West Chester-Abandoned Farm House

West Chester-Abandoned Farm House. I have a passion for photographing abandoned buildings. They always tell a story. This building no longer exisits. It was torn down as part of a new reitrement community which is in the process of being built. The property is part of Greystone Hall, an English country estate built in 1907 for Philip M. Sharples, inventor and manufacturer of the Sharples Tubular Cream Separator, which separated the rich butter fat from raw milk. The machines were manufactured here in West Chester and also in Germany. Mr. Sharles purchased almost a 1000 acres of land. Due to mounting debt the property was forclosed during the Great Depression. Parcels of land were sold off, little by little. In 1942, Greystone Hall and the remaining five hundred acres was purchased by Aram K. Jerrehian of Philadelphia, an importeroriental rugs. In 2001 the Jerrehian family fought with the West Chester School District in an attempted eminet domain take over of approximately 100+ acres for a new high school. The Jerrehian family fought by applying for an Agricultural Area Security protection in the township, claiming the area was being used for the cultivation of crops. After winning the battle with the township, the owners sold off about 400acres to a developer to build over 500 luxury homes and estates. So sad. Fortunately, as of now the mansion was not included in the sale and the Jerrehian family still have ownership and continue to rent out the property as an event venue.

West Chester-No More Dairy

West Chester-No More Dairy. I have a passion for photographing abandoned buildings. They always tell a story. This building no longer exisits. It was torn down as part of a new reitrement community which is in the process of being built. The property is part of Greystone Hall, an English country estate built in 1907 for Philip M. Sharples, inventor and manufacturer of the Sharples Tubular Cream Separator, which separated the rich butter fat from raw milk. The machines were manufactured here in West Chester and also in Germany. Mr. Sharles purchased almost a 1000 acres of land. Due to mounting debt the property was forclosed during the Great Depression. Parcels of land were sold off, little by little. In 1942, Greystone Hall and the remaining five hundred acres was purchased by Aram K. Jerrehian of Philadelphia, an importeroriental rugs. In 2001 the Jerrehian family fought with the West Chester School District in an attempted eminet domain take over of approximately 100+ acres for a new high school. The Jerrehian family fought by applying for an Agricultural Area Security protection in the township, claiming the area was being used for the cultivation of crops. After winning the battle with the township, the owners sold off about 400acres to a developer to build over 500 luxury homes and estates. So sad. Fortunately, as of now the mansion was not included in the sale and the Jerrehian family still have ownership and continue to rent out the property as an event venue.

Chester County-Spring Mill Complex

Chester County-Spring Mill Complex. Spring Mill Complex, or Michael Gunkle Spring Mill, Located southwest of Devault at the junction of Moores Road and Pennsylvania Route 401, in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. This mill was placed on the National Register of Historical Places, December 14, 1978. The mill was built in 1793, and is a 2+1⁄2-story, stone structure with a gable roof. Also on the property are the 2+1⁄2-story, stone miller's house; a 1-story, stone spring house; a 1-story, stone smoke house; and a 1-story, stone carriage house. The mill remained in continuous operation into the 1940s. Today, this building looks a little different than in the original pictures. The small roof over the fronts steps is no longer there, and a handrail was added. The mill grounds is open for touring.

West Chester-Frontyard Scene

West Chester-FrontYard Scene. I pass this house so many times a week and everytime I do, I tell myself I have to come back and take a photo of this frontyard. It is nothing really spectacular but there is something about it that keeps calling out to me when I pass the area. I love the slightly sloping hill the house sits on, surrounded by the mature trees. The little barn like shed which sits in front off to the side is totally out of place in the yard, yet somehow, it belongs. I took the shot focusing on the rustic shed, at an angle so you could barely see the house through the trees. I removed a few distracting objects from the front to create a straight line to the shed. Added some textures and overlays, adjusted the color saturation and this is what I ended up with.

West Chester-Red Stone Barn enhanced

West Chester-Red Stone Barn enhanced. Another interesting building I pass by during my travels through West Chester, Pa. Chester County has numerous old stone building, some have been modernized othesr have been abandoned, left to crumble. This barn is in tact and has been restored. It is on a private property but if I ever happen to see someone outside when I am riding by, I plan to stop and ask the history of this barn. I added some textures to the image and some overlays and color saturation to achieve this look.

Winter-Winter Scene

Winter-Winter Scene. This was taken during one of our snowy days in Thornton, Pennsylvania. I added some overlays, a vignette and some color enhancements to the image to create this print.

LANCASTER COUNTY-LANCASTER COUNTY FARMING

LANCASTER COUNTY-LANCASTER COUNTY FARMING. One beautiful day we were just riding out to the country for some quiet time and to enjoy the scenery. We spotted many farms in the Lancaster area but this one caught my attention because of the tractors stored beside the barn. I love to look at old farms and farming equipement, to me these scenes have so much character and tells a story of many years of hard labor. This print would look really nice printed on canvas to give it a little more texture. I did a a little texture to this print but I also have it without , and another in black and white.

