The Cross at Ground Zero

The cross at ground zero.

 Lower Manhattan, New York, February 2006.

This cross (believed to be from the North Tower) was discovered by Frank Silecchia amidst the rubble of the fallen World Trade Center in the early days following September 11, 2001. The cross was declared a symbol of faith, hope and healing by Fr. Brian Jordan O.F.M. (Order of Friars Minor - official title of the Franciscan Order) and was erected on this pedestal shortly thereafter. In March of 2013, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts threw out a lawsuit, filed by the American Atheists, to prevent the display of the cross at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum is scheduled to open in April of 2014. More information about the 9/11 Memorial® is available at the official website: 911memorial.org. A really wonderful, interactive website chock full of incredible details on 9/11 and the recovery. Checkout the timeline feature on the site - it sent shivers down my spine.  

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Turret Arch - Arches National Park, Utah

A view of Turret Arch from the North Window.

Climbing the many steps to Turret Arch.

Nikon D7100 |  Nikon AF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

A shot of the South Window (back ground) from behind Turret Arch (foreground).

Rear view of Turret Arch facing east.

The sun begins its slow descent behind Turret Arch.

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah.

August, 2013.

Except as noted above, all images shot with:

Nikon D7100 | Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX II.

Highway 128 - Utah Desert

Sunset on Highway 128 (Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway) northeast of Moab, Utah. August, 2013. 

Nikon D7100 | Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX II.

Bee on Coneflower

A Bee on a cone flower - shot at 50mm.

Nikon D300|Nikon AF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

Rose of Sharon - Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee on Rose of Sharon. Back yard, July 2010.

Nikon D300|Nikon AF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

Common Eiders

A pair of Common Eiders.

Provincetown, MA 2010.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

A very rare occasion it was to see a yellow-bellied sapsucker right in my own back-yard.

March 29, 2013.

Chicago Skyline

A night view of the Chicago Skyline from the tall ship Windy (a 148 ft schooner) sailing on the open waters of Lake Michigan (2011). The Navy Pier is to the right of the photo where (if you squint) you can see the ferris wheel.

Blue Jay - Snow

A Blue Jay rests on a snow covered branch in my back yard.

Nikon D300|Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Blueberry - Container Gardening

I planted 10 blueberry bushes (four or five different varieties) a couple of years ago and now, with little effort at all, they provide a daily supply of healthy blue orbs. I had tried growing blueberry bushes at home in the ground for many years without success. The soil pH was never quite right and the soils were too poorly drained due to the high clay content. Frustrated but not defeated,  I gave whisky barrels a shot and found that it is much easier to amend the soil and keep the blueberries happy in containers. It also proved much easier to relocate the berries this spring when I moved them to a sunnier location.