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October 29, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 10/22/2023 to 10/28/2023

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” — Ansel Adams

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

Sunday, 10/22/2023: Posted photo — Stained Glass Window.

Two symbols of the Christian faith, wheat and grapes, which often signify the body and blood of Christ as the redeemer of mankind are shown here in this stained glass window.

This window is in our church just as you go down the stairs from the choir loft. Why did I take this photo? I took it because I liked the way the light was going through the window.

Monday, 10/23/2023: Posted photo — Point Pelee Mums.

Point Pelee Mums are a different flower to me. I may have seen them before and noticed them. Now that I am almost 14 years into my photo project, I look for more subjects to photograph. The name is derived from the warmth of the colors that come from their reflection of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, and hot glowing volcanic lava.

Tuesday, 10/24/2023: Posted photo — Night Hike.

My normal Monday night hiking was paused yesterday due to a gathering of the hiking group that I help start. It was a great get together and was plan on doing it again. We see many faces on social media, I have run into a few of them on the trail, and it was great to get together with the for a social event. This was the first time that I met the people that hike every morning or during the day when I am at work. I have passed many on the trail, not knowing their names.

Tonight, I hiked with a different group. This group hike is by invitation only. The people in the group are fellow AMC leaders and other people that hike often. This was the second time that I hiked with this group. The first time was just before the FOT48 since one of the people in the group was co-leading the FOT48 hike with me. Tuesday night was one of the nights that I did not know an organized hike existed. I am glad I found this group. I plan on hiking with this group once a month on a week that I am not leading a Monday night hike.

Wednesday, 10/25/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise.

Once again there was a great sunrise. Unfortunately, my “good” camera was not with me when I saw the sunrise, so I had to take out my cell phone.

Information off the internet: “Because the sun is low on the horizon, sunlight passes through more air at sunset and sunrise than during the day, when the sun is higher in the sky. More atmosphere means more molecules to scatter the violet and blue light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of your line of sight. The other colors continue on their way to your eyes. This is why sunsets are often yellow, orange, and red. Because red has the longest wavelength of any visible light, the sun is red when it’s on the horizon, where its extremely long path through the atmosphere blocks all other colors.” (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108135522.htm)

Thursday, 10/26/2023: Posted photo — Mushrooms Again.

Rain, not as much as in previous weeks, but the mushrooms are still growing. This is a group of mushrooms growing in the same area as the mushrooms I posted last week. According to Google Lens, they are Pholiota squarrosoides. These mushrooms grow in clusters (rarely alone or scattered) on the wood of hardwoods. These are growing on the hardwood that I am seasoning to burn this winter.

Friday, 10/27/2023: Post photo — October Full Moon.

Traditionally, people in the Northern Hemisphere spent October preparing for the coming winter by hunting, slaughtering, and preserving meats, giving this Full Moon its Anglo-Saxon name Hunter’s Moon. The name was added to the Farmer’s Almanac in North America and is used widely today. The full moon is not technically until tomorrow night, but I like to take a photo of the full moon the day before or the day after the moon is officially full. The moon tonight is a Waxing Gibbous moon at 99%.

Saturday, 10/28/2023: Post photo — Composite.

It was a warm and sunny day today. That allowed me to do some yard work today, cleaning up the remaining of the tree that I fell a few weeks ago and doing an initial racking of the yard. For my 52 week photo project, the challenge this week is using a tripod. One way to use a tripod is to do a composite photo.

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

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October 8, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 10/01/2023 to 10/07/2023

“When I photograph, what I’m really doing is seeking answers to things.” — Wynn Bullock

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

Sunday, 10/01/2023: Posted photo — Tabernacle.

The tabernacle is a liturgical furnishing used to house the Eucharist outside of Mass. This provides a location where the Eucharist can be kept for the adoration of the faithful and for later use (e.g., distribution to the sick). The word tabernacle means “dwelling place.”

This is a photo the tabernacle in our church. This looks like a new tabernacle for our parish. We had a priest that worked with the parish to bring more people to Mass.

Monday, 10/02/2023: Posted photo — Sunset.

