Skillman Park

I co-chaired the Village Elementary and Lower Middle School Invention and Science Convention this year with two energetic and committed women. The event was scheduled to start at 9:15, but we convened at the High School at 8 AM. Because it was snowing, I gave myself a little extra time to navigate the local roads.

I wanted to capture some snow scenes and drive along the roads. I kept looking for a place to stop to capture the experience of the snow falling on the canopy of trees lining the roads. I was almost to the High School when I noticed the entrance to Skillman Park.

A battalion of leafless trees framed a solitary bench. The trees stand cloaked in snow, their branches tracing patterns against a snow-white background. The park is painted in shades of white and black.

The bench, worn by time, rests under the silent watch of the trees, their boughs heavy with snow. The ground, untouched by footsteps, stretches out like a blank canvas, where the only mark is nature's.

The stillness reaches out, inviting me to find peace in the cool air. The quiet is palpable, wrapping around me like a blanket. The photograph captures more than a place; it captures the essence of winter's quiet solitude.

The park has a long, storied history that you can read about on the township website. The park was once the site of a psychiatric care facility, which eventually fell into disrepair. The township and the county are working to restore the space to its former beauty.

Winter Rouge

A few weeks ago a friend at work presented my wife and me with a token of her appreciation. Inside a small box was this large amaryllis bulb along with some coconut coir. I was told to plant it immediately which of course I did not. I procrastinated and planted it almost two weeks later.

I planted the bulb and placed it on a sunny windowsill in the kitchen. Over the last few weeks the bulb sprouted and a long stem grew and I could start to see the node where the flowers would be. Then suddenly in just a day … these beautiful fluted flowers — four of them — exploded atop the stem. These flowers are expected to last many weeks. What a wonderful gift to enjoy during the dreary days of winter.

Little "Big Town"

I did not get out much this week. This work week felt like a month and the weekend just started. I know that I have until the end of the night to capture something for the weekly project but I wanted to make sure that I had something. So if you are reading this then you know that I didn't do any photography today. This was taken at the beginning of this week; Sunday.

The photo was taken in Albert Hinds Plaza facing toward the row of shops with the Princeton Public Library behind me and The Witherspoon Grill of to the left.

What I love about this space is that it reminds of similar spaces in a larger city like Manhattan but on a smaller scale. Princeton in many ways reminds me of the Soho neighbourhoods with their boutique stores and cosmopolitan clientage. I am just as likely to hear German, Italian or Japanese while walking down Witherspoon street as I am to hear English. Princeton has an art museum and theatre, a trolley tour company, an Italian market, spice shops and tea souks, and a world-renowned university, and incredible community oriented public library and some of the worlds best scientists and entrepreneurs.

Any of those things can be found in New York but Princeton has them as well, albeit on a smaller scale. In every way, this is a little big town.