Crazy as a Cool Fox

Large Lions
Boston Public Library
Boston, Massachusetts

Posted for Thursday Challenge. The theme this week is "huge." For many more huge or large photos click here for Thursday Challenge.

Gate Wreath
Salem Common
Salem, Massachusetts

Christmas Night Lights
Marblehead Neck Lighthouse
Marblehead, Massachusetts

Merry Christmas from Salem, Massachusetts
Posted for Thursday Challenge, This is week 3 of the theme, "our favorite photos." For more favorites from other fine photographers click here.

These dogs have some explaining to do. lol


Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Time Beacon
Hospital Point Lighthouse
Beverly, Massachusetts

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Summertime Santa
Santa's Village Jefferson, New Hampshire
Ever go to one of those off season santa's amusement park type places? This photo isn't sepia but it is old. It was shot on slide film and some of the colors had faded. Of course I doctored it up so that you wouldn't know it was circa 1962, unless I told you. I'm sitting right in the mitten covered hand of the giant snowman next to Santa Claus. I can remember thinking that santa doesn't wear glasses, but this one did.
My sister is sitting in the lap of an angel. Oh ,how appropriate, she was always daddy's little angel. (lol.) The other children in the photo are family friends that went along with us that day. The adults in the photo must be part of the cast at Santa's Village. The woman to the left is holding a "diploma" for graduating Santa School. If you look closely there is even a horse in the picture. What does a horse have to do with Christmas?
This Santa's Village, located in …

Reading Room
Bates Hall - Boston Public Library Boston, Massachusetts

Post for Thursday Challenge. This is the second of a three week theme which is of our favorite photos. My previous favorite can be found here. For many more favorite photos click here.

Gate Shadow
Oak Hill Cemetery
Newburyport, Massachusetts

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

This photo shows Isaac Shields, my great-great grandfather, in his Civil War regalia presumably with his fellow comrades for a reunion. Isaac is second from the left holding the battle flag.
I did a little research on Isaac and it turns out he was in the 1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry. His unit saw action in the battle at Gettysburg where 51,000 soldiers lost their lives. He was also present at Appomattox Court House the site of the final battle and the signing of the surrender documents.
This photo must be a reunion as the men are formally dressed and adorned with their well earned medals. There were two notable reunions of both Union and Confederate forces at Gettysburg for the 50th and 75th anniversary of the battle. There were 1800 veterans that attended the 75th anniversary. 
Still I'm not sure if this photo is from either of those two reunions. Those trees in the background look much more "Maine like," than I think one would see in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
But still…

Dark Harbor Marblehead Harbor Marblehead, Massachusetts



Posted for Thursday Challenge a weekly thematic photographic collaborative.
This week's challenge is open to our own favorite photos which will remain open for three weeks.
For many more collaborative favorites click here for Thursday Challenge.

Cemetery Shadows
Old Burial Hill
Plymouth, Massachusetts

Old Burial Hill is the resting place of many of Plymouth Colony's original settlers including Major William Bradford, 2nd governor of the colony, who's grave is marked by the obelisk on the right.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Yes this week's Sepia Saturday prompt is a bit confusing isn't it? We see (bottom photo) a boy dressed as a cowboy complete with chaps, bandana and a 10 gallon hat. He seems to have lassoed who I assume is his father around the neck. Dad seems to be holding the family pet, a cairn terrier. Hope that little guy doesn't pull that lasso to hard or he will wring dear old dad's neck.

So confusing is this photo prompt, that it brought to mind some confusion caught in a photo (below) from in my own childhood. Here we see, myself, my father, and my baby sister. I'm holding a hockey stick yet there are no skates or even ice to be seen. I am straddling my faithful Flexible Flyer ™ steel runner sled. I see plenty of snow, but no hill to slide upon.
My father seems to be multi-tasking, a term unheard of in the early 1960's. Around his neck is camera, he is holding Flash, my grandparent's boxer, and trying to get my sister to focus on a photographer. Busy man he was.
W…

Minimal Bridge
MBTA Wonderland Station
Revere Beach, Massachusetts

Markey Pedestrian Bridge is a simple cable stayed suspension bridge designed similarly to its larger sister bridge, the Zakim - Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts. It carries foot traffic over busy Route 1A bringing subway riders directly from the MBTA Blue Line Wonderland Station to the sands of Revere Beach.

Posted for Thursday Challenge. This week's challenge is "minimal." For many more great photos under this theme click here for Thursday Challenge.

Burial Hill Shadows Old Burial Hill Plymouth, Massachusetts
Old Burial Hill Cemetery in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the resting place of many of the original Plimouth Plantation settlers. It's one of the most dramatic views from a cemetery that I've ever seen.

Swans are the prompt this week at Sepia Saturday? That's an easy one. One of the most iconic symbols of Boston are the swan boats that ply the little lagoon in Boston Public Garden.

The swan boats began operation in 1877 and are open only during the summer season. It takes about 15 minutes for a younger athletically inclined person to pedal... yes pedal, the pontoon boats and passengers around the lagoon. They do have to take a sharp turn at one end. Ropes attached to the rudders accomplish this task.

The swan boats pass under what is purportedly the smallest I-beam suspension bridge in the world. Framing the boats here make for a most elegant photo.
For many more swan blog posts, click here.