This is one of the windmills at a trail junction on Wachusett Mountain. It is not really a trail junction; it is the location at a trailhead. This week was the first Monday in a long time that we had to use our headlamps at the end of the hike. Last week some of the members of my group made it out just in time without headlamps on. When I hike at night, my headlamp is not used until it is needed. Others turn on their headlamps too soon, just when it is starting to get dark. This could be the difference between an experienced night hiker and people who are just starting to experience hiking at night.

Tuesday, 10/03/2023: Posted photo — Mums.

Chrysanthemums (mums) are one of the most popular fall garden flowers. Most mum plants are easy to grow with their basic needs being full sun, rich soil, good drainage, and good air circulation. There are hundreds of varieties available in a range of shapes and sizes that can provide blooms from late summer through fall. Mums symbolize joy, life, friendship, luck, and rebirth.

These mums were near one of the stores I shop. The sun was shining off them almost calling me to photograph them. The color of these mums seemed bright to me.

Wednesday, 10/04/2023: Posted photo — Japanese Yew.

Japanese Yew is an evergreen tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Once again today the sun was shinning off these plants and looking very photogenic. We have not seen the sun much this summer so any photos of plants in the sunshine is worth taken.

Thursday, 10/05/2023: Posted photo — Foliage.

From the USDA:

“During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanin that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.

Certain colors are characteristic of particular species:

  • Oaks: red, brown, or russet
  • Hickories: golden bronze
  • Aspen and yellow-poplar: golden yellow
  • Dogwood: purplish red
  • Beech: light tan
  • Sourwood and black tupelo: crimson

The color of maples leaves differ species by species:

  • Red maple: brilliant scarlet
  • Sugar maple: orange-red
  • Black maple: glowing yellow
  • Striped maple: almost colorless

Some leaves of some species, such as the elms simply shrivel up and fall, exhibiting little color other than drab brown.”

The leaves in this photo are of the sugar maples in our yard just starting to turn. The leaves are wet since it is raining again here in north central Massachusetts.

Friday, 10/06/2023: Post photo — Wet Leaves.

These are the same leaves as yesterday on my driveway after the rain.

Saturday, 10/07/2023: Post photo — Mushrooms.

These are mushrooms growing on a piece of wood that I have being seasoned in our yard. Most of the wood from when this tree was cut has the same mushrooms growing on them. It was a wet summer, and I am hopping that the wood is not rotten. If it is, I will use all the wood for outdoor fires either at my house or at the cottage.

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

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August 22, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 08/13/2023 to 08/19/2023

“The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.” — Susan Meiselas

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

Sunday, 08/13/2023: Posted photo — Callahan Tunnel.

The Sumner Tunnel is named for William H. Sumner, son of Gov. Increase Sumner, who served from 1797 to 1799. Opened to traffic June 30, 1934. It was originally a two-way road that carried traffic in both directions, until the opening of the parallel Callahan Tunnel in 1961.

The twinned Sumner and Callahan tunnels, after all, begin and end in the same place on both sides of the harbor, a single entity for the casual observer. They were built decades apart, the Sumner in 1934, and the Callahan in 1961. With increasing volume, a single tunnel with traffic moving on one lane in each direction proved dangerous and inadequate, and the Turnpike Authority opened the Callahan on Nov. 11, 1961. Workers toiled 24 hours a day, six days a week crafting 14,500 tons of steel into the nearly mile-long tunnel.

I was stuck in traffic as a passenger and was able to take this photo of the entry point of the tunnel.

Monday, 08/14/2023: Posted photo — Farm Stand.

Along the roadside this time of year are farm stands. The vegetables this year seem to be larger than in past years due to all the rain over the last few months. We stopped at this farm stand looking for some corn, but they only had zucchini and summer squash. We gathered some. Fresh fruits and vegetable are great to eat.

Tuesday, 08/15/2023: Posted photo — Fire Pit.

Sitting by the lake and having a fire is one of the most relaxing things to do during the summer. We had a family reunion on my wife’s side of the family and sat around the fire making smores. My wife and her sisters took out their guitars and we had a musical performance. I cannot play the guitar, but my wife and son can play. I played keyboards a long time ago and have not played in a while.

Wednesday, 08/16/2023: Posted photo — Candles.

