Photographic Thoughts — 11/05/2023 to 11/11/2023

“Photography is truth.” — Jean-Luc Godard

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

Many citations this week since I have a big audit at work and did not have much time to sit and write my regular blog.

Sunday, 11/05/2023: Posted photo — Forbes Library.

The library is located just of the campus of Smith College. Our son had a cubing competition at Smith. Smith College is a private liberal arts women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith and opened in 1875. It is the largest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of women’s colleges in the Northeastern United States. The Seven Sisters are a group of seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that are historically women’s colleges: Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Wellesley College are still women’s colleges. Vassar College is currently a coeducational college and Radcliffe College was absorbed in 1999 by Harvard College. One of my sisters-in-law is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.

“Forbes Library, the public library for Northampton, Massachusetts, provides a wide range of information, materials and services to all of the people of Northampton and Massachusetts.  The library’s magnificent building offers a friendly, welcoming physical environment which encourages the civic, intellectual, and cultural pursuits of the public. Forbes serves as a community meeting place in which curiosity, free inquiry, and lifelong learning are supported and nurtured. The library is open 56 hours per week, and many resources are available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” https://forbeslibrary.org/info/

Monday, 11/06/2023: Posted photo — Worcester at Night.

Worcester, MA, the second largest city in New England and my hometown, from the summit of Wachusett Mountain tonight. Since we had the time change this weekend, Monday night hikes will start in darkness giving an extra challenge to my hike. I enjoy hiking at night since it is so peaceful, and the sounds of nature are amplified.

Tuesday, 11/07/2023: Posted photo — Election Day.

Did my civil duty today and voted. Only one item on the ballet so turnout was low. My philosophy is that you should not complain about election results if you do not vote. In our town we have a town meeting and a special town meeting once a year. I also attend those meetings. Again, if you are not engaged in the town, city, state, or country politics, even doing the simple thing as voting, you should not complain or contest the outcome of elections.

Wednesday, 11/08/2023: Posted photo — David Hockney Look.

David Hockney was one of the big artists involved in the pop art movement in the 1960s. I saw a work of his a few years back in this style and wanted to do it myself. I created a script in Paint Shop Pro to make this effect for me.

Thursday, 11/09/2023: Posted photo — Saint Mary the Assumption.

“Like most other New England communities, Northampton was predominantly Protestant throughout its first few centuries, but this began to change after the Industrial Revolution, when the region saw large-scale immigration from Catholic countries. Here in Northampton, most of the early Catholics were French-Canadian, and began arriving by the mid-19th century. Within a few decades there were several Catholic parishes in Northampton, including Saint Mary of the Assumption, whose church building was built here on Elm Street in 1881.” https://lostnewengland.com/2018/07/st-marys-church-northampton-mass/

Friday, 11/10/2023: Post photo — Wood.

Just a photo of a pile of wood in our yard. This wood is some the wood from a tree that I fell that was leaning over our son’s batting cage.

Saturday, 11/11/2023: Post photo — Veteran’s Day.

This is a WWII photo of my father, a navy veteran.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 10/29/2023 to 11/04/2023

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” — Dorothea Lange

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

Sunday, 10/29/2023: Posted photo — Stained Glass Window.

Stained Glass windows two weeks in a row. This is the stained glass at a neighboring church. This is looking up into the choir loft. I just love older stained glass windows. The way the build churches now, there is not as may stained glass windows as in the past.

Stained glass windows in churches depict Biblical individuals, groups of people, stories, and/or moralizing images. Stained glass windows were once used to educate people who could not read. By looking at the painted scenes in the glass, people could learn about the stories of the Bible and religious teachings.

Monday, 10/30/2023: Posted photo — What is it?

Occasionally, I post a closeup of an item to see if anyone is reading my blog. Please identify the object in this photo.

I will respond later in the week to let you know if your answer is correct.

Tuesday, 10/31/2023: Posted photo — Colors.

I posted about the colors of flowers in my 10/15/2023 to 10/21/2023 blog. Tonight is my normal shopping night and I saw these bouquets of roses in one of the stores and wanted to show how the different colors interact, or complement, each other.

