“I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.” — Bruce Gilden

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 03/26/2023: Posted photo — Organ.

History lesson of the week.

“The earliest known organ was the hydraulis of the 3rd century bce, a rudimentary Greek invention, with the wind regulated by water pressure. The first recorded appearance of an exclusively bellow-fed organ, however, was not until almost 400 years later.” More information here.

“The Valère organ: The gothic organ is regarded as the oldest instrument of its type still in working order in the world. It is thought that it was installed in Valère between 1430 and 1440. It has barely three octaves, and the keys are much smaller than those on a modern instrument.” More information here.

Monday, 03/27/2023: Posted photo — Long Exposure.

This is from Machias Pool at a trailhead on Wachusett Mountain. I noticed that the camera on my phone has a long exposure setting so I was trying it out. I will need to try it out at the waterfalls at the end of Round Meadow Pond and at the Old Mill to see how it really works.

Tuesday, 03/28/2023: Posted photo — Bat House.

One of the best ways you can support bat conservation is to put up an artificial roost, like a bat house. Since bat populations have decreased significantly, bat houses can be very useful in providing secure roost sites for bats. This bat house is at one of the trailheads on Wachusett Mountain. It has been installed for a few years and is in great shape. There might be bats in there. I have hiked the mountain at all times of the day and during every season and have not see a bat use it.

Wednesday, 03/29/2023: Posted photo — Tomatoes.

Tomatoes take 60 days to more than 100 days to harvest, depending on the variety. Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), most gardeners plant small “starter plants” or transplants instead of seeds after the weather has warmed up in spring. Many gardeners purchase their transplants at a garden center or nursery but you can certainly grow you own from seed indoors.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, which may help lower your “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Lowering these numbers helps lower your chances of heart disease.

Thursday, 03/30/2023: Posted photo — Town Pound.

In the historical district in town, there is the old Town Pound. The pound is just a stone wall with a wooden gate. I can imagine the field filled with cows and goats in the old days.

Friday, 03/31/2023: Post photo — Melting Snow.

The temperature has been fluctuating between warm and cold around this area. The three feet of snow is still melting on our street. These are some pieced of wood that I need to split this summer to burn during the winter. There is still snow in our yard and in the mountains here in north central Massachusetts. The snow in our yard last longer than the surrounding area because we have many trees on our property that shade the sun.

Saturday, 04/01/2023: Post photo — St John’s High School.

I went to my high school today to watch our son compete in a cubing competition. I was in the class of 1982. He competes in a few events but mostly enters the data. He will be entering data for the cubing national championships this summer.

The place has changes since about 1990, the last time I was on campus. A few new buildings have gone up, the brother’s resident has been moved and a couple of state-of-the-art academic centers have been built. Here are a few photos from around campus.

Information from the school website. I would write its history the same way. “Saint John’s High School has educated young men under the sponsorship of the Xaverian Brothers since 1898. Saint John’s High School enjoys a unique history, one that is deeply rooted in the development and traditions of the Catholic Church in Central Massachusetts. The school was an outgrowth of both the first Catholic Church (1834) and the first parochial school (1873) in Worcester. It also has the distinction of being the first of many high schools operated by the Xaverian Brothers in New England.”

Have a good rest of the week and a Happy and Holy Easter next week.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.