LONGWOOD GARDENS-GAZEBO

LONGWOOD GARDENS-GAZEBO was taken at Longwood Gardens, located in Kennet Square, Pa. The gardens has acres and acres of historical buildings, gardens, fountains, and a wonderful meadow land for a nice leisurely walk. This image was captured by pond just past the Peirce house. I added a texture for a unique look.

LONGWOOD GARDENS-TINY FALLS

LONGWOOD GARDENS-TINY FALLS was captured on one of my many trips to Longwood Gardens located in Kennet Square, Pa. The gardens is a great place to stroll and lose oneself in the beauty of nature. I added a texture overlay and a white vignette to the image to create this look.

Trees-Beauty of Trees overlay

Trees-Beauty of Trees overlay. I enjoy photographing trees, especially during the winter months. The bare gnarly branches of winter trees seem like they are reaching out to you. The bark of the tree raised, flaky and crumbly or smooth to the touch, having the history of their growth etched into it. Standing tall, strong, solid, each telling their own story. Some reaching hundreds, even thousands years of life. A natural haven for wildlife, a food source, a place to raise their young. So magnificent, the tree.

Winter-Falling Snow texture

Winter-Falling Snow texture. What do you do on a cold, snowy day in February? I take out my camera and start taking some pictures. I really enjoy the winter, especially when it snows. This year, I have not been disappointed. Here in Pennsylvania we have had our fair share of the white stuff! According to my husband, we have had more than our fair share, he is not a fan! Today it is in the 50's so the snow is melting very quickly. According to our famous ground hog, Puxatawny Phil, we are going to have 6 more weeks of winter. This may be one of his off years, looking ahead at the extended forcast, the temps are fairly mild. I guess we will have to wait and see!

Amsterdam-Bridges Over the Canal textured

Amsterdam-Bridges Over the Canal textured. On a recent trip to Italy, my husband and I decided to fly to Amsterdam for the day, then off to Milan. I was not keen on the idea, because I had this mental picture of Amsterdam in my mind. Boy was I surprised! The canals, the architecture, the history, all was overwhelming! Definitely on our list to go back and explore this lovely city in more depth! Amsterdam is the most populated city in the Netherlands. The official language is Dutch but of course everyone speaks English so there is no problem with communicating. Amsterdam is in the Providence of North Holland and is often referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to the number of canals, 165 ranging about 31 miles long. The four main canals are the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht & Singel. Amsterdam has 1281 bridges. The Amstel River connects with some of the canals and ends in the center of the city. Because Amsterdam sits 6.6 feet below sea level, the city was prone to flooding. The canals were built to control the water flow. The streets of Amsterdam are very narrow and crowded. The popular mode of transportation is a bike. The combination of bikes, cars, buses, and pedestrians makes getting around the city a little nerve wracking!! I could go on about this lovely city but my words would not do it justice. Definitely a wonderful place to visit! The houseboats that line the canals have some interesting history. Some are close to 100 years old. If interested, you can rent a houseboat during your stay in Amsterdam to get the experience of living on the water.

OCEAN CITY-THE WILD SURF

OCEAN CITY-THE WILD SURF. Yes, this is really the Jersey shore. The Atlantic Ocean was rough and wild due to Hurricane Teddy out in the middle of the Atlantic churning things up. I have never seen the waves this size at the Jersey shore. The surfers were loving it. The one section of the beach which is down by Wonderland Pier was getting the nicer surfing waves than further down the beach. It was fun to watch on a beautiful warm day after having a fantastic meal at one of our favorite restaraunts, The Crab Trap. This day was truely a surfers delight.

OCEAN CITY-SURFING SURF

OCEAN CITY-SURFING SURF. Yes, this is really the Jersey shore. The Atlantic Ocean was rough and wild due to Hurricane Teddy out in the middle of the Atlantic churning things up. I have never seen the waves this size at the Jersey shore. The surfers were loving it. The one section of the beach which is down by Wonderland Pier was getting the nicer surfing waves than further down the beach. It was fun to watch on a beautiful warm day after having a fantastic meal at one of our favorite restaraunts, The Crab Trap. This day was truely a surfers delight.

Cape May-On The Way To The Lighthouse

Cape May-On The Way To The Lighthouse. Walking along the beach on our way to the Cape May Lighthouse. The lighthouse was completed in 1859. It is located adjacent to Cape May point and 2 miles from the center of Cape May. Cape May is a city at the southern most part of the Cape May peninsula. The Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet at this point. Cape May was designated as a Historic District and a National Historic Landmark, in 1976. It is graced with Victorian Homes which have been turned into Bed and Breakfast Inns, restaurants, or private residences. Cape May is also know for its craft and cultural events such as the Cape May Jazz Festival and the Cape May Music festival. We visited Cape May many times throughout the years and I am happy to say it has not changed much over the years like the other Jersey shorepoints have changed. Our kids loved their visits to Cape May, especially when we went searching for "Cape May Diamonds" on Sunset Beach! They would spend hours looking through the stones on the beach searching for that perfect and large "diamond" which were actually pieces of clear quartz that washed down from the banks of the Delaware River, some 200 miles to the shore. Good food, pristine beaches, shopping, so much to do. If you ever decide to visit Cape May NJ, be sure to bring you binoculars there are plenty of birds, whales, and dolphins to entertain you.