The weather is starting to cool around here. Tonight will be one of the first nights this season that the temperature will get close to the freezing point. Time to order wood for the winter. We do have wood left over from last season to take the chill out of the house.

Wednesday, 11/01/2023: Posted photo — Mass of Remembrance.

Today is the All Saints’ Day. The high school attended held a memorial mass for all alumni that passed during the year. St. John’s is a close-knit community with a very supportive alumni base. It was a moving mass in which they read the names of all the alumni, parents, and relatives of alumni that passed.

The entire school community attended, including the new junior high school (the junior high school started up recently) and all the high school students. It was great that the old-time teachers remember me and all my six brothers that have all attended the school.

Thursday, 11/02/2023: Posted photo — Oriental Bittersweet.

This is an invasive species of plant that is in our yard. It invades fields, field edges, and forests, forming dense mats that smother trees and shrubs. I keep cutting them back and trying to eradicate, but they still grow in our yard. I cut them off trees, pull them out of bushes and plants, and mow them over. Just one of the yard cleaning tasks of homeowners in this area.

Friday, 11/03/2023: Post photo — Quick Shot of the Moon.

Walking outside on this brisk fall day, I saw the moon. The moon caught my eye just above the brown of the foliage that have gone past peak and the blue sky. I did not take a photo of the entire tree so that I could get the moon in the photo.

Hope you like it. Not sure if this photo stirs the same emotions as seeing composition live.

Saturday, 11/04/2023: Post photo — Winter Hiking Workshop.

There was a winter hiking workshop today sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Worcester Chapter. At this workshop, lessons were taught about what it needed to have a safe hike in the winter. The training was for beginner winter hikers and was a start of winter hiking series that will increase the difficulty of winter hikes. I attended as a hiking leader who wanted to brush up on my winter hiking skill and to understand what the chapter tells beginner hikers.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 09/24/2023 to 09/30/2023

“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.” — Alfred Eisenstaedt

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

Sunday, 09/24/2023: Posted photo — Falls.

A little water flowing. Very unusual that there is low water flow after all the rain we have had lately.

Monday, 09/25/2023: Posted photo — Erosion.

One of the ladies I hike with showing us how deep the trench in the road is due to erosion.

Tuesday, 09/26/2023: Posted photo — Flowing Water.

This is more like it. One of the many falls that I passed during my hike. The water was moving very fast on the mountain.

Wednesday, 09/27/2023: Posted photo — Whoopie Pie.

Some of the Whoopie Pies made for our church bazaar.

Thursday, 09/28/2023: Posted photo — Rose.

I took this photo today to use for my other photo projects. The subject of this week’s project is red. I was going to do a selective color of the red. Instead, I used this photo.

Friday, 09/29/2023: Post photo — Discussion.

The ladies having a discussion during my Monday night hike. The rain stopped just in time for our hike.

Saturday, 09/30/2023: Post photo — Fall Fest.

Fall Fest is an Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) event. It was held by be Western Mass Chapter of the AMC. I am a leader/member for the Worcester Chapter of the AMC. I was there to teach people how to navigate using a map and compass.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 09/03/2023 to 09/09/2023

“Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future.” — Sally Mann.

Flags on the 48 event this week. Here some photos of past FOT48 hikes I have done.

“On September 11th, 2001 the consciousness of United States of America was undeniably altered by overwhelming and devastating acts of terrorism, so far reaching in their intensity that our country will forever carry the scars. Thousands of lives were lost in a fleeting moment, immeasurable families shattered and countless hearts broken.

We in the hiking community continue to honor the deceased with a tribute: flying the American flag atop all 48 four-thousand foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire on Sunday, September 11. By demonstrating our steadfast unity in this challenging endeavor, we also hope to express our unwavering support to the families, friends and communities whose losses are beyond comprehension and whose suffering we remember in our hearts.” https://www.flagsonthe48.org/

All of the mountain descriptions were taken from the website http://4000footers.com/nh.shtml.

