One of my favorite pictures I’ve ever taken is of a mallard drake. It’s from way back in 2007 when I was walking through a park in Springfield, Illinois.

See that picture HERE.

I’ve always wanted to photograph sap gathering and syrup making. Although it’s not specifically a New England activity, I’ve always associated with the northeast. The whole process from sap to syrup is really interesting. The sap will only run if there is a hard freeze and a thaw. Then, they go gather the sap, which looks like water and is a little sweet. After that, the sap is boiled down and syrup is made. It almost reminded me of a chemistry class as I watched them make the maple syrup.

I would like to thank Jim and Sue from Tamarack Farm for calling me every morning with sap updates. They were so helpful in showing me all the ins and outs of syrup making.

I’ve been planning a shot like this in my head for literally months. The local space museum has this gigantic replica rocket out front and I’ve been wanting to incorporate it in a flyby picture. Timing has was a bit of a problem until a few nights back. The International Space Station flies overhead all the time, but getting the lighting right was key. Usually it’s pitch black out when you can best see the flybys and with that the top of the rocket wouldn’t be visible. So, I had to wait for a flyby either at sunrise or sunset. Since I’m not much of a morning person, sunset seemed like a better option. I’m hoping to try this out a few more time and see what else I can come up with.

She did and audio slide show for Orion Magazine that is just terrific.

To watch please click HERE.

The weather the past few days has cooperated though, and hopefully things can get back to normal soon.

Here are some pictures from the morning and afternoon following the wind storm.

Mike Chadbourne works to prevent flooding at a friend’s home on Riverside Park Road in Allenstown on Friday, February 26, 2010. High winds and heavy rains have led to flooding and power outages for much of the region. Utility officials have estimated that 300,000 people are without power.

Matt Allgeyer and Patty Holler work to clean up their front yard on Friday, February 26, 2010, in Pembroke. “In New England, you get four seasons of trouble,” Allgeyer said.

Larry Hall, left, and Scott Vogt examine the storm damage to Vogt’s home on Buck Street in Pembroke on Friday, February 26, 2010. Vogt had several downed trees in his yard and a large pine tree fell on his home. “You put your heart and soul into it and then this happens,” Vogt said of his home.

Dale Graveline looks out over flooding from the basement door at his home on Riverside Park Road in Allenstown on Friday, February 26, 2010. High winds and heavy rains have led to flooding and power outages for much of the region. Utility officials have estimated that 300,000 people are without power.

Mike Chadbourne takes a breather after stacking sandbags at a friend’s home on Riverside Park Road in Allenstown on Friday, February 26, 2010. High winds and heavy rains have led to flooding and power outages for much of the region. Utility officials have estimated that 300,000 people are without power.

Most of New England was affected by the storm, but New Hampshire appeared to get hit especially hard. My house was one of the more than 300,000 without power over the weekend. Governor John Lynch was on a family vacation in the Caribbean and returned early to declare a state of a emergency.

Luckily, our power came back on yesterday afternoon and most of the state seems to be recovering. More storm pictures to come tomorrow.

I did a long term story on a soldier, Seth Clark, from my hometown five years ago. He was a member of the National Guard and had signed up under the impression that he would never have to go to war. I followed him for a few months as he prepared to ship out to Iraq.

It was sad seeing him go and watching the tears roll down his mother’s face as his bus left the armory early on a cold January morning back in 2005. Seth came home in the spring of 2006. I wrote a long blog post about the whole experience HERE.

Last week I was filling up my tank at the local gas station and I noticed a guy welding out in front of the auto shop next door. I wandered on over to see what was going on. The mechanic, Howard, told me that he and a friend were rebuilding a 1949 Chrysler Windsor. They had completely gutted the car and were working to put a new hand built frame in.

It amazes me how smart mechanics and car restorers are. They look at these complex machines and figure out how everything works. It’s pretty cool.