Michelle
LightNews LightNews
banner
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Michelle
@trailtotoday.bsky.social
1.3K followers 310 following 3.2K posts
Proud mom, lucky to work at the American Museum of Natural History, enjoy photography (all pics are my own)
#Sonya7RV #Photography #ILoveNY #WeLoveNYC #AMNH #Art #Metal #Rock #StarTrek #Nature #NaturePhotography #Landscape #LandscapePhotography
Posts Replies Media Videos
trailtotoday.bsky.social
A June sunset
Enjoy your night!
#Sky #BlueSkyArtShow
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#EastCoastKin #Photography #Cityscape #NYCPhotography
Looking downtown from Hell's Kitchen, NYC at 8pm. The buildings are reflecting the sky’s rainbow of colors. The middle building is shining from the sun hitting it.
December 6, 2025 at 10:45 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
A January sunset
#Sky #BlueSkyArtShow
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#EastCoastKin #Photography #MobilePhotography #Cityscape #NYCPhotography
Looking downtown from Hell's Kitchen, NYC at 5:30pm. The buildings have their lights on and the sky has clouds that are dark gray against the light blue sky that has some orange.
December 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Sunflower in the #Sky
#BlueSkyArtShow
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#ColorADay #GreenSat
#Flowers #BloomScrolling
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography
Looking up at a sunflower that has not opened up so it is mostly green with a tiny bit of yellow showing. The sky is blue with no clouds.
December 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
A Seuss #Sky
#BlueSkyArtShow
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#Seasons #SensoryArt
#EastCoastKin #Photography #MobilePhotography
Looking up at altocumulus clouds that are wavy like the Dr Seuss structures at Universal Studio Seuss Landing.
December 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Clear blue #Sky
#BlueSkyArtShow
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #Photography
#HotAirBalloon #BalloonFestHV
Looking at a rainbow hot air balloon from under on the ground. The sky is blue with no clouds.
December 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Happy #FlyDay!
#Scape
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#Macro #FloralFriday #FlowersOnFriday #BloomScrolling
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #MobilePhotography #NYCPhotography
macro of a bee on a flower that is light purple with a yellow center
December 6, 2025 at 1:45 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Squirrel!
#ForestFriday #Scape
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #MobilePhotography #NYCPhotography
A squirrel is looking at the camera. It is going toward a hole in a tree.
December 6, 2025 at 1:39 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
After my mom passed, I made these little recipe books as ornaments for family and close friends.
Recipes in Alt text
#FoodOnFriday #Scape
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#Seasons #SensoryArt
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#EastCoastKin #BloomScrolling
A pic of my parents in front of the house I grew up in framed with flowers and it says, "Mom's Christmas Cookies." This is the cover and you can see a bit of the ribbon that is attached to make the book able to be hung on the tree. Preserve Thumbprints 2 2/3 sticks butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup orange juice 1 egg yolk 3 3/4 cups flour 12 oz. seedless preserves Mix butter, sugar, orange juice, egg yolk and flour Cover and chill 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Shape into 1" balls Place on ungreased cookie sheet Make deep impression in center of dough Fill with preserves Bake 8-10 minutes Preserve Bars 1 1/2 sticks butter 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder 12 oz. seedless preserves 1 cup finely chopped walnuts cinnamon & sugar mixture mix the first 6 ingredients shape into ball freeze for at least 2 hours preheat oven to 350 grease 9x13 pan grate 1/2 dough in pan spread all of preserves sprinkle with 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/2 cinnamon & sugar mixture grate remaining dough sprinkle with remaining walnuts and cinnamon & sugar mixture bake 45 minutes cut after cool Rum Balls yield: 6 dozen 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate 1/2 cup orange juice 3 Tbsp (45 ml) light rum 9 oz. Nabisco's Famous Chocolate Wafer cookies 1 cup finely chopped walnuts 2 cups confectioners' sugar 5 oz. chocolate sprinkles crush wafer cookies in zip lock or wax paper using a rolling pin melt chocolate, remove from heat blend in OJ and rum stir in cookie crumbs, walnuts and sugar, mix well cover and chill for at least 2 hours roll rounded teaspoonfuls into balls roll balls in chocolate sprinkles place in a pan, cover & chill several hours or more Nut Butter Balls (Mexican Wedding Cakes) 2 cups flour 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. (2 sticks) butter, softened 2 tsp. Vanilla 2 cups finely chopped walnuts confectioners sugar Preheat oven to 325 sift flour, sugar and salt mix in butter and vanilla add nuts, mix well shape in 1" balls bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 25 minutes, until pale brown cover with confectioners sugar Butter Cookies makes about 25 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, creamed 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup flour - preheat oven to 350 - blend creamed butter and sugar - add vanilla and flour, blend - shape on ungreased cookie sheet* - bake 8-10 minutes *sprinkle with colored sugar before baking if desired Chocolate-Nut Tipped Cookies 3/4 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. salt 2 cups unsifted flour 2 cups (12 oz.) semi-sweet choc. chips 1 tsp. shortening 2 cups very finely chopped nuts waxed paper preheat oven to 350 cream butter until light gradually beat in sugar beat in egg, vanilla, salt and flour mix in 1/2 cup choc. chips shape level teaspoonfuls of batter into 2" logs bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes Cool completely on cookie racks in microwave, slowly melt remaining choc. chips and shortening, be careful not to burn dip ends of cookies into chocolate, then into nuts set on waxed paper to cool Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars yield: 24-36 bars 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 14 oz. Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk 12 oz. (2 cups) semi-sweet choc. Chips 1 1/3 cups (3.5 oz.) flaked coconut 1 cup finely chipped walnuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 (325 for glass dish) Melt butter in 13x9 pan in oven Sprinkle graham crumbs over butter Pour condensed milk evenly over crumbs Top with remaining ingredients, press with fork Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned Cool, chill if desired, cut into bars Store covered at room temperature Chocolate Stained Glass Cookies 16 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 10.5 oz. bag colored mini marshmallows 4 large sheets waxed paper Melt chocolate chips and butter slowly in microwave Stir in marshmallows Form 1/4 mixture into log using waxed paper Repeat 3 more times Refrigerate until completely solid at least an hour Slice and serve cold - Enjoy!
December 6, 2025 at 1:26 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Decorations at the NY Botanical Gardens
#RedGreenGold #PalacesAndGardens
#Seasons #SensoryArt
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography #NYBG
red, gold & silver ornaments on greenery
December 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Love the details on brownstones – this even has stained glass.
#UrbanGaze
#ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography
a window on a Brooklyn brownstone that is reflecting the buildings across the street, a tree and blue sky. The curved window above has stained glass flowers
December 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Brooklyn brownstone – fun!
Day 3 of #ArtAdventCalendar #OnlyBeautifulThings
#Seasons #SensoryArt #ColorADay #RedWed
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#WindowWednesday #WindowsOnWednesday
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography
A row of brownstones with two decorated on almost every inch. There are lights, presents, snowmen, candy canes and large (plastic) wooden soldiers. There are lights on the roof too. Many large (plastic) wooden soldiers (most are black - representation matters!), a big bow over the walkway to the apartment and santas.
December 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Twisted window frame courtesy of Brutus and Buckeye bears inside their new home 🙂
#WeekWforWindows #AlphabetChallenge
#WindowWednesday #WindowsOnWednesday
#WackyWednesday #WackyWednesdayArt
#EastCoastKin #ColumbusZoo
Sign on the window frame says: BEARS will be BEARS Wanna break some stuff? Totally Brutus and Buckeye are very curious bears. When they moved into their new home in Polar Frontier, they dismantled the window frame from the inside and twisted the metal into these shapes.
December 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Beautiful Brooklyn bench for day 2 of the #ArtAdventCalendar
In spring, it must be so pretty with flowers in the center
#Seasons #SensoryArt
#OnlyBeautifulThings #ColorADay #CyanTue
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography
A painted bench on the sidewalk in front of Mama Dee's Community Garden. There are mushrooms, handprints, swirls, flowers, etc. It says: Sit my friend, this bench is for you. You Matter! Seek Love
December 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
"Passing Wisdom, Planting Seeds"
at Mama Dee's Community Garden

