“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” ― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
I had a medical procedure done this week, so I did not have any quality time to put together the post I wanted. What I am posting this week is what I wanted to post during the summer when I was exploring our country.
These are some astrological events that I have photographed over the years.
For reference, most of the time when there is a cosmic event in our area, there seems to be cloud cover, and I miss the event. These are events that I was able to capture.
Sunday, 05/18/2025: Posted photo — Baily’s Beads.
Date: April 8, 2024
Location: Houlton ME
This was the second total solar eclipse that I have seen and photographed. I learned from the first eclipse and feel this is a better photo than the first time. I will be posting a photo of the first total solar eclipse in the bonus section of this post.
This was the first astrological event of this year.
This is the second astrological event of this year.
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, normally do not appear in my area. This was the second time this year that they appeared. The first time I just took out my cell phone and took photos so that I could practice settings. The next few nights, it was cloudy.
I was glad that they returned, and I obtained better photos. This is not as spectacular as some that I have seen since we have hills in the area.
This was the third event of the year. I took my camera to the summit of Wachusett Mountain to get this shot. The comet was moving away from us and was very faint. I am happy with this photograph.
This was the second comet that I have photographed and did not have the opportunity to so a lot of pre-planning for this shot since the idea of taking this photo was spontaneous.
Wednesday, 05/21/2025: Posted photo — Total Lunar Eclipse.
Date: January 24, 2019
Location: Westminster MA
I arose early one cold January night to take this series of photos. I wanted to capture the entire event. There is a location near our house that was open and sheltered, so I just set up camp there and took this series of photos.
If you look at the big crater, The South Pole-Aitken basin, you can see it swing from right to left.
Thursday, 05/22/2025: Posted photo — First Milky Way.
Date: July 11, 2019
Location: Canyonlands National Park, Needles Section
We were in a dark sky Nation Park, and I wanted to take a photo of the Milky Way for the first time. I had to wait until 2 am to take this photo. The moon set about 1:45 am and I wanted to attempt this photo with no moonlight.
Not bad for the first time.
Friday, 05/23/2025: Post photo — Two Lunar Eclipses.
Date: January 24, 2019, and March 14, 2025
Location: Westminster MA
I was not happy with the photos I took of the total lunar eclipse this year because of cloud cover. I wanted to put together another collage but decided to put the two eclipses side by side.
If you look closely, you can see the direction of the shadow in totality. The south pole in the first eclipse is bright and the north pole in this year’s eclipse is bright. This year’s eclipse came from the third quadrant to the first quadrant.
Saturday, 05/24/2025: Post photo — Comet NEOWISE.
Date: July 19, 2020
Location: Templeton MA
This was the first photo I took of a comet. I am very happy with the lighting and composition of this photo.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
Bonus Photos
B1 — Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME.
Date: April 8, 2024
Location: Houlton ME
Much improvement from the eclipse back in 2017.
If you want to know, I have a solar filter for my camera so that I do not burn out the sensors when taking photos of the sun when it is not in totality.
B2 — Total Solar Eclipse.
Date: August 8, 2017
Location: Maryville TN
This is the first total solar eclipse that I witnessed. I had my settings incorrect in this photo, so I was very happy to be able to see my second total eclipse and learn from my mistakes.
B3 — Bright Sky Milky Way.
Date: July 19, 2020
Location: Templeton MA
Just fooling around while taking photos of the Comet NEOWISE.
“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” — Elliott Erwitt
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.
I am short of words today since I have been busy during the week and only have a short time today to put this post together. I prepared each photo for this blog daily. I just did not sit down to write about it.
Sunday, 05/11/2025: Posted photo — Pansy.
“Here’s looking at you, kid” is a memorable quote from the classic 1942 film Casablanca. When I look at a pansy I hear this classic movie line.
Bugleweed is a broadleaf, evergreen to semi-evergreen, herbaceous perennial ground cover in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. This bugleweed is at my in-law’s house. I do like the look of this plant for it color and texture.
Tuesday, 05/12/2025: Posted photo — Bunny.
I was sitting down for lunch on Sunday and saw something go into the Hosta. It did not look like a chipmunk or a squirrel, so I waited for the animal to show itself. This bunny came out. I took out my cellphone and took a photo of it through a window. I do not like the way cell phones zoom into objects. They always look distorted.