Christians adapted the use of lit candles (and oil lamps in the Eastern Roman Empire) for Mass, liturgical processions, evening prayer ceremonies, funeral processions, and, again, to show reverence to the reserved Blessed Sacrament. Moreover, there is evidence that lit candles or oil lamps were burned at the tombs of saints, particularly martyrs, by the 200s, and before sacred images and relics by the 300s. St. Jerome (d. 420) in his Contra Vigilantium attested to this practice. Note, however, that this practice probably existed well before our available written evidence. https://catholicstraightanswers.com/why-do-we-use-votive-candles/

These candles are in the vestibule of our church. I have posted a photo of these in the past. I wanted to post a photo of them again since so many of the have been lit. The stand that these candles are on was dedicated to one of my friends and his family.

Thursday, 08/17/2023: Posted photo — Providence RI.

Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island. Providence was one of the first cities in the country to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries.

This photo was taken during the wedding rehearsal dinner for my niece. It was a great dinner on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

Friday, 08/18/2023: Post photo — Purple Loosestrife.

Purple loosestrife is a wetland plant with showy purple flowers arranged on flower spikes.

Leaves are lance-shaped with smooth edges and grow up to four inches long. They are usually arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem and rotated 90 degrees from the pair below. Leaves sometimes appear whorled (radiating out from a single point) around the stem. A recognizable feature is the square-shaped stem, which is generally four to six-sided. A single plant is made up of multiple woody stems. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/index.html

These Purple Loosestrifes are near one of the trailheads on Wachusett Mountain.

Saturday, 08/19/2023: Post photo — Chicken of the Woods.

A highly sought-after top edible mushroom, Chicken of the woods is excellent for beginner foragers. There are no real lookalikes, and the bright orange shelf-like growth makes it easy to see. Finding Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sp.) is known to inspire wild chicken dances in the middle of the forest. With this dense, meaty textured mushroom, you’ll eat well for days.

This mushroom has a lemony, meaty taste. Some think it tastes like its chicken namesake; others describe the flavor as being more like crab or lobster. Whatever your opinion, the chicken fungus makes a great substitute for meat in almost any dish. https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/chicken-of-the-woods.html

Saw these as I took a hike the morning of my niece’s wedding. I took out my Seek app to identify them. I do not like to eat fungi, so I did not try them out. It is good to know that they are edible. If I am ever lost in the woods and of need of food, I would try them out.

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

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June 11, 2023

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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.

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May 28, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 05/21/2023 to 05/27/2023

“Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.” — Tony Benn

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

This week’s adventures.

Sunday, 05/21/2023: Posted photo — Angel of Patience

The Angel of Patience statue by Design Toscano is a majestic sculpture. Patience is the ability to endure delay, trouble, or suffering without getting upset. This statue is in one of the gardens at our church. I took this photo between masses while selling cakes for the Relay for Life.

Flower of the day: Alyssum

This aromatic bloom emits a tranquil, spiritual vibe that promotes emotional equilibrium. Apart from being a symbol of beauty, the sweet alyssum protects the wearer from dangerous situations.

Monday, 05/22/2023: Posted photo — Hiking/Newt/Big Dipper.

Monday night is hiking night. Here is a photo of some of the members of the group of hikers I lead tonight. I took them on some of the more difficult trails. Some people may consider Wachusett Mountain not a difficult mountain to hike. I could bring them on some trails that would change their minds.

During the hike, I came across a newt. A newt is a salamander. The terrestrial juvenile phase is called an eft. Newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

When I arrived back home from my hike, I saw the big dipper. My phone has a night sky feature so I tried it out on the big dipper.

Flower of the day: Lady Slipper

At one of the trail junctions, we saw some Lady Slippers. A Pink lady’s slipper is a large, showy wildflower belonging to the orchid family. It has two opposite basal leaves with conspicuous parallel veins and a large flower at the end of an erect stalk. The flower is magenta to whitish-pink; sometimes the whitish pink flowers will have darker pink venation. Rarely the flower may be all white. This plant grows 6 to 15 inches tall and flowers generally between May and July. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cypripedium_acaule.shtml)

Tuesday, 05/23/2023: Posted photo — St Anne and Mary.