Saw this today in Brooklyn and thought it's a nice first #ArtAdventCalendar post

#BlueskyMonday #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography
Info in Alt text
"...Inspired by the strength and community leadership of the mural site, Mama Dee's Community Garden, particular attention was given to the Afro-Caribbean women of Crown Heights. Through this process, the young artists owned their roles as leaders in building a more just and equitable world. The mural team worked as part of the young womens leadership development program, Voices Herd, a part of the two-month long flagship summer youth employment program, the Summer Leadership Institute. In lessons facilitated by Co-Lead Artists Jazmine Hayes and Danielle McDonald, the young artists researched, designed, and fabricated the mural. The composition is structured around two archetypical figures, an elder and a young woman. The elder woman, representing ancestral wisdom, looks upward at the younger woman, her hand stretched with an encouraging, supportive gesture. The young woman, modeled after one of the youth participants, continues the upward gaze, looking towards the future. Throughout the mural, symbols of figurative, architectural, spiritual, and natural importance to women of color gesture to the complexity of individual and communal identity: A Yoruba female deity holds hands with a 1960s era civil rights protester. A boy wearing a crown referencing Labor Day Parade gazes thoughtfully at Ieshia Evans, who was recently featured in the viral protest image at Baton Rouge, following the shooting of Alton Sterling. By juxtaposing these many images, the mural tells the impressive story of women of colors power, activism, and potential” https://www.groundswell.nyc/projects/passing-wisdom-planting-seeds-19#:~:text=This%20summer%2C%20a%20team%20of,with%20an%20encouraging%2C%20supportive%20gesture.
December 2, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Reposted by Michelle
handcranked.bsky.social
Your art challenge cheat sheet for Dec 1–7!

NEW: #ArtAdventCalendar and #XtraXmas

Host list in the comments

#EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersOfBluesky #photography
#dailyart #art #traditionalart #painting #drawing #onlybeautifulthings #artchallenge #artprompt
Art Challenges: December 1–7 Monday, December 1 #BlueSkyMonday (anything blue) #MacroMonday (any macro) #MountainMonday (mountains) #MinimalMonday (minimalism) #ColorADay (#PinkMon) #XtraXmas (#PartridgePeartree) Tuesday, December 2 #RockinTuesday (rocks) #TidesOutTuesday #TagTuesday (graffiti/street art) #AnimalArtTuesday #ColorADay (#BlueTue or #CyanTue) #XtraXmas (#TurtleDoves) Wednesday, December 3 #WaterfallWednesday #WindowsOnWednesday #WackyWednesdayArt (odd/unusual) #ColorADay (#RedWed) #XtraXmas (#FrenchHens) Thursday, December 4 #HumansOfBlueSky (people) #UrbanGaze (anything urban) #PalacesAndGardens (#RedGreenGold) #ColorADay (#YellowThu) #XtraXmas (#CallingBirds) Friday, December 5 #scape (any kind of scape) #FishyFriday #ForestFriday #FoodOnFriday #FlyDay (critters that fly) #ColorADay (#BWFri) #XtraXmas (#GoldRings) Saturday, December 6 #BNWmacro #ColorADay (#GreenSat) #BlueSkyArtShow (#sky) #XtraXmas (#geese) Sunday, December 7 #Stunday (stunning) #ImageAndVerse (photos with poems written by you or anyone) #BNWmacro #ColorADay (#OrangeSun) #SelfPortraitSunday (#LinesAndGeometry) #XtraXmas (#swans) ALL WEEK #ArtAdventCalendar (any original non-AI art daily through Dec 24) #ArtYear (any art) #ArtOfSelfPortraiture #BirdOfTheDay (see Alan H or Rob Crank for daily prompt) #ClassicMono (monochrome) #FestiveDailyRobin (robins through December 31) #smArtist (purposeful art) #AlphabetChallenge (#WeekWForWindows) #SensoryArt (#seasons)
November 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
The Gathering at the Apollo

Included Seven Last Words, a choral work by composer Joel Thompson containing 7 movements, each of which quotes the last words of an unarmed black man before he was killed.

#Stunday #ImageAndVerse
#EastCoastKin #WeekVforVowel #AlphabetChallenge
more in Alt text
2022.05.07 “The not-to-be-missed event features the orchestral performance of Carlos Simon's Amen!, Courtney Bryan's Sanctum, and the New York premiere of Seven Last Words, a choral work by composer Joel Thompson containing seven movements, each of which quotes the last words of an unarmed Black man before he was killed. These works will be presented in conversation with original works from Nona Hendryx and Toshi Reagon and a new commission from Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, created to honor our ever-present need for a collective space of remembrance. The performance is anchored by the American Composers Orchestra, comprised of 60- members and a 70-voice choir of both professional and amateur singers from African American churches and choral ensembles in New York including Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir, Broadway Inspirational Voices, Convent Avenue Baptist Church Choir, and Sing Harlem Choir with appearances by the poet and writer Mahogany L. Browne and singer Abby Dobson. The Gathering will honor the lives we have lost and uplift the lives we continue to lead in the aftermath. In the tradition of the ring shout, audiences are encouraged to wear white.
December 1, 2025 at 4:43 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
From the ocean to Ohio
Baby manatee 💙

