestly say this one was the meanest, toughest, and the coldest. I have such a short memory so I posted this, so maybe next year, it will make me remember this race vividly and maybe I'll think twice about doing it again.

A defiant fist in the air......Thank God, Finished at last!

A Little More Heat or Cold Please?

Although this has been a mild winter, I despise cold damp weather draped in boring greys and browns (kinda like a boring old trench coat that I despise) and miss and enjoy the snow and a little cooler temperatures so I can XC ski and enjoy the winter beauty.. .I've posted previously, some winter shots I took when we had snow last week, so I thought I would share some colorful "warmer" images(mostly in the Adirondacks) to get us through until nature decides it is spring...

"Stepping Stones"

"Sunset Dreams"

"Kayaing into Paradise"

"Beautiful Big Bay"

Winter Dreamscapes 2

The winter dreams continue,

You cannot turn away.

The vivid blues and the tangerine. The black trees that reach for moon and clouds.

The winter dreams are they not real? Are they not there for all to see?

I see no footsteps, I hear no voices, In my winter dreams.

A Walk Through a Winter Dreamscape

Last night I enjoyed a walk through in a breathtakingly beautiful early evening snowfall here in the Mohawk valley. The thick wet snow had settled on the branches and trunks of the trees, and in the darkness the trees and landscape looked hauntingly beautiful draped with their snowy shroud. I even got up early to enjoy some more and to try to photograph the snowy landscape I had traversed last night. Though still beautiful, last nights beauty was now only to enjoy in my mind and words, a dream, or perhaps someday in a painting...

Happy Wanderer....

Found myself recalling and humming a favorite grade school era song the other day entitled the "Happy Wanderer" and boy did that bring back some memories. And I thought to myself how I had kinda grown into this song, as I am the most happy it seems as I hike or run and explore the beautiful countryside whether in upstate, the Adirondacks, Maine, Hawaii or Arizona. I post below for your pleasure or displeasure if you please....just be glad you can't hear me sing or it definitely would be the latter. Fortunately, the only thing I unsettled were a few less than enthusiastic crows. The Happy Wanderer I love to go a-wandering, Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Chorus: Val-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun, So joyously it calls to me, "Come! Join my happy song!" I wave my hat to all I meet, And they wave back to me, And blackbirds call so loud and sweet From ev'ry green wood tree. High overhead, the skylarks wing, They never rest at home But just like me, they love to sing, As o'er the world we roam. Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die! Oh, may I always laugh and sing, Beneath God's clear blue sky!

Chickadees after a rare snowfall last week

Sunset on the Rayhill Trail Pond

Sunset in Whitestown

February...another mixed bag of weather

Sunset Town Park, Whitestown

Stone Bridge near Camden

Gibson Rd Trail, Whitestown

Walesville, Westmoreland Rd

Root Glen, Clinton

Bell Rd, Whitestown

Rayhill/840 Trail Whitestown

Rayhill/840 Trail Whitestown

The Mohawk Valley....Steeped in History

It's about a half-marathon to run here from Whitestown, but you can run along some really cool secondary roads past babbling brooks and rolling country roads to get there. Or of course you can drive. You end up here at the site of the Battle of Oriskany which like the plaque says; "was one of the bloodiest and costliest battles of the Revolution". There was not a family that was not affected by the over 600 casualties inflicted on the Americans and our Oneida Indian allies that day, and it's impact is evident in this area. Several towns, villages, streets and even an aircraft carrier, were named after this battle or participants in the battle. Visit this site, when the weather gets a little better. Walk the hills and remember, the sacrifice that the Tryon County militia and residents of the Mohawk Valley made that day, for liberty and freedom. And a few miles down the road stop in to Ft Stanwix Monument and museum in Rome if you have never been there or haven't been there in a while.

Ice as Art Series...

if you get a chance check-out my "Ice as Art" series at www.patrickhuther.blogspot.com

Raining our way into February....

Where am I??? I listened the other night as the rain beat on the side of the house all night long. I jogged in the rain at least twice this week and the creek behind my office is swollen. If it was April I would shrug and say simply; "It's mud season in the Mohawk Valley!" but it's the end of January. Typically we've battled 5o inches or more of snow at this point and have settled into average daytime temps of 15-18 degrees. Really makes one wonder...if nothing less, the weather here in the Mohawk Valley gives us something to talk about other than politics. Anyway, it's sunny out! It's a great day to go for a walk or jog and enjoy the spectacular snow-free view of the Mohawk Valley. Go out and make it a great weekend!!!

Trenton Falls

Thought I would share this autumn image of Trenton Falls which is one of my favorites. It is a shame that the falls are only opened a handful of weekends a year in summer and fall because I would love to see it in winter and when there is unrestricted flow over the falls. I have a limited number of these prints available and is sized to 2o" x 13" for $95 unframed and $295 matted and framed

January....

Snowed a few inches last night but the roads along the Valley View golf course are quite accessible for walkers or runners to enjoy the beautiful views here. This photo is looking northeast towards MVCC. Rain is forecast again for Monday which should melt away the rest of our base again

A corn-field and crows near a farm in the town of Paris