Saint Anne is the mother of Mary. There were two churches in Ashburnham, St Annes and St Denis. St Annes Church had to close due to safety reasons and this statue was moved to St Denis.

Flower of the day: Lavender

Lavender is a well-known and fragrant perennial plant that will come back every year with gray-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and a compact shrub form. It will grow at a moderate pace, often adding a few inches to its size each year. Lavender can be toxic to pets like dogs and cats.

Wednesday, 05/24/2023: Posted photo — Jack Frost Trail.

Jack Frost is a bipolar trail on Wachusett Mountain. The lower part of Jack Frost is flat, the middle section is what I consider the third most difficult climb on the mountain, and the last third is a mixture of easier and harder sections. A few years ago, the blazes were changed to have a paw print in them. This phot was taken just before the hard section of the trail.

Flower of the day: Azalea

I put out a description of an azalea a few weeks ago. These azaleas are on one of the hiking trails on the mountain. These look different than the ones that I had previously posted. It might be because of the altitude difference between my yard and this location.

Thursday, 05/25/2023: Posted photo — NH 4K Scroll.

As you may or may not know, I have hiked all the 4000+ feet tall mountains in New Hampshire for the second time, completing it last year just after I finished rehab of my ankle. Besides getting a patch to put on my pack, the AMC send out scrolls. There was a banquet to receive your scroll. I could not attend so it was mailed to me, arriving today.

Flower of the day: Lupine

Lupine is a plant of the pea family with deeply divided leaves and tall colorful tapering spikes of flowers.

Friday, 05/26/2023: Post photo — Monument.

There is a memorial at the summit of Wachusett Mountain dedicated to the 10th mountain division. Since Memorial Day is approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to post.

Flower of the day: Pansy

Pansies are the cheerful flowers with upturned “faces.” They love cool weather and are popular to grow in spring and fall. They’re also edible, adding color to salads, drinks, and cakes. Here’s how to plant pansies and keep them growing and blooming.

Saturday, 05/27/2023: Post photo — Sycamore Tree.

I think this is a sycamore tree. The sycamore tree is an immense durable tree with a rapid growth rate and expansive root system. It has an upright, pyramidal crown when young and as it matures develops a rounded, irregular form, with a scaffold of large diameter branches. The most unique feature of the sycamore tree is its camouflage-looking bark. (https://www.savatree.com/sycamore-tree.html#:~:text=The%20sycamore%20tree%20is%20an,is%20its%20camouflage%2Dlooking%20bark).

Flower of the day: Sweet William

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is a short-lived, herbaceous perennial or biennial with a height of about 2 feet that is often planted as an annual flower. The flowering plant, with average pointed green leaves, is ideal for use in cottage gardens, perennial beds, or containers. The flowers come in many vibrant shades and are attractive to pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. (https://www.thespruce.com/sweet-williams-growing-guide-5200995)

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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May 21, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 05/14/2023 to 05/20/2023

“The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.” — Susan Meiselas

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Happy Mother’s Day to all who are mothers and who care for others as if they were mothers.

More flower and plant educational posts this week.

Sunday, 05/14/2023: Posted photo — Mother’s Day.

I love this photo and I post it almost every year for Mother’s Day. This is my mother bringing home my youngest brother in 1968. No there is not three sets of twins, just one. I am a twin and am one of the small boys next to my mother. The tall two are the oldest, three years apart. The middle two are numbers three and four, three years apart from them and the number two. Then there is five years between the middle ones and me and my twin and then three years between me and our youngest brother.

Flower of the day: Sand Cherry

The Purpleleaf Sand Cherry boasts deep maroon foliage well accented with white and fuschia blooms in its growing season. This is a low maintenance, medium sized shrub. It tends to establish itself very quickly. This sand cherry is at my in-law’s house.

Monday, 05/15/2023: Posted photo — Robert Goddard.

“In 1926 Robert Goddard was considered crazy when he launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket from his Aunt Effie’s farm. The Auburn Rotary Club felt that the Rocket Man deserved recognition on the landscape, so it built Goddard Park, which opened in 1970. Unable to afford a NASA rocket as a centerpiece, the Club instead settled for a Polaris Missile. Although visually satisfying, the missile is, awkwardly, a solid-fueled rocket.” https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15412

Robert Goddard was born a few streets away from where I grew up in Worcester, MA. My friends and I would often ride our bikes by his childhood home, daydreaming about what it must have been for him to launch that first rocket. This is the same Robert Goddard that the Goddard Space Flight Center is named after.

