2026 · Connecticut

The Brass Mill Center In Waterbury, Connecticut ~ January 2026

The Brass Mill Center opened its doors in September 1997. In the last 28 years, it has seen its better days. In April 2022, the mall was purchased by Kohan Retail Investment Group for $ 18.9 million. The Brass Mill Commons sold for another $ 26 Million. A couple of investors plan to transform the space of the former Macy’s into a retail plaza.

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Kevin and I went to the Brass Mill Center to get some steps in after we had lunch at Chili’s. Every time we go to the mall, more and more stores are closed. Only a few hair and nail salons, a couple of boutiques, a perfume store, a Dollar store, AT&T, a couple of vendors, the food court, and the Apple Cinema are still open. It begins to look quite sad in that place. However, with the freezing temperatures outdoors, it was comfortable to walk in the mall.

2025 · Connecticut

Remembering Sandy Hook …

In Memory of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook
Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012

~ President Barack Obama, Newtown, Connecticut 12/16/2012

2025 · Connecticut · Live In Concert

The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight @ The Palace Theater In Waterbury, Connecticut ~ 12/05/2025 🎻🎸

Kevin, Sara, and I had an amazing evening seeing The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight last night. We witnessed the union of classical music and metal. The band of 14 musicians performed the music of iconic rock bands, including Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Linkin’ Park & many more.

2025 · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Kent Falls State Park, Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut In November 2021

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Frosted Maple Leaves in Kent Falls State Park

This morning, we experienced our first frost of the season in Connecticut. But this didn’t stop Kevin and me from driving to the Kent Falls State Park and doing a little mid-morning hike along the falls. We made sure we wore an extra layer of clothes. And up the trail, we went. The part of the Kent Falls, seen at the bottom of the trail, is only a small portion. The falls have a total drop of 250 feet. Since they wind around the corner, they can’t be seen simultaneously. Kevin and I had to hike up a steep trail to get an idea of how big and how long the falls were running through the hill. Unfortunately, we still haven’t reached the top. However, the part of the trail we’ve hiked was so worth it.

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– 11/03/2021 –

2025 · Connecticut · National Day Calendar

🗺🧭 National Hiking Day 2025 🧭🗺

Hiking wasn’t always the fashionable pastime it is today. Before the Subarus and the Jeeps and the Patagonias built an industry around the activity, walking of any kind was considered an activity for the impoverished or the vagrant. The Romantic era of the Victorian years inspired the likes of Walden and Thoreau to reconnect with nature, and that, in turn, inspired the landscape architects to design parks with excellent walking trails (looking at you, Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame). Walking then became something of the educated, the unhurried, the luxurious. 

Until John Muir came along and walked his way through the Sierra Nevadas in California and demanded that not only hiking, walking, meandering, sojourning, whatever you want to call it, be accessible to every American citizen, but that the country should actively preserve natural areas of pristine ecology and beauty. In 1890, he petitioned to create the National Park System, and we were endowed with “America’s best idea” – Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. But even before Muir, on the east coast, a small group of people had banded together in 1876 to form the Appalachian Mountain Club, which aimed to protect and preserve all hiking trails along the historic mountain range and develop new ones. 

:https://nationaltoday.com/national-hiking-day/

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In November 2021

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This afternoon, I took another peek at the leaves in Echo Lake Park. And with sadness, I have to say, the “Leaf Peeping Peak Season” is over. Here and there are trees still dressed in Autumn leaves. A lot of them are bare, now. I can tell that November has arrived in New England. Well, I will enjoy what is left for the rest of the season, before I experience my first real Winter in almost two decades.

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~ 11/01/2021 ~

2025 · Connecticut · New England

Castle Craig’s 125th Anniversary

Meriden celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the dedication of Castle Craig, which sits atop East Peak, overlooking Hubbard Park. The 32-foot-tall stone observation tower was built in 1900 and was inspired by local philanthropist Walter Hubbard’s travels in Europe. Castle Craig is located on one of the highest hilltops within 25 miles of the East Coast, sitting at 1,000 feet above sea level.

