Monthly Archives: September 2025

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 28, 2025

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Thoughts, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 09/21/2025 to 09/27/2025

“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” — Ambrose Bierce

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 09/21/2025: Posted photo — American Dagger Moth Caterpillar.

The American Dagger Mot is found in America east of the Rocky Mountains in wooded areas. They feed on many common types of trees such as oaks and maples and are often found on the ground in the forest. This caterpillar protects itself from danger by “stinging” anything that touches it. I did not touch it since I knew that some caterpillars sting and I did not know at the time if this was one of those.

Here is one of the many differences between a butterfly and a moth. Butterflies tend to fold their wings vertically up over their backs. Moths tend to hold their wings in a tent-like fashion that hides the abdomen. Butterflies are typically larger and have more colorful patterns on their wings. Moths are typically smaller with drab-colored wings.

Monday, 09/22/2025: Posted photo — Lift Progress.

Wachusett Mountain is putting in a new high-speed lift. I have been showing photos of progress as I hike past the construction. This lift is much larger than the lift they just removed.

Tuesday, 09/23/2025: Posted photo — Roses.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been showing individual roses from this bush. This bush is the one that I did not think it would survive before it was transplanted.

When I planted it in the new flower bed, I took care to help it grow by watering it and keeping the ground fertilized. It is now growing wonderfully.

The yellow roses and the white roses bloom at different times. This is like other plants, such as our azaleas, in which the different colors bloom at different times.

Wednesday, 09/24/2025: Posted photo — Full Moon.

As I was looking for a file today, I found this photo of the moon. I took this photo a while ago. It is a composite of 10 separate photos.

This is one of my favorite full moon photos, so I wanted to share it with you.

Thursday, 09/25/2025: Posted photo — Rose during Rain.

We finally had rain. The rain took all the petals off the yellow roses. I noticed that there was a rosebud on this plant.

As I walked past it, I noticed the raindrops on the rose. I went back inside, grabbed my camera and its rain cover and took this photo.

Friday, 09/26/2025: Post photo — Elm Tree.

I like the look of this tree. I photographed it often a few years ago. On my way to work today, I wanted to photograph a great sunrise so I pulled into the cemetery to see if I could get a better view.

I do not know why I pulled into the cemetery, but I found my way to photograph this tree.

Saturday, 09/27/2025: Post photo — Lakeside.

Today was the church bazar. After the bazar we went to our cottage to have a cookout. I took this photo since I liked the way the sun reflected off the hill on the other side of the lake.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 21, 2025

Posted under

hiking, Histoy, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, religion, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts — 09/14/2025 to 09/20/2025

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” — Linda McCartney

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 09/14/2025: Posted photo — Rosebud.

A few weeks ago, I constructed a planter for some roses that I purchased. I purchased white roses and yellow roses. The white roses bloomed a couple of times since I purchased them and the yellow roses looked like they were not going to live.

When I planted them, I was hopeful that they both would take root. I took my time and fed them, watered them, and removed weeds to help them grow. The white roses bloomed in the bed again, bending under their own weight. I need to support the blooms the next time I see them start. The yellow roses are starting to have multiple blooms.

This is a photo of one of the rosebuds from the yellow plant. It looks like it will bloom this week. If it does, I will post a photo of it later this week.

I am starting to learn about growing roses. There is much to learn, and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Monday, 09/15/2025: Posted photo — Bearded Dragon.

The bearded dragon is equipped with armor of spiny reptilian scales, which include a “beard” of spikes under its chin that puffs up depending on its mood. A Bearded Dragon represents change, rebirth, and renewal.

This bearded dragon is the pet of one of my brothers. We stopped at his house on the way to one of the two weddings we attended last weekend. One was in Naples NY, and one was in Westminster MA the next day.

Tuesday, 09/16/2025: Posted photo — Chinese Swan Goose.

Wild goose symbolizes loyalty, integrity, and love.

This goose was swimming at the Old Mill during the time of the second wedding we attended last weekend.

Wednesday, 09/17/2025: Posted photo — Centerpiece.

This is the centerpiece from the second wedding. The first wedding was more traditional, and the second one was less traditional. The first wedding had less traditional food, and the second wedding had more traditional food.

Both weddings were special in their own way. The first was for a friend, and the second was for my niece. Wishing them both many happy years.

Thursday, 09/18/2025: Posted photo — Jump Off Point.

Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill has a lookout point called Jump Off Point. There is an overlook at the point, but not much of a drop to jump off, just a steep hill.

We took a walk to look at the views before packing up our camping equipment and heading to the wedding we were going to photograph. This was the first of two weddings over the weekend.

This park is very well maintained and is growing. The campsite we had the first time we were there, and when my wife and son camped there a few years ago, is now occupied by the camp host. I can understand why he took that site, it was the best one in the park.

Friday, 09/19/2025: Post photo — Orntario St. Bridge.

This bridge is a hidden wonder. The newly married couple wanted to take photos on this bridge after the ceremony. The bridge had debris on it, so before we took photos, we purchased a broom and swept off the bridge. We later presented the broom as a wedding gift. The couple loved the idea that we gave them this broom that was part of their special day.

