Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Enough!



Mother Nature is having her way with us and the rain drops keep coming. I tried to capture a few drops in action on this newly formed pond beside the Bernazzani School. It wasn't easy because I was getting soaked in the process.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Water Park



Historic flooding rains are back turning playgrounds into water parks like this one at O'Rourke Field.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Shapes, Shadows & Light



I couldn't resist posting this image for Monochrome Monday. I captured this inside the McKim building of the Boston Public Library.

The Quincy connection you ask ??? Architect Charles F. McKim worked earlier in his career for HH Richardson, the architect of Quincy's Thomas Crane Library.

Click here for more black and white images from around the world.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Famous Saltbox



U.S. 6th President, John Quincy Adams, was born in this saltbox in 1767. I like the 12/12 window panes and thankful I don't have to spring clean them.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

"Wollie" Station at Sunset



The sky was really beautiful last night from the parking lot of the train station. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Friday, March 26, 2010

ENC



Eastern Nazarene College is a small, Christian, liberal arts college located a few blocks from Wollaston Beach. The campus was quiet on a recent cold, Saturday.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Thursday is "This Old House Day"



This 1890 colonial at 71 Beach Street has some interesting angles and details. The owners chose paint colors which show off the turn of the century details.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Cleanup



People's lives along Alrick Road are far from normal after mopping up from last week's flooding rains. People living here sustained huge losses and we had 2 more inches of rain yesterday to add to this soggy mess.

Click HERE for a link to NASA's web feature about the recent storms including pictures of the flooding from Quincy Daily Photo!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Treasures



This roadside glass reminded me of aquamarine, the clear blue form of the gemstone beryl. It is the official birthstone for March.
This post is for my youngest son whose birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Al! Love you ;}

Monday, March 22, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Spring!



"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month."
-Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933)
Fisherman's Luck (1899)

Furnace Brook is running high and fast along the Parkway.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Pumping Station



Does anyone know what this public building, located on the corner of Furnace Brook Parkway and Quarry Street, is used for?

I do know it needed to be pumped out from the recent 3-day storm we had. If you enlarge it you can just make out the edges of a park bench located near the stairs. I like the design and the stone material used to make this structure. The roof looks like it was replaced recently.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Thursday is "This Old House Day"



This 1797 colonial is one of the oldest houses I have posted. I captured this fine Federal style residence on East Squantum Street about a month ago. East Squantum Street was a former Indian trail which became a public highway in 1646.

In spite of a damaging fire in 1983, it has retained its architectural integrity. It has the traditional five bay facade with a central entrance topped with an arched pediment and framed with sidelights to the floor. This door could well have replaced an earlier simpler door. The windows of the second floor are set close to the eaves, indicating an early 19th century date.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Slam, Dunk



Three days of steady rain in excess of 9 inches filled in back yards, basements, playgrounds, streets and worse. Many residents near here had to be rescued from their homes. It's a good thing that storms like this one happen only once every 25 years or so.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Forge Every Stream



This stream came cascading out of the Blue Hills onto Furnace Brook Parkway yesterday but flood waters didn't stop this person and the pooches from their appointed rounds on Bunker Hill Lane. Rain, rain, go away . . .

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Learning Curve



The humanities wing of our new high school is taking shape on the former site of the Center for Technical Education. You can see a color image of this view from six months ago by clicking HERE.

I wonder how soon Quincy will adopt "Distance Learning" whereby students will be able to choose online courses to supplement their curriculum. Maybe the next high school we build will be a Virtual High School, a school sans walls; though personally I don't think there is any substitute for face to face teaching with a quality teacher.

Do you have any thoughts about Virtual High Schools?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Pigs Can Fly



This paper-mâché pig by artist Margaret Maclellan, tops off an exhibit called "Multiple Views" at the Thomas Crane Library. A group of South Shore artists called "4th Floor Artists"are exhibiting works there throughout the month of March.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Sunny Side of the Street





The handsome Walker Apartment building at the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Beale Street in the Wollaston neighborhood was built in the early 1930's. This four story brick apartment building was built in a simple, traditional style with enough decorative details to create visual interest in the facade. It is a fine example of an early 20th century brick apartment building in Quincy.

This sunny apartment building has a great location being sandwiched between the Wollaston Branch library and the Wollaston train station.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Gone ashore



This is the only blue sky we'll see around here for a few days. A rainy weekend is forecasted.

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

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Special Theme Day: The Tenin Technique



Today we celebrate Eric Tenin, a great guy who has spread a lot of friendship and inspiration around the world since posting his first image at Paris Daily Photo in 2005 and thus starting the City Daily Photo blogging community that Quincy Daily Photo is a part of.

Community members are paying tribute to Eric today, on the 5th anniversary of his blog, by imitating some of his favorite photo techniques like this image where I placed my camera on the ground to capture the walkers from an unusual angle.

You can view Eric's blog at, Paris Daily Photo. Thank you, Eric!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants celebrating the "Tenin Technique" and enjoy!

"This Old House Thursday" will be back next week.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Red Rider



This little tyke was trying out his new bike on the Boston Commons this past weekend. Lots of people in Quincy and Boston were out and about enjoying the hint of spring in the air.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Reuse



This is one of Quincy's many school conversions that took place in the 1980s. Many schools were sold off when severe tax-cutting measures were voted into law; we have had to build 2 new schools since then . . . there may be a lesson here, children. Academy Place served as the Adams Elementary School, which was built 90 years ago.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Chapel Rocks



This park in Squantum is also referred to as Chapel Park which seems appropriate for a Sunday post. Enjoy the day everyone!

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Pudding Stone







This rock in Squantum was formed about 6 billion years ago and sculpted by the Wisconsin glacier which moved across the South Shore about 15,000 years ago. The oldest of the rocks at the base of the rocky formation are basalt, gneiss and an early granite; on top is a crumbly rock called tillite. You can really see the mixture of colored pebbles held together in a fine matrix in the second image.

Geologists and others have long been fascinated by Squantum's interesting geology. It's hard to fathom this land covered by giant sheets of mud first and then ice, both more than 100 feet thick.

John Adams wrote about this place on October 22nd, 1762: "The rocks seem to be a vast collection of pebbles as big as hens eggs, thrown into melted cement and cooled in. You may pull them to pieces with your fingers, as fast as you please."

Friday, March 05, 2010

Solitary Birch



It's Skywatch Friday and this blue sky and white birch from Squantum is my contribution. Click here to view many skies around the world.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Thursday is "This Old House Day"





This 1860 house on Prospect Avenue, has seen many owners and many renovations. I am so glad the stained glass window has been left in place. It must be beautiful from the inside.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Rocky Profile



New England is known for its rocky coastline and the Squantum section of Quincy coastline illustrates this nicely. Geologists visit Squantum Park regularly to study the glacial rock formations from 250 million years ago.

I see a woman's profile in this particular formation that I believe is called Squaw Rock.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Many have Walked Here



This cairn was installed on the Squaw Rock peninsula in 1895 to commemorate the landing of Captain Myles Standish and his men in 1621. They were guided by native, Squanto, for whom Squantum got it's name. Squanto is said to have saved the Pilgrims from starvation during their 2nd winter in Plymouth. The cairn is made from local beach rocks and Quincy granite.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Passageway



Today is "theme day" in the City Daily Photo blogging community. This image is my interpretation of today's theme: passageway. The passageway seen in the foreground will take you down to the beach leading to Squaw Rock. This image is a wider view of last Monday's monochrome post seen here. Enjoy going through lots of passageways today.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants">

Summer Attraction

This tiger swallowtail butterfly was a delight to see pollinating the phlox bed along my driveway.