1900 – 2025
2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Horseshoe/Pequabuck Falls, Terryville, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025

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In 1851, Eli Terry constructed a dam on the Pequabuck River to provide waterpower for a new factory, the Terryville Manufacturing Company. Located on Canal Street, the shop made clocks and clock parts. Water from the pond was diverted down a canal to turn a water wheel that generated 35 horsepower at full speed.  In 1864, the factory became the Eagle Bit and Buckle Company, manufacturers of harness bits and buckles for the Union Army during the Civil War. Eventually, locks for mailbag pouches were made here. Later, a sawmill occupied the site, and by 1908, it was a woodturning plant. A waterwheel powered the shop until 1913, when it was replaced by an electric motor. 

: https://www.plymouthct.gov/interesting-places-in-plymouth

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

The Norfolk Historic District, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025

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The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. Early growth was due in part to an industry that developed on the Blackberry River near the town center, of which no significant traces remain. Its main period of growth began with the arrival in 1871 of the railroad, which led to the town’s growth as a summer resort, marketed for its high elevation and fresh air. The town center benefited architecturally from the philanthropic activities of the interrelated Robbins-Battell-Stoeckel families, who contributed churches, civic buildings, and memorials to the town center. The major element of the town center, the former Stoeckel estate, is now home to the Yale Music School’s summer programs.

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Historic_District

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

The Saville Dam & Barkhamsted Reservoir, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025

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The dam is named after Caleb Saville, chief engineer of the ambitious project. Foundations for both the dam and the diversion tunnel were laid in August 1934. Then, the eastern branch of the Farmington River was diverted into a concrete conduit at the bottom of the dam site. Although the Saville Dam was completed in 1940, it was not until 1948 that the Barkhamsted Reservoir filled to full capacity. 

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025

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Stratton Brook offers swimming, picnicking, fishing, cycling, interpretive programs, and more in a beautifully wooded setting with ADA accessibility. Originally called Massacoe State Forest, the park’s land was acquired to demonstrate forest fire control techniques along railroads. The railroad tracks have since been replaced by an impressive bike trail shaded by white pines and traveling over scenic brooks and through a covered bridge. Stratton Brook State Park Trail connects the Farmington River Trail to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

: https://ctparks.com/parks/stratton-brook-state-park

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part II)

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Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein’s summer home and retreat. Smith and Bassette also designed the north and south wings of the Governor’s Mansion in 1916. Truly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria in Germany. Standing 165 feet (50 m) tall and situated 1,000 feet (300 m) above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several dozen miles in all directions from the top-floor observation lounge. It is also the site of the first home elevator in Connecticut.

When Kevin and I reached the Heublein Tower, we went to the shop to purchase some water and snacks. While we ate, we enjoyed the view over the Farmington River Valley. It is prohibited to eat or drink at the observation lounge.

When we were ready to go upstairs, we had to climb 120 steps to the sixth floor to get to the Heublein Observation Lounge. From there, we had a 360° view. From the tower, Hartford can be seen at a short distance. When the skies are clear, the view reaches all the way across Massachusetts into New Hampshire. I spent some time on the bench up there and soaked in the panorama.

After resting for a little bit, Kevin and I hiked down the Tower Trail. My arch in my right foot was aching. So, I had to take it easy. New insoles or hiking shoes should fix this problem. Thank goodness, there is a shortcut trail that led us down faster. We took in the beautiful Autumn sights. After all, it was a perfect day to hike up the hill. The temperatures were in the mid- to upper 50s (12℃ – 14℃).

