Category Archives: dogs

November 5, 2015

Callahan State Park (Framingham, MA)

If you have a dog or if you are a pooch lover like I am and you live in the Massachusetts area, then you must make a trip out to Callahan State Park in Framingham, MA. In fact, they should rename it Canine State Park.

When I arrived at the park, shortly before 9 on a Saturday morning, the fairly ample parking lot was already almost full. It did not take long to find some cute canines to photograph. I had more trouble deciding which dogs to photograph.

Casey wanted to get an extra close up photo.

Lucky’s dad used a ball to get his attention.

Luna looked right at the camera for me.

Shelby wasn’t sure if he should play with his ball or pose for me.

Finn, an Australian cattle breed mix, wanted to say hi. Right after I took this photo, he ran up to me and snuggled with me.

Heboo dressed for the seasonably chilly weather with a sweater.

Ella gave me a big smile for her photo.

Duke (on your left) and Pete (on your right) were busy looking at their mom/walker.

Gracie looked sharp!

This guy was a great poser!

Leaves carpeted most of the trails and the foliage was not at its peak. But, there were still so many pretty views.

There is lots of open land for dogs to play or run around on.

There is a creek that runs across the park

It began to rain, only for a few minutes, when I was at the creek. It stopped just after I get a few shots of the rain making ripples on the water.

Callahan State Park also has a pond.

There is a little island in the middle of the pond.

This rock caught my eye.

The dogs went in for swim and one of them even retrieved a stick.

The park has a circular path which is great for joggers and anyone who wants to take a leisurely walk. The Greater Framingham Running Club held a 5k/10k run the day I was there.

The runner in blue and yellow waved to me. Who said runners aren’t friendly?

There are so many things you can do at Callahan State Park. This radio plane enthusiast took his plane out for a spin.

This father and son their bikes for a ride.

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24 Comments | tags: creek, dogs, foliage, Framingham, Massachusetts, New England, Park, Photography, photos, pond | posted in bikers, creek, dogs, Fall, foliage, Framingham, Massachussetts, New England, park, photography, photos, pond, runner, toy plane, trees

November 4, 2015

Historic Homes of Salem (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

The historical homes of Salem help give the city a quaint feel. You almost feel like you’re stepping into the pre-Colonial and Colonial days of New England as you traverse these historic areas. They also help keep the city connected to its past. The homes of Salem range from the wood houses to the brick structures you see scattered around the city. But, they are all beautiful in their own right.

There are 46 homes listed on the national register of historic homes in Salem, MA. Don’t worry, I only photographed a few of them. Let’s start with the John Ward House. John Ward was a currier (a leather finisher)

The John Ward House, now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, is an example of First Period architecture. Originally built at a different location (St Peter Street, only a few blocks away from its current location) in 1684, the house had many renovations over the years. It is located just down the street from the Salem Witch Museum.

The Joshua Ward House, located closer to the Salem district area, has a more sordid history. It is built on the same land as the birthplace of the former Sheriff George Corwin. Corwin is known for his overzealous involvement in the questioning and torture of accused witches during the Salem Witch Hysteria. The house is said to be haunted by Corwin. Additionally, George Washington is said to have spent a night there in 1789.

The Corwin House, also known as the “Witch House” is located a little farther away from the center of town on Essex Street. It is the house where accused witches were allegedly tortured in the hopes they would confess. The fact these accused witches could withstand some of his tactics such as strangulation and still held their innocence is testament to their strength and integrity. Naturally, this house is said to have paranormal activity.

There are quite a few houses on Brown Street that have a pre-Colonial or Colonial look to them. Many of them are decorated for the holiday season. Here are a few

Closer to the wharf, there are a cluster of historic homes.

This home was built in 1843 by Johnathan Whipple

This home, belonging to Penn-Townsend (a mariner), was built in 1771.

This home, built by Jesse Kenney (a trader), was built in 1804.

Along Derby Street, there are a few historic homes, directly across from the wharf. The Custom House remains in its original location there. A park ranger stands at the base of the stairwell (on your right).

The Hawkes House is the former home of Benjamin Hawkes, a ship builder and prominent resident of Salem.