It was funny watching the bubby fear birds and other small animals. It was having a feast in the Hosta.
Wednesday, 05/14/2025: Posted photo — Red Azalea.
Last week I posted a photo of the buds on this bush. He is the same bush in bloom. Later this week, I will post a photo of the pink azalea since it is getting ready to bloom.
Thursday, 05/15/2025: Posted photo — Puddle.
More rain this week. I needed a photo of water for my other photo project this week, so I took a photo of the raindrops in the puddle just in case I did not have the opportunity to take another water photo.
Friday, 05/16/2025: Post photo — Watermelon.
Some fresh fruit for outdoor gatherings this time of year.
Saturday, 05/17/2025: Post photo — Pink Azelea.
Here is a photo of the pink azalea bush in bloom. It is interesting how different colors of the same plant bloom at different times of the year.
These bleeding hearts are at my in-law’s house. I missed taking a photo of them last year since I was away when they bloomed.
Monday, 05/05/2025: Posted photo — Stickers.
Some of the 36 stickers on my water bottle from each one of the US National Parks I have visited. Let’s hope that I will be able to visit them all before they disappear.
One of the azalea bushes in our yard. We have a red one and a pink one.
Thursday, 05/08/2025: Posted photo — Sacrament of Confirmation.
Congratulations to one of my grandnieces for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is also the same day that the world has a new pope, Pope Leo XIV.
Friday, 05/09/2025: Post photo — Rain.
We are having heavy rain today. We had some last night on our way to and from Confirmation. We will have some more rain tomorrow.
Saturday, 05/10/2025: Post photo — Inspection Station.
Today was the day for my yearly vehicle inspection.
“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.” — Alfred Eisenstaedt
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.
Sunday, 04/27/2025: Posted photo — Pope Francis.
“Who am I to judge?” Pope Francis July 28, 2013. The Roman Catholic Church emphasizes a welcoming atmosphere, striving to be inclusive of all people. “Love one another as I have loved you” John 13:34-35.
Many Catholics forget, or pass over these teachings, to discriminate against migrants and others they do not like or judge people on one topic. Pope Francis pushed for these traditions, and some did not like him for that.
He may not have been the perfect pope. He was human just like us. Matthew 25:31-46 teaches us to love all: “Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44–45.
Communications tower on the summit of Wachusett Mountain.
It was a great and uneventful hike tonight. The adventures started on my ride home from the trailhead.
Let me tell you about kidney stones. Not the greatest of topics and some of you may not want to read on. I felt a stone coming on my ride home. I had stones before and knew the feeling. Most of the time the feeling goes away. Not tonight. I got home and was in pain. The decision was made to go to the ER to get it checked out. Good decision. I have an 11 mm stone that needs to be removed. Fun, fun, fun. It will be removed on Monday.
Tuesday, 04/29/2025: Posted photo — Flag.
This is my attempt at negative space photography, this week’s photo topic.
I made the photo a little darker to get more of the negative space feeling.
Wednesday, 04/30/2025: Posted photo — Tulips.
On my way to my medical appointment, I saw that one of the tulips in our yard had bloomed. I took multiple shots and liked this one because of the little spot of dew on it.
The tulips in our yard are hit or miss on their blooming. We have lost a few over the years and are glad to be about to see them bloom in daylight. The bad thing was that I was able to see them bloom in the daylight because I was going to a doctor’s appointment for my stones.
Thursday, 05/01/2025: Posted photo — Bluets.
Bluets are perennial wildflowers that may grow to a height of 6 inches. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The leaves that originate at the base of the stem are large, while the two leaves on the stem are small. Blue flowers with yellow centers first mature in mid-spring and continue into mid-summer.
We have many patches of bluets in our yard. They are there until the first mowing of the lawn.
Friday, 05/02/2025: Post photo — Fiddleheads.
Fiddleheads are the young, curled fronds of certain fern species, and are a popular and edible springtime vegetable. These fiddleheads grow next to our mailbox. I take a photo of them every year and have not ventured into tasting them.
I do see that many stores in our area are starting to stock them this time of year.
Saturday, 05/03/2025: Post photo — Spillway.
This is the spillway from the Barry Falls Dam. Stopped today on the way home from doing an errand.
