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

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

Sunday, 01/04/2026: Posted photo — Nativity.

Today we celebrate the Nativity. Traditionally the Nativity is on January 6 but is now celebrated on the Sunday closest to January 6. The Nativity is also called Little Christmas, and some cultures still exchange gifts and spend time with family and friends.

On the feast of the Nativity, the three wise men, or magi, brought the gifts of gold, frankincense, and Myrrh to Jesus. The number three is not in the Bible. Scalars have deduced three since there were three gifts.

Monday, 01/05/2026: Posted photo — Window Light.

This is a window light, or window candle. Candles are put in windows as a sign of welcoming, hope, and faith. I have also read that the window candles also were used in Ireland to show the locations of priests that were hiding during a period of religious persecution.

Tuesday, 01/06/2026: Posted photo — White Rose.

A white rose is a symbol of purity, innocence, reverence, and new beginnings. This was an attempt to have a submmital for the Rule of Thirds photo for this week.

Wednesday, 01/07/2026: Posted photo — Malanga.

A malanga is a root vegetable from the tropics that is like a yam. This is one of the many vegetables that are in my local grocery store. I am always intrigued by the different fruits and vegetables in the market. I like to do a little research on them before deciding whether to purchase them to try them out. The research is to find out how to eat the item and the health benefits of the item.

Thursday, 01/08/2026: Posted photo — Rule of Thirds.

This week’s photo topic is the Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds is a compositional guideline that suggests dividing your frame into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines, then placing key subjects or elements along these lines or at their intersections.

In this photo, I have lined up the gatehouse with one of the vertical lines and the top of the falls with one of the horizontal lines. The rule of thirds is a technic that I attempt to use in all my photos.

Friday, 01/09/2026: Post photo — String of Lights.

We are taking down our Christmas tree tomorrow, so I just wanted to take one more abstract photo of the lights.

Saturday, 01/10/2026: Post photo — Ice Fishing.

I went to the transfer station, aka the dump, today. It was such a bight morning that I decided to go to Leominster State Forest to take a photo of this tree. As you can see in the photo, there were people on the lake ice fishing. If you look closely, you can also see an outline of a skating rink.

With the warm temperatures from yesterday and today, I do not know if I would trust the ice to be safe. We have had some very cold days, so I guess the ice is thick enough to support people.

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.”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

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