Of course, this is one of the most famous buildings in Salem, Massachusetts. There was no photography allowed in the House of the Seven Gables. So, I did not go in as I have already been there several times and the only reason to go on a tour this year would be to photograph the inside of the building.

There are also some pretty inns adjacent to to The House of the Seven Gables.

But, the really impressive homes were on Chestnut Street. This house was built in 1850 for Francis Cox, a merchant.

Some of the neighbors did not take kindly to my photography. But, I carried on.

Deacon John Stone,a distiller, lived here.

Even the sidewalk and street are charming.

This house was built in 1832 for Elizabeth King.

Many of the historic homes have been converted to residencies. In fact, almost all of them seemed to be inhabitated either as homes, apartment buildings or inns. This house was originally built in 1804 for Amos and Solomon Towne.

Some of these homes are so beautiful during the fall season. I can only imagine how pretty they must look during the winter with freshly driven snow falling on the trees and walkways.

This was my favorite house on Chestnut Street. It wasn’t as big as some of the other buildings. But, it was cozy and cute.

It was originally built by Stephen C. Phillips.

I met Penuche (named after the fudge maybe?).

And Lola.

This concludes my journals from my trips to Salem, at least for now. My next few blogs will deal with other parts of the wonderful New England area.

13 Comments | tags: architecture, buildings, dogs, historic, Historical, homes, Massachusetts, New England, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in architecture, buildings, dogs, historical, history, homes, massachusetts, New England, photography, photos, Salem

November 1, 2015

Happy Halloween (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

It’s official. I’m a Salemholic. Today was my third visit to the Halloween Hub of America this October. But, what better place to spend this crisp autumn Halloween?

I have never been so happy while at the same time being packed in one concentrated area.

The costumes ranged from the absurdly cute

to the classics like witches

The “Ghost Busters”

Shrek

The creature from Where The Wild Things Are

The sharks and banana from the Katy Perry halftime Super Bowl show

Edward Scissorhands (probably the costume of the day)

Willy Wonka (with an Oompa Loompa and Violet Beauregard). I guess Violet still hasn’t learned her lesson about eating the “three course meal gum.”

Star Wars (I especially like how they mixed it up a bit and used Luke’s ty fighter costume rather than the robe you usually see him wear)

Darth Vader was understandably upset that he just missed Luke and company

Snape (I think he cursed me)

Alice Cooper

Jigsaw

Jason (he brought his mommy with him, isn’t that sweet?)

Or, is this the real Jason?

and his buddy Freddy

Snap, Crackle and Pop (in that order) took time from eating breakfast to pose

Father Time didn’t look a day over infinity

I found Waldo (actually quite a few Waldos). He wasn’t that hard to find!

The occult leader from the blockbuster hit, Eyes Wide Shut (or so I was told)

I told this guy I was curious if I could take his photo. He didn’t get the play on words but he was friendly nonetheless

And, of course, a Halloween festival isn’t the same without Frankenstein

One of the best things to see is when a family or couple or group of friends get dressed up together. After all, the couple that haunts together stays together. Or, something like that.

Some came dressed as familiar characters like Beetlejuice and Lydia (is she not a dead ringer for Winona?)

and Ron Burgundy with Veronica Corningstone (he’s Kind of a big deal)

Mario and crew

The Joker (in crocs) and nurse

Elliott, E.T. and Gertie

Dorothy, Glinda “the Good Witch” and the “Wicked Witch”

Alice in Wonderland

Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf (I guess they patched things up)

Fred, Wilma and Pebbles

And some came dressed in these other creative costumes

This guy was giving out free hugs

Believe it or not, he actually had a few takers

But, the dogs stole the show! Whether in costume or not, they all looked great!

Dogald Trump was there

Milo stood tall for his photo!

Goliath is a gentle giant

Named after the popular dish from New Orleans, Gumbo, a rescue from New Orleans, posed perfectly!

Sam, the “zombie dog” was the cutest zombie in Salem.

Zoe wished me a “Happy Halloween”!

Lucy was the fairest of them all

Due to the large crowds and the hectic atmosphere, I was unable to get the names of all the dogs from their moms and dads. But, I did want to share their photos.