Sunday, 09/03/23: Posted photo — 2013 Garfield.

“Garfield Mountain is a 4,500 foot mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire (Grafton County) in the White Mountains. It lies in the Franconia Range along with Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, Mount Flume and Mount Liberty. It is also along the edge of the Pemigewasset Wilderness.”

Fighting rain and wind. We dedicated this hike to both the victims of the 9/11 attack and the Boston Marathon bombing.

Monday, 09/04/23: Posted photo — 2014 Zealand.

“Mount Zealand is a 4,260 foot mountain located in Whitefield, New Hampshire. The mountain is in the Twin Range (along with 8 other mountains; 7 of which are 4,000 footers) of the White Mountains. Zealand Mountain stands on a spur ridge, northeast of Mount Guyot.”

Nice hike. Not much of a view at the summit of Zealand.

Tuesday, 09/05/2023: Posted photo — 2016 Mt. Carrigain.

“Mount Carrigain is a 4,700 foot mountain located in Livermore, New Hampshire. It is located in the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountains. The mountain is named after Phillip Carrigain, New Hampshire’s Secretary of State from 1805-1810. One of the sub peaks of Carrigain is Vose Spur, which is on the New England Hundred Highest hiking list.”

Beatify day for the tribute hike.

Wednesday, 09/06/2023: Posted photo — 2017 Mt.Tecumseh.

“Mount Tecumseh is a 4,003 foot mountain in the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. It is the shortest mountain on the AMC’s official 4,000 footers list.”

The first of my AMC hikes. I was not a leader at the time, one of my brothers was the leader. I did one more hike with the AMC before leading this year’s hike.

Thursday, 09/07/2023: Posted photo — 2019 Mount Moriah.

“Mount Moriah’s summit is 4,049 feet and is located 5 miles Southeast of Gorham, NH. It is part of the Carter-Moriah Range in the White Mountains. The shortest route up to the summit is up the Carter-Moriah trail, which goes over Mount Surprise (2,194’) before reaching Mount Moriah. The trail is relatively easy, compared to other NH 4,000 footer mountains, but, it can be very dangerous when wet, because a big portion of the Carter-Moriah trail is solid rock. (very slippery when wet, or icy!)”

Back to the regular group. The round trip on Moriah is over 10 miles. Much on the trail is on steep ledge.

Friday, 09/08/2023: Post photo — 2022 Mount Hale.

“Mount Hale is a 4,055 foot mountain in the Twin Range in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, Grafton County in the White Mountains. The mountain is named after Reverend Edward Everett Hale.”

First major hike after I fractured my ankle in February 2022. On this hike, I finished my second round of climbing the 48 four thousand footers in NH.

Saturday, 09/09/2023: Post photo — 2023 Middle Carter.

“Middle Carter Mountain is a 4,610 foot mountain in the White Mountains. It sits in the Carter-Moriah Range, which runs along the northeastern side of Pinkham Notch.

The summit itself is wooded, so there are no views. But you can enjoy some great views shortly before and after the summit along the Carter-Moriah Trail, which is also part of the Appalachian Trail.”

The group I normally hiked with, did not do the hike this year so I hiked as AMC leader. This hike certified me as a three-season upcountry hiking leader.

Here is the complete list of peaks that my group flew the flag. Some of these hikes had other 4000 foot mountain peaks that were bagged along with them:

Garfield 4500 ft — 9/14/13
Zealand 4260 ft — 9/12/15
Carrigain 4700 ft — 9/11/16
Tecumseh 4003 ft — 9/9/17
Hancock 4422 ft — 9/8/18
Moriah 4049 ft — 9/14/19
Monroe 5384 ft — 9/12/20
Willey 4285 ft — 9/11/21
Hale 4054 ft — 9/11/22
Middle Carter ft 4610 — 9/9/23

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

Photographic Thoughts — 08/27/2023 to 09/02/2023

“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” — Diane Arbus

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

Sunday, 08/27/23: Posted photo — Hotdog Stand.

