June Tranquility

Tranquility is topic for "Theme Day" in the City Daily Photo blogging community this month.  This tranquil scene was taken in the Squantum section of Quincy.  

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants  Enjoy!

It's also Skywatch Friday.  You can see more skies from around the world by clicking HERE.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

This is the "before" picture of last week's 1883 Victorian on Winthrop Avenue.

I captured this photo yesterday.  Isn't the transformation amazing without the porch and shutters?  The new paint colors really bring out the gorgeous details of this old house.

Tidal Remains

The Atlantic Ocean left these items behind near Mound Beach in Quincy Point.

Memorial Day, 2012

Take a moment to remember the soldiers who died while serving their country.

Heaps Of Clouds

We have had some great cloud sightings the last couple of days.  These cumulous clouds are located over the salt marsh near Fenno Street.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

This 1883 Victorian, located at 136 Winthrop Ave., is in the midst of a major facelift and energy savings upgrade.  Come back next week to see the before and after . . . quite a transformation.

Knead A Massage?

Over the last year or so I have noticed a preponderance of massage parlors popping up in the Wollaston Center area.  Either "Wolly" women are well pampered and ache-free or we have market saturation or perhaps something else.  I have had my "spies" looking into this and the interesting thing is that we hardly ever see anyone frequenting many of these massage establishments which leads me to think that there isn't a need for 8 of them.   Wouldn't you think that if there wasn't a customer base then the business would close after a time?

Red Train Coming!

This train is arriving at Wollaston station, heading intown.  Some day I would like to capture trains on all 3 sets of tracks.

Outdoor Venue, 2012

Bank of America Pavilion is one of Boston's favorite summertime theater venues, seating 5,000 people and located along Boston's waterfront.   I will be one of the proud parents attending my son's graduation ceremony here today and the weather forecast looks delightful for the event.

The whole waterfront area in South Boston is undergoing transformation with development of a convention center, trade center, hotels, restaurants, bars, museums, piers, condos, walkways and more.  You wouldn't know we were in a recession by seeing all the commerce in the area.

Mulching

The flower beds in Quincy Center are being made ready for summer plantings by the city's Parks & Public Works Dept.  In the background you can see the new site of Quincy College at Presidents Place.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Crisscross Rigging

The rigging on this fishing vessel caught my eye AND CHECK OUT THE BLUE SKY... a rare sight recently.

Happy Skywatch Friday!  You can view skies from around the world by clicking HERE.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

Today's house on Phillips Street was built in 1910.  It is the neighboring house to last Thursday's post.  I like the local granite used to support the porch columns.  I'm thinking that the porch enclosure is a recent change.

Orange & Rust

I spotted this well-seasoned sprocket and chain on one of my recent walks.

Contemplating The Day

Out With The Bad . . .

Happy Monochrome Monday!  On the highway heading north towards downtown Boston is this very industrial looking building.  It is actually the ventilation system controlling the air quality for 3.6 miles of tunnels in Boston.

"Second Sunday In May"

One hundred years ago, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day".   She was specific about the location of the apostrophe; it was to be a singular possessive, for each family to honor their mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world.

This is also the spelling used by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in the law making official the holiday in the United States.  No matter how you spell it, it's the sentiment that matters on this special day. 

"Accuracy, Economy & Dispatch"

 I'm sure the founder and first commodore of Wollaston Yacht Club, Frank Burgess, would be pleased to see the club that he founded get some much needed sprucing up.  Quincy has some first-rate recreational spaces.

"Accuracy, economy and dispatch" were Mr. Burgess's watchwords - perhaps when he owned Boston Gear Works in North Quincy.   He also served the Quincy Y.M.C.A. on the board of directors for many years.

Sky & Beach

The beachcombers had Wolly Beach all to themselves.  The Squantum peninsula is in the background.  Happy Skywatch Friday!  Click here for more beautiful skies from around the world.

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

Today's "old house" was built in 1900 and is locate on Phillips Street in the Wollaston section of Quincy.   The window bays on the front and side add lots of light and interest to this home.  (It would be much better for photos if the utility lines were run underground.)

Zigzag Tree

I like the way the northeast wind has shaped this tree trunk along Wollaston Beach.

Conjoined Twins

I recently spotted this fluke of nature in my yard; these two daisy flower heads share one stem.

Clearing In Sight

We've had a week of much needed rain and showers.  I do like this view of Boston from the low tide line at Wollaston Beach.

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Sunny Sunday

I spotted this beautiful stone detail on a gravestone at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery.  Some of the stonework in Quincy's cemeteries is amazing.

Burgin Parking Lot

Sometimes it's quicker to walk somewhere in Quincy.

Layers

I like the layers in this image.  The view is looking towards Quincy Center from the Mt. Wollaston Cemetery.  The blocks of stone in the foreground are part of Quincy's new track that is being constructed behind the new high school along the Southern Artery.

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

This single family house at 75 Russell Street in the Atlantic section of Quincy, was built in 1890.  There are lots of windows used in this house design which must allow some gorgeous light inside.  If you look down the driveway you will notice a side portico.  The columns used in the side entrance are similar to the ones on the front porch which makes me think that the portico is part of the original design.

