Legend has it that the Lady of the Lake was a beautiful American Indian Princess from the Setauket Sachem tribe. She fell in love with a white settler, across the Lake, named Hugh Birdsall. Her Father forbade their union. For seven years, she scratched love letters on pieces of tree bark and floated them across the lake to Birdsall. Ultimately, she couldn’t stand the pain of not being with her love that she took her boat to the middle of the lake and pierced her own broken heart. Some say that her spirit haunts the lake and takes the life of one young man every year. (I’ve read that about 30/32 drownings have been male…eerie but I don’t know if it is true).

We arrived at Lake Ronkonkoma in about ten minutes. We parked in the main entrance and walked down. We really had no idea where this mural might be. The kids jumped on, over and off the cement walls that were surrounding the building for awhile. They even sat still for a couple of seconds…

We made our way down to the lake.

On this overcast day, the lake was still and inviting.

Although we a local, we never come here. We once came in March of 2015 when the kids were small and the lake was frozen. We watched ice boats gliding and ice skaters twirling about. The boats were really beautiful and I took this shot to remember them.

Besides the small beach, nothing was there that resembled the Princess. We looked out across the lake though and saw some color. Since we could only walk so far where we were, we decided to take the car to a different entrance. Maybe we would have better luck.

Our new spot had a playground and kids were playing. Runners were doing their laps and there were a few dogs playing around with their owners. We walked till we couldn’t walk anymore. Nothing. We still weren’t close to the bluish color we saw. A little frustrated, we retraced our steps back. Just about to pass us, an older gentleman was walking with determination. I suddenly said, “Excuse me, do you know where we can find the Lady of the Lake Mural?” Well, he was overjoyed to talk about her. Of course he knew of it and his friend was the artist who painted her. What luck! He spoke of Todd’s talent and how he himself would never, in a million years, be able to paint something so beautiful. He had visited her a bunch of times and told us where to go. This was just the fuel we needed to continue on.

We drove and parked where he told us. We saw the home of the artist, Todd Arnett. He is a local artist that loves sculpting. You could tell it was his home because there were so many pieces of his artwork at the edge of the road. What a nice gift to give the passersby.

We managed to cross the busy street but it was difficult to find an opening. We eventually found an area to go in.

We found steps! It already started turning into a magical area. Although we were a few feet from cars speeding by, it was quiet and still.

We searched some more only to find identical steps a bit further down. We hiked back up and walked along the edge and then headed back down. I think we were in the right place.

My oldest ran down and screamed, “I found it!”.

“You’re not going to believe it Mom!”, he said. I made my way down the steep incline, climbed down the steps and there she was.

She is ghostly and hauntingly breathtaking.

All three of us didn’t say a word for a few minutes.

The painting pulls you in and makes you feel as if you may know her not just her story.

Princess Ronkonkoma now watches over the lake. This is her view…

Magical right? On such a dreary day, the sky really changed just as I was shooting this. Coincidence?

Thank you Todd Arnett for painting something so special and adding to the history of Lake Ronkonkoma.

Mr. Arnett is also currently sculpting The Princess Ronkonkoma Statue down the road. It is also something to see. You can donate here.

Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow…

My kids have been in Jiu Jitsu for many years now. We are a work in progress of course. You see….we have a bunch of other activities going on (basketball, soccer, swimming etc.) and classes have dwindled from 2 days per week to one. My oldest broke the same arm twice over the years playing tackle football and falling off a hover board so that also set us back some.

It’s an effort to get there but I’m happy to do it.

I’m doing all I can to teach my children wrong from right, staying focused, looking at people in their eyes and how to work out problems. It is hard but hopefully one day, all these lessons will become woven into the fabric that makes them decent men.

Jiu Jitsu validates all this teaching. Although they are on the mat, in the long run, these important ‘rules of life’ are taken off the mat and must be lived by every day.

I’m proud to say that my children are another step closer to becoming better than they were yesterday.

Which is all I can really ask for.

For a bunch of goofballs……This Mama holds her chin a bit higher today.

Thank you so much to Trigon Academy and their wonderful team of instructors.

Make 2019 the year that you document your family.

It doesn’t take much to get me out there.  Any reason to drive slow and look at farm after farm, veggie stands, swimmers, beaches…..I’m there.

This time, a lovely family asked me to photograph them.  

Loving sisters that warmed my heart as the oldest is leaving soon for college.

Family pictures that didn’t exist before can now be treasured in their beautiful home.

We frolicked….

and enjoyed the beautiful sunset…

Memories were made and time stopped.

To book your Fall / Holiday session, please call Marina at 631.553.7860

To book a Spring, Summer or Fall Session, please call 631.553.7860

Off to the ball.

It sprinkled a bit but it didn’t matter….

His sister’s shoot is here:

To book: 631-553-7860

marina@earthandskye.com

I will be offering two packages this season:

Package 1 – $300

30 minutes of shooting

Online gallery of all edited images

10 digital images

Package 2 – $500

1 hour of shooting

Online gallery of all edited images

30+ images

Typically, girls like to book on the day of their hair trial.  It is a stress free day without all the stress of “the day of” stuff.

Please plan ahead during this special time.

To book – 631-553-7860

or email: marina@earthandskye.com