Learning To Ride

Wollaston Beach walkway is a great place for young ones to practice riding a bike.  The shadows caught my eye in this one.  Happy Monochrome Monday!

Waves Of Color

Wildflowers are providing waves of color in Squantum Point Park.

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

This 1895 beauty, located at 56 Butler Road, has an inviting porch waiting for some good summer reads.

Green Mutant Ninja Turtle

Painted in pollen, this turtle at Butler's Pond gave me an opportunity for a close-up shot . . . ker-choo!

Travel Tuesday: Barre, Vermont

Driving through the center of town you will see the "Youth Triumphant" soldiers' and sailors' memorial which was carved by local stoneworkers using Barre granite.  This sculpture became Barre's trademark and was adopted as their city seal.  

Rained Out

Monochrome works nicely on this rainy day image taken at Pageant Field.  (Thank you, Clueless, for working your monochrome magic on this.)  Happy Monochrome Monday!

Monet Tribute II

I added some Photoshop magic to this previously posted image.  What do you think?

Bird Dog?

It's a good thing my dog Daisy is a feline fancier.   Happy Summer Solstice!

Cool Bird

This adult male Black-crowned Night-Heron seemed to pose for me while perched on a branch over Butler's Pond.   This wading bird has a wing-span of about 4 feet and is a treat to see in flight.  (I would like to capture one of those flights.)  The adult male has long white plumes that aren't visible in this pose; the plumes are used as part of their courtship behavior.  

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

This multi-family house, located at 24 Merrymount Road, was built in 1930.  My guess is that it was a single family home when first built.  This house recently sold for $554,000 and borders Butler's Pond.

Turtle Time

This turtle let me get pretty close to take it's picture at Butler's Pond.  A passerby told me that I was lucky the law enforcement people weren't practicing their shooting in the area (behind the old Central Middle School); the turtles pull their disappearing act (as would I) when target practice goes on.  What an odd place for a shooting range . . .

Travel Tuesday: Barre, Vermont

Quincy calls itself "Granite City" but Barre is the self-proclaimed "granite center of the world."  Barre's population is one tenth of Quincy's but also enjoys great diversity. The light grey columns on the library facade are good examples of Barre granite.  I will be sharing more stonework from Barre in weeks to come.

Butler Impression

 Another painterly image of Butler Pond.  If you look carefully in the upper left quadrant, you will see 2 painted turtles on a branch in the water, poking their heads around to catch some of the sun's warmth.

Bucolic

This view of Butler's Pond is captured in the vertical format to include not only the yellow irises and blue sky in the foreground but also a box turtle sunning itself by the edge of the pond.  What a celebration of nature in our city.

Step By Step

Cement has been poured for the stair restoration project at Wollaston Congregational Church.

Monet Tribute

 I captured this tranquil scene after hearing about the beauty of Butler Pond from my friend Susan, who lives in this neighborhood.  Besides the beautiful irises, this pond is teeming with turtles and other wildlife.  Many man-made changes are in store for properties on the perimeter of this sanctuary . . . let's hope none of the changes adversely impact this natural treasure, but help celebrate it.  Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

The Josiah Quincy House, located on Muirhead Street, was built in 1770, by Revolutionary War soldier Col. Josiah Quincy I.  The Quincy family was a prominent American political family from mid-17th century to early 20th century and related to the Adams family through Abigail Adams. Our city gets it's name from this family.  The house belongs to Historic New England and you can read more about it here.  Restoration and preservation work are ongoing.  Tours are available throughout the summer on the first Saturday of each month.  You must don blue surgical booties to help preserve the newly restored floor canvases.

Blues Clues

Today's post is a puzzler:
After donning blue surgical booties, and stepping onto this beautiful curved Quincy granite step you will enter this National Historic Landmark.  This country estate, built in 1770, overlooks Quincy Bay and a tour of it's interior will transport you back to the Revolutionary War Era. The puzzler will be revealed in tomorrow's "old house" post.  Got any answers?

Travel Tuesday: Oahu, Hawaii

"With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot" are lyrics from the song, "Big Yellow Taxi"  that singer, songwriter, Joni Mitchell recorded in 1970.  Thanks to QDP follower, Andy,  for reminding me last Thursday of this great song.  I researched the lyrics and learned that the "pink hotel" in this song is most likely the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu. The romantic and legendary "Pink Palace", was built in 1927 is the landmark hotel on Waikiki Beach.  I captured this picture but didn't realize it's history and connection to Joni's hit song. 

Shades of Pink

These beautiful pink tree blossoms stopped me on a trail along Blacks Creek.

Rebuilding A Stairway

Restoration stair work continues at Wollaston Congregational Church. 

Future Recalls?

These new cars at the former Fore River Shipyard site are awaiting owners.

Trapping the Sunshine

Blue sky returned to Town River.  Happy Skywatch Friday! 

Thursday is "This Old House" Day

Today's house located at 22 Merrymount Road, has a very unusual number of window panes.  I'm glad I don't have to clean them!  This house is scheduled to be demolished soon to make way for a parking lot.  I couldn't find any public records to confirm the age of the house.  My guess is early 1900s.

Going Green

The estuary at Blacks Creek is greening up.  That is Meadowbrook Road in the background.

Travel Tuesday: Burlington, Vermont

There are 587 miles of shoreline along Lake Champlain.  The shoreline touches the states of Vermont, New York and Quebec, Canada.   This view is from Burlington, Vermont's largest city.  I like the Adirondack Mountains in the distance.  I spent many childhood summers at my uncle's camp on the shore of Lake Champlain.  I recall fishing on the lake for bass and perch with my grandfather.

Snack Time

A pair of swans have been hanging out and feeding at Blacks Creek the last couple weeks.