Splash Of Pink

The Arnold Arboretum, pictured here, remains one of the finest examples of a landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

It's Raining Sunshine!

I captured this woman in pink walking along Newport Avenue yesterday.  I added a painterly quality to it in post processing.  It has lots of spring colors in it to help celebrate the first day of May!

An Impressive 1000!

I had the pleasure to witness and record local resident Jeff Meenatoor pressing 1000 lbs. of weight for a "personal best" on the Leg Press at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy last week.  Looking on is his personal trainer, Scott Whitehead, who told me Jeff's inspiring story.  Seven months ago, with some urging from his wife,  Jeff started on a quest to improve his physical health.  He started pressing 90 pounds a mere 7 months ago and is seen here pressing 1000 pounds, which Scott told me is not only a great accomplishment for Jeff but very few individuals reach this level.  Jeff also lost 68 pounds in the process.  It takes great  determination to accomplish something like this ...  Keep up the great team work Jeff and Scott!

Happy Monochrome Monday everyone!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

Today's handsome brick house has a Tudor influence.  I can imagine spending many a summer day in that screened-in porch on the side of the house.  Most of the homes in the Adams Street neighborhood were built in the 1940s.  I'm guessing this one was too.

"Free To All"

The Thomas Crane Library, one of H.H. Richardson's most successful designs, really shows beautifully with its spring landscape which was designed by famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.  I  wish funding was provided so people could visit the interior of the library on Sundays.

Nature's Embroidery

The soaking rain left behind this delicate looking flower.

Lines & Curves

Happy Monochrome Monday!
Today's photo was taken inside the front entrance to Presidents Place, the former site of The Bargain Center . . . anyone remember "The Bargie"???

United First Parish Church

The bell tower of this National Historic Landmark in Quincy Center was recently restored.  This church building is considered to be one of the finest standing Greek Revival church buildings in New England.  It was designed by noted architect Alexander Parris, who also designed Quincy Market in nearby Boston.  Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried here with their wives.  This magnificent building was made of Quincy granite and completed in 1828.

I also included a little spring green for "Earth Day".  Go outside and enjoy!

Hangers & Flats

Hundreds of colorful flowers all in neat rows . . . how does one choose?

"Dandy" Spring

Thought I'd better capture these "lions" in my backyard before mowing them down!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

This 1900 Gambrel on Russell Street looks like it is being prepped for a new paint job.   I really like the solid looking columns on the wrap-around porch.

Homeward Bound

Coddington Street approaching Hancock 

This is a familiar sight in Quincy.  Unfortunately, many of the shopping carts that leave store parking lots never make it back to their place of origin.  Who pays to pick up the abandoned carts?  Who pays for the ones that get trashed?  I'm pretty sure we all pay in the price of our food and grocery items.

Tracking Progress

There are piles of dirt and gravel being built up and shifted around on the ol' Faxon Field which will be the site of Quincy's new 400 meter track.  It is conveniently located next to Quincy High School and across from the Y.M.C.A.

Four Doors And Many Years Ago . . .

Happy Monochrome Monday!  I found the weathered doors to this garage on South Central Avenue interesting.  I wonder what happened to the many panes of glass that used to be in the top half of the doors . . .

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

I am taking you inside a hundred-year-old house this week (mine) for some blue-board and plaster work.  Have you ever run into peeling ceilings?  Calcimine paint is the culprit in this case.  You can't paint over it with latex paint or it will eventually peel. 


I like the shadow cast by the work light here and check out the stilts.

Train With Wayne

Quincy College's Exercise Science Center, is seeing lots of activity in its new home at Presidents Place in Quincy Center. Besides providing strength training studies, Quincy College offers an Associate’s Degree and Certificate Degree Program in Exercise Science. It not unusual to find college students strength training alongside octogenarians and sometimes even the college president! The program director and prolific researcher and publisher, Dr. Wayne Westcott, is working some muscle in the foreground while encouraging everyone to keep moving foreward. What a great community resource this is!

On The Receiving End

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Kraslice (Easter Egg)

I captured this ostrich-sized egg, last year, while enjoying a Czech Easter. This beautifully painted egg was a gift from Croatia to the Czech Republic and was on display at a festival in Prague's Old Town. Enjoy your Easter!

New Color, New Life

Coloring eggs is part of many people's Easter tradition.

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

There is not much left of this 1920 house at 24 Newcomb Street. This house, along with 2 others on Newcomb Street, are being razed to make room for the Y.M.C.A. expansion. The land for this property will be repurposed as a parking lot . . . so much for "this" old house.

Pre-Season

The Adams Mansion looks beautiful bathed in spring light. The Adams Mansion will reopen for tours on Thursday, April 19th. The grounds are open all year!

Golden Tower

The First Parish Church of the Presidents in Quincy Center has had its bell tower and clock refurbished just in time for a spring unveiling. The gold really glistens in the sun.

Phonetically Speaking

You may want to click and enlarge this one to see the tie-in with this post title.