Saturday, 09/20/2025: Post photo — Milky Way.

Second attempt at a Milky Way photo using my cellphone. This one was better than the first one, but still not great. There still was light pollution in the area. I attempted to block the light, so this photo came out slightly better.

I will keep taking this photo in darker areas to get a good one.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

Bonus

Here is the photo of the rose in Sunday’s photo in bloom.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 14, 2025

Posted under

hiking, Nature, religion, Thoughts

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 09/07/2025 to 09/13/2025

“The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 09/07/2025: Posted photo — From Above.

The photo theme for the week is taking a photo from above. I took many photos during the week and decided on posting this photo of the altar from above from the choir loft. I selected this one to post since I liked the colors in this photo better than the other photos I took during the week.

Monday, 09/08/2025: Posted photo — Balance Rock.

Glaciers can pick up chunks of rocks and transport them over long distances. When they drop these rocks, they are often far from their origin—the outcrop or bedrock from which they were plucked. These rocks are known as glacial erratics.

This erratic is called Balance Rock. It is located on the Balance Rock train on Wachusett Mountain. It was left behind by the Laurentide Ice Sheet about 12,000 years ago (thank you Matt Landry for that information).

I once heard a college-aged couple discussing how someone would have placed the rocks on each other. I had to explain to them that it was a glacial erratic.

Tuesday, 09/09/2025: Posted photo — View from the Trail.

My hike this week took me across the ski area at Wachusett Mountain. As the sun sets earlier each day this time of year, I wanted to see how the lighting would be on the ski area.

The lighting was not bad. The shadows made it a difficult photo.

Wednesday, 09/10/2025: Posted photo — Graffiti.

Kids do not spend the time outside these days making graffiti the way they did many years ago. Today graffiti is done with spray paint. I often wonder how long it took to carve names into rocks.

Thursday, 09/11/2025: Posted photo — Trial Ahead.

I took this photo for a couple of reasons. These blazes are new on the trail, and I wanted to show them during my next navigation class.

I took this trail this week to challenge myself. I wanted to see how quickly, at a fast-walking pace, I could do a loop. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes to cover 3.93 miles. I had an average moving speed of 2.6 miles per hour with a maximum speed of 4.2 miles per hour. This trail had an ascent of 979 feet. All this information was taken off my Gaia GPS app.

Next time I will take less stops. If I were with a group, my estimated time for this same route would be around 3 hours. I always like to double the time it would take me when I am with a group. This estimate works most of the time if I do not know all the people that are hiking in the group.

Friday, 09/13/2025: Post photo — Stream Crossing.

Hiking trail bridges are necessary to allow for safe crossings of streams, rivers, wetlands, ravines, and other environmental features. I have crossed many bridges in my days and years of hiking.

There are several of these bridges on Wachusett Mountain. They allow for safe crossings of the many streams on the mountain. During the dry season, I might cross next to the bridge since it is a straighter and safer path.

The commonwealth is doing a great job maintaining these bridges. Most of them are in great shape. There are a few in which some of the boards are starting to rot and need to be replaced. These bridges are on the north side of the mountain.

Saturday, 09/13/2025: Post photo — Something New.

They are starting to assembly the new high-speed lift on Wachusett. This is a photo of the new towers at the summit as the ski area prepares to install the upper part of the lift.

For the past 15 or so years, I have been posting a photo of me on the summit of one of the 48 4K mountains in New Hampshire as part of the Flags on the 48 September 11 memorial hike. This year I was unable to do the hike due to a prior commitment. I would like to congratulate the members of the Worcester AMC and the Wachusett Hikers who both took on summits this year.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 7, 2025

Posted under

Nature, Photography, Thoughts

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 08/31/2025 to 09/06/2025

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.” — Ralph Hattersley

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 08/31/2025: Posted photo — Paddleboard.

We were sitting around the cottage and saw this guy and his dog on a paddleboard. I thought it was interesting, so I took this photo with my phone. My phone does not take zoom photos in low light very well. I do not know of one that does. The phone that might is a Samsung or a newer Pixel phone. iPhones are not usually rated tops in taking photos by photographers and photography magazine reviews.

Monday, 09/01/2025: Posted photo — Night Sky.

Camping out last night. I put my phone done on the dock just after dark, still in the blue hour, and took this photo. I used the astrophotography setting on my phone in which I controlled with my watch.

Tuesday, 09/02/2025: Posted photo — Nectarine.

Just some nectarines I saw while shopping tonight. Needed a photo, took a photo.

Wednesday, 09/03/2025: Posted photo — Garlic.

Garlic supports cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, boosts the immune system to fight infections, protects cells from damage and inflammation, and aids digestive health by acting as a prebiotic.

Thursday, 09/04/2025: Posted photo — Rose.

This is a rose in our flower bed. It needs to be supported somehow since the stem seems very week.

Friday, 09/05/2025: Post photo — Mushrooms.

Mushrooms on some old logs at our house.

Saturday, 09/06/2025: Post photo — Garter Snake.

I saw this guy when I was mowing the lawn today. I mowed early to get it done before all the rain. As I am typing this, we are having some much needed rain.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”