Remnants of the Bristol Company by Lazlo Gyorsok

At 40 Bristol Street in the Platts Mills neighborhood of Waterbury are remnants of a forgotten factory complex started by The Bristol Company. Over six acres contain more than 310,000 square feet of dilapidated factory buildings dating back to 1892. Though the land is now contaminated with waste, pollution, asbestos and graffiti, the site remains historically significant due the technological advancements of inventor William Henry Bristol.

Rise in the Fall by Pamela Peeters

As the days become shorter and nature is ready to move into Autumn, it is always wonderful to observe what it means to "let go" and gain some life lessons on the way.
When hiking in the many forests and nature reserves that our area offers, one notices that an elegant carpet of colorful leaves is slowly getting created organically. Nature seems to have no problem in shedding its leaves, and it is a reminder to look inwards as well and explore whether we can release things or principles in our lives as well.
There is no coincidence that in my “ELEMENTS” wisdom card deck, subject of several art exhibits, there is a card entitled “let go” as in order evolve and expand in life sometimes we need to do some molting and make room for renewal.
This is why the Fall is the perfect moment to rise towards new possibilities.
May nature continue to inspire us!

Pamela Peeters

Yellowstone Trip #5: A Peaceful Return to the Wild by Dawn Dingee

This past July, my family and I made our fifth trip to Yellowstone National Park. This trip brought a quieter, more reflective experience than the previous visits—but no less rewarding. We were not able to go on any hikes or get to the back country, but it was beautiful nonetheless. While wildlife sightings were few and far between this time, the true magic came in the stillness and beauty that surrounded us at every turn.
Each morning began with a peaceful drive through the West Entrance, timed perfectly to catch the sunrise. The golden light was worth waking up early for—bathing the rivers and distant mountains in a warm glow that never got old.

The weather couldn’t have been better over the July 4 th holiday. Clear, sunny skies and mid-70s temperatures made for ideal conditions to explore the park. Since this was our 5 th visit, we knew what time of day to view the popular sites so that we could miss the crowds. Rather than rushing to hit every iconic landmark, we slowed our pace and took time to savor the surroundings.

One of the best parts of this trip was our daily picnic tradition. Each day, we packed a simple breakfast or lunch and found a new spot in the park to stop, eat, and soak in the view. From riverside pull-offs to quiet meadows and scenic overlooks, every meal felt like its own little adventure.

Even without the expected bison traffic jams or bear sightings, this visit reminded us of Yellowstone’s deeper appeal—the serenity, the vast open spaces, and the feeling of being completely immersed in nature. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.