From the Barre Falls Dam website (https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Barre-Falls-Dam/): The project of Barre Falls Dam was authorized by Congress in 1941 to reduce flood damage from storms like those that devastated New England in 1936 and 1938. Construction of the project began in May 1956 and was completed in July 1958 at a cost of $2 million. A portion of Route 62 was relocated to accommodate the project. The project has prevented $53.2 million in flood damages since it was built (as of September 2011).
I went to the dam a few years ago to look for a geocache and wanted to go back. Soon I will be able to go back and explore more of the area.
“Once you learn to care, you can record images with your mind or on film. There is no difference between the two.” — Anonymous
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Using the old format for my photos this week. I have been very busy at work and tired when I came home from work.
Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.
Sunday, 04/20/2025: Posted photo — Easter Sunday.
Hallelujah, the Lord has risen!
Today is the holiest day of the liturgical year. Today is the day the Lord has risen to save up all. Immigrants, minorities, people we do not like, people with different views from ours, believers, non-believers, everyone! Jesus said “Love one another as I have loved you” in John 13:34. If you do not love immigrants, minorities, people we do not like, people with different views from ours, people with different political views, believers, non-believers, everyone, then do you not love yourself? The first of the 10 Commandments is “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me.” People are forgetting this and are following false gods today.
We should all love everyone and stop the hatred in our hearts.
Happy Easter to all.
Monday, 04/21/2025: Posted photo — Disc Golf.
RIP Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis). Some people disagree with your teachings since you were not conservative enough for them. You have direct lineage of back to Saint Peter and were chosen by the faithful. You were a very Holy man who truly taught us, and showed the world, how to be humble. You did not want attention to yourself, only the teachings of the church.
A popular sport is disc golf. There are a few courses in our area, and I always wanted to try the sport. My son, my niece, and their friends started to play it more often last year.
This is a photo of our son practicing putting. This is my niece and her husband’s goal. We did purchase a goal for our son so that when they are not on a course, they can practice.
Tuesday, 04/22/2025: Posted photo — Mount Monadnock.
On my hike this week, I saw some interesting clouds. I do not know if this photo gives you the feeling of the clouds as it did for me on the hike.
The photo is of Mount Monadnock in the distance. I was attempting to show the waviness of the clouds as they formed over the mountains.
Wachusett Mountain ski area is getting a new high-speed quad. To make room for the new lift, they are dismantling the old one.
Thursday, 04/24/2025: Posted photo — Sunflower.
A sunflower to brighten your day. I saw this while out shopping.
Friday, 04/25/2025: Post photo — Nest Reno.
We have an abandoned nest on a light next to our front door. A bird built it last year. I did not remove the nest. This year, a bird decided it was a great place to live and built a new nest onto the old one.
Saturday, 04/26/2025: Post photo — Crowded Room.
Today they laid Pope Francis to rest. People paid him respect by wearing black. Wearing black to funerals primarily symbolizing mourning and respect for the deceased. It’s a visual expression of grief and solemnity, acknowledging the loss and showing reverence for the departed.
Now for today’s photo.
The data team and staff in a small room in Lexington this afternoon. Last Monday was Patriots’ Day and it marked the semiquincentennial of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Lexington would have been a busy place to visit last weekend so they held the competition today.
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.
This week’s comments are small since I had to take an unexpected trip and did not bring my computer with my.
Sunday, 04/13/2025: Posted photo — Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday recalls the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to be willing to follow him.. In those days, only kings road on donkeys and their donkeys were not allowed to walk on the dirt, so the people put down palms.
Monday, 04/14/2025: Posted photo — Airplane.
I had to take a quick trip for work today. Did not know that I was traveling until mid afternoon. I jumped on a plane tonight and headed to my destination.
Tuesday, 04/15/2025: Posted photo — Chicago.
Part of my travel was a layover in Chicago. This is when I was leaving the airport and heading to my final destination.
I did drive by a sign for Churchill Downs on my way to a meeting. Since someone else was driving, I did not see the racetrack. I did see this horse and jockey at the airport on my way home.
Friday, 04/18/2025: Post photo — Good Friday.
This is the second holiest day of the year. It is the only day that there is no mass, just a service. Good Friday is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
When I was young and going to Catholic school, we would have day off from school so that we could reflect on our lives from noon to three o’clock in the afternoon.
