Shoot Three - "Across the Big Puddle - Amsterdam"

It was certainly not Greek to all - Carol, Milt, Joani, Jim, Peyton, and Michelle!

"The Herengracht Canal!"

So for next few months, I'll recap my fantastic trip into three major European cities. My first stop was Amsterdam! A wonderful walking city where English was overheard as much as Dutch. The hotel was a mere five minute walk from this spot. I had originally gone here to capture the "Fifteen Canals' Shot." According to the Internet you should be able to see fifteen canals from the intersection of two canals. No luck - best I could shoot was five. What the article failed to mention was that the shot has to be done from one of the canal boats! Let's see handheld camera, low light, and a moving boat - that was not going to happen. Being given lemons, I made this lemonade of an image!

When I looked over my shoulder, I noticed the crescent moon over the canal!

Getting Older?

It was a whole lot easier to get older, 

than to get wiser.

Where in the World?

Here are some interesting facts about various countries of the world. Just where would I be? Here is an easy one:

is the second largest country in the world by total area.

is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories.

features the longest coastline in the world, stretching 202,080 kilometres (125,570 miles).

over 30, 000 lakes.

is rich in resources such as zinc, nickel, lead and gold.

Interesting Fact. . .

The moon moves about two inches 
away from the Earth each year.

Leaving on a humorous note, I hope!

If all is not lost, 

then where the heck is it?

   

Shoot Two - "Click and Clack II"

Were you thinking Indonesia??? A good guess was India but it didn't have nearly enough islands! Heard from Peyton, Michelle, Mike di., Jim, and Joani. Big hint for this week's location - it is not Indonesia!

"It's Howdy Doody Time!"

With many interesting artifacts from the past to shoot at the Click and Clack Garage, I came across these Howdy Doody Ice Cream cups! Very fond memories about sitting down and watching this kiddie show of the fifties! 

Did you know that Howdy was a twin? His lookalike sibling was left back in Texas on their ranch while Howdy traveled with Buffalo Bob to NYC.

Twin's name? See the end of this posting. . .

Getting Older?

"I'm growing old by myself.  

My wife hasn't had a birthday in years."

   ~ Milton Berle

Where in the World?

Here are some interesting facts about various countries of the world. Just where would I be? Here is an easy one:

its official name is the Hellenic Republic.

has a population around 11 million.

important industries include the service sector, agriculture and tourism.

is a popular tourist destination and home to over a dozen World Heritage Sites.

features thousands of islands.

one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

Interesting Fact. . .

In ancient Greece , tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage. 
Catching it meant she accepted.   

Leaving on a humorous note, I hope!

If walking were good for your health, 
the postman would be immortal.

Answer: Howdy's twin brother was named, what else,
Double!

   

Shoot Two - "A Visit to Click and Clack's Garage!"

Told you it was an easy one - China! Perhaps, so easy some of you didn't even fathom a guess but Carol, Mike Di., Peyton, Jim W., and Joani wanted in on the correct response!

"Oil Can Plethora!"

My next photography outing for 2015 did not happen until March but it was a unique one. I managed to get on the invite list to see the garage of NPR's talented duo, Click and Clack!

Some background - the two brothers Tom and Ray were instant celebrities on NPR Boston station WBUR-FM. In 1986 some 11,500 people had tuned in to listed to the mechanical duo. 1992 was  a special year for the show as it earned a prestigious "Peabody Award!" By 2012, it had gone national with six hundred stations and over three million listeners! 

Their garage is full of cars, auto memorabilia, and antiques from the fifties and sixties! This bookcase was filled with oil cans of all shapes, sizes and materials.

Getting Older?

"I don't let old age bother me.  
There are three signs of old age.  Loss of memory ... 
I forget the other two." 

   ~ Red Skelton

Where in the World?

Here are some interesting facts about various countries of the world. Just where would I be? Here is an easy one:

is ethnically diverse, with around 300 distinctive native ethnic groups and over 740 different languages and dialects spoken in the country.

is more than 17, 500 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. 

has some 400 volcanoes, about 150 of these are active which is around 75% of all currently active volcanoes on Earth.

claims the world's fourth most populous nation.

its people are fanatical about the game of badminton, often winning gold medals at the Olympic games in the sport. 

Interesting Fact. . .

Your tongue is the only muscle in your body 
that is connected at only one end.    

Leaving on a humorous note, I hope!

Now that I'm older here's what I've discovered:

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it!

   

Welcome Back! Shoot One - "Winter of 2015!"

Happy New Year and welcome back!

You really didn't think I'd go away THAT quietly, did you?


Massachusetts facts:
BU Bridge has that unique distinction!
"X" marks the spot for the gold dome of the State House
The Children's Museum Milk Bottle!
Agawam is 01001

And, the big winner was Beth with a perfect 4 for4! First runner-up was Jim W. with one and a half right answers - Agawam and he knew the former center of Boston; right behind him with one was Elaine (Agawam) while the rest Jeff W., Joani, Doris, and Mike Di. simply checked in without a guess. Mike's lame excuse was he was from RI!

"Third Time Tunneling to the Feeder"

Just about a year ago we were to get past a very mild December for Mother Nature's wrath - a record setting snowfall in January and February. I believe we had about nine weekends in a row of snow! Grand total was a mere 110.6 inches!!! Over FIVE FEET of it fell in February!

We have a small bird feeder in the backyard that needed to be refilled on a daily basis - unfortunately that meant shoveling out a path to get to it. Just what one needs - tunneling out to the feeder! 

I hope the birds appreciated my efforts. . .

Mantra for 2016 and beyond. . .

Live simply, 

love generously, 

care deeply, 

speak kindly, 

and leave the rest to God.

Where in the World?

Here are some interesting facts about various countries of the world. Just where would I be? Here is an easy one:

has the largest population in the world, with over 1.3 billion people (1,343,239,923) as of July 2012.

is the 3rd largest country by area at 9,706,961 sq km (3,747,879 sq miles).

has the fourth longest river in the world, reaching 5,797km (3,602 miles) in length. It also has the sixth longest, stretching 4,667km (2,900 miles).

has the second largest economy in the world, after the United States of America.

became the third country to successfully send a person to space.

has the largest man made structure in the world, stretching an incredible 8,850 kilometres (5,500 miles).

Leaving on a humorous note, I hope!

As I was lying around, pondering the problems of the world,

I realized that at my age 
I don't really give a rat's a-- anymore!