Art Bradish Snack Bar is in North Grafton, MA. The Bradish family were campers at the campground that my in-laws owned. My wife’s family goes there often, and my wife worked there during the summers her family ran the campground. We went there on one of the last weekends they were opened.

Monday, 08/28/23: Posted photo — Rain in the Distance.

During my hike today I was going to take photos of the sunset. Looking off into the west, I saw rain. I like the look of rain in the distance.

Tuesday, 08/29/2023: Posted photo — Clouds.

The sun shining of some clouds at sunset.

Wednesday, 08/30/2023: Posted photo — Blue Moon.

A seasonal Blue Moon is the traditional definition of a Blue Moon and refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons according to NASA. Whilst the second definition — borne out of a misunderstanding of the first — is a monthly Blue Moon which refers to the second full moon within a single calendar month.

The Super Blue Moon — one of the biggest and brightest moons of the year — rose tonight; inspiring skywatchers around the world to reach for their cameras and capture some incredible photographs. This was the last Super Blue Moon for 14 years.

It has been a while since I took a good photo of the moon. I like the way this one came out.

Thursday, 08/31/2023: Posted photo — Sunrays.

Rays coming out of the clouds at sunset.

Friday, 09/01/2023: Post photo — Rainbow.

Driving down the road the other day, we saw a rainbow. I was in the back seat of the car, took out my phone and took this camera.

Saturday, 09/02/2023: Post photo — Field of Goldenrod.

Saw this field this morning as I was verifying the coordinates for a map and compass course I will be teaching soon.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 06/04/2023 to 06/10/2023

“And if I go, while you’re still here… Know that I live on, Vibrating to a different measure, Behind a thin veil you cannot see through. You will not see me, So you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar together again, Both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to the fullest, And when you need me, Just whisper my name in your heart, …I will be there.” — Emily Dickinson

A small tribute to my oldest brother. My he rest in peace.

Sunday, 06/04/2023: Posted photo — Baby.

10 months and 6 days after my parents were married, my oldest brother was born. What a life and many adventures that were ahead of him. 16 years, 6 months, and 29 days later, our youngest brother was born. The first four were each three years apart from each other. Number five, me, came 5 years later. Another brother came four minutes later and then three years later.

Monday, 06/05/2023: Posted photo — Poetry.

My brother was a poet. He wrote hundreds of poems and started a company that wrote poems for weddings. He wrote on anything. We found poems on items from the backs of tickets, backs of envelopes, notepads and electronically. We have a few large boxes full of poems that one of my brothers will type and publish.

Tuesday, 06/06/2023: Posted photo — Family.

He loved family. These are two of my favorite photos. There are not three sets of twins, just looks that way. The one with our mother was the first time all seven of us were together. The other photo is my favorite Easter photo. People enjoy looking at us in our Easter best with our dog in front of our Easter egg tree.

Wednesday, 06/07/2023: Posted photo — High School Graduation.

Here is a photo of his high school graduation. We all ended going to the same high school.

Thursday, 06/08/2023: Posted photo — Peace Corps.

The adventure in his life stared by joining the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps brings together skilled, committed Volunteers with welcoming host communities for service opportunities in more than 60 countries.

Volunteers live and work side by side with community members on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. He spent in time in the Peace Corps in Marrakesh Morocco teaching English and poetry to the children. That was an experience that he talked about during his life.

Friday, 06/09/2023: Post photo — Baseball.

He loved baseball. The Red Sox was his team. And as stated by one of his friends at his funeral Mass, It was always “wait until next year” starting on opening day. Hid and my Red Sox never won anything. My son’s Red Sox won four championships.

This is a photo of my brother at Polar Park in our hometown of Worcester. The WooSox, as they are called, are the AAA team for the Boston Red Sox. AAA is the highest level of baseball before the players make it to the major league.

Saturday, 06/10/2023: Post photo — The End was too Soon.

This is a modification of his prayer card. The photo that originally picked was good, but I like this photo and I wanted to use it in this post.

My brother passed away very unexpectedly last week at the young age of 72. He will be truly missed by all who met him. The people in his apartment complex only said good things about him.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.