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~ THE END ~

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Hiking To The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part I)

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Yesterday, I planned a trip to the Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park. When we arrived at the park today, I wasn’t aware that we still had to hike 1.25 miles (2 km) with an elevation gain of 427 feet (130 meters) to get to the tower. Once we climbed up the steep gravel path, we reached the top of the ridge, where we encountered the western-facing view over the Farmington River Valley. The rest of the trail is almost flat with some gravel and tree roots along the way. I had to sit down a few times to take in the beautiful view while I was resting. But I was motivated enough to make it all the way to the tower. I was well rewarded.

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… to be continued …

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Hop Brook Lake, Middlebury, Connecticut In October 2025

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Hop Brook Lake extends over three communities in New Haven County, Connecticut. These towns are Middlebury, Naugatuck & Waterbury. A dam was built across Hop Brook in Naugatuck, and the resulting lake is known as Hop Brook Lake.

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The Pollinator Garden

Pollinator gardens contain various native or native cultivars that produce nectar and/or pollen. These gardens enhance pollinator occupancy and contribute to maintaining healthy ecosystems by creating optimal pollination conditions.

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Autumn At The Lake

Hop Brook Lake is situated in the midst of a growing suburban area. This makes the 536 acres of undeveloped public land at the lake especially important to the surrounding community. The land is not only managed for recreation, but also for the benefit of the forest, wildlife, and water resources. The forest is comprised of a diverse array of trees, including white pine, maple, oak, hickory, ash, and dogwood.

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Lakeshore Trail

Wildlife is abundant in the area. Bird watchers will find a diversity of species, including hawks, turkeys, waterfowl, and songbirds. White-tailed deer, beaver, squirrels, chipmunks, and many other animals also make their home at Hop Brook Lake.

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Lake Winnimaug, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025

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I live in Watertown for the last four and a half years. However, today was the first time I went to Lake Winnimaug which is only three miles away from our house.

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

168th Annual Fall Fair, Harwinton, Connecticut 2025

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After the Fall Festival in Watertown, we made our way to the Harwinton Fall Fair. Sara was thirsty and had a lemonade. A little further down the walkway, we had some bratwurst, and Sara had a chicken sandwich. We walked around for a little bit. Honestly, when you have seen one fair, you have seen them all. Since Sara was tired from her morning XC practice, we left early.

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

46th Annual Fall Festival, Watertown, Connecticut 2025

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Kevin and I walked through the vendors’ aisles, while Sara hung out with a friend at the Fall Festival in Veterans Memorial Park. The festival had vendors with homemade items, food trucks, and an alpaca petting zoo. At 3 pm, The Rakes were supposed to be on stage. Since we planned to drive to another local fall festival, we missed the band again.

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2025 · Autumn · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Black Rock State Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2021

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Kevin and I hiked in the park for a little bit. Unfortunately, I had the wrong shoes on. We didn’t make it far on the trail before we turned around. But we enjoyed the slow change of leaves. When we walked past a fish pond, Kevin saw a chipmunk and wanted to see where it hid after he went up a small hill. He found an entrance to a den. When he walked down, something jumped against his leg. Kevin looked closer and saw it was a frog. The little Pickerel Frog was patient enough for me to take some photos before it leaped across the trail to get back to the pond. Beautiful critters, we see when we go outdoors.

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~ 10/03/2021 ~

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Autumn In New England (2)

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🍁 Autumn at the Watertown Historical District 🍁

Colonization of the area today called Watertown began around 1657. At that time, the colony was called “Mattatock”, though it had several variations in spelling through the years. The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury (now Waterbury) by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council. The original Colony of Mattatuck, which became Watterbury, then Waterbury in name, comprised a much greater land area than Waterbury does today. Thomas Judd and other families were among the first investors to buy the land as a group. The Town of Watertown was officially incorporated in 1780.

