Photographic Thoughts — 12/21/2025 to 12/27/2025

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

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

Sunday, 12/21/2025: Posted photo — George S Hutchings Organ.

This organ is in the Ashburnham Community Church. I was at the church this afternoon for Lessons and Carols. Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century. There are nine brief Scripture lessons, which recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Birth of Jesus, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, and the Incarnation. Each lesson is followed by a carol or other song that reflects on the lesson’s message and a brief prayer.

Back to the organ, the organ was made in 1886 by George Hutchings of Boston, who later made the first organ at Boston’s Symphony Hall. The organ came to the church from an organ clearing house, and between its previous home and the clearing house, it lost its casing.

Monday, 12/22/2025: Posted photo — Day Hike.

I took the opportunity today to hike during the day. I am taking vacation time this week and next week to relax for the holidays. It has been a while since I led a hike during the day. We attempted to get to the summit before sunset. We did not, since there were patches of ice on the trail. There was not enough ice to wear micospikes, so we had to carefully bear boot along the trail.

Next week I will be hiking even earlier in the day. Hiking during the day will allow more people to join me and possibly break in their new hiking equipment that they may receive during the holiday.

Tuesday, 12/23/2025: Posted photo — Sunset After Glow.

Still did not make it to the summit for sunset. I arrived at the summit just after sunset, during golden hour.

Here is the different types of natural light depending on the Sun elevation:

  • Day: Elevation higher than 6°.
  • Golden hour: Elevation between 6° and -4°.
  • Blue hour: Elevation between -4° and -6°.
  • Civil twilight: Elevation between 0° and -6°.
  • Nautical twilight: Elevation between -6° and -12°.
  • Astronomical twilight: Elevation between -12° and -18°.
  • Night: Elevation lower than -18°.

Wednesday, 12/24/2025: Posted photo — Christmas Eve.

I hope every has a wonderful holiday season. Our family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Time to enjoy family and friends.

Thursday, 12/25/2025: Posted photo — Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Happy Holidays for those who celebrated Hanukkah or another holiday this time of year.

“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” Luke 2:11

Jesus was born for all of us. Not just for the rich, not just the poor, all of us. It does not matter the color of your skin, your immigration status, your wealth, your political beliefs, all of us.

He was born into poverty, under harsh conditions, to show us that we make ourselves into what we believe and how we would want others to treat us. We should not be influenced by others, only the teaching of Jesus and scripture. Our true character is based on our own belief and should not be the belief of other false prophets or gods.

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

“In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, with those who have lost their jobs and those who are looking for work, with those who are exploited, with those in prison, who often live in inhumane conditions.” Pope Leo XIV

Friday, 12/26/2025: Post photo — Yellow Rose.

One of the meanings of a yellow rose is for a sign of remembrance. This time of year, I remember the loss of our daughter by putting a rose on our tree.

I took this photo as a gift to her since I was drawn to its arrangement.

Saturday, 12/27/2025: Post photo — Ginger Roots.

Here are some health benefits of ginger roots that I have found online.

  1. Popular Digestive Aid: Settles Stomach Issues
  2. Therapy for Nausea: Reduces Motion Sickness and More
  3. Powerful Anti-inflammatory: Reduces Joint Pain and Relieves Arthritis
  4. Provides Pain Relief: Soothes Migraines and Menstrual Pain
  5. Anti-tumor Properties: Successful in Killing Cancer Cells
  6. Anti-diabetic Compounds: Lowers Blood Sugar and Increases Insulin Release
  7. Heals the Heart: Treats a Variety of Cardiovascular Conditions
  8. Relieves Respiratory Disorders: Effective in Treating Asthma
  9. Immunity-booster: Reduces Coughs and Colds
  10. Potent Antioxidant: Slows Down DNA Damage

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

Sumens imagines consolateur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per camera mean.”

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

.–. …. — – —  -… -.–  .— — … . .–. ….  -.-. .. .-. .- …

Photographic Thoughts — 12/14/2025 to 12/20/2025

“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” — Marc Riboud

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

Sunday, 12/14/2025: Posted photo — Third Sunday of Advent.

The Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. The color for this Sunday is rose symbolizing for us rejoice since the Christ child is coming soon.

Monday, 12/15/2025: Posted photo — Blowing Snow.

The new lift is getting ready for operation on Wachusett Mountain. They were making snow tonight near the lift to prepare for its opening.

It was a wonderful night to get out and hike. I like to hike in the winter since you do not have to deal with the rocks on the trails. I put on my microspikes and covered tonight’s four mile loop in about an hour and a half.

Tuesday, 12/16/2025: Posted photo — Driveway.

This is my neighbor’s driveway. I like photographing it every winter. I will most likely photograph it a few more times over the next few months. Because of its length, I think it looks like a typical winter scene here in New England.

Wednesday, 12/17/2025: Posted photo — Santa.

My in-law’s house has many Santa’s. My father-in-law is Santa during the holiday season. Many children look at him at awe during the year since they are near Santa.

We were over their house after the latest snowstorm shoveling out their driveway and walkway. They do not need to be out in the snow and walking on the slippery ground.

Thursday, 12/18/2025: Posted photo — Sunrise.

Here is a photo of the sunrise from my office. The sunrise looked better in the clouds when I looked to the west than when I looked to the east to see it.

Nature always seems to impress and surprise me. Sunrises and sunsets are similar, yet two are never the same.

Friday, 12/19/2025: Post photo — Getting Ready.

More snow making as the lift is getting ready to open.

Saturday, 12/20/2025: Post photo — Holiday Bouquet.

While out shopping, I saw this holiday bouquet. What caught my eye was the balloon liking decorations. I took this photo since I liked the colors of the decorations withing the flowers.

