Oakley Corners, New York  USA

If you're going to enjoy the "passage of time", put your life into the proper perspective and push the rat-race away from your face, you should really try to do it in places that are conducive to and actually support that primary goal. This is my home, Oakley Corners in Owego, NY.....a tiny little town on the banks of the Susquehanna River. Owego is located just a  few minutes away from Ithaca, a wonderful city not unlike my hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts and a short drive from Woodstock. I'm surrounded by forests and fields....birds, plants and animals....peace and quiet....and wonderful friends. I can't imagine a prettier place to live, or a better time in which to do it.

I have a thousand acres of woodlands to roam in order to gather my thoughts and bring my dreams to fruition. I also spend much of my time in canoes--seeking out beauty and peacefulness while drifting down a quiet stream or crashing through thundering rapids. Each experience offers a different way of looking at our precious waterways and each gives us something in return. We are all stewards of this planet and our Rivers and Streams reflect much of what we've become as a society. Like us, the real life of a river tends to lie just beneath the surface--just out of sight. If you take the time to listen, these waterways will speak to you and tell you what they feel. If you care for our most precious resource, our water, please do take the time---make the time, in fact---for these sustainers of life are often abused and I don't believe that they're too happy about it. I do, however, believe that we must protect them and keep positive thoughts about our abilities to protect the resources which make up the planet upon which we all live.

photo by Diane Bollen

           
                        

I've had this "thing" about old barns, big flower gardens and stone walls for years. Being a New England boy, I guess that's understandable. This is a very tiny piece of one of my favorite barns. It's located in Granby, Connecticut and represents a piece of Americana that I find quite irresistible. The stone walls and fences of New England do the same thing. I remember the day that I walked along this country road, camera in hand, sun setting over the distant hills, and I vividly recall the happiness that I felt as the peaceful feeling and the accompanying sense of serenity passed through me. Times like that should be treasured and give us cause to stop and think about what life means to us and those we care for.