Resource:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watertown,_Connecticut

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2025 · Connecticut · Flower Friday

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) – State Flower of Connecticut

Mountain Laurel

Designated as the State Flower by the General Assembly in 1907, the Mountain Laurel is perhaps the most beautiful of native American shrubs. Its fragrance and the massed richness of its white and pink blossoms so vividly contrast with the darker colors of the forests and the fields that they have continually attracted the attention of travelers since the earliest days of our colonization. First mentioned in John Smith’s “General History,” in 1624, specimens were sent to Linnaeus, the famous botanist, by the Swedish explorer Peter Kalm in 1750. Linnaeus gave it the name of Kalmia latifolia, honoring the name of his correspondent and at the same time describing the “wide-leafed” characteristic of the plant. In addition to being called the “Mountain Laurel,” the plant has also been spoken of as “Calico Bush” and “Spoonwood.”

:https://portal.ct.gov/About/State-Symbols/The-State-Flower

2025 · Connecticut

Veterans Memorial Park, Watertown, Connecticut In August 2025

Since it is my birthday and the weather is beautiful, I walked the loop at Veterans Memorial Park. Summer still has a good grip on Nature. But there are signs that Autumn is near. The temperatures are supposed to be in the 70s for the rest of August and into the first week of September.

When I visited the park, I also got a view of one of the six Seward Johnson statues, which are placed all over Watertown. The town is currently hosting an art exhibition of six life-size Seward Johnson sculptures from August to October 2025 as part of the Watertown Foundation’s centennial celebration.

Another new feature is Noodle, the rock snake. Everyone in town can participate by bringing a painted rock and adding it to the tail end. I’m curious how big Noodle will grow over the next years. Maybe I will capture photos every couple of months and see how far it has come.

2025 · Connecticut · National Day Calendar

National Connecticut Day 2025

National Connecticut Day is a special patriotic holiday that is celebrated annually in the United States on August 10. It is observed by people in the United States and others who have a fondness for it. ‘Connecticut’ came from the Algonquian word ‘Quinnehtukqut,’ which means’ land on the long tidal river.’ Connecticut is known to be the fifth state to join the United States of America. The most populated city in Connecticut is Bridgeport, even though it is not the capital. The capital city is actually Hartford.

:https://nationaltoday.com/national-connecticut-day/

2025 · Connecticut · New England

Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington Depot, Connecticut 2025

Last Winter, Kevin mentioned he heard about the Hidden Valley Preserve at work. When it got warmer, he wanted to visit that place. I did some research and kept it on the back burner.

Today, I mentioned the Hidden Valley Preserve to Kevin. It’s warm. But the trails are shaded in the forest. After I packed some essentials, we drove to Washington Depot. When we arrived at the preserve, we walked to Henry David Thoreau Swinging Bridge. It’s a 134-foot-long footbridge that spans the Shepaug River. Kevin and I crossed the bridge to hike at the Bee Brook Loop Trail. From there, we got a nice view of the river. At some point, the trail inclined and led us to a wooden staircase. We walked down the steps to cross another footbridge.

On the other side of the Shepaug River, we walked back on the President’s Trail. The President’s Trail was much narrower. And we had to watch our footing closely in some areas. One wrong step could have sent us down a steep hill toward the river. But we made it back safe to the Thoreau Bridge.

On our hike, Kevin and I liked that the trails were easy to walk. The preserve is clean. We didn’t find any trash along the way, which was very refreshing. The air smelled fresh, mainly from the pine needles covering the trails. We definitely need to visit the Hidden Valley Preserve again. There are plenty of different trails to hike. And it must be gorgeous there during the leaf-peeping season.

2025 · Connecticut · New England

Castle Craig In Meriden, Connecticut 2025

On our way back home, Kevin and I drove through Meriden. We have never been all the way up at the Castle Craig Tower. The road is accessible by car from mid-May until the end of September, depending on the weather. After many speed bumps, we made it up to the tower.

On top of the Castle Craig tower, I needed a moment to gather my senses together. Once I adjusted to the height, I photographed the surrounding area of Greater Meriden. I can only imagine how beautiful this place looks with all the different colored leaves in Autumn.