I have visited Goddard Park many times as a child and was in the area today and decided to make the Polaris Missile and the full-size replica of his rocket my photos for today.

Flower of the day: Fiddlehead

Technically a fern, fiddleheads are sweet like asparagus, grassy and snappy like a great green bean, with a touch of broccoli stem. They grow in the month of May in this area. Fiddleheads are rich in potassium, iron, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Tuesday, 05/16/2023: Posted photo — Dragon Fruit.

Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that’s low in calories and high in fiber and antioxidants. Some people say it tastes like a cross between a pear and a kiwi. You can slice and eat the fruit as-is, try it with yogurt, or add it to a smoothie or salad. I did not pick one up to try. I wanted to do some research on them before purchasing to see how to eat them. Next time I go shopping, and if they are still in the store, I will purchase on and report out on how they taste.

Flower of the day: Canna

Cannas are spectacular summer bulbs that thrive in the heat of July and August. Sometimes called “canna lilies,” these perennials are unrelated to true lilies. In warm climates (USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10), canna bulbs can be left in the ground over winter, and the plants perform reliably as perennials, coming back year after year. These cannas were in a flow assembly ready for purchase at one of the stores that I shop on Tuesdays.

Monday night is hiking night and Tuesday night is shopping night every week.

Wednesday, 05/17/2023: Posted photo — Oak Pollen.

It’s the time of year that trees start to bloom. We have may hardwoods in our yard. This is some of the pollen from our oak trees. Out yard is covered with this pollen, and it will take a few windy days and hours of yardwork to get rid of it all.

Flower of the day: Phlox

Phlox is one of those dependable summer flowers any large sunny flowerbed or border shouldn’t be without. There are several different kinds of phlox. Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors. There are many patches of phlox around my house. These are some that I took on a hike around the neighborhood.

Thursday, 05/18/2023: Posted photo — Star Trail.

This is a composite of 640 photos. I set my camera on my tripod before going to bed, set it to take consecutive 17 second exposures, and then stacked them all together in a star stacking program. The 17 second exposure uses the 500 Rule. The 500 rule is the classic rule for taken photos of the stars without having star trails. The other rule I could have used is the NPF Rule that considers the magapixels of my camera. With the NPF Rule, my exposure time would be 14 seconds.

Flower of the day: Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata), taken in Jasper National Park, Alberta. Castilleja, commonly known as paintbrush, Indian paintbrush, or prairie-fire, is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes.

Friday, 05/19/2023: Post photo — Rabbit Again.

The rabbit was just eating my grass as I was leaving to go shopping for tomorrow’s cake sale. I needed to pick up some fresh fruit to put on the cakes. This rabbit was not bothered by me and allowed me to take this photo. One of these days I will take a photo of this rabbit with my DSLR and not my cellphone.

As a side note: on Saturday morning I saw two rabbits in our yard.

Flower of the day: Hydrangea

From a garden care website: “Blooming in spring and summer, the hydrangea is considered a shrub. But despite their ability to be rather large showstoppers in your yard, how to grow hydrangeas isn’t a question even the novice gardener will need to ask – these beauties all but grow themselves. Reaching up to 15 feet in height, the hydrangea grows quickly and often fills in a space in just one summer.” https://gilmour.com/hydrangea-care

Saturday, 05/20/2023: Post photo — Cake.

This is a vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream. One of the many cakes for sale for our teams ACS Relay for Life team. We are selling them after all the massed this weekend at our church in Ashburnham MA. Our house has been full of cakes for the last few months with this week being decorating week. To help out our team go here: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=104259&pg=personal&px=57692320. Currently I have not donations on my page. The start of my fundraising is the cake sale. Please help me out. Thank you.

Flower of the day: Japanese Maple

Well not a flower but a tree. We planted this Japanese maple a few years ago and it is still growing strong. We will have to transplant it soon because we are adding on to our house in the next few years an the maple would be in the middle of our new garage if we did not move it.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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May 14, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 05/07/2023 to 05/13/2023

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

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

I have a flower of day this week. I am attempting to change the format of this blog to have one or more educational items per day to make reading my blog more interesting.