A great day for everyone, 2 legged or 4 legged. I will be posting a few more Salem blogs later this week mostly dealing with the memorials, statues and impressive architecture from the area and probably a few more dogs ( : If I included all my photos from my trips in this blog it would have been even longer and I didn’t want to over do it. Until next year, Salem! Have a Happy and Spooky (well, not too spooky) Halloween!

20 Comments | tags: costumes, dogs, Fall, fun, Halloween, impersonators, Massachusetts, New England, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in costumes, dogs, Fall, fun, Halloween, massachusetts, photography, photos, Salem

October 27, 2015

Haunted Decorations (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

There’s something magical about Halloween. It’s a time when adults can still pretend to be a kid again, even just for one night. Even the most mature, sober person can forget their responsibilities and relive their carefree days just a little.

For the remainder of the week, I will be posting the remaining photos from my trips to Salem, MA. In this edition, I am posting photos of the various decorations, some other miscellaneous things and, of course, a few dogs from my travels in Salem.

Salem is known world wide for getting into the spirit of Halloween. Everywhere you look, there are decorations of the season.

Besides the vendors selling merchandise there are also games and other fun types of activities. This particular activity was meant to see if people could maintain eye contact with a complete stranger and possibly make a connection, even on just a platonic level. It sounds like a good ice breaker to me. The comments about the activity on the board are very interesting and humorous.

Salem is also creative in how they tie the season to other causes like this witch who encourages people to keep Salem “wicked” clean.

Even Witch’s Brew Cafe got into the mix.

Other stores and attractions, many open only for the Halloween season, decorate for the season.

Some stores have humorous names without even realizing it. Of course, this is a name of a hole in a barrel that often contains alcohol. But, it may have a double meaning..

This is why Salem is so great. The people even get into it. This resident decorated his or her residency and put out a can for donations for the Lion’s Club.

This ghostly figure was seen in Salem harbor.

Salem is also known for its art and not just during the Halloween season. There is art everywhere it seems. These paintings on Essex Street portray a mermaid and a fish-type creature.

The dogs in Salem also get into the Halloween spirit. It’s hard to tell from a front view but Astro had tarantulas drawn on his fur.

Molly was quite the cute pumpkin.

Oz was dressed as a Cadaver dog for Halloween.

I will continue my Halloween in Salem themed photoblogs throughout the week. Thank you for stopping by and Happy Halloween!

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10 Comments | tags: art, attractions, decor, decorations, dogs, Fall, Halloween, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photos, Salem, scary, statues | posted in art, attractions, decor, decorations, dogs, Fall, massachusetts, New England, photography, photos, road trip, Salem, scary, statues, travel

October 13, 2015

Haunted Happenings (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Since it is Halloween is imminent and Salem is so well known for its Halloween attractions, I will be posting a series of blogs from the Salem, Massachusetts, area from my recent visits. If I took a photo of you or your dog and I haven’t posted it yet, I promise I will post it very soon. Also, I want to thank everyone (4 legged and 2 legged) and their folks who agreed to have their or their children’s photos taken. If you’re reading this, I greatly appreciate it.

Today’s blog features some of the sites, people and dogs of historic Salem.

There is something about Salem, or really any busy town or city, in the early morning hours. There’s a certain serenity in the early morning hours, especially when you contrast it with the throngs that will soon descend upon the town. While the city is still sleeping and the roar of vehicles seems a distant memory, street vendors prepare for a busy day and other early risers take to the empty streets. In a scant few hours, these city streets will be jammed.

There were some other early risers on the streets of Salem as well. I ran into Quincy while I was roaming the empty streets.

One of the things about Salem that attracts a lot of visitors, apart from the Halloween attractions, are the memorials and structures in the area. This particular structure in the heart of downtown Salem is the East India Square Fountain. In the warmer weather seasons, they often have water flowing in it. Designed as an abstract map of Salem, the two levels represent the pre-Colonial and contemporary shorelines of Salem.

A little farther down the road is the Revere Bell, a tribute to the citizens of Essex County which encompasses the most northeast section of Massachusetts, who have served in the armed services.

