Photographic Thoughts — 05/03/2026 to 05/09/2026

“You don’t take a photograph. You ask quietly to borrow it.” — Unknown

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

Sunday, 05/03/2026: Posted photo — Wilderness First Aid.

I renewed my Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications this weekend. The first couple of times that I took the class, it was through Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities, Inc. (SOLO). This time it was through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). I found both good programs with NOLS being more informative. There were more hands-on training and scenarios with all participants being victims and rescuers. There is information and techniques that I will use from both programs.

WFA needs to be renewed every two years. I need it to lead hikes in the upcountry and winter. It is also a great skill to have for life in general. This is one training that I hope only to use during training sessions.

Monday, 05/04/2026: Posted photo — X Marks the Spot.

Some contrails that cross to make an “X”. Contrails are line-shaped ice clouds produced by aircraft engine exhaust or pressure changes at high altitudes, typically above 25,000 feet.

Tuesday, 05/05/2026: Posted photo — Flowers.

My typical weekly photos of flowers. These were in a Mother’s Day bouquet at a store that I shopped in today.

Wednesday, 05/06/2026: Posted photo — Fiddleheads.

Fiddlehead ferns are edible and is one of the early signs of spring. These fiddleheads are growing near our mailbox. This is a yearly photo for me. I like the details of the plant.

Thursday, 05/07/2026: Posted photo — Azure Bluets.

This small, delicate perennial is found growing in compact tufts, 8 in. high. The plants may cover broad expanses. Tiny flowers are pale blue with yellow centers, tubular, four-lobed, solitary, and terminal. Spatula-shaped leaves occur in basal rosettes. Stem leaves are small and the stems are unbranched.

This is also a yearly photo that I take just before I mow them down. They will still be in our year for a few more days since our lawn is wet from the on and off rain we are having this week.

Friday, 05/08/2026: Post photo — Further Development.

The sugar maple is developing more leaves. I have shown you over the last few weeks the development of these leaves. I will keep showing you until they are mature.

Saturday, 05/09/2026: Post photo — Slow Shutter Speed.

I needed a slow shutter speed photo for this week’s photo project, so I took a photo of a ceiling fan. We have a fire in our wood stove today to take the chill out of the house.

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 — 04/26/2026 to 05/02/2026

“You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.” — Joan Miro

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

Sunday, 04/26/2026: Posted photo — Music.

Singing in Church is an essential form of prayer, praise, and active participation in the Mass. St. Augustine once said that singing is “Double” Prayer. This phrase highlights that singing adds an emotional and spiritual depth to prayer that spoken words alone might not.

I stay up in the choir loft with my family, my mother-in-law, and other friends. I sing softly since I do not have a great voice.

Monday, 04/27/2026: Posted photo — Monument.

The plaque reads: “10th Mountain Division. In memory of comrades who gave their lives in the Aleutians and Italy in WWII. This elite division of alpine troops spearheaded the victorious fifth army against the mountainous gothic line fortresses and across the PO Valley to shatter the German defenses in Northern Italy. It was their love of mountains, coupled with their dedication to human freedom, that they inspired hundreds of young patriots to join the 10th mountain division. Many returned to their beloved mountain. Those heroes who did not return are still fondly remembered as brave men whose souls rest forever. Sempre Avanti.”

This plaque is near the summit of Wachusett Mountain and was installed in 1975.

Tuesday, 04/28/2026: Posted photo — Vote.

Many people complain about this administration and the past administration. They only vote every four years, or do not vote at all. I say if you do not vote in your local elections then you have no grounds for complaining about federal elections. Voting is your voice. Article 1 of the Constitution gives us the right to vote. This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections. Many constitutional amendments and federal laws protecting voting rights have been passed since then.

The only people that do not want people to vote are those who either did not read the Constitution or are attempting to silence the people. This opinion is not just mine. I have heard this from Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and others from all sides of the aisle.

Voting is your right. Please vote every chance you have to do so.

Wednesday, 04/29/2026: Posted photo — Bleeding Hearts.

Bleeding Hearts symbolize romantic love, heartbreak, and passion. It is frequently used in shaded garden borders, woodland gardens, and cut floral designs. There is a four-to-six-week period in which bleeding hearts grow. For many years, I have seen these bleeding hearts grow and by the time I get back to them to photograph, they are past.

Thursday, 04/30/2026: Posted photo — Stone Wall.

A closeup photo of a stone wall. Field stone walls are traditional, durable structures built from natural, weathered stones (often New England fieldstone) that are either dry-laid or mortared, offering a rustic, earthy look. Stone walls found in woodlands are primarily relics of 18th to 19th-century European agriculture, built to delineate property, manage livestock, or dispose of rocks cleared from fields.

Friday, 05/01/2026: Post photo — Stay on the Trail.

One of the many trails on Wachusett. This sign is on one of the steeper trails on the mountain. As you can see, the trail drops off shortly after this sign. This section has a 17° grade, which is categorized as a steep grade.

This is the middle section of Jack Frost Trail. This is one of my favorite sections of trail in the winter. Because of its steepness and location of the slope, there is plenty of opportunity to practice my winter skills.

Saturday, 05/02/2026: Post photo — First Moon Photo.

This is the first moon photo I took with my new camera. I kept playing with the setting. The settings kept jumping around on their own when I was adjusting in manual mode.

There is much to learn about this camera.

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.”

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