Category: Scenic Photography

Happy New year From the Shore! 2025

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Back from the holidays down along the Jersey Shore. Although not everything on this trip went according to plan, I did make a new bond with my nephew doggo (running with him along the beach pretty much cemented the deal) and there were some fun moments. One cool thing we saw was an InSinkErator hot water tap in a friend’s kitchen that we got to see while we were down there. That thing is pretty sweet. Instant hot water from a mini tap right next to the regular faucet. Visited a bagel place that had weirdo bagels like a Doritos bagel, an Oreo cookie bagel, etc. They weren’t that good actuallty.

Every year, you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.

If you did me wrong, I forgive you. If we stop talking, I love you. If you feel I did you wrong, I sincerely apologize for it.

My heart will be pure & my head will be clear.

Only love ,gratitude, and positive mindset.

Currently Watching: American Nightmare (Netflix) and old One Tree Hill episodes. LD’s sister has gotten me into watching the series now having missed it totally the first time around. So Much Drama!

Got Through the Rainy Spell

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Another shot from the archives. Actually ate at this place a couple of times, including once when we were able to dine in one of their seasonal fish shacks (a private little outdoor dwelling). Being out in the crazy rain yesterday wasn’t the greatest but I survived. Thankfully one of the reindeer’s also survived getting knocked down a few times (the big daddy). He’s been put back into upright status now.

Currently Reading: The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death by Matt Murphy.

One of my Favorites

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Kennebunk Maine, just before the bridge to KBP,

Although I was going to wait until later in the week, the weather outside today seemed pretty nice so I went ahead and installed the three lighted reindeer out front, Momma, Daddy and Baby, Other than that I really didn’t do too much today, just playing a lot of Mahjongg and some crosswords and television watching. Real couch potato action Sunday.

Winter Wonderland

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Like I said, we got a little snow yesterday but believe it or not most of it’s gone from here already, although other parts of the state got a lot more and it’s sticking around, but it’s supposed to hit the 50s again next week so it’ll surely be all gone then. Which is fine with me and actually I prefer it. We spent a part of today beginning to bring out the holiday decorations, including setting up the tree. I plan on assembling all the outdoor decorations sometime next week when it’s a little warmer. It was pretty frigid here today.

It’s Beginning to Look Like the Holiday Season!

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Seaside Holiday Tree, Duxbury, MA

It’s a snowy morning here today. I’ve been pretty busy this week so I haven’t had time to update but I will let you know that over the next few days I’ll be posting some holiday photos, both new and some classic ones that I’ve taken in the past. Maybe it’ll be the first time seeing them for some of you, and others can just like them all over again. There’s a couple of cool things planned coming up over the next few weeks as the year winds down, so I’m ;looking forward to that.

Oh, I finally did get through all 550 levels of the Tomb of the Mask game last week. Now I’m contemplating downloading the Android version….In the aches and pains department I seem to have acquired a pinched nerve in my shoulder which actually makes my left arm bother me. Joys of joys. I wanted to get a massage on it soon but it’ll have to wait as I found out my massage therapist is in Seattle and then driving up to Vancouver to see Taylor Swift. I never knew she was so big a Swiftie!

Saco and Small Business Saturday Pajama Shenanigans

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Saco, Maine sunrise

Back from a relaxing weekend getaway in Saco and Kennebunkport Maine. The sunrises in Saco were amazing and we stayed in the cutest little Airbnb right on the water. Would stay there again for sure! On Small business Saturday KPT had all these sales if you wore your pajamas so that’s what we did! Oh, we met up with our pal Em to hang out this weekend as well, and we got to meet Boomer and Pippa (not shown) again! A lot of shopping and laughs were had. It’s not as busy there as it would be during prelude but it’s pretty much the same vibe more or less so in some ways it’s better. Again, it was fun hanging out with Em, and the dogs with her pops, and again, the amazing sunrises right on the water. Thankfully it wasn’t even that cold, considering. It was nice to be able to have a little getaway to take a break from all the stressors of life.