Sunday, 05/07/2023: Posted photo — Pyx.

A pyx is vessel containing the consecrated bread used in the service of Holy Communion. Although pyxes were made in various shapes, the most common form was that of a small cylindrical box fitted with a cover, which is generally conical. The pyx in this photo is the one that I use every week to give Holy Communion to the choir.

Flower of the day: Pericallis

Pericallis senetti provides daisy-like blooms in early spring when the weather is cool. They produce vibrant blues, magentas, violets, and can be bi-colored. They can tolerate low temperatures but are sensitive to frost. These are located outside our church.

Monday, 05/08/2023: Posted photo — On the Trail.

What would Monday night be without a hike? Don’t know. Every Monday that I hike does not happen is a disappointment. The good thing about missing a Monday night hike is that I can spend more time with my family. Today was a wonderful day to hike. The temperature was in the goldilocks zone, not to hot and not to cold. The black bugs were not bothering me as much as other members of the hiking group.

Flower of the day: Hobblebush

“Viburnum lantanoides, hobblebush (also known as moosebush, witch-withy, witch-hobble, witch-tangle and tangle legs) can grow more than ten feet tall, and often at least as wide, in its sprawling, errant, fashion. Branches extend outward, arch and descend, re-rooting where they touch the ground, forming a small copse. This lissome habit is most evident in winter when the hobblebush is leafless and the shrub’s structure can be traced. What appears to be a solitary shrub is usually an aggregate of clonal offspring called ramets.” https://wildseedproject.net/2015/06/viburnum-lantanoides-hobblebush-adoxaceae/

Tuesday, 05/09/2023: Posted photo — Abstract Rabbit.

Came home from shopping tonight and saw this rabbit in our yard. I took out my phone to take this photo. I took this photo from a distance so that I did not disturb the rabbit. It looks like my camera went into the digital zoom range causing this abstract effect. You can see the tree debris that I still need to clean up in this photo.

Flower of the day: Pansy

Pansies are the cheerful flowers with upturned “faces.” They love cool weather and are popular to grow in spring and fall. They’re also edible, adding color to salads, drinks, and cakes. Here’s how to plant pansies and keep them growing and blooming.

Wednesday, 05/10/2023: Posted photo — Start of Third Leg.

I am leading a mystery hike in a few weeks. The group is meeting at a trailhead, and I am giving them direction at trail junctions. The directions will only consist of bearings and distances. This is the location of the third leg of my trip.

If you are in the area and would like to join me, sign up for the trip on this web page: https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/144329. You do not need to be an AMC member to join the hike.

Flower of the day: Dandelions

To show the benefits of the once-beloved plant, here are items you might not know about dandelions.

  • Dandelions have deep roots in history throughout the ages.
  • Dandelions were world-famous for their beauty.
  • Dandelions are a green and growing first aid kit.
  • Dandelions are more nutritious than most of the vegetables in your garden.
  • Dandelions are good for your lawn.
  • Dandelions are masters of survival.
  • Dandelions are among the most expensive items in the grocery store.
  • Herbicides used on lawns to kill dandelions take a terrible toll on wildlife.
  • But there’s a safer way to have a dandelion-free lawn.

To learn more, go to https://www.mofga.org/resources/weeds/ten-things-you-might-not-know-about-dandelions/.

Thursday, 05/11/2023: Posted photo — Dam at Round Meadow Pond.

Here is a photo of the dam at Round Meadow Pond. This is a location that I photograph often.

Flower of the day: Bluets

Common bluets produce both nectar and pollen. Their short flower tubes make their nectar accessible to our short-tongued native bees. Quite a few species of native bees including small carpenter bees and some of our sweat bees will visit common bluets. Several of our smaller species of early butterflies will also visit common bluets.

Friday, 05/12/2023: Post photo — Hitting Off the Tee.

My son purchased a hitting tee for the junior high baseball team he coached. I did some hitting practice. Have not swung a bat in a while. I swung the old way with two hands on the bat as Ted Williams did. He attempted to coach me by having me remove my top hand off the bat as the modern hitters do. I like the old way of hitting.