There is also a pretty arch near the Revere Bell that with overgrown foliage.

There were lots of people dressed up for the season

I also saw Chica

and Stanley during my visit

More photos from Salem and the Salem area to come…

7 Comments | tags: costumes, dogs, Fall, foliage, Massachusetts, memorials, monuments, New England, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in costumes, dogs, Fall, foliage, massachusetts, memorials, monuments, New England, Salem

October 12, 2015

Howl-O-Ween Costumed Pet Parade (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dressing up for Halloween is not just for humans.

And there were plenty of pets on display Sunday in Salem, Massachusetts, to prove this.

Sunday, the dogs, and a few cats, took over Salem at the Howl-O-Ween Costumed Pet Parade.

The costumes ranged from the scary, like this dog bone skeleton

and this shark

to the funny like this pooch dressed as Beetlejuice.

In fact, a lot of animals dressed up as other animals and insects. Like these bees

and these bat dogs

or this elephant

There were also an octopus, lobsters, a spider and even a squirrel riding a dog.

Some dogs decided to dress more like humans like Sherlock Bones.

and this working class dog

Some dogs wore more creative costumes, like this Chia-pet

and this wolf in sheep clothes

and Goldilocks

And for those of you who thought dinosaurs were extinct, think again

There were also a number of pets dressed as fictional characters such as Chewbacca and Superman/woman (with a tutu no less) and a super hero.

Sleeping beauty was also at the parade.

And of course, what would a Howl-O-Ween parade be without a witch?

There were also some sports themed costumes

And some food themed costumes like these hot dogs and taco

Dogs were not the only participants. There were these two brave cats. One was dressed as a sailor and the other cat, Briggs, was just a spectator

Although all the participants were winners winners, the prize for best overall costume went to “Max” from the his “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” outfit.

18 Comments | tags: cats, costume, costumes, dog, dogs, fun, Halloween, Massachusetts, New England, parade, pets, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in animals, cats, costumes, dog, dogs, Halloween, massachusetts, New England, parade, pets, photography, photos, road trip, Salem

September 29, 2015

Wayside Inn Colonial Faire (Sudbury, MA)

By New England Nomad

When one reminisces of a simpler time they rarely think of muskets,militias and mills. But, that is what they have at the Wayside Inn Colonial Faire.

You don’t have to be a history nerd, I mean buff, to enjoy the faire. But, it helps. The main attraction, all year round has to be the Grist Mill.

The inside of the mill is just as cool as the outside. Inside the mill, a reenactor shows how bread was made.

One of my favorite attractions is the schoolhouse. Ironic, because in the past I would avoid schools like they were the plague.

The teacher told an interesting story about how Mary Sawyer was the inspiration behind “Mary had a little lamb”. A stone outside the building bears the rhyme.

Another big attraction at the Wayside Inn is the Mary Martha Chapel with its gilded banner weather vane.

Every year, hundreds of reenactors come dressed in their best colonial era attire.

Despite being armed to the teeth, the only surprise attacks were the occasional Colonial era photo bombs.

The highlight for the reenactors came when they all lined up on the main road and marched in their groups.

On the fairgrounds, there were tables where you can buy kettle corn, furs of unknown origin and other merchandise. There were also colonial soldiers, tents, tepees and entertainment.

The tepee was about as cozy as your average 2 bedroom apartment in the city.

Even when the faire is not taking place, the grounds of the Wayside Inn are worthy of a photography shoot.

The Wayside Inn is a rustic building that hasn’t changed much.

The wayside Inn also has an impressive garden. In the garden there is a bust of Longfellow.

And, of course, there were plenty of canine friends at the faire.

Rico was very curious about my camera.

Pablo took a little rest on his walk.

Fritz enjoyed a treat while he was photographed.

Buster was all smiles at the faire.

1 Comment | tags: chapel, colonial, dogs, fair, faire, historic, mill, Photography, reenactment, schoolhouse, Sudbury, Wayside Inn | posted in chapel, churches, dogs, historical, history, mill, New England, photography, schoolhouse, sudbury

September 21, 2015

Amrita Island (Bourne, MA)

By New England Nomad

After spending the morning at the Cape Cod Canal, it was time for the next stop on my day trip. The next leg of my Cape weekend tour was spent at the hidden jewel of Bourne; Amrita Island.