You can click the pics below for a bigger version. There’s a new version of the gallery tool now even though I preferred the old one but that currently isn’t working with the latest update so I have to use this. The snow globe I climbed in could have been inflated more (thanks town!) and a quick side trip to OOB didn’t really add too much but KPT is always top notch. Ultimately it’s all about the views, the scenery, the friends and the laughs. Oh, the pajama Saturday shot of the three of us was actually taken by someone on the Chamber of Commerce pages for the towns of Kennebunk, KPT, and Arundel so we’re also on those websites. That wasn’t a planned thing, the lady just saw us and wanted to post us!

Oh, and yes, I am wearing Pac man pajamas and believe it or not, I actually got quite a lot of comments on compliments on then from many different people!

Glory Be

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Glory Be. ✝️

I do like sitting in this new rocking chair! Carson was very happy to see me as he fell asleep on my legs while I was resting on the couch last night watching Law & Order reruns on WeTV. And of course, I can’t move because that would destroy the moment. I also fell asleep then. We must have rested together for a couple hours. When I woke up I went up to bed and he tucked me in but didn’t stay like he does when his momma is around, Little stinker. But I was grateful for the bonding time that I don’t usually get with him like that. Oh, currently on level 352 as of this writing in Tomb of the Mask. Maybe there is no end to this addicting game for me. The above photo was taken this summer, not sure if I posted it before, I think I have, but for whatever reason it seemed fitting for me to post it this morning. Just felt like it, plus it’s a pretty cool photo I think..

A Little Jersey Weekend Trip

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Hanging with Venom at Parsippany Hills High School, NJ

I’m back from a quick weekend trip to Jersey. Actually I came back alone since I have as stuff to address back here while as LD is going to spend a few more days there and come back by train on Wednesday when I’ll pick her up. Been trying to get a lot of stuff done and it’s been a lot of work. Stayed over at a cute little AirBnB nearby. Nothing to write home about and pretty small but gets the job done as it’s mostly just a place to crash for the nights, Anyways, we also got gifted a sweet rocking chair from a friend down there who wanted to part with it which I brought back and will use a lot I think.

This photo is from just outside Parsippany Hills High. We happened to be tooling around the area and noticed that all the spaces were painted different things by the students. I settled on getting this one with Venom from the Spiderman comics.

Currently Reading: Brothers by Alex Van Halen

Good Afternoon for Yard Work

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After my shift today I decided to tackle some yard work and getting ready for the next season. I started off by mowing the lawns, mulching a bagging all the leaves. I left some for ecological reasons in certain spots as well. Then it was off to disconnecting the grill and putting it away for the winter and getting the heater set up in case we want to use that later on. Brought the patio umbrella into storage and then went ahead and picked up a bunch of leaves that were just lying around the front porch and driveway. It was sort of a lot of work but it was nice out and I feel pretty accomplished by doing it. Now I just need to get those leaves bags out on the curb by trash day and we’ll be all set. That’s what fall clean up fun is all about! Of course now my back hurts and I’m tired but that’s the way it goes. Afterwards I took a shower, did some laundry, and cooked dinner for us tonight.

Halloween week 2024

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What a week! Started off by me wanting to get some autumn shots over at Mount Auburn cemetery, (one of my better shots now available) so much so that I went on two days, both Sunday and Monday. Tuesday was spent doing my usual Tuesday things where I also tried out a new burger establishment in town and it’s pretty good, especially the chicken sandwiches. Wednesday was meeting up with LD at the office after my dentist appointment checkup, who had been away on a solo trip for a few days. Yesterday was Halloween so we had to give out the candy – I even got a couple of shout outs from some kids about my shirt. Later in the evening though I sort of had a stomach ache, I think I just ate too much candy. It seemed to me we didn’t have as many kids this year but there was enough. Let’s see, my favorite costumed kiddies this year would have to be the Rubik’s Cube and a skeleton that actually had lights all over themselves and lit up. Of course, the best ones of all all the really little kids who are just so cute.

Statuary of Mt. Auburn: An Education

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Alright, I couldn’t help myself. I decided to go back for the second part of this particular journey, this time focusing on the various statuary that I came across. Here’s a chosen few that I really liked. I’m especially fond of the ones that have the dogs in them. You can click on each one for a larger view. I’ve added my own commentary to a few of them. It’s been a educational experience for me to look up the many notable figures buried there and learn about their contributions to the world. Oh, and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous.

