Besides being a lover of quotes from hysterical movies (check the title), I happen to be an even bigger lover of nature. Mostly. Okay, I’m not a huge fan of nature as a whole, but I do love me some birds, bugs and..uhh…something else that starts with a “B” and deals with nature.

My fascination with the wild started almost the same time my love for photography did. I remember quite clearly that the Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda II – The Adventure of Link, sparked my desire to “explore” the woods behind my house. I remember collecting little clumps of dirt that would explode in a cloud of brown dust upon striking a tree. Then there was the endless forked sticks that looked like swords that I would wield against the evil minions known as “Thick Stalk Weeds” and “Pricker Bush of Doom”. I had an entertaining childhood to say the least.

Once I grew a little older and I was a bit more mobile I started to roller skate. Lucky for me, The Farmington Canal Trail was built shortly afterward and I would strap on my skates and do laps up and down day after day. One of my trips brought me to the Cheshire/Hamden town border and I spent the afternoon hanging out around Brooksvale Park. It’s a small park that has a working farm and a little pond on the property. It’s a great spot for just hanging out or getting some needed inspiration for artistic endeavors. It’s also the place where i first stumbled upon a real life peacock. I was a happy camper that day.

Brooksvale Park yielded me Picture #2 on the top 10 favorite picture list!