I took a photo of this brick that was in our yard since it has the work “pray” on it. It seemed appropriate for today.
Saturday, 04/19/2025: Post photo — Daffodils.
Spring weather is here today. The daffodils started to bloom this week. We have a few groups of them in our yard.
We had some snow in the area. I did a little walk in the woods and saw this snow-covered log. There is a little bit of elevation where I live so the weather is different in our town versus the next town over. It was raining in the other town and snowing at our house.
Monday, 04/07/2025: Posted photo — Foot Bridge.
After cancelling my hike the last two Monday’s, I decided to go tonight. There was more snow on the trails. The footprints on this bridge were the only sign that someone else hiked today. There were other locations where there were no footprints in sight. We did see a deer trail along off one of the trails.
The trails were muddy with no snow on the trees at lower elevations. As we started to hike towards the summit, there was more snow on the trees and on the trails. The trails were wet, and the rocks were slippery due to the water flowing over them. The summit was in the clouds, and I could see heavier snow cover ahead. The hiking was going to be slow to be safe, so I made the call not to submit this week. The hike would have lasted longer than planned since the group started to explore a new unmarked trail earlier in the hike, so it slowed us down. I will explore this trail on my own so that I can lead the group on this trail in the future.
Tuesday, 04/08/2025: Posted photo — Pineapple.
For this week’s photo project, the subject is detail. I took this photo, and the photo of the dragon fruit that I will be posting tomorrow, to show the details in the fruits. Many fruits have great details and there is so much texture and details in a pineapple.
If the pineapple did not show enough detail, I will be posting this photo of dragon fruit. Like a pineapple, dragon fruit has texture and details on its outer skin. I have posted details about dragon fruit in the past. I purchased a dragon fruit and will give a report on how it tastes in future posts.
Thursday, 04/10/2025: Posted photo — Driveway.
Snowing here again. I took this photo this morning just in case the snow melts today. The temperature is fluctuation more over the last few days and there is a possibility of more snow tonight.
Friday, 04/11/2025: Post photo — Round Meadow Pond.
We received snow last night. Woke up this morning with a little more than a dusting last night. I took some photos of the snow in our yard, just before the bobcat came strolling by me.
On my way to work, I passed Round Meadow Pond. I took a side trip to take a photo of the dam, since the area around the pond gave me the impression to do so. I was also looking for the bold eagle that I saw flying over the pond on my way home last night.
Saturday, 04/12/2025: Post photo — Still Growing.
Nature is amazing. These tulips started to grow before the snow, and they continue to grow after the snow. We had over 7 inches of snow last night. With the weather constantly changing this time of year, tulips, daffodils, and crocus are blooming and their leaves can be seen above any snow cover.
“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Stieglitz
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.
Sunday, 03/30/2025: Posted photo — Saint Anne.
Saint Anne is the mother of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This statue is outside the church I attend. We had a sister parish Saint Anne’s that had to be closed for safety reasons. The statue was moved in front of Saint Denis.
Monday, 03/31/2025: Posted photo — Roses.
Bad weather meant shopping today. Took a photo of some roses instead of food this week.
Tuesday, 04/01/2025: Posted photo — Stream.
Since the weather was wet the last few days, the streams and other water crossing on Wachusett Mountain were flowing. This is the stream at the junction of Administration Road and Jack Frost.
Wednesday, 04/02/2025: Posted photo — Overlook.
This is an overlook on Wachusett Mountain. There was a sign to the overlook for many years. The sign has been removed since there were too many teenage parties at the site, leaving to a dangerous situation. The group tonight was going to the summit for sunset. There was plenty of time, so I took them on the side trip to the overlook.
The windmills in this photo are at the trailhead we started from.
Thursday, 04/03/2025: Posted photo — Bowling.
This is a fun bowling dice game we have at home. We play it as either ten pin or candle pin. Most of the time, we play it a ten pin.
Friday, 04/04/2025: Post photo — More Roses.
I did not get out tonight to take a photo. I took this photo during my shopping trip last Tuesday night.
Saturday, 04/05/2025: Post photo — Levitation.
Here my attempt of a levitation photo. This is my brother’s first place Pinewood Derby trophy from August 1962.
Photo by Joseph Ciras 