Flower of the day: Malus baccata (Siberian crab apple)

Siberian crab apple inhabits northerly areas of New England, although certain cultivars grow as far south as Florida. The tree produces white-pink, non-hairy (glabrous) flowers in spring along glabrous branches. With a pleasing, rounded crown, abundant flowers and small, edible fruits, this crabapple has been introduced widely as an ornamental tree.

Saturday, 05/13/2023: Post photo — Lilac.

I have a photo challenge this week that is titled detail. Chances. Details are having your eyes instinctively lock on to a small part of the image before looking at the whole picture. I attempted this by putting a mononuclear on my cell phone and taking this photo.

Flower of the day: Azaleas

Azaleas are typically deciduous while other rhododendrons are evergreen. Azalea flowers are funnel-shaped, somewhat two-lipped, and often fragrant. These azaleas in our yard have survived the last heavy snow that fell. The bush was heavily loaded with snow. There is still a large area of the bush that has not yet bloomed.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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April 30, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/23/2023 to 04/29/2023

“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.” — Steve McCurry

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 04/23/2023: Posted photo — Votive Stand.

Church candle stands are known as votive stands. Votive means something that is ‘offered or consecrated in fulfilment of a vow’. It represents the prayer that is being said for one’s self or someone else, which is why they’re also known as a ‘prayer candle’.

This one in our church was dedicated last week to one of my friends and his family. He passed away a few months ago from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His wife passed away a few years ago from cancer, and his oldest son passed away about 15 years ago from a car crash. They were such active members in our parish. He and I were among the founding members of our church’s men’s Bible study group.

Monday, 04/24/2023: Posted photo — Hiking.

Weather was great for a hike tonight. It seems that most of the time that I lead a Monday night hike, it needs to be cancelled because of the weather. The cancellations happen more in the winter and spring because getting wet is more dangerous that in the warmer months. I took this photo of the flowing water along the trail with my phone. One of the days in the next few weeks, I will hike with my DSLR to take better photos, if the water is still flowing.

Tuesday, 04/25/2023: Posted photo — Graffiti.

“Solon”. Graffiti on the mountain carved by Solon Heywood. He also has his full name carved into stones on the summit. Solon was the son of Seth Heywood, one of the founding fathers of a neighboring town. Solon Heywood passed away on Aug 6, 1883, at the age of 48 so this graffiti is very old.

Wednesday, 04/26/2023: Posted photo — Sour Orange.

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), also known as sour orange and Seville orange, is a citrus fruit with a multitude of uses. It’s commonly used in complementary medicine, herbal weight loss supplements, and certain foods and toppings like marmalade.

I never heard of a sour orange before. It is great to go shopping to find new and interesting food.

No, I did not try it.

Thursday, 04/27/2023: Posted photo — Progress.

Two weeks ago, I posted a photo of our sugar maple budding. Two weeks later, here is the progress.

Friday, 04/28/2023: Post photo — Burls.

Tree knots are also known as “burls”. Burls form on the outside of trees as a reaction to stress. Wood from a burl is prized by woodworkers for its intricate design, and some will pay top dollar for it. These are at the junction of the West Side and Old Indian Trails on Wachusett Mountain. They most likely we formed after a lightning strike on the tree.

Saturday, 04/29/2023: Post photo — Artwork.

“Artrageous is a troupe of multi-talented Live performance artists, world-class singers, and recording artists, highly trained dancers, and audience motivators, and veteran musicians hailing from the high desert of New Mexico.” https://www.artrageousshow.com/.

We went to the show last night. The audience lived it. I was not too crazy about the show. Here is some of the artwork that was created at the show.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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April 16, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/09/2023 to 04/15/2023

“The world I was trying to show was one where I felt good, where people were nice, where I found the tenderness I needed. My photos were like a proof that such a world could exist.” — Robert Doisneau

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

John sent me another quote to use. Thank you, John.

Sunday, 04/09/2023: Posted photo — Easter Sunday.

The following information was taken from the History Channel.

