Santa Comes to the Simes House, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It's that time of the year when hundreds of local folks gather on the Manomet Commons at the Simes House to welcome Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree. This event, (the fourth annual by my count), is testimony to support the vision of the Simes House Foundation that Manomet needs and will benefit from having a focal point, a central location from which to build local community. Judging by the hundreds who turned out tonight, this new tradition will be carried into the future by the latest generation of parents here with their young ones.



The odd blue glow in this and other images was caused by the police vehicle lights parked nearby to help direct local traffic.

The Simes House was built in 1863. The Simes House Foundation was created in 2010 to restore and maintain the Simes House and Manomet Commons as self-sustaining historical landmarks in the Village of Manomet. The Foundation expects the public to benefit through enhanced cultural focus and identity, as well as through education and encouraging community service.



Seasonal live music was provided by this guitar duo from the Middle Street School of Music in Plymouth.



Santa starts the countdown to lighting the tree.



The brightly lit tree served as a popular backdrop for family and group photos. The tree was donated by Egan Landscaping of Plymouth.











Jack Frost made an appearance but, it was so warm this year I'm surprised he didn't melt.



Jack doesn't quite have the stature of the man in the red suit but, he was still a good sport for photos.



The main event was definitely Santa. He received a long line of excited kids who waited patiently to share their wishes with him.



This little fellow was too young to understand the whole Santa hoopla but.........



....he did know how to point at the candy basket.



I think Santa got photobombed for this one.















Hundreds of folks turned out on this unseasonably warm late November evening for the event with Santa.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

A Yellow Forest, Ithaca, New York, USA

Sometimes when driving along, I will stop abruptly to make a picture.  I have learned that if I don't, I'll forget to come back and a sight will be gone forever (and a potential blog left undone). This random yellow forest by the roadside near Ithaca was one such location.



Wandering among the trees, it was magical in its yellowness. (Don't ask me what "yellowness" means - if you've ever stood in a fall forest with the leaves raining down, you already know).



What is it that makes a human pause and enjoy such a sight? We must be hard-wired to see and recognize beauty even though it doesn't seem to be directly related to survival.

The following three images I manipulated in post-processing to give different finish textures.

Not everything yellow is a leaf.

Thanksgiving Parade, America's Hometown, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The parade reviewing stand on Water Street at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park is full of people and ready for the start of the annual Thanksgiving parade.  Plymouth Harbor is in the background.

"This is one of America’s only historically accurate chronological parades, visually bringing to life America’s rich heritage representing each century from the 17th through the 21st. In showing the preservation of America’s history through the years, beginning with the Pilgrim era, we promote an appreciation among our citizens for our rich heritage."(source: USA Thanksgiving.com).

It was a perfect fall day with bright sunshine, not too cold, and not too windy for folks to settle down on the hillside opposite the reviewing stand and watch and listen as the parade marches by.

The hillside folks also got to hear some live music while waiting for the parade to begin.

This is the route the participants will follow approaching the reviewing stand on Water Street.

You know that the times are a changin' when one can purchase deep fried brussel sprouts (From the Alden Park food truck) and....

....peanut butter balls with oatmeal, chia, and hemp seeds, and other good stuff from the vendor area. (From the Vela Juice Bar food truck).

The following random images are in chronological order through the parade and were made in the general vicinity of Main Street as it crosses Town Brook. The parade route followed Court/Main Street for about a mile before turning onto Water Street and finishing near Plymouth Rock.

Even Santa Claus comes to America's Hometown parade! But all things must come to an end.......



.....and as the parade ends, folks fill the route walking back to their homes and/or cars. It was another fun parade on a beautiful, sunny, fall day in America's Hometown - Plymouth, Massachusetts. Hope to see you here next year.