The Rock Plymouth, Massachusetts
Top right clockwise: Plymouth Rock Memorial, Mayflower II, Plimouth Plantation Interpretive Center, Plymouth Rock Memorial, Plymouth Rock, Old Burial Hill Cemetery - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the MayflowerPilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history.

Love Leaf
Old Town Hill
Newbury, Massachusetts

Thursday Challenge is a thematic photographic collaborative blog. Each week a theme is chosen for participants to photograph. This week's theme is "leaves."
Click here for more leaf themed photos.

Happy Thanksgiving
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth, Massachusetts


Top right clockwise: Plymouth Rock Memorial, Mayflower II, Plimouth Plantation Interpretive Center, Plymouth Rock Memorial, Plymouth Rock, Old Burial Hill Cemetery - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the MayflowerPilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Architecture Reflections
John Hancock Building - Copley Square
Boston, Massachusetts

How many types of architecture can you count in this reflection on Hancock Tower in Boston? This was posted for Thursday Challenge, This weeks challenge is "architecture." For many more fine Thursday Challenge pics click here.

Shadows in Stone
Oak Hill Cemetery - Main Gate
Newburyport, Massachusetts

The inscription reads "Until the day break and the shadows flee away." Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

What is pretty much the truth. I find bridges fascinating. They are works of art that function. Some span small rivers some large rivers. All are carrying busy people over hazardous water. Some are quaint  like covered bridges. Some are scary like suspension bridges. Some make u feel like you are flying or floating. And some bridges are simply spectacular like the French King Bridge below.


The original bridge was built in 1932 and was a three arch span. It was part of a new highway rerouting part of the Mohawk Trail which originally wound through several small villages.

As this post's lengthy title goes, the French King Bridge  was named for a rock that sits just upstream. At times this rock is underwater but mostly it is exposed. Although, it's not as exposed as u see in the lower back&white postcard. The reason for the water fluctuation is from a dam not to far down river that produces electricity. The antique postcard photo shows rapids and was lost likely shot before the…

Pink Fall
Berlin Wall Segment
EF Education Building
Cambridge, Massachusetts

25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - November 9, 2014 Posted for Thursday Challenge. This week's challenge is "pink." For many more pink photos, click here.

Wall Shadows
Berlin Wall segment - EF Education Building
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Cold Coffee House Church Street, Salem, Massachusetts
As we watch he first snow of season today, here is a look at things to come!

Morning Shadows
"Water's Edge" at Tupper Manor - Endicott College
Beverly, Massachusetts

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

The Toothpick. What a strange name for a navigational aid.
I can recall the Toothpick as a child when we passed it on our way out to sea to go fishing with my father. It was always a landmark that served as a milestone for me as we ventured in and out of  the mouth of the Merrimack River. The marked channel would take us within a few hundred yards of the Toothpick precariously close to some exposed rocks. Sitting in the bow of our little boat I would shout to my father, "theres the Toothpick!" Of course I'm sure he saw it well in advance of my exclamation.

The Toothpick is used as range marker for entering the channel of the Merrimack. A mariner would line up the Toothpick with another marker to know they were on track for the channel. It was a welcome sight for many sailing vessels and later steam power. When a vessel passed the marker the crew knew they were within the safety of the harbor and in the home stretch. It was a great relief for the crew as the mouth is one …

Station Shadow
MBTA Commuter Rail Station - Swampscott
Swampscott, Massachusetts


Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Yes this lion is very sneaky. Recently the lion and unicorn on the Old State House roof were removed to be restored. It was rumored that there was a time capsule hidden in the head of the lion placed there in 1901 when it was last restored. The opening of the lion's head and time capsule took place at the studio where the restoration is to take place.

With all the media hype the press was there in force at the opening. The lion's crown was removed and viola, there was a copper box inside! The box was welded shut and fastened to the inside of the lion. When it was removed and cut opened it was deemed the box was packed to tightly to remove the contents immediately. Another week would pass before the contents of the box were properly removed by and archivist and displayed.

The lion and unicorn are heraldic supporters appearing in the full Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland. The combination dates back to the 1603 acc…

Dream Home
Coolidge Point
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Coolidge Point is home to many seaside mansions. It's also home to Coolidge Point Reservation run by the The Trustees of the Reservations, from which this photo was shot. The view is looking eastward toward Magnolia and Gloucester, Massachusetts.

This was posted for Thursday Challenge. This week's challenge is "home." For many more home photos, click here for Thursday Challenge.

Reflection Shadows
500 Cummings Center
Beverly, Massachusetts

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

I noticed some shoes in this week's Sepia Saturday theme but I don't have any shoe photos to show you. OR do I?

What you are looking at is the former United Shoe Machinery Factory ir as it was affectionately called. "the shoe." This massive concrete complex is located in Beverly, Massachusetts. However they didn't produce shoes here but they made the machinery that produced shoes in other factories throughout the world. Most everyone in Beverly worked at "the shoe."

To say "the Shoe" is massive is an under statement. It's gargantuan. It's still the largest concrete structure in the country  It's Nuclear Fallout Shelter in the basement had a capacity of 7000. It had it's own power plant and railroad sidings and railroad station. It even had it's own 18 hole golf course.

"The Shoe," is now called the Cummings Center. It's been converted into hundreds of offices from medical, to businesses, to restaurants. It is …

Happy Halloween Dogs
Essex Street
Salem, Massachusetts

Posted for Thursday Challenge. This week's challenge is "happy." For many more happy photos click here for Thursday Challenge.