Christmas Tree Lighting and Winter Lights 5K Race, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The people arrived by the thousands and pressed ever closer to the Town Square; late-comers spilled onto Main Street and stretched past North Street. (This view is captured at the corner of Main and Leyden looking north).They were here for the Annual Kiwanis Club Christmas Tree Lighting in historic downtown Plymouth and the 5th Annual Winter Lights 5K Race. Although the Kiwanis Club gets top billing on the flyer, many other local companies, causes, and volunteers contributed to make the event a success.



The Church of the Pilgrimage on the Town Square featured a display of many different Nativity scenes. From these beautiful white ceramic figures.......



....to a striking rendition in lighted cut glass and many other styles and designs in between.



Young and old alike were welcomed into the church for the event.



Meantime, the street vendors rolled through the crowd hoping to sell their brightly colored and/or lighted trinkets.



Many in the crowd were waiting for Santa to arrive and officially light the tree; immediately after that, the 5K race began through the streets of downtown and along the waterfront like for this family of runners.



Santa, standing in the back of the blue truck, has just finished the countdown to light the tree.



After the tree-lighting ceremony concluded, The Plymouth High School(s) Band headed back uptown toward the race finish line at the corner of Main and North streets (near the big lighted tree above). I love the long shadows in this image!



The runners mill about ready to begin the race.



With the racers underway out on the course, the race organizers work quickly to set up the finish line archway and lay down the electronic timer strips in the roadway.



And in just over 17 minutes, the men runners began arriving.



The women runners began arriving at just over 20 minutes.



A requirement of the race promoter was for each participant to have a headlight or flashlight. There were a total of roughly 1600 finishers who logged a race time. Watching many of those lights weaving and bobbing down Main Street was quite a visual treat.



It was a wonderful evening in "America's Hometown," not too cold and not much wind, always a consideration in December for a cold weather wimp like me.

Information for some of my international readers: I am reminded that this is more what real life in America looks like. Not what you may have seen in the sensationalized, breathless press.  Much like throughout your own towns and villages, we are just a bunch of regular people who are honest, work hard, treat each other with respect, and enjoy whatever level of bounty and joy we can experience in our individual lives. We are folks who try to keep traditions alive to pass down to our kids. We are ever hopeful that our kids will find the fulfillment in life that we each seek. We are all over the world, not really so different. 

We're nearly 400 years old here in Plymouth - that's starting to feel like we can claim some level of history and tradition of our own.

*Note: For the photographically inclined, these images were handheld with my Sony point-and-shoot, a few with a monopod, shutter preferred with a target shutter speed of 1/120 or faster, f1.8, and let the ISO float on auto (up to 12800). Yes, they are gritty, grainy, and not razor sharp - but, they still tell the story just fine for my purposes - and it fits in my pocket!

Orange Cat, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I observe that orange cats aren't specifically very orange.



Then again, this fruit is actually either a clementine or mandarin so technically, its not really an orange anyway. Regardless, Kiwi the orange cat is not interested. (And yes, his left eye is ill and he has been treated by the vet - along with eyedrops at home).



Orange or not, nap time is anytime he chooses to curl up his stubby paws and be too cute.

A Gray Day Beach Walk, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

As I walked along the road on this chilly gray day, an old Jesse Colin Young tune, (those of us "of a certain age" may remember him), popped into my head......."it's a gray day and the pine trees are drippin' in the gray mist." It had that feel even though these aren't pine trees.



Although most tree leaves have fallen, a few small bushes are still holding onto the last gasp of fall color.



A dramatic sky, light wind, and a deserted beach allowed me to mentally solve all the world's problems as I walked to the rhythm of the gentle surf. This view looking south.



This view looking north.



Kayaks stored well above the high tide line are likely safe from winter storm tides. Last year, these wood steps even survived the winter storms.



Otherwise, holiday signs and symbols begin to appear. Life is good in Manomet.

