Need A Push?

Foggy days are the perfect time to go to the beach and playground -- no waiting your turn and no crowds.  This is the swing set at Merrymount Beach on a recent foggy morning.

Foggy Bay

This is the foggy Atlantic across from yesterday's "Old House".  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

Today's 1940 house is located near the Atlantic Ocean on Shore Avenue in the Merrymount section.  That glassed-in porch beckons me and a good book; though it would be difficult to take my eyes off the ever changing bay across the street.  We will be seeing pictures of the foggy bay in days to come.

Abstract In The Rain

While waiting for a spring shower to pass, I captured this shot through my car window near Quincy High School. 

Travel Tuesday: Prague, Czech Republic

 Today's travels take us to Lesser Town Bridge,  built in the mid 1500s, and one of the gateways to the popular Prague destination: Charles Bridge.

Frame Of Steel

The addition to the YMCA is moving along.  I took this through the raindrops on my car window.  Happy Monochrome Monday!

Watching The Clouds Pass By

Do you ever just watch the clouds?  I always wondered if we move, or the clouds move, or it's a bit of both . . .

Travel Tuesday: Prague, Czech Republic

St. Vitus Cathedral, founded in 1344, is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and is the largest, most important Roman Catholic church in the Czech Republic.   It is located within the walls of Prague Castle and a "must see" if you visit this area.  This medieval Gothic marvel not only contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors but the verticality and stained glass work must be seen and experienced. 

Light & Shadow

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Single Purple Blossom

Added a little enhancement to this springtime blossom.

Natural Form

My favorite zigzag tree on the northern end of Wollaston Beach survived a few powerful storm surges this past winter.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

I like the stained shingles on this 1935, American Four-Square house at 293 Holbrook Road.

Blossoms & Brick

Springtime view of the Munroe Building looking north on Hancock Street

Travel Tuesday: Sandwich, Massachusetts

Rocks, sand and surf - let's go!

On The Rise

The South Shore YMCA addition on Coddington Street is beginning to take form.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

--This 1890 "Victorian" on Greenleaf Street, just received a new coat of paint!  Check out the old paint scheme - which do you like better?  The building is presently used as an office building.

Pastel Petals

The squirrels haven't bothered with these yellow beauties.

Travel Tuesday: Paris, France

April in Paris at Tour Eiffel was a dream come true.

Blooming!

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Scarlet Ruffles

I really enjoy watching the tulips unfold.  (It must be my Dutch heritage.) I caught this one just before a pesky squirrel decapitated it.  What's with that?  The interesting thing is that the yellow tulips a few feet away haven't been touched - only the red ones.

Our First Education President ???

Sculpture of John Adams is located at City Hall Plaza.

 I think John Adams got it right when he said:

“Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially of the lower class of people, are so extremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant.” -John Adams


With this quote in mind, I have to wonder if our elected city officials will finally find the resources in next year's budget to reinstate the K-8 school library program . . . Quincy children have been doing without this essential component of their education for three years!

Cherry Blossom Time

 It's cherry blossom time at United First Church in Quincy Center.
 Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

Today's building is located at 118 Beacon Street in Boston.  I wonder whether Quincy granite was used on its 1907 facade.  The pink magnolia blossoms look so beautiful against the gray stone.

Proposal

I think big sister knows just the right technique to get little brother to listen to her.  I like his orange pants and her orange flower and check out the size of that maple tree trunk.

Travel Tuesday: Boston, Massachusetts

This is a springtime in Boston that I'll never forget.  This picture in the Boston Public Gardens was captured on my way to the marathon last week. 

Spring Canopy

Beacon Street in Boston is bursting with spring!

Gone Fishing

I hope we can soon return to appreciate the innocence and simple joys of life.

Spring Reflections

Spring is beautifully reflected in the panes of glass at Quincy City Hall.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Flags & Flowers

Amid the glorious cherry blossoms at City Hall Plaza, flags were lowered to half-staff yesterday, in memory of the victims of the bombings in Boston during the running of the marathon this past Monday. 

Travel Tuesday: Boston, Massachusetts

I traveled to the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday as I have for many years on Patriots Day.  I captured this photo of the international flags before the horrific explosions shrouded the scene.  My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

Birds Take Flight

The peninsula of Squantum can be seen in the background from this Wollaston Beach vantage point.  Happy Monochrome Monday! 

Intertidal Visitor

This seal decided to wait out a tide and check out this human with a camera.  What a treat!

Looking Ahead And Behind

This was captured looking north to Boston from the Wollaston train station.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

I like the wrap around porch of this turn-of-the-century home on Winthrop Ave.  Porch season is coming!

Bye Baby Bunting...

This backpack baby wrapped in the blue tarp-like covering is enjoying a nap as dad hunts for metal treasure.

Travel Tuesday: Hull, Massachusetts

My favorite beach south of Quincy is fantastic Nantasket Beach located in Hull.  It's fine grade of sand makes it one of the finest beaches in New England, especially at low tide.

Treasure Seekers

Happy Monochrome Monday!  A lot of sand got moved around on local beaches this past winter which has brought the "metal men" out looking for treasure.  This capture is from Nantasket beach with Boston Light in the distance.

Marsh Canals

This view of Blacks Creek looks towards Fenno Street and Beechwood Knoll School.

Into The Woods

Enjoy Skywatch Friday at Merrymount Park.

Thursday Is "This Old House" Day

This 1930 house on Sturtevant Road is an unusual style house in Quincy. 

Early Spring At Peacefield

The grounds at the Adams National Historic Site are beginning to green-up.

Travel Tuesday: Hancock, Massachusetts

The clouds added a dramatic touch to this magnificent 1826 Round Stone Barn at the Hancock Shaker Village.  I really like all the primary colors in this image that I captured in the summertime.  I need to revisit this place soon.

Walkies

If you're bundled up, Wollaston Beach is a great place to walk your dog 3 seasons of the year.  The shoreline houses in the Merrymount neighborhood can be seen in the background.

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

This yellow house on Sturtevant Rd. was built in 1938.  I like how the slender shutters on the second floor fit into the gables.

Blooms!

The crocuses are blooming at the Adams Mansion . . . a sure sign it's spring!

Travel Tuesday: Maui, HI

This is the idyllic life I would welcome in my "twilight" years.  Life doesn't get much better than this!

Pre-season

The Squantum Yacht Club withstood nature's fury this winter and looks beautiful bathed in early spring light.  Happy Monochrome Monday!

Sand Painting

I felt compelled to capture these abstract tree roots at Wolly Beach today ~ painted by the most prolific artist, namely "nature".

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

Today's old house, located at 114 Faxon Lane, was built in 1951.  I like how it looks with a little snow on its gambrel roof and front yard.  The puffy clouds almost look like chimney smoke.