Milo the Muse? Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

As I sit trying to write words and process photos for a new blog, Milo is always willing to try to sit on my keyboard to provide maximum distraction and interference.  And if I don't stop and pay attention to him, it is at my peril.  I know it and he knows it - muse? - I don't think so but, he is still mostly cute.

Toward or Away? Pinehills, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

As I look at this photo, I 'm not sure if the ball is moving toward the camera or away from it - or neither. It is not a sandwich of two images - it is a single image. But it definitely looks a little hokey.  But hokey is good , particularly when paired with pokey.  "You put your right  foot in, you put your right foot out............"

Signs of Spring, Downtown, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This view is from the front of the old 1820 Courthouse in downtown.  The former church building at left center is in the process of becoming the new performing arts center.  Plymouth harbor is visible at the end of the street.

This Plymouth Harbor footbridge affords folks the opportunity to walk out the breakwater. The Myles Standish State Park monument tower in nearby Duxbury is visible across Kingston Bay on the distant horizon.

Tour boats are already plying the warming waters - not that 43 degrees is warm but it's better than high 30's. The tide is low in this photo as you can tell from the stains on the dock.

And up on Burial Hill, the grass is greening daily even though the trees are just beginning to bud.

Spring, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Even though it is still mostly brown and gray outside, signs of spring are popping up daily.  A combination of nature's blue, yellow, and green is hard to beat. Beauty is often everywhere - but sometimes requires looking closely to find it.

And here's a 20-second video moment of Zen - a morning spring rain shower in Manomet. (If you receive this post via email you probably have to go to the actual blog to play it).

Peacock on Glass, UMASS, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

This stylized peacock painted on a window provides some welcome bright color at one of the dining halls on the UMASS - Amherst campus. 

Up and Down Reflection, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The above image unsettles my eyes - it seems like up is in both directions. 

See what I mean.

Simes House, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The Simes House restoration project continues to show steady progress. The new railings, balusters, and steps do wonders for the outside appearance. 

The Simes House was built in about 1863 and was in need of tender loving care and repair and restoration. The Simes House Foundation was created to restore and maintain the Simes House and Manomet Commons as self-sustaining historical landmarks in the Village of Manomet. For the public benefit, the Foundation will enhance cultural focus and identity, provide education and encourage community service. 

Here's how it looked back in August 2012 before the restoration began.

Nose and Lips, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I spotted this woman in the very trendy back bay area of Boston. The hair color is real. In photo post processing, I used Snapseed to blur everything except the nose and lips. 

Boston Marathon, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Patriot's Day in Massachusetts commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775 - but perhaps even more famously it hosts the world renowned Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is about tradition (this is the 117th event), and mental determination, dedication, athletic prowess, focus, and training and then, on race day, it's about each and every athlete pushing his or her self  to an extraordinarily high level of accomplishment.  It's about an honorable challenge, to complete the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon, and the requisite extraordinary drive and  will to run those miles against thousands of other equally motivated competitors.

The sidewalk crowd at the finish line seems to be either looking up at the television monitor to see how close the runners are or, looking down at their cellphones.

Massachusetts' Governor Deval Patrick (lower left) stands in the VIP section anticipating the imminent arrival of the winners.

Although the Boston Marathon is a bigger-than-life event with many thousands of racers, it's really more about the thousands of individual triumphs and personal bests and, the hundreds of volunteers in the infrastructure who make it all work smoothly.  These folks are readying the mylar blankets for the runners.

Just past the finish line, this tent is normally the refuge of racers who need some medical attention at the end of the race.  Sadly, it became an onsite emergency treatment area following the nearby blasts.

Figuring out where to find your clothes, your bus, and your family and friends is part of the logistical challenge of this event made efficient by the many yellow jacketed volunteers.

Many spectators brought their dogs - this small one was better off on shoulders than underfoot.

The look on their faces really tells the story better than my words............

.

And this runner's face pretty much sums it up -  her look of sheer joy and exhilaration just seconds after crossing the finish line.

 The 2013 Boston Marathon is not about the lunatic acts of criminal elements. It is about the human drama and indomitable spirit within us all to pursue and complete a difficult challenge.

Pines on a Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Southeast Massachusetts has many pine trees. This group of pines is on a hill very close to the "Pinehills," how appropriate. The "Pinehills" is mostly known today as an upscale planned community on Route 3 at exit 3 south of Plymouth. The original pine hills stretch six miles or so to the coastline and were once virgin hills covered in pines. Today there are fewer pines - and probably fewer virgins, too, but I'm not sure about that..........

Judging by the linear regularity of the pines on this hill, I suspect they were planted on purpose to stabilize the land adjacent to and during the construction of  Route 3 back in the 1950's. They look like maybe they're 50-60 years tall (except  for the curvy one).

 Panoramic image - click to view full width.