Look in the tomb
Not sure what this represents
Another view of the Mary Baker Eddy memorial
The Poet Longfellow
Patiently waiting for his owner
Universalist clergyman
Lawyer, Animal Rights Advocate, & Founder of the MSPCA
This guy was a teacher
Isabella Stewart Gardner Crypt
Psychologist behind the “Hierarchy of Needs”

Visiting Mt. Auburn in Fall Part One

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My mom invited me to brunch over at a place called the S&S in Cambridge this morning so I took her up on her offer. I hadn’t been to that place since probably before the pandemic with LD. I ended up getting a turkey club with I must say was delicious. That place has been there forever and it’s always pretty good.

After dropping her off I decided that Mt. Auburn might be a good p[lace to get some autumn shots so I drove on over there with no set goal in mind and to just see what I see. However after today I feel I’m going to need to go again because there is just so much and I only had limited time today. There’s a few more sites there I want to check out and pay my respects to. As LD always says, “Mr. History!”

I did find a couple of noteworthy people in my walking today however. Stopped by Edwin Booth‘s grave, considered by many to be the greatest actor of the 18th century but unfortunately overshadowed by his younger brother killing Abraham Lincoln and Dorothea Dix, an advocate on behalf of mental health. Her grave is very non ostentatious considering all the achievements she accomplished in life.

Spooky Season Approaching!

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Got to swing by the the Ville for a little bit yesterday afternoon. After getting a photo op down by the old Assembly Row (kind of amazing how many new things are down there nowadays) I took a trip over through Malden to visit the grave of my grandparents. I hadn’t been there in quite a while. I also took my mom out for a quick bite to celebrate her birthday the other day.

Finding My Calm

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Finally had a chance to get a massage tonight. Felt good as my back, neck and shoulders were really crunchy and actually giving me some pain. Although I wouldn’t say I’m at 100% yet, this really helped big, big, big time! Maybe another treatment or two and I’ll be good as new. I was able to also get a bunch of errands done today, which had been outstanding, so it was nice to be able to cross those off my to-do list.

Staring to really feel like autumn around here now. Enjoy this nice picture of a tree I took.

Do We have a Collecting Obsession?

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Might be time for another trip up to Maine soon! Nubble L:ight, York, ME

We’ve sort of decided that we might want to visit Maine in a moth or two and not do the usual Prelude thing that we’ve been doing for the last couple of years. Not that we don’t love it, but it’s just so busy around that event. Might be a little quieter earlier in the season.

Got a few more leads on some Dedham Pottery items. Once again, we’re always on the lookout for something different, and generally involving a bunny or two. The key is to get a somewhat unique bunny themed item that you don’t usually see and at a very good price. I saw someone selling these cute pins for cheap and it happened to be close by in Roslindale so this morning we went and picked them up. Plus I was jonesing for a Dunks so we stopped off at a drive thru to fuel my caffeine addiction. Later on in the afternoon LD saw a display plate she wanted in Ashland so I hopped on over out that way to get that. Not too much going on out that way.so it was a quiet ride up and back for about an hour or so. Always on the lookout! It was originally just because the colors of the objects matched the new kitchen colors so well plus it has the bunny theme but now it’s taken on a life of it own.

Last night we watched the Suns of the WNBA take game 1 of the semis against Minnesota. Very good close game. It would be amazing if they could pull off a championship. I think my fav player on the team (besides the daughter of LD’s trainer) would have to be Mabrey. Not only does she nail the long bombs and is super scrappy but she’s from NJ!

I Like Big Mums and I Cannot Lie…

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Today to help LD out from going stir crazy we took a ride to the beach! The weather was pretty nice with only a cool breeze passing through now and again. One thing we noticed was a fishing boat just a few feet out from the beach. After looking it up I discovered it was the Nemesis and discovered this interesting website where you could track all these vessels,. On the way back we ended up at a stand and got some interesting looking gourds and another pumpkin and got a great deal on a pot of some of the biggest mums we’d ever seen! I’ll have to put a pic up of some of the gourds later.