Spring, Southeast Massachusetts, USA

Southeast Massachusetts is a beautiful place on our planet.

A house by the sea .....

....and wild turkeys running free.....

....and skittering rabbits attempting to flee....

...and freshwater ponds by the thousands.....

....and saltwater beaches by the hundreds....

....and old, graceful bridges....

....and four distinct seasons .....

....and sadly, a bright blue teddy bear tied fast to the handlebars and abandoned by a young human friend, left alone to whatever may come.

Magnolia Blizzard, Bartlett Pond, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It is 75 degrees Fahrenheit out today and the magnolia blizzard is full underway.... 

..... there are still a few more petals yet to fall and sweep up.....

.....but napping seems more enjoyable than sweeping.......

.....whatever your species.



Gillette Castle, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA

I have seen many homes made of stone and wood but the Gillette Castle stands out as one of the more unusual .  Gillette Castle, completed in 1919, is the legacy of  the successful actor and playwright, William Gillette, who earned his fame playing the character of Sherlock Holmes in the early 1900's on the New York stage.  He built this castle on a high bluff with commanding views of the Connecticut River. It sits atop the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, for which the estate is named. The focal point of his effort was a twenty four room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle.
I had the opportunity to attend a special showing of the castle with the Plymouth Digital Photographers group. I will leave the great photos up to them and instead, focus on some of what I thought to be freakishly odd but way cool features.

At first glance, all appears normal for a castle.......

....and the interior rooms seem normal.........

 

......and the view out the windows were drop-dead-gorgeous looking down on the Connecticut River valley.

But whoever heard of stone window awnings......

...or stone balconies and railings......

...or stone porch railings and balusters.......

......or wooden light switches.......

...or wooden door hardware and closing mechanisms......

....or wooden window locks and hinge limiters.

I guess when it comes right down to it, you can build almost anything out of wood and stone if you set your mind to it - both William Gillette and Fred Flintstone sure did. Yabba-dabba-do!

 

Springtime Green, Washington Depot, Connecticut, USA

Washington Depot is part of the picture perfect area of Litchfield County foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. It serves as both a well established residential nucleus for full time residents and also provides getaway homes for many New York City folks.  Rolling hills, open pastures, broad meadows,  high plateaus, stone fences, and classic red barns are common features and attractions of this bucolic area.

There is a new color in the grass in spring........

....in the early morning when shadows are long.......

...and the rising sun illuminates with electric intensity...

.....it's a moment to pause, enjoy, and welcome again, the extraordinary return of spring.

Random Sights, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Downtown Plymouth on a warm spring day.

Downtown Plymouth is a popular destination for motorcyclists on any nice weather weekend.

The magnolia-crowned cottage on Bartlett Pond enjoys peak spring blossoms signaling the beginning of the petal blizzard.

The willows are budding, the grass is greening on Bartlett Pond.

A cherry tree in White Horse Beach.

A pond-side barn in Ellisville.



Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

The Cape Cod Canal path (shown here passing under the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne) is a great destination for exercise, whatever your favored method......

......whether biking......

.....roller blading......

....or walking,  the path beside the canal is an all-year delight.  Although on this day, upper 40's Fahrenheit temperature with a stiff breeze off the ocean - it is not exactly shorts weather, roller blader person notwithstanding. The path is clean, no litter, well maintained, scenic, flat, paved - frankly it's pretty perfect.

An escort boat waiting for a vessel to escort.

Was the design shape of the Toyota Camry based on the curve of the Sagamore Bridge? 

Now here's a job that probably only appeals to a few hardy folks - there are two regular sized men in the basket above  (see green arrow) doing bridge maintenance.   Bear in mind that air temp is in the 40's, the wind is blowing close to 20, the bridge is shaking from the vehicular traffic across it, and these two men are trying to work at the end of a long mechanical arm suspended over the water - impressive.

Dawn, Bartlett Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

A kayak dock waiting for its kayak to come out of winter hiding.

A sixty year old cottage wearing a magnolia crown.



Downtown, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Although downtown Plymouth would normally conjure an image of a small, busy, developed city, all the following photos were taken within walking distance of Plymouth Rock in downtown Plymouth.

This visually compelling sculpture is forged and welded stainless steel and was created by artist Barney Zeitz. It honors the immigrant settlers to Plymouth over the past three hundred years. It can be found in Brewster Gardens near Plymouth Rock.

Maybe it's just me but, I'm not sure why anyone would name their boat, "OH BABY," and not put an exclamation mark after it.  I've always found those two words were only used with an exclamation mark following them - just saying........

Natural beauty is hiding in plain sight in Plymouth.