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament of the Bible, the event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died in roughly A.D. 30. The holiday concludes the “Passion of Christ,” a series of events and holidays that begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles, also known as “Maundy Thursday”), Good Friday (on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed) and Easter Sunday. (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-easter)

Woke up this morning to see the Easter bunny outside of my window.

According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the United States and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.

From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during Lent, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration. (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/easter-symbols)

Monday, 04/10/2023: Posted photo — Summit Photo.

What would Monday be without a hiking photo. Here is a photo of my pack on the fire tower on top of Wachusett Mountain.

Tuesday, 04/11/2023: Posted photo — Garlic.

Garlic is the edible bulb from a plant in the lily family. It was traditionally used for health purposes by people in many parts of the world, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Japanese. Currently, garlic is most promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Fresh garlic, garlic powder, and garlic oil are used to flavor foods. Garlic may be used topically (applied to the skin).

Wednesday, 04/12/2023: Posted photo — Daffodil.

Daffodils are a hardy perennials that come back year after year, spreading and often naturalizing. They are one of the first signs of spring. These just seem to appear overnight in our yard. The snow is almost clear and the daffodils are starting to blossom.

Thursday, 04/13/2023: Posted photo — Aunt Leona.

Today is the 30th anniversary of my father’s passing. It is also a day that I went to my aunt’s wake. She was my mother’s oldest sister and passed away at the age of 98. There is only one more sibling on my mother’s side. She is in here early 90s. All the siblings that passed due to natural causes passed into their 90s. One of her brothers was lost at sea.

Friday, 04/14/2023: Post photo — Mount Monadnock.

Mount Monadnock at sunset is such a great thing to see.

Saturday, 04/15/2023: Post photo — Buds.

The sugar maple plants are starting to bud in this nice weather.

On a side note: now that the snow has melted, it is time to get out into the yard and clean up all the broken branches and cut down some damaged trees.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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April 9, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/02/2023 to 04/08/2023

“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” — Jim Richardson

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 04/02/2023: Posted photo — Crocus.

Crocus are among the very first flowers to bloom each spring. In cold climates, their cheery blossoms will often open when there’s still snow on the ground. That is what happening at our house. We had snow at this location up to a few days ago and the crocus were growing under the snow. Many places south and east of this area that the crocus are flowering. They are not yet in this area due to our elevation. You can have a carpet of crocuses or a chorus of croci. Both are the correct plural form of the word.

Monday, 04/03/2023: Posted photo — Certificate.

Finally received my AMC leader certificate and badge. The only thing is that the certificate is incorrect. It should also have a winter local leader certification on it. I am in the process of working on my backcountry leadership certificate. Will be doing some hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire starting in June. I have already hiked the forty-eight four thousand footers in New Hampshire twice and have led many hikes in them. Now I need to go through the formal training to receive my certification.

Tuesday, 04/04/2023: Posted photo — Flowers.

Shopping day. Saw these flowers in one of the stores. I took a photo of the one with the bunny since it is close to Easter. I took a photo of the roses because I like the way roses look.

Wednesday, 04/05/2023: Posted photo — Ready to Hike.

I lead a group on a full moon hike. The full moon is not until tomorrow. It rises so late on a weekday that the hike was held earlier. There was a good turn out for the hike, even though overcast sky was predicted. The clouds held out until after our hike was over. I started and ended with the same number of people, and the same people. Nobody was hurt so I would call this a successful hike.

Thursday, 04/06/2023: Posted photo — More Long Exposure.

Still playing with the long exposure settings on my camera. With the melting snow, the streams on the trails are starting to flow with more velocity. This would be a good shot if the dead leaves were not in it. Then again, I still am experimenting with this new feature.

Friday, 04/07/2023: Post photo — Clouds.

What a wonderful day today is. The temperatures were up in the high 60’s starting the day in the 30’s. This time of year, in New England, the temperature can fluctuate so quickly. I hear in other parts of the country that if you do not like the weather, just wait a minute. True in New England.

Saturday, 04/08/2023: Post photo — Glasses.

Had my eyes checked today for the first time in almost 10 years. I need new glasses and looking forward to getting them in a couple of weeks. This is a photo of some of the frames in the women’s section. I took this when my wife was selecting new frames.

Happy and Holy Easter to all.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.