Hipstamatic Adventures in Springfield, MA & the Drive Home

My daughter had an event in Springfield, MA & I managed to get off a few shots in & out of the city.



Lens: Kaimal Mark II
Film: AO BW
Flash: none



Lens: Tejas
Film: AO BW
Flash: none



Lens: Kaimal Mark II
Film: AO BW
Flash: none



Lens: Kaimal Mark II
Film: AO BW
Flash: none



Lens: Tejas
Film: AO BW
Flash: none



Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: none



Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: none



Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: none

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Warm Winter Walk II

It's been unseasonably warm here in NH this year. Usually around this time there's 3 feet of snow on the ground! I miss the snow but it has been nice to go on a few warm weather walks, even in February!

Here are some shots I took experimenting with Hipstamatic. 

It's so bizarre to see ferns in February!!

"February Ferns"

Lens: Tejas

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Flash: none

"February Lichens"

Lens: Tejas

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Flash: none

"Dead Tree Detail"

Lens: Tejas

Film: AO BW

Flash: none

This was one of three attempts to try to get a shot of my son asleep in the Ergo on my back by holding the phone over up & over my shoulder. This was the best one. ;)

Lens: Tejas

Film: AO BW

Flash: none

"Shadow Play on Winter Lichens"

Lens: Tejas

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Flash: none

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Northampton, MA & La Veracruzana

My friends & family know of my general distain for Massachusetts - the noise, the traffic, the grime, the drivers (!!!!) & their complete disregard for traffic laws... However on the way home from an event in Westfield yesterday, we made a stop in Northampton. We knew we were going to be heading home around lunch time, so rather than eating lunch on the road too (the husband & I had been up since 4:30 am, the kids since 5 am, & we all ate a homemade breakfast in the car) we decided to treat ourselves to a lunch out. With two kids & hectic schedules, this is not a common event.

I have to hand it to my husband - he is BRILLIANT when it comes to finding locally-owned, fun, little quirky places. Our daughter wanted Mexican so he took us to La Veracruzana (http://www.laveracruzana.com/) on Main Street. But back to the restaurant in a minute. Driving in to Northampton, first of all, I was in awe. So many beautiful stone buildings, brick buildings, wrought iron fences, sculptures, & I only spotted one chain store (CVS). Plenty of working cross walks with many, many walking people using them. Lots of bikes chained up on the side walks. All marks of a great down town. :)

Finding a parking spot on Main Street on a Sunday around lunch time was not difficult, although I can see it being an issue. There were parking spots lining both side of the street & on side streets, although the only lots we saw were permit only.

Back to the restaurant, La Veracruzana was a sweet little places to get lunch. The decor was colorful & fresh, bright paint colors, lively patterned tiles, boldly colored masks, & - my favorite piece - an oil painting of the virgin Mary hanging on a wall surrounded by blinking colored Christmas lights. :)

Most items are the menu are priced $5-10, very reasonable. I ordered the fish tacos. They were, by far, the best fish tacos I've ever had. The sauce was not too fancy, as I've had with fish tacos at other establishments. These were light, flavorful, & just the perfect portion of food for lunch. We ordered a basket of chips ($3) & tried several salsas from the salsa bar. The salsas were great, each one unique in it's flavor. We enjoyed them all except the beer salsa - we weren't a fan. It tasted like someone poured light beer into salsa & was watery & weak. My husband ordered a steak burrito, a meal he has ordered at other Mexican restaurants. He found his meal as I found mine - simple yet flavorful, with no over-bearing heavy, cheesy, runny sauces that hide the good, simple flavors of the ingredients. I only wish we lived closer to La Veracruzana so that we could try everything on the menu! http://www.laveracruzana.com/docs/menu2010.pdf The menu at the restaurant is written on several large chalkboards, so I can't be certain that this menu is exact, however this will give you an idea of items & prices.

(Right)

"First Church"

Northampton, MA

Lens: Tejas

Film: Ina's 1969

Flash: none

Our son is 2 1/2 & he is, well, he is 2 1/2 & all that that brings. He's been known to sit through a meal but not on this day. When I was done with my meal I took him outside for a walk. Or, as he likes do do, spin, drag his feet, & jump. ;)

(Left)

"Roost"

Northampton, MA

Lens: Tejas

Film: Ina's 1969

Flash: none

The weather was beautiful, perfectly comfortable sweatshirt weather if not a tad bit windy. Blue skies & sunshine. Odd for January but it did make for nice walking weather. :)

(Right)

"Shadow Play"

Northampton, MA

Lens: Tejas

Film: Ina's 1969

Flash: none

We popped into a sweet little shop called "The Chocolate Emporium" because, well, we'd been up since 4:30 am, we wanted some coffee & they had a neon "coffee" sign in the window. Upon entering the shop we were engulfed with the overpowering scent of chocolate. We did look around quickly but settled on coffee & two loli-pops, one for each of the kids. The second we entered the shop it was clear that it was, first & foremost, a chocolate shop & not a coffee shop. We should have treated ourself to a few pieces of chocolate & gotten our coffee else where as the coffee was, well, not great. However now we have another excuse to return. :)

Warm Winter Walk in the Woods (& fun with Hipstamatic)

A warm winter walk in the woods is always wonderfully welcome.

Okay. Done with the alliteration now. ;)

It's been unseasonably warm & free of snow here this month. As much as I love New Hampshire in the winter (snowshoeing!!) it was nice to get out today with minimal layers & enjoy a stroll through the woods with no biting wind, which is sometimes an issue this time of year.

You'll notice I didn't do much experimenting with different lenses or film - my son, who I was carrying on my back with the Ergo (review to come!) does NOT like it when I stop to take a quick shot, so standing in one place for 30-40 seconds while experimenting was out of the question. ;-)


(Above)
Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: None


(Above)
"Twisting Trees"
This pair of birches, one silver & one paper white, wrapped around each other 3 times, it was quite sweet.
Lens: Libatique 73
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: none


(Above)
"Winter Moss"
It's amazing just how green the moss stays, even in the winter. Usually it's all covered in 1-3 feet of snow by this time, so I've never seen it before.
Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: None


(Above)
"Winter Reflection"
This one just speaks for itself. Peace...
Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: None


(Above)
"Living Winter"
It was amazing just how many lichens & wild spearmint (both pictured above) were visible in the middle of Winter.
Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: None









(Above, all 3)
"Winter 'Stained Glass' Ice" I, II, & III
I've never seen ice form in such a linear way before. It was quite stunning.
Lens: Tejas
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: None

Snow Dusting on Rock (fun experimenting with Hipstamatic)

Lens: Tejas

Film: Ina's 1969

Flash: none

Lens: Tejas

Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Flash: none

Lens: Tejas

Film: AO DLX

Flash: none

Lens: Tejas

Film: AO BW

Flash: none