To view the blog about the first leg of my Cape Cod trip check out my blog about the Cape Cod Canal.

An island in the town of Bourne, Amrita Island is one of the lesser known islands of Cape Cod. The reason many people may not know about this island is because it looks like any other side street in the area. The only indication there may be an island there is an inconspicuous sign you could easily miss unless you were looking for it.

Amrita Island is connected to Cataumet (the village within Bourne where Amrita Island is located) by an ornate, albeit short, stone bridge.

There are spectacular views from the bridge.

But, to get the best views, you have to get off the bridge and walk around the surrounding area

There is also an abundance of plant life and pretty trees.

There is also a variety of wildlife on Amrita Island. Fish, ducks and birds are abundant onthe island. The fish were swarming in a circle for some reason.

I also met Hadley, a resident of the island.

I will be posting the next installment of my Cape Cod trip later this weekend. Stay tuned!

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1 Comment | tags: Amrita Island, bridge, bridges, cape cod, dog, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, travel | posted in attractions, boats, bridge, bridges, cape cod, dogs, ducks, fish, New England

September 13, 2015

Olde Mystik Village (Mystic, CT)

By New England Nomad

Tucked away in the quaint village of Mystic, Connecticut, stands the hidden gem known as The Olde Mystic Village.

At first glance, Mistick Village may seem like a nondescript shopping center. But, Mistick Village is much more.

There are many cramped stores for specialty merchandise such as custom made clothing and hand made jewelry, pet shops and eateries that dot the village. It would be easy to dismiss it as just another shopping center. But Mistik Village has many unexpected charms. One of the biggest surprises at Olde Mistik Village is something very unique.

Right there, smack dab in the middle of the village is a pond.

Forget about the cinema and the fudge shop. The ducks are the most popular attractions at the village. People feed them their dietary recommended food. Signs prominently remind people crackers and bread are not safe for the ducks to eat.

They are not restricted to the pond area either. You can regularly see the ducks roaming the walkways of the Mistik Village.

And, since so many people feed them, they are not shy.

The flowers and trees at Mistik Village are another unique feature of the shoopping center.

Yes, that is a birdhouse on the flag pole.

Keeping with the aquatic theme, a waterfall leads to a stream with koi fish.

Some of the most charming elements of the village are the decor. Walkways are furnished with wooden gateways.

Wooden chairs rest in front of this fashion shop.

Various structures are scattered throughout the village.

Of course, the Mistik Village is a dog friendly area.

I met Theo and Rebel. Theo was happy to see me. Rebel, on the left, not so much.

I also made a friend at Old Mistik Village. Charley is a rescue dog from Hurricane Katrina. His dad told us how, after noticing Charley, he arrived at the dog shelter at 5 a.m. to make sure he could adopt him. Charley is a very special dog.

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4 Comments | tags: attractions, connecticut, decor, dogs, ducks, fish, flowers, mystic, New England, Photography, photos, plants, pond, shopping center, site seeing, stream, trees, waterfall | posted in animals, attractions, connecticut, dogs, ducks, fish, flowers, New England, shop, shopping, shops, travel, traveling

September 6, 2015

Mount Greylock (Lanesborough, MA)

By New England Nomad

If you want to feel on top of the world, or at least on top of Massachusetts, there’s no place like Mount Greylock.

Clocking in at 3,491 feet and about an hour and a half west of Springfield, MA, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. With its miles of hiking trails and scenic views, Mount Greylock is the perfect destination for hikers and nature lovers. There is also a paved road to the summit with places to pull over to view the scenic beauty.

There are also some cute and pretty attractions off the main trails.

Even the views and flowers at the Visitor Center were captivating.

Along the trails

But, the pinnacle of Mount Greylock is the tower that sits atop the summit. First built as a tribute to the veterans of the first World War, the tower now serves as a memorial to all service members who have served the country. When it is lit each night, the tower is said to be able to be seen from 70 miles. The granite from which the tower was came from my hown city, Quincy (pronounced kwin-zee), Massachusetts.