Shadowman Plays With Prisma, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Shadowman came out to play recently with a free smartphone photo app called "Prisma." It offers a number of different filter treatments to an image. My original image was in landscape format (see below) but the app automatically crops to a square format.



It is fascinating how the software interprets the primary image and creates these various views. There are approximately 40 pre-programmed effects from which to choose.



I am especially fond of this black and white pen-and-ink drawing effect. It is truly astounding what today's developers can create! It is an amazing technological world in which we live.



Here's the beginning image.

Shadowman Walks on a Sunny Day, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I ran into Shadowman on this walk and he stayed with me for a while - as long as I have the sun to my back he seems content to tag along.

When I walk, I usually wave to any passing vehicle traffic. Mostly, it's because I want to live in the kind of place where people wave "hello" to each other. To see the change, I must first be the change. Folks I pass after waving likely think one of two things: "my, isn't that a friendly and neighborly thing to do," or, "that strange old man in the hat walking in the road must be the local crazy." I suspect both camps of opinion have their believers - and each - a part of the truth.



Long shadows and low sun even though it's early afternoon.



A back-lit maple leaf didn't get the memo that all leaves are supposed to be down by now.



A stately old home graces the bluff on this fine fall day.



And down at the beach, most unusually, big surf pounds the shoreline with booming waves. View to the south.



Nestled in the western portion of Cape Cod Bay, big waves don't often come to visit. View to the north.



The little hexagon house sits atop a small hill in the bright sun.



One of many lighthouses in Manomet.



Rabbit Pond, a five-acre conservation area, is visible through the treeline now that most leaves have fallen.



And my favorite tree stands ready for the coming winter in this trick panorama image. Instead of a smooth, horizontal panning motion, I used an arcing motion that curves the horizon line like a wide angle/fisheye lens.

Life is good in Manomet even as the days grow shorter, the temperature ranges lower, and winter is just a few weeks away.

A Vegan Thanksgving, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Here's one way for vegans to have a turkey at Thanksgiving - get one made of dark chocolate! And the entire carcass is edible - head and neck included!

Different Views from Two Benches, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This bench is always a pleasant spot to stop and survey the world while out for a walk. There are gulls and seals that provide wildlife entertainment.



Alternatively, Green Heron Pond offers a different bench with other wildlife options......



....if you look closely........



....you'll see this Great Blue Heron in the shallows trying to find food.



But he spooks easily when he sees my movement.



.....and off he flies.



Meantime, the entire event was watched closely by this Red-tailed hawk perched in the nearby tree branches. Life is good in rural Manomet where wild critters still roam.

Yellow Brick Road, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

On a recent walk, I thought it would be nice to photograph a ballerina pose along the center line of the roller coaster section of Manomet Avenue. Amy was most obliging........



.....and then I tried various edits looking for just the right effect......



.....none of them are exactly what I imagined......



......... if only I had thought to bring along a red umbrella...............

Foster Kitties, Papa's Pet Supply Store and Adoption Center, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It was more than two years ago that our last pet, Milo the cat, left this life. We had shared our lives with him for almost 14 years. His passing left a big hole in our hearts. But recently, a new business opened in our local neighborhood shopping center (where the Manomet Post Office is located). It is Papa's Pet Supply Store and Adoption Center. We popped in to visit and check it out. We came out as volunteer foster parents for cats!



A couple days later we brought these two home to stay with us until their forever home is found.

They are pretty fond of each other - apparently brothers. Although they had names when we brought them home, Todd and Glenn, we renamed them Kiwi and Felix, or Peanut Butter and Jelly, or That One and The Other One, for the duration of their stay with us. They don't seem to mind what we call them. If you shake their food in a plastic cup, the sound brings them running, name or no-name.

About a year old, the two are sweet, sociable, friendly, rambunctious, and curious. They will enrich some lucky folks' lives when they get to go to their forever home. In the meantime, they are doing just fine living here with us.