I kept thinking about where to go today after our torrential rains yesterday - lots of flooding everywhere so I knew most of my spots would not be possible today. I decided to park on the north end of Main St. in Old Deerfield and walked towards the North Meadows ponds to wait and see who might come floating down the flooded waters. Wow was it ever flooded!

Spoleto is a medieval hilltop town - we stayed up at the top in one of the oldest parts of the town. I started each morning by walking the ring road in order to see the village and valley below light up - absolutely stunning! I think the ring road is the one flat road in all of Spoleto when you are in the area we stayed in - lol. When not on that road you are either walking up or down - it is very much a hilltop town! This first shot is from the winding road I would take each morning as I would head out.

I woke up extra early and left the High Head parking area at 4:30am - I barely needed my head lamp. It was a beautiful mid-40 degree morning with just about no wind. I came up over the dune that leads to the beach and it was just stunning… the moon was behind me over my left shoulder and the sky was absolutely filled with brilliant sparkling stars!

Once again it was worth the wind and cold to head out! This morning I went out again on the Hatches Harbor Fire Road - low tide was just about at sunrise. Once the sun came up over the horizon it was cold, glorious, strong low light everywhere that I looked!

Wow! Late Saturday afternoon I bundled up - what is with this very cold weather so early in the season?? Anyway - I bundled up to head over to try and capture the full Beaver Moon rising by the Harbor Life Saving Station at Race Point Beach. I figured that everything was lining up for it to rise right near where I have dreamed of getting a shot as the sun sets behind me…

Recently we were in Spoleto, Italy for a much delayed planned trip - we had re-scheduled 3 times due to Covid. We had an absolutely wonderful time and at a later date I will share more photos once I have had time to organize them all. This photo is from an amazing day we had exploring the Castelluccio area of Umbria - absolutely stunning!

WOW! My last two morning outings have been out of this world - the lighting was pure magic!!

You will need time for this post - it has many shots… I hope it isn’t too long!

Yesterday morning was beyond anything I could have hoped for… As I drove over to the parking area for the Hatches Harbor Fire Road, there was a lot of fog and low-lying clouds. Just as I pulled into the small dirt parking area, I could see stars sparkling in and out of the clouds.

I have to say that I am in the camp of those who dread when we leave daylight savings behind and move the clocks back to standard time. I try not to dwell on it but it is hard when we have sooo many hours of darkness headed our way!

As I walked over to my usual starting place the silence was deafening… it was as if every living creature was just waiting for the fog to lift…. I found myself stopping several times just to listen to the absolute silence - it was a very calming way to start the day.

Recently I went to the North Meadows in Deerfield hoping to see my first green heron of the season. The morning started out with lots of low clouds and fog.

The last two mornings I have been at Bullitt in Ashfield - WOW!!!!! The beautiful early morning fog, fall colors, delicious 46 degree air, gorgeous sunrises and very happy wildlife! The early morning light was astounding -

As quietly as possible I made my way over along the edge of the pond just hoping I wouldn’t flush it. I was trying my hardest to spot it in those tall grasses. At that exact time the sun was just coming up behind where I had seen the bittern land - it was blinding but I kept at it.

I drive by a gorgeous farm field each morning when I head to Ragged. I have been wanting to stop and spend some time there to see if the cows would make their way down towards me. The first morning I tried they didn’t come down towards where I was standing…

A blue moon does not mean that it is the color blue - it means that it is full moon that falls during a month that has two full moons. This only happens about every 2 1/2 years. For a blue moon to also be a super moon is even more rare - the next one will happen in 2037!

I pick up with this post with another early morning trip up to the top of Bonnieux to see the Luberon hills and the villages begin to wake up!

It is time to come alone with me….

Last week, before our current stretch of heat and humidity, I went over to Ragged on a gorgeous morning - great air with low early morning temps. It started off extremely quiet but I kept at it and finally the magic started!

This past May we spent a magical week in Provence. Our home base was in the small hilltop village of Bonnieux - honestly, it was like a dream - so wonderful in every possible way. The village has approx. 1,800 residents and it sits atop a hill overlooking the gorgeous Luberon region of Provence.

For Lorraine’s birthday we were recently in Warren and Waitsfield, VT so that she could participate in the 3 day Mad River Valley Arts Plein Air Festival! We had never been to this area of Vermont - it is absolutely stunning!

As I was coming around the back corner of the first pond at Ragged I stopped dead in my tracks. Right in front of me in great light was this incredible web filled with perfect dew drops that looked like jewels to me!