October Days

My, my, my! What a difference a few days can make at this time of the year in the Laurel Highlands of Southcentral Pennsylvania. When you think about it, winter just kinda slips into spring on the warmer winds. Spring becomes summer and summer, fall. But when fall finally gets ready to become winter, it does it in that "in your face sort of way" as it did this year.

Calm Before the Storm.
The last picture in this week's issue will explain it all, Clarissa!

Fall colors are in full bloom in the background of the next series of photographs.

A nuthatch flies off with a sunflower seed in it's beak, as two chickadees feed.


A nuthatch, on the left, takes off from the top of the feeder while a titmouse, on the right, tries to open a seed.


A male red-bellied woodpecker and a titmouse at the sunflower feeder.


Bluejay at the sunflower feeder.

Last winter I was on a back road between Loretto and Ebensburg, PA but I was forced to turn around when the signs told me that the road up ahead was "not maintained during the winter". Not having the desire to get stuck someplace, I went on my way until I returned on Sunday, 26 October 2008. I now understand the reason for the sign and where the road eventually leads you. This set of photographs was taken between Loretto and Carrolltown, PA on a road less traveled.

Rooster, patrolling his domain.


Same rooster, different venue.


Old barn doors.

Steers in a field along Brick Road, near Carrolltown, PA.


Located closer to Carrolltown is the Carrolltown Rod and Gun Club. Our next four photographs were all shot at a wetland area on the club's property.

Pastoral scene along Brick Road, Carrolltown, PA.

Abandoned farm house.

Farm field tree line.

We had our first snow of the year. It started around 2300 Tuesday, 28 October 2008, and it continued to snow on and off for most of Wednesday. My last photographs for this week were taken around our house.

My Work Shed.

The garden shed in October.


I really didn't like the original picture because it was too overexposed. But after making some basic adjustments and then using yellow filters, I was happier with the results.

Snow on a window screen.

I really don't think this pertains to the current state of the roadway.

Pine tree in our front yard.

Titmouse enjoying breakfast.

Snomingo!

Here we are, three days after the first picture in this week's blog was taken, and the weather has turned from nice to ice. We've had 4 to 5 inches of snow overnight. Hopefully it won't last long, but this is the way in goes in the mountains of Pennsylvania at this time of the year.

A Hometown Visit - York, PA

Friday, 17 October 2008

Sheetz gasoline truck heading West up Cresson mountain on Route 22 early on Friday morning.



One of several motorcycles park outside St. Mary's Church during the funeral service for John Beverly Day "Doc" Skennanto

Haines Shoe House, Hellam, PA.


Over the years there have been at least 6 bridges and many ferries that took travelers across this wide, shallow area of the Susquehanna River. The first bridge across the Susquehanna River was finished in 1814. It was, at 5,690 feet, the longest covered bridge in the world. The bridge was burnt June 28, 1863 by Union soldiers and the residents of Wrightsville to keep the Confederate troops from invading Lancaster County and Harrisburg just days prior to the battle at Gettysburg. These bridge supports are all that remain.


Route 30 bridge over the Susquehanna River, one of two bridges which still connect York and Lancaster Counties. It by-passes downtown Wrightsville, PA.

This bridge, which is about a quarter mile or so down river from the bridge in the previous picture, connects Wrightsville, PA and Columbia, PA.

Canoeing on the Susquehanna River.

Work boat on Lake Clarke along the Susquehanna River.

Light house at Long Level Marina on Lake Clarke. The lake was created when Safe Harbor Dam was built in the 1930's.

Creek flowing into the Susquehanna River.

The next three photographs were taken of an old barn along Bull Run Road on the way to Indian Steps Museum.

Indian Steps Museum sits along the banks of the Susquehanna River.

Leaves in the pond at Indian Steps Museum, enhanced slightly in PhotoShop.

Close-up of the carving on an indian totem pole at Indian Steps Museum.

1850's farm house


A view from Samuel S. Lewis State Park. When I was a Boy Scout we would attend jamborees here.

This is the best view of the Susquehanna River that you can find in this area.

Saturday, 17 October 2008

Iraq and Afghanistan War memorial flags at Prospect Hill Cemetery, York, PA.

Unfortunately, this display just keeps growing. There is a flag for every solider kill in the conflicts.

There is nothing like fall shopping at the York Central Market because of all the fresh fruits and vegetables brought in by the local farmers.

Take Five Expressso Bar coffee shop inside the Central Market, York, PA.

Courtyard behind Central Market along Clark Street and Cherry Lane.

Roofline as seen from the alley behind the farmers market.

Double span railroad bridge over the Codoras Creek, York, PA.

Two different views of Trinity Lutheran Church along Linden Avenue in York.

This old house, also along Linden Avenue, is about 90% restored to its original condition.

Edgar Fahs Smith Junior High School
Back when I was a student here this was known as a junior high school. It is now also a middle school.

At approximately 2:15 on Saturday afternoon, the alarm went off in the Comfort Inn located on North George Street in Manchester Township. The alarm sounded due to a fire in the hotel's laundry room. The following pictures chronicle the event. Two hours later we were able to return to our rooms to grab what we needed. In the forty years since I left home, this is only the second time we've stayed in a hotel when visiting my family and it is the second time that the hotel we were staying in caught fire....We have now resolved to never again stay in a hotel in York.

Smoke coming out of the laundry near the hotel lobby.

The first of a half dozen fire engines who responded from the City of York to the south and Manchester Township to the north.

Having been born in and spent my early years in North York, this is the first time in my 62 years that I ever shot a picture of one of their fire trucks.

Water central.

Moving hoses to the inside of the Comfort Inn.

Sovereign Bank Stadium, home of the York Revolution baseball team.