This is how the seasons transformed the color of our forest each month of 2015. Follow the links to see the change for 2014 and 2013. Click on the image for a larger view.
Fish as Big as Dragons
Dragons are creatures of water, dwelling in the ocean, rivers, clouds, and rain. 
Koi carp are symbols of strength and perseverance. In ancient times, a school of Koi came to a huge waterfall while swimming upstream. The fish tried to jump the falls to continue their journey. Seeing their struggle, a demon made the falls higher out of malice. The fish did not give up. After a year of striving, one fish managed to reach the top. The gods, impressed with its determination, turned it and the fish that followed into a golden dragons. These Koi are in a pond in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Click on the image for a larger view.
Photobook 2015
Photobook 2015 opened in the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA, last night. The exhibition runs until March 6th. The exhibition was in partnership with the Davis Orton Gallery in Hudson, NY. The books in the exhibition can be viewed online. Along with the self-published books (including mine), there are a couple of other exhibitions of photographs on display. The museum and the town of Winchester are well worth a visit. Click on the image for a larger view.
First Snow, 2016
Yesterday, the ground was brown with the dried grass and fallen leaves of winter—unusually warm weather and strong rains had eliminated the snow pack from the last storm. This morning, that ground is covered with 20 cm or 8 in. of snow. How trees have adapted to the climate is fascinating: deciduous trees drop their leaves so not to be damaged by the weight of the snow and hibernate until they create new foliage in the spring; conifers have branches that bend down with the the load, allowing them to keep their foliage year long. Click on the image for a larger view.
Chocolate Surprise
This is a recipe for black bean fudge. It has a soft and smooth texture and a light flavor. It is gluten free and really healthy. The original recipe came from the BlendTec site, but Naomi modified it into something a little healthier and with a little more spice:
3 cups of cooked black beans
4 tsp vanilla extract
3 dried pitted dates
3 dried figs
2/3 cup coconut oil
1 cup of unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup of honey
1/4 to 1/5 tsp of chili powder
Nuts are an optional ingredient. Mixed all the ingredients in a blender. Pour the mixture into a 8 x 8 inch baking pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into one inch cubes. You can freeze what you can’t eat. Click on the image for a bigger bite.
New Years Day in Maine
New years day is a rather quiet affair in Maine. Naomi and I spent a peaceful day at home and took a small trip out to Bailey Island at sunset. Click on the image for a larger view.
New Years in Tokyo
New years in Japan is a rich event. Millions of Japanese visit shrines and temples. One of the largest temples in Tokyo and one of the busiest is Senso-ji in Asakusa. This temple is famous for its gate. What it is little known for is one of the shortest rituals of the new year celebration, moja-okuri. Click on the image for a larger view.
Happy New Year
We wish you a wonderful and prosperous 2016
申 is the character for monkey in the Japanese calendar.
Winter Returns
It snowed all day Tuesday. This is the first significant snow we have had this winter. Up until now, we have had a very mild season with warm temperatures breaking records for the holiday. Looking out our front door tonight gives a very different impression. Will will have to dig out Wednesday. Click on the image for a larger view.
Christmas Night, Christmas Lights
Just before midnight on Christmas, Naomi and I went out on the deck to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. The moon was full and, with high-altitude clouds, encircled in a ring of light. Beyond the moon was a field of stars. (Orion can be at four O’clock.) Click on the image for a larger view.
