Author: barryhassphoto

Na Pali is the name of the northwest coast of Kauai, a stunningly beautiful area of high sea cliffs covered with lush vegetation, and cut by deep, narrow valleys and waterfalls. Insatiable sunset chasers that we are, we decided to take the long, twisty road up to Kalalau Lookout one evening, to see the sun set over the ocean from the top of the cliffs. Unfortunately, when we got there, a dense, cottony mist had settled on the coast, completely obliterating the view. We waited around a few minutes, and were about to drive back down, when magically, the wind picked up and the clouds parted just long enough for me to take this shot.

I took this picture somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin while on a road trip through the Midwest in 1971. The original (a slide) is pretty badly deteriorated, but I still like the way the composition depicts a lazy summer afternoon.

For me, Friday night has always been a time to relax, take a deep breath, and count my blessings. May that Friday night feeling stay with all of us throughout the coming year.

Stacked and tied down for winter.

Winter is the perfect time for game nights with family and friends.

Named for former Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez, Hanley the Hanukkah Cactus has been a mainstay on our sun porch for many seasons. After a couple of low production years, Hanley has surprised us lately with an exuberant outburst of All-Star blossoms. Maybe there’s hope for Hanley Ramirez after all.

These acorns are from a Bur Oak, a species not commonly seen in Massachusetts – except in the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, where I found these.

This building is sometimes called “The Gateway to Boston” because of the way the space under the arches connects the city to the harbor. I never realized how tall those arches are until I stood under them.

The last rays of the setting sun gave the late fall colors along this section of the Charles River a golden glow.

Albuquerque sits on a plateau, about a mile above sea level. The Sandia Mountains rise abruptly and dramatically from the eastern edge of the city, with the tallest, Sandia Peak, more than a mile higher.

When I took this picture from a trail near the summit, it was blustery and mostly cloudy, with temperatures in the 30s and occasional snow flurries. Meanwhile, down in Albuquerque, it was calm and sunny, with temperatures in the 60s.