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

Sumens imagines consolateur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per camera mean.”

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

.–. …. — – —  -… -.–  .— — … . .–. ….  -.-. .. .-. .- …

Photographic Thoughts — 12/07/2025 to 12/13/2025

“What makes photography a strange invention is that the primary raw materials are light and time.” — John Berger

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

Sunday, 12/07/2025: Posted photo — Monument Valley, Arizona.

Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is in Arizona. The valley is made from sandstone monuments that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet. This photo is from the road looking back into Monument Valley after rain.

We were on our way to national parks in the area and drove through a storm. I looked back into the valley hoping to get a photo of a rainbow over the valley and did not see one. We did not enter the Tribal Park since we did not have time to do so, and we could see many of the monuments from the road.

Monday, 12/08/2025: Posted photo — Patterns in the Snow.

As I left my car this morning on my way into the office, I liked how the sun was reflecting off the patterns in the snow. I also like the color of the snow.

The topic for one of my photo projects this week is nature. I do not know how many opportunities I will have this week to take nature photos due to the lack of sun during the week. I took this photo just in case I could not take a photo on Saturday due to weather.

Tuesday, 12/09/2025: Posted photo — Roses.

Information on the color of roses and their meanings. I have posted rose photos in the past and will do so in the future. I will be using this blog post as the basis of some of my comments.

Common rose colors and meanings:

Red: True love, romance, passion, desire.
White: Innocence, purity, new beginnings, reverence, spirituality (great for weddings/funerals).
Yellow: Friendship, joy, caring, remembrance (evolved from jealousy to platonic love).
Pink: Admiration, elegance, gratitude, joy (lighter pinks for admiration, darker for thanks).
Orange: Enthusiasm, desire, fascination, energy, excitement.

Wednesday, 12/10/2025: Posted photo — Abstract.

This is a fill in photo that I took this week. I wanted to try something artistic.

Thursday, 12/11/2025: Posted photo — Aialik Glacier.

Aialik Glacier is in Kenai Fjords National Park and is in the Harding Icefield. You can find the Aialik Glacier a little over 15 miles from Seward and it is the largest glacier in Aialik Bay. Aialik Bay is in Kenai Fjords National Park.

We visited the glacier a few years ago as part of an Alaskan cruse.

Friday, 12/12/2025: Post photo — Star on Tree.

Here is a photo of the star that is on top of our tree. My brother-in-law made it for us.

Saturday, 12/13/2025: Post photo — Lights on our Tree.

Lights on our tree. Did a slight abstract photo.

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

Sumens imagines consolateur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per camera mean.”

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

.–. …. — – —  -… -.–  .— — … . .–. ….  -.-. .. .-. .- …

Photographic Thoughts — 11/30/2025 to 12/06/2025

“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.” — Destin Sparks

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

Short descriptions this week. I have been tired and have not had the opportunity I would like to better describe my thoughts for taking these photos. Refer to this week’s quote.

Sunday, 11/30/2025: Posted photo — First Sunday of Advent.

This photo was taken before the Advent candles were lit after I put up the numbers for the hymns. Advent is a time for hopeful anticipation, looking forward to the future with a spirit of expectancy.

Monday, 12/01/2025: Posted photo — Hiding Mouse.

During tonight’s hike, I saw this mouse hiding under a rock. I was expecting to move when I approached. As I put my light on the mouse, it just stayed still so I took out my phone and took its photo. A few weeks ago, the same thing happened on my hike with a frog. The frog did not move when I put my light on it.

Tuesday, 12/02/2025: Posted photo — Cottage.

We spent some time on Sunday afternoon finishing the closing of our cottage. We took the boats in and put in the storm door. The cottage is only a three-season cottage. We used it in the winter when going ice skating. I have not done that in a while. I need to get back to using it more.

As an interesting note, the cottage now sits on the west side of the lake. It was built on the eastern side of the lake. One winter, many years ago, it was brought to its current location by being moved over the ice.

Wednesday, 12/03/2025: Posted photo — Commute Home.

I love my commute home during the winter. Most of the time it involves a quiet hike in the woods. I especially like it when I break trail with my snowshoes.

My house is not far from the Mid State Trail. The Midstate Trail is a 92-mile hiking trail that extends from Rhode Island to the Wapack Trail in New Hampshire. I have hiked most of the northern section of the trial and have not spent much time hiking in the southern section.

Thursday, 12/04/2025: Posted photo — Snowshoeing.

More snowshoeing photos to show you. This was on my commute home in the heavy snow. You can see snow falling in this photo. It almost looks like it is raining.

Friday, 12/05/2025: Post photo — Icicles.

It is a very frigid day today. The temperatures were in the low single digits (deg F) this morning and is not expected to be much warmer. The cold does not bother me since I have the clothing to keep me warm.

Even with the cold temperatures, the sun is melting some icicles leading to droplets. This is not the best photo of the droplet but is the first of many icicle photos I plan on taking this winter.

Saturday, 12/06/2025: Post photo — Last Load of Wood.

Yesterday I received a text from my wife saying that we just received a load of wood. I was surprised since I did not let my wood guy know that we were ready for it. My son’s car was in the driveway at the time, so the delivery driver must have been very experienced.

This morning my son had a couple of cousins, and a friend came over to help. I was working on stacking the wood when the help showed up. So, I let the youngsters do the work while I did other things around the house.

Here is a photo of the wood stacked up. We can put five cords of wood into our four cord woodshed. We still had to stack about a half a cord outside the woodshed and we have burnt almost a half a cord already this winter since it has been bitterly cold at times.

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

Sumens imagines consolateur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per camera mean.”

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

.–. …. — – —  -… -.–  .— — … . .–. ….  -.-. .. .-. .- …