"...Under the bridges
Over the foam
Wind on the water
Carry me home"
~Graham Nash
#ImageAndVerse #Stunday #OnlyBeautifulThings
#WeekVforVowel #AlphabetChallenge
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #ColumbusZoo (see alt text)
A baby manatee in the Columbus Zoo rehabilitation facility – learning about them reminded me of “Wind On The Water” Graham Nash wrote this song, which tells of the beauty of sea life and admonishes us for not taking care of the sea creatures. Over the years you have been hunted By the men who threw harpoons And in the long run he will kill you Just to feed the pets we raise Put the flowers in your vase And make the lipstick for your face Over the years you swam the ocean Following feelings of your own Now you are washed up on the shoreline I can see your body lie It's a shame you have to die To put the shadow on our eye Maybe we'll go Maybe we'll disappear It's not that we don't know It's just that we don't want to care Under the bridges Over the foam Wind on the water Carry me home https://www.columbuszoo.org/news/stubby-manatee-acts-surrogate-mom-once-again-mothers-day Stubby the Manatee Acts as Surrogate Mom Once Again
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Illuminated at Otherworld Immersive Art Experience in Ohio
(8 vowels Sheena😊) #WeekVforVowel #AlphabetChallenge

Lots of #Lines for #SensoryArt

It was stunning I didn’t walk into a wall in the mirrored rooms
#Stunday
#EastCoastKin #MobilePhotography
a mirrored room with magenta and turquoise lights and black ceiling and floor a mirrored room with multicolored fiber optic ribbons. This is looking down on toward the mirrored floor a mirrored room with magenta and purple lights and black ceiling and floor
December 1, 2025 at 3:51 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Beautiful Pallas’ cat.
#Warmth #BlueSkyArtShow
#Caturday #Lines #SensoryArt
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #ColumbusZoo
(info in Alt text)
Octocolobus manul A Small Wild Cat The Pallas' cat is named for the German naturalist Peter Pallas (1741-1811). It lives in cold desert and rocky mountain regions in Central Asia. . The Pallas' cat population numbers are low throughout its range. . Its flat head and low-set ears help in stalking prey in open areas. . Stocky body and thick fur protect the cat in the cold. . It is solitary, living in the old burrows of other animals or in caves. . Threats include habitat fragmentation, fur hunters, and vermin control programs that kill the cat's prey. Diet: small mammals such as pikas and rodents, birds Habitat: desert and rocky, mountainous regions at altitudes reaching over 13,000 feet
November 30, 2025 at 3:12 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Two bears hibernating at the #ColumbusZoo
#Warmth #BlueSkyArtShow
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography
Two bears hibernating at the #ColumbusZoo
November 30, 2025 at 3:05 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
My daughter’s pup thinks he’s a lapdog 😍
#Warmth #BlueSkyArtShow
#EastCoastKin
My daughter's tall dog is trying to sit on my lap.
November 30, 2025 at 3:04 AM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
Enjoy your #FlyDay!
#FloralFriday #Scape
Neat how the camera pics up a light dusting of pollen on the bee and red flower petal.
#FlowersOnFriday #BloomScrolling #OnlyBeautifulThings
#Lines #SensoryArt #EastCoastKin #Macro #Photography #NaturePhotography
Macro of a bee in the yellow center of a red camellia flower
November 28, 2025 at 2:12 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
#ForestFriday #Scape
#ColorADay #BWFri #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BnW #BlackAndWhitePhotography
#Lines #SensoryArt #EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography
a black and white photo of trees that have lights on them and barely any leaves
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay #Scape
Another eye photo for #WeekVforVowel #AlphabetChallenge
- pretty golden eye color shining in the #MorningLight
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #FireIsland
A gull in the sunlight is on the sand over a crab shell, in front of the water.
November 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
trailtotoday.bsky.social
#FoodOnFriday #Scape
Adorable Apes in Ohio
#WeekVforVowel #AlphabetChallenge
#Lines #SensoryArt #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography #ColumbusZoo
Profile of a large gorilla eating greens Profile of a baby gorilla eating greens
November 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM