Tag Archives: dogs

September 10, 2017

ICA-Part II (Boston, MA)

*This is Part II of my 2 part series about the ICA Museum in Boston, MA. To view the first part please click here*

In addition to the works of Nari Ward, the ICA displayed art exhibits from a variety of other artists. One of these artists is Dana Shutz’s.

Dana, an American artist based out of Brooklyn, is widely known for injecting humor into her gestural paintings. She has studied art extensively , even studying abroad at the Norwich School of Art and Design in Norwich, England. While not all of her work had a description of their meaning or intent, I think many of them are fairly self-explanatory or, at the least, left to our own interpretation.

Elevator On Canvas, 2017, oil on canvas. This work is part of a series of paintings of an imagined struggle between larger than life figures and giant insects glimpsed between the gleaming doors of an elevator. Besides addressing people’s claustrophobia, the art may speak to the current heated debate, inner struggles or struggle for attention within the public arena.

Conflict, 2017, oil on canvas. This work portrays a quarrel, possibly between lovers, The couple in the painting are both embracing and fighting at the same time.

To Have A Head, 2017, oil on canvas.

Shame, 2017, oil on canvas.

Shaking Out The Bed, 2015, oil on canvas. This 18 foot wide canvas recalls the Western tradition of history painting. This painting differs from most history paintings in that it does not highlight noteworthy men and women in our history. Rather, her painting consists of everyday items that revolve around people in bed. All of the things we use and, dare I say, rely upon on a daily basis. A calendar, an alarm clock, day old pizza (a must) and a glass of water are some of the items Dana included in her painting. Dana said she “wanted the whole painting to feel like a book that was being opened, like you were shaking out of bed and all of the objects contained within are falling and suspended in front of the scene.” She went on to say she wanted to convey the feeling that “you just missed the alarm and the world is coming back to you in pieces.”

Flasher, 2012, oil on canvas.

In addition to Shutz’s work, there were a number of other artist’s work being displayed at the ICA.

Trace, 1980, by Nancy Graves made of bronze, steel, polychromed patina and paint. Trace depicts a dynamic, wind-blown tree with its bright-green forked trunk rising from a red and brown ground and curving toward the top. The amorphous crown of leaves is composed of layered, multicolored sheets of steel grating punctuated with geometric lines and grids. Graves likes to inject nature and the natural world into her works.

Hidden Relief, 2001, by Sarah Sze made of a halogen work lamp on tripod stand, rulers, spring clamps, levels, plastic, styrofoam, bamboo, toothpicks, branches, bottle caps, string, artificial plants, artificial moss, T-square, Alligator clamps, T-pins, cotton swabs, pushpins, dried plants, paint and glass (or pretty much everything but the kitchen sink).

Sarah uses everyday items, like the items included in this display, to create site-specific sculptures and installations that take on the character of landscapes, architecture and improvisational systems. She used a sample palette of white, orange, yellow, blue and black throughout the work which is brightened by work lights. Sarah also drew diagram-like lines using pins and string in this work of art.

Depose II by Keith Sonnier made of nylon sailcloth, metal. This inflatable design balanced a ready made aesthetic with painted geometric elements. The inflatable part of the sculpture assumes an anthropomorphic form that, when mixed with air from the blower, suggests a living being. Initially a limp sack, the sculpture must breathe and expand to assume its final form. The title references the act of being deposed, wherein a person is required to give oral out-of-court testimony. The person being deposed is often asked exceedingly personal questions. Perhaps the pinched or pressed inflatable alludes to the feeling of duress that might arise from having to tell the truth in a compromising situation.

Untitled (Topanga, CA, Umbrella 17) by Sam Falls made of nylon. Untitled displays the fabric of an umbrella without the support and pinned to the wall. Sam exposed some of the umbrella’s nylon panels in the California sun for a prolonged period of time. Then, he interspersed the faded panels with panels that had been kept out of the sun causing a contrast in the colors of the sculpture. Sam’s work of art invites speculation about the elements of time and change in art and nature.

The intermediate-Inceptive Sphere, 2016, by Haegue Yank made of artificial straw, steel stand, powder coating, artificial plants, artificial fruits, plastic twine, Indian bells and casters.

The Intermediate-Inceptive Sphere is an anthropomorphic sculpture that belongs to a series of woven straw works titled The Intermediates. The sculpture is adorned with items such as bells that are meant to hang from the necks of cows in India and Korean bridal headpieces. The work of art also invokes Asian folk cultures, shamanic figures and their rituals. Haegue used plastic straw to foreground the tension between the organic and synthetic in contemporary life.

Ashes, 2017, is a video by acclaimed director Steve McQueen.

Ashes presents footage on two sides of a freestanding screen. One of the sides, originally shot on soft, grainy Super 8 film, shows a young, carefree fisherman named Ashes balancing playfully on a boat. The other side shows a second projection, shot in 16 mm film, that shows Ashes’s unexpected fate. The videos conjure an easy vitality and a vivid description of place against the darker forces of society and fate.

The last, but not least, attraction at the museum is the view. Full length glass windows give stunning views of Boston Harbor. I bet it must be spectacular during sunsets.

On the way to the train station, we met these dogs taking a stroll along the boardwalk at Fort Port Channel.

Emmerson, a 13 year old Shetland, was very comfortable in his stroller

Archie, a 10 year old Yorkie peeking out from behind Emmerson, decided to get out and walk around.

There were also some pretty views of Boston at night along the way.

Today’s featured blogger is The Culture Club. The Culture Club visited the ICA recently. I thought his post would be a good companion to my post since he may have photographed pieces I may have missed or weren’t on display when I visited the museum. You can find his post here. The Culture does reviews, writes about music and entertainment and he’s got a cute dog!

5 Comments | tags: art, Boston, dogs, ICA, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, Boston, dogs, ICA, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

September 10, 2017

ICA-Part I (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 25, 2017

Location: 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA

Hours:

Tuesday + Wednesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Thursday + Friday*: 10 AM – 9 PM
*First Friday of every month: 10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday + Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Closed Mondays, except on the following national holidays, when admission is FREE for all: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

Closed on Patriot’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Cost:

General Admission: $15
Seniors: $13
Students: $10
Youth 17 and under: FREE

Admission is FREE for all eve

Parking:There are several parking options that are listed at their ICA parking info

Highlights: creative art displays, info sessions about the art

Tips:

parking is very limited in this area. The museum recommends using public transportation.
The museum only has art on the 1st and 4th floors of the building (mostly the 4th floor)

Website: ICA

*I had to split this post into two parts, as it was too big for WordPress to save. Part I of this post will center upon the works of the featured artist Nari Ward. The second part of this post will focus on some of the other art at the museum. I have also included half of the number of the cute dogs I photographed during this visit*

Always at the intersection of art and social issues, he ICA (The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston) recently highlighted the works of an artist who uses his art to make various statements about our social, economic and political climate. Even if you may not agree with or see his points of view, I am sure you will enjoy his artistic aptitude.

During my visit, Jamaican and American Nari Ward’s work was being featured in his “Sun Splashed” exhibit at the museum.

Sunsplashed, 2015, is the centerpiece of the art exhibit. The second work of art is called, Scandal Bag: History Feeds Mistrust.

Nardi, born in 1963 in Jamaica and currently based in New York City, uses everyday items to create works of art that play on the history, economy and social issues surrounding his environment. He also embraces cultural diversity.

Nari uses wood, metal, iron and other materials with everyday items such as soda bottles. Nari hits on some hot button issues such as migration, citizenship and economic disparity in his works.

One of the things that struck me about these works of art is the thought and creativity that went behind all of them.

The We The People exhibit by Nari Ward was one of the main works of art at the ICA. In fact, many of his works of art are being featured

If you look very closely, you may notice it is not written in ink. Rather, it is spelled out in artistic dangling shoelaces. This exhibit was being displayed a block away from the museum. It surely created a lot of interest and lured in quite a few visitors eager to learn more about Nari’s works of art.

Below are Nari’s works of art that were being displayed with a brief description and explanation of their meaning. Sadly, his art is no longer there as the exhibit’s last day was September 3. The first work of art is rather unconventional. But, it was very interesting.

Jacuzzi Bed by Nari Ward is made of headboards arranged around heating lamps and fans. The work of art is meant to produce an approximation of the Caribbean breeze. The name is meant to conjure association with pleasure and comfort. Nari says the work conveys his sense of nostalgic displacement.

Sky Juice, 1993, is made of an umbrella, iron fence, plastic soda bottles, photographs, Tropical Fantasy soda and sugar. The soda bottles, hanging from the umbrella, have photos inside of them. His goal was to create a work of art with disparate things from everyday life to create a work of art everyone can relate to. “Sky Juice” is the name of a Bahamian drink made from coconut milk and gin (yum).

During my visit, one of the museum guides led an open discussion about the work of art where visitors and she discussed the deeper meaning of the work of art and what the work of art means to them. She did this several different works of art during my visit.

Mango Tourist, 2011, by Nari, are “snowman-like” sculptures are made of burnt foam spheres that he decorated with mango seeds and small electrical parts. The small capacitors bear traces of the economic and industrial history of New England and of course the snowmen are a staple of our winters. The organic mango seeds resonate with his memories of Jamaica.

Happy Smilers: Duty Free Shopping, 1996, by Nari is made of awning, plastic soda bottles, fire hose, a fire escape, salt, sand, household elements, an audio recording, speakers and an aloe vera plant. Party music and background conversation from the speakers gave the display a feeling of sitting on a fire escape on a hot summer night.

This exhibit was inspired by a candy store not far from where he lives in Harlem, New York. While the store appeared to be a convenience store, it was really the site of a small scale gambling site. This gave Nadir the idea of making an exhibit that shows you can’t judge a place, person or thing by outside appearances.

The name Happy Smilers was derived from a band that was led by Nadir’s uncle that entertained tourists in Jamaica in the 1970’s. The fire escape and discarded furniture wrapped in fire hoses suggest an urban tableau. The salt and sand, aloe vera plant, speakers and bright yellow walls are drawn from the cultural context of Jamaica. The salt evokes a common Jamaican expression about the devil not being able to step over salt. The succulent symbolizes healing. Lastly, the soundtrack symbolizes one of the artist’s earliest childhood memories of lying in bed at night while he listened to rain fall on his tin roof in Jamaica.

The Naturalization Table is an exhibit based on Nari’s personal experience of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, this interactive artwork gives museum visitors a better understanding of that process. During certain days, visitors could add their photo to the display.

Radha Liquorsoul, 2010, is a metal and neon sign made of PVC tube, artificial flowers, shoelaces and shoe tips. This was part of a work made from out of use liquor store signs that Nari removed from building facades in New York. Ward was interested in the many uses and impact liquor has in our lives. Nari also used shoe tips (which Nari considers a a signature material that symbolizes human presence), shoelaces and artificial flowers. Nari was partly inspired by impromptu street or roadside memorials.

Homeland, Sweet Homeland, 2012, is made of cloth, plastic, megaphones, razor wires, feathers, chains and silver spoons. The “Miranda Rights” which are listed on this work have appeared as a running theme on many of Nari’s works. The combination of razor wire, megaphones, leather and gold thread with feathers were meant to evoke a kitschy domestic memento and a heraldic government edict.

Rock, Booked, Scissor, Vice, 2010, is made of book, rock, scissors and vice. This exhibit was spawned from a mistake. When Nari first saw the “Black’s Law Dictionary” as a child he thought there were different law dictionaries for white and black people. Although his brother corrected, his initial thought stuck with him and inspired his work. To create this work, Nari cinched the dictionary with a vice, pierced it with scissors and weighted it with a stone. It is meant to symbolize a violent reenactment of the game “rock, paper, scissors.” It is meant to represent the seemingly arbitrary application of the law experienced by people in many of the communities in America.

Savior, 1996, is made of a shopping cart, plastic garbage bags, cloth, bottles, metal fence, earth, wheel, mirror, chair and clocks. Nari constructed the sculpture by utilizing the shopping cart, a common item, and using items to bling it up. In the blue bag you can see clocks. The sculpture had an accompany video titled, “Pushing Savior.”

Iron Heavens, 1995, made of metal pans, cotton and wooden bats came from Nari’s observation that the holes dotting the the metal surfaces of certain baking pans look like stars. Nari collaged pans together on a wall to evoke the night sky.

Nari used baseball bats to form a ground to the heaven above. The bats were burned, sterilized and had cotton applied to their surfaces. This was meant to convey violence and healing. The materials were also used to signify the American South, especially the older south. The cotton was used to signify slavery as that was the main crop slaves used to pick. The baseball bats were used to signify the violence many blacks suffered. The overall arrangement recalls the yard assemblages and sculptural folk traditions of the region.

Glory, 2004, consists of an oil barrel, fluorescent and ultraviolet tubes, computer parts, DVD audio recording, Plexiglas, fan, camera casing elements, paint cans, cement, towels and rubber roofing membrane.

The tanning bed is made out of old oil barrels. As this work of art was built one year after the Iraq attack, he used the oil barrels represent the political debates over the connection between oil and patriotism.

The oil barrel also signifies the issues related to identity and race. While in some cultures, a tan is viewed as a mark of leisure and privilege. However, “pigmentocracy” can ascribe a higher value to lighter skin tones in some societies.

As you stand by the Glory sculpture, you can hear recordings of voices and people talking in hushed tones.

Afroochase, 2010, made of ink, a found vinyl banner, cowrie shells, Afro picks and felt weatherstripping is built from a Chase Bank banner that he found mixed with various materials each of which have a symbolic meaning.

The cowrie shell has several possible meanings. The shell has been used as a form of currency, It is also used in divination ceremonies in African and North African and South African religious contexts.

Afro picks have been used as a symbol of black cultural identity and the shapes of the particular picks (the raised fist of the Black Power movement) refers to black nationalism and resistance.

Crusader, 2006, is made of a shopping cart, chandelier, trophy elements, metals, plastic bags and plastic containers.

Crusader has been described as a radiant poetic work that mixes the personal and political. Nari used comedy to make a political statement about his feelings concerning the second Gulf War. Oil plays a central theme in many of his works, evident by the oil canisters in this work.

Beat Box, made of an old New York City payphone, a drum and a fire extinguisher was made as a way of showing the different ways people have communicated. The old (the drums which have been used as nonverbal communication in some traditions ) with the modern (the payphone). After Ward had modified the pay phone he put it back outside where it had originally came from. Imagine the looks on the people’s faces when they tried to make phone calls!

I noticed how Nari likes to incorporate audio and videos into his exhibit. This is only one example of this. Those chairs look very comfortable!

Den, 1999, made of wood, chain-link fence, metal pole, tacks, rug and wooden furniture legs

Chrysalis, 2010, made of mirror, rope, foam, and a found paper bag

Vertical Hold, 1996, made of yarn and bottles. This sculpture was made from old, used glass bottles Nari found at a dump site and some bottles he found while he was in residence at a Shaker community in Sabbathday Lake, Maine. He wove the bottles together with string thus creating a web that he described as a quilt. This work was inspired by bottle trees, a traditional African, Caribbean and Southern black sculptural form that was believed to protect against evil spirits.

Canned Smiles, 2013, explores the intersection of art history and identity. Nari was influenced by another artist, Piero Manzini. Piero created Merda d’artista (Artist’s Shit) that consisted of 90 small cans labeled with the title that he sold. The art exhibit by Piero was a sarcastic way of saying that anything that belongs to an artist is worth value. It also was a commentary about how not all art may have merit.

Ward’s art display aims to question people’s perceived stereotypes and the reality of constructed values. Nari used the Black Smiles idea to play on the minstrel shows which used to be popular in America during the 19th century. The work inspires us to ask whether the notion of a smile trapped in a can is any more or less strange than the ideas we construct around identity.

During my visit, the ere was a social gathering on the desk of the museum. Music, food and refreshments were being served and there were a number of therapy dogs at the event.

A “cuddle zone” was created by visual artist J.R. Uretsky. The “Cuddle Zone” featured nine therapy dogs from Dog B.O.N.E.S. There was also quilted works for people to use as comfort aids. You will also some of the dogs wore or sat on these quilted comfort aids.

Hey, we all can use this kind of therapy!

In fact, the dogs were so popular and in such high demand, I was only able to photograph two of these special dogs.

Spider is a 5 year old chihuahua.

Ruby Pearl is a 4 year old pitbull.

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2 Comments | tags: art, Boston, dogs, ICA, Massachusetts, museum, New England, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, Boston, dogs, ICA, Massachusetts, Nari Ward, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

September 5, 2017

Wheels & Waffles (West Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 19, 2017

Location: Eastern States Exposition Center, Avenue Of The States, 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: There is ample parking located at the entrance

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Wheels N Waffles

Highlights: classic cards dating back to the early 1900s, waffles

Tips:

The “Avenue of the States” (where the event was held) got the name because it has a replica of each state’s house of each state in New England on its premises
The Wheels & Waffles event is usually held at the Eastern States Exposition Center twice each summer, annually

What goes better together than wheels and….waffles? Well, that was what was on the menu at the Eastern Exposition Center last month.

There were some novelty card there too like this “General Lee” Dukes Of Hazzard replica car.

And this replica of Herbie The Love Bug

If only I was better at identifying cars with the years they were built. Unfortunately, that’s not my forte. But, I still appreciate the curves, style and power of these vehicles.

Look at those fins and designs. Those beautiful, beautiful fins…

Not all of the cars were from the 50’s and 60’s. In fact, some of you may have owned some of these more recent classics.

I’ve always loved long, shapely cars. So, of course this was my favorite.

Of course, as the name of the event suggests, there waffles provided by the Storrowton Tavern.

The “Avenue Of The States” didn’t get its name by accident. The grounds have a replica of each original state house for each of the six New England states. Below is the original state house of Massachusetts.

Here is what the Boston State House actually looks like (courtesy of everstockphoto.com)

Wheels & Waffles is a dog friendly event and I’m really not sure what I thought were more beautiful, the dogs or the cars. OK, it was the dogs.

CJ is a 5 or 6 year old Jack Russell Terrier.

Lola is a 3 year old Lab.

Gunner is a 2 and a half year old Lab mix.

Below is a video of the Wheels & Waffles event

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17 Comments | tags: dogs, Eastern States Exposition Center, Massachusetts, New England, West Springfield, Wheels & Waffles | posted in cars, dogs, Eastern States Exposition Center, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, West Springfield, Wheels And Waffles

September 4, 2017

Twice Upon A Time (Brattleboro, VT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 6, 2017

Location: 63 Main St, Brattleboro, VT

Hours:

10:00am – 6:00pm Monday through Saturday

11:00am – 6:00pm Sunday

Parking: There is metered parking located throughout the city

Handicapped Accessible: No

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Twice Upon A Time

Tips:

there are three floors to the building (includiing the basement). Make sure to hit them all.
Parking can be difficult in the center of town where the store is located. It could be better to park farther away and walk a short distance (and taking in the sights along the way)

Second hand clothes and dog-eared books aren’t the only things you’ll find at Twice Upon A Time. Memories and laughs are also not in short supply at the store.

The three floor (if you count the basement) and 10,000 square foot store has everything from vintage clothing to old lighting fixtures and skis that have seen better days..

Nostalgia poured over me as I looked back at all of the items that were once popular during my childhood and younger years.

My favorite part of the shop was rummaging through the books, toys, audio recordings and collectible collections. It’s not only fun to see books and music you recognize it also gives a glimpse into what life was like at an earlier time.

Raise your hand if you remember sitting at these types of desks. OK, it can be just our little secret.

I was also fascinated by the more unusual and vintage items at the store. I was also struck by how much corporate culture has invaded both our current and past. I mean, who wouldn’t want that vintage Coke temperature gauge hanging in their kitchen?

Twice Upon A Time…is no fly by might store. The store has been around, in various locations in Brattleboro, since 1987. They have been at their current location on Main St since 1996. And, based on the constant flow of shoppers and visitors to the store it foes not appear to be closing any time soon.

Twice Upon A Time…is a dog friendly store, And who knows; you might even find something for your pup there. Molly, a 3 year old Shih Tzu, was there shopping with her human during my visit.

When you are paying for your purchases, you might meet Nugget, an 8 year old Pomeranian and pet of one of the owners of the shop.

Below is a short video of a tour of the Twice Upon A Time store from the Brattleboro Community TV YouTube page:

6 Comments | tags: Brattleboro, dogs, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, store, Twice Upon A Time, Vermont | posted in Brattleboro, dogs, photographs, photography, photos, Twice Upon A Time, Uncategorized, Vermont

August 18, 2017

Hubbard Park (Meriden, CT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 12, 2017

Location: 843 W. Main St, Meriden, CT (about 30 minutes southwest of Hartford, CT)

Hours: Open daily sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a small parking lot for about a dozen cars at the front of the park. There is additional parking along the side of the park and at the back of the park.

Park Size/Trails: 1,803 acres, easy trails

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Hubbard Park

Highlights: lake, birds, trails, pool, tennis courts, play area for children, dinosaur track, picnic spots

Tips:

There is ample parking allowed in the back of the park
You need a special pass to use the pool at the park and it’s not open during the weekends
A trail that you can hike or drive up takes you to Castle Craig

Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT, is not your average park. With its trails, bodies of water, recreation areas and a winding trail to Castle Craig, Hubbard Park is a great place to spend the entire day.

There are streams, bridges and trails to the right of the entrance to the park.

The lake at Hubbard Park, Mirror Lake, is the highlight of the park. Turtles, birds and frogs inhabit the lake and fountains are placed throughout the lake.

Hubbard Park attracts a lot of birds, particularly Canadian Geese.

But, there are more than just Canadian Geese at the park.

The ducks, geese and other birds are so used to being around people, and being fed by people I suspect, that they seem to be waiting for people to feed them.

This goose was tired from all of the activity at the park.

There are also dinosaur tracks at the park. The origins of the tracks remain a mystery. You can see the prints in the puddles from rain earlier in the day.

Walter Hubbard, president of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company, donated most of the land at the park in 1901. John Olmsted, the son of Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Central Park, helped design Lake Meriden.

From the park, you can see the jewel of the Hubbard Park area, Castle Craig. In my next post, we will explore this beautiful tower.

Dogs are allowed at Castle Craig. Because of its ample space and wide trails, Hubbard Park is a great place to take your dog. Below are just two of the many dogs we saw there.

Mollie is a 9 and a half year old Dalmatian.

Beck is a 10 year old Border Collie mix.

Today’s featured link is Out And About Mom. Out and About Mom explores the many family friendly spots in Connecticut. A few years ago, she posted about the Festival Of Silver Lights, a family friendly light display at Hubbard Park.

11 Comments | tags: bridges, Canadian Geese, dogs, Hubbard Park, lake, Mirror Lake, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, streams | posted in bridges, connecticut, dogs, ducks, Hubbard Park, Meriden, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

August 7, 2017

Bare Cove Park (Hingham, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Visit: July 28 & 30, 2017

Location: Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, MA (about 20 minutes south of Boston)

Hours: open daily, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There are several parking areas. The main parking area on Bare Cove Park Drive has room for about 40-50 vehicles

Trail Size/Difficulty: 484 acres, easy trails

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Fitbit stats: 3:16, 985 calories, 10,069 steps, 4.21 miles

Highlights: scenic, water, family friendly, dock house with historical military items, wildlife

Website: Bare Cove Park

I made two visits to Bare Cove Park. The first time I visited the park was July 28th. I got there late on the 28th and the lighting was poor. So, I stopped by two days later, Sunday, July 30.

As you can see by the photos, there are some beautiful sunsets at Bear Cove. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t very good, though.

Once the site of a U.S. Naval depot (more on this later), Bare Cove Park now is the home to a variety of wildlife. I found many birds during my visit. There are also supposed to be fox, deer and other animals at the park. I didn’t see any of them. But, I did see evidence of them.

If you look closely at the little bird photo at the end, the bird has his or her lunch.

There was a crisp pre-autumn chill in the air when I made my way to Bare Cove Park. It reminded me of the mornings you whittle away before the college and pro football games start. But, I’d rather spend my day at Bare Cove anytime.

The views are simply amazing.

The thing that stood out to me mostly are the variety of pretty trees and flowers at the park.

Bare Cove is only 484 acres and it’s very easy to get around, even without a map of the park. Trust me, I didn’t even get lost and I always get lost. The trails are easy with hardly any inclines and they are mostly paved if you stay on the main trail.

Because of its proximity to Boston, Hingham was considered an important location for the military to produce ammunition and other supplies during World War II. The magazines, or manufacturing buildings, ran 24 hours, 7 days a week and employed thousands of people at is peak.

The dock house (only open Sunday from 12-2) has a variety of items from World War II that were manufactured in this very same area.

There are also two memorials outside of the dockchouse as well as other items from the days of the hey day at Bare Cove. The ammunition depot was closed in the early 1970’s.

The memorial to the left, lying vertically on the ground, is dedicated to the men and women who worked at the ammunition depot during World War i, World War II and the Korean Conflict.

The memorial to the right standing up is dedicated to naval crew members who were lost when some ammunition exploded on a ship they were loading.

While dogs are allowed at Bare Cove the park is not considered a “dog park” per se. All dogs are expected to be leashed or respond immediately to voice commands. In my visits there all of these dogs fit into both or either category.

Here are a few of the cute four legged visitors at Bare Cove that I ran into during my visits.

Hickory is a 7 year old tree walking coon hound.

Bronn, named after a Games Of Throne charcater, is a 9 month old Newfie. His mommy was teaching to fetch.

Gracie is a super friendly 2 year old pitbull.

Tundra (on the left), a 2 year old Golden Retriever, just got finished with his swim and was getting ready to go home. His sibling, Piper (on the right), didn’t want to leave..

During my first visit, on the 28th of July, I met a very nice lady with three dogs.

America is a 10 year old mixed breed dog who got that name because the dog is a mix of many breeds, kind of like how America is a mix of all kinds of people.

Sophia is a 6 year old chihuahua.

Lily is a 10 year old Lab and Collie mix.

Bruiser is a 6 year old part pitbull.

Below is a video of fireflies at Bare Cove Park. The lack of light and various animal aand bird noises give it a little bit of a spooky feel.

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Today’s featured link is a link to a 30 minute documentary that explains the history of Bear Cove Park. The documentary was put together by Scott McMillan, the very same man who gave me a detailed tour of the dockhouse.

12 Comments | tags: Bare Cove Park, birds, dogs, flowers, Hingham, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trees | posted in Bare Cove Park, dog, flowers, Hingham, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, trees, Uncategorized

August 5, 2017

Buttonwood Farm (Griswold, CT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 22, 2017

Location: 473 Shetucket Turnpike, Griswold, CT

Cost: Free

Hours:

March 1 – October 30

Current Hours
Mon – Fri 12pm–9pm
Sat – Sun 11:30am–9pm

Parking: There are about 50 parking spots in the parking lot. When they are busy, you can park on the side of the busy street (as I had to)

Handicapped Accessible:

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: ice cream shoppe, sunflowers (seasonally), family friendly, cows

Website: Buttonwood Farm

Once the site of a dairy farm, Buttonwood Farm is so much more now. Not only do they have a sunflower garden with a maze and a famous ice cream shoppe, they also are the site of one of the more popular charity events each year.

Funny thing is I didn’t find one button the entire time I was there.

During my visit, the sunflowers were in bloom and Buttonwood Farm was holding a fundraiser for their Sunflowers For Wishes charity.

The dirt trails in the sunflower maze are easy to navigate. The path is only about half a mile long. Due to the showy outer ray petals of the sunflowers, bees and other insects, like this beetle, are attracted to the nectar and pollen.

In addition to the sunflowers, people (big and small) could ride their cow train or tractor tour. All proceeds, of course, went to the charity.

At the end of the sunflower maze, there is a hill on a short incline where you can view the sunflowers.

There were also some performers at the top off the hill. A man was playing music and there was a local painter, Jacqueline Jones, who was preparing to paint the sunflower garden.

Since it was a charity event, there were charitable organizations like the “Make A Wish” foundation. They had my dream car there!

The cows at Buttonwood are so docile and beautiful.

Sunflowers aren’t just for people. Dogs also like to walk along the sunflower maze.

Tunken (on the left) is an 8 year old Chocolate Lab mix and Duncan (On the right) is a 3 legged Harrier, fox and hound mix

Alie is a 12 year old Mini Pinscher.

Ian is a 5 month old Golden Retriever who is in training to be a service guide dog.

Below is a video of the maze at the sunflower garden. What struck me is, despite the large crowd that was there, how peaceful and quiet the place seemed. It seems like a wonderful place to go and just have some peace and quiet.

Today’s featured website is Jacqueline Jones’ Paintings From The Open Air. Jackie was painting a portrait of the sunflower garden during my visit. You can find her painting of the sunflower garden on her website.

Based out of New Haven, CT, Jackie specializes in painting the nature of the New England area. She also enjoys painting in other areas outside of New England such as the Colorado and New York areas. Jackie has also won a variety of awards and has studied with some of the accomplished artists in the New England area.

2 Comments | tags: art, connecticut, cows, dogs, flowers, Griswold, New England, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, connecticut, flowers, Griswold, New England, photographs, photography, photos, sunflowers, Uncategorized

August 4, 2017

Congamond Lakes (Southwick, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 4, 2017

Location: 93 Point Grove Rd, Southwick, MA

Hours: the ramps are open around the clock

Cost: $5 boat launch fee

Parking: there is parking available in the parking lot of the boat launch and there is limited parking on Point Grove Rd.,

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: boat launch, fishing, scenic

What better way to spend July 4th than at one of the busier lakes in Western MA?

Lake Congamond in Southwick, MA, seemed like the perfect place to spend the summer morning hours before our barbecue. But, mostly because I like to say and write Lake Congamond. What a fun name to say and what a fun lake to visit.

As the name suggests, Congamond Lakes is not one lake but, rather, a group of lakes at the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut. There are various boat launches. We stopped off at the boat launch in Southwick (MA).

With a maximum depth level of 35 feet, the Congamond Lakes are a popular place for boating or taking some other aquatic vehicle.

Ducks are common at the lake and they are so used to being fed they will sometimes eat from your own hand.

Congamond roughly translates to “long fishing place” and we saw quite a few people fishing.

The pier offers spots for fishing, places to view the water and the boats or a place to sit with a friend.

Dogs are allowed at Congamond Lakes. I’m just not sure they’re supposed to navigate the boats.

Some dogs prefer land to being on boats. Samurai is a Belgian Malinois.

Today’s featured link is Paul Samson’s Kayaking Blog. People on boats, or in this case a kayak, can get to places those on land can’t get to and Paul found some gems during his kayaking adventure. Paul’s blog post about Congamond Lakes can be found here.

4 Comments | tags: boats, Congamond Lakes, dogs, lake, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Southwick | posted in boats, Congamond Lakes, dog, lake, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Southwick, Uncategorized

July 13, 2017

Rockwell Park (Bristol, CT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 1, 2017

Location: 243 Jacobs, St, Bristol, CT (2 hours southwest of Boston, MA and 30 minutes southwest of Hartford, CT)

Cost: Free

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Parking: There are several parking areas with ample parking

Trail Size/Difficulty: over 100 acres/easy

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: ponds, streams, bridges, dog park, baseball field, tennis courts, kids playground, fountain, skate park, basketball and volleyball courts, summer programs for kids

Website: Rockwell Park

I’m back! Unfortunately, I had some downtime due to some repairs that needed to be done on my laptop. So, I couldn’t download photos for some time. The reason for my issues? Fur in the fan of my laptop that was causing a very distracting noise. The culprit was this little lady.

Image may contain: cat

I’ll let it pass cause she’s cute.

Being away from the blogging game gave me some time to reset and think over my blog. I have added one additional feature to my posts. Take a look at the end of the blog (no, not now) to see what I have added.

But, I’m back in business and I have lots of fun places and pets from New England to share with everyone! So, without further delay…

Even though I live only a couple of hours away from Connecticut, I hadn’t been there much before I began this blog. But, I have to say the few parks I have been to in Connecticut have been top notch. Rockwell Park in Bristol is no exception.

Rockwell Park mixes recreation, fitness, beauty and open spaces to give the entire family (and their pets) something to look forward to when they visit.

There is a large pond at the entrance to the park on Jacobs St. Along the pond is a trail that circles the pond and goes further along the park.

There are several fitness stations along the trail with workout equipment with instructions about how to use them.

I gave the pull up bar a shot. Look at that form. No, really look at it. It needs some work. One pull up is my limit, though. I didn’t try the sit up equipment, for obvious reasons. I mean, let’s not go crazy with the fitness stuff.

With its baseball field, volley and basketball courts and Frisbee golf, fitness and exercise are prominent themes at the park.

Several bridges pass over a stream that flows through the park with some pretty views

The stream is relatively calm and not very deep. In fact, some people like to cross the stream without using the bridge.

These boys were looking for fish and frogs.

The trails are mostly dirt and are mostly easy with some gentle inclines.

There is a boardwalk just off the main trail that leads to a fountain.

A structure of some kind stands next to the boardwalk.

Rockwell Park has a lot of activities and attractions for younger children and teens. This play area, with splash pad, is a popular attractions for kids. I was very tempted to use the splash pad.

There is also an open space with seating for people to attend concerts and other events.

There are also monuments to the along the trail.

The inscription on the first marker (from left to right) in the photos above which is dedicated to John Christopher Mack reads:

This Tablet is to Perpetuate the Memory Of
John Christopher Mack
A public spirited citizen who truly loved Bristol
the place of his birth.
His declining years were spent in California
yet his interest in his native town never lessened.
His great love for children
found fitting expression in his will
by which a substantial sum was provided
for the development of recreational facilities
for them in the parks and playgrounds
of the city.

The inscription on the marker dedicated to Albert Rockwell, the benefactor of the land the park sits on reads:

Albert F. Rockwell
1862 – 1925
Inventor, manufacturer, public-
spirited citizen. He gave to the
city this park and contributed
liberally to its development.
His initiave and counsel were
of great value in the civic
and industrial life of Bristol.
In appreciation, the people by
voluntary contribution have
erected this memorial.
Bristol, Connecticut 1926

You don’t have to look too hard to find wildlife at Rockwell Park. Birds, chipmunks, squirrels and even turtles inhabit the park.

With its easy trails and spacious field, Rockwell Park is a great place to take your dog.

Brody is a 4 month old Red Fox Lab. I saw him learning how to play Frisbee.

Molly is a 9 year old Chocolate Lab. Molly is a natural poser!

Lucy and Ricki were at the park when I went to visit. Lucy had some “expaining to do”, according to Ricki, In fact, they visit often. Named after the fictional TV couple from “I Love Lucy”, Lucy and Ricky are very close friends. Lucy is a Yorkie.

Ricky is a 6 month year old Yorkie.

There is also a dog park, called B.A.R.K.Park, located in Rockwell Park. You can walk to it from the main entrance or you can drive to it (the address is 28 Muzzy St). BARK Park (get it?) is a large fenced in dog park.

There weren’t many dogs there when I went to visit. But, I did find these three cuties.

Febi is a 3 year old Rottweiler.

Emmitt is a 6 year old pit bull mastiff mix.

Molly is a 2 year old Chihuahua.

My new feature to my blog is a link to another blog, website or article about the area or people or places from the area I have visited. My first link is to a post by katieleigh about her husband her visit to Connecticut. Katie is a blogger on WordPress who has a special affinity for books. Stop by and see some of the other wonderful attractions Connecticut has to offer!

Weekend In Connecticut

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10 Comments | tags: Bristol, CT, connecticut, dogs, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, Rockwell Park | posted in Bristol, CT, connecticut, dogs, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Rockwell Park, Uncategorized

July 2, 2017

Harold Parker State Forest (No. Andover, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 25, 2017

Location: 305 Middleton St., No. Andover, MA (about 30 minutes north of Boston and about 1 hour southeast of Concord, NH)

Cost: There are several parking stations to pay per the hour or you can park at the headquarters which is what I did. There wasn’t a charge to park at the headquarters the day I visited. The charge to park at Berry Pond is $5 for MA vehicles; $6 for non-MA vehicles

Hours: trails are open sunrise to sunset. Berry Pond Beach is open 10am-6pm from June 25- Sept 5.

Parking: There are several parking lots throughout the automated pay stations.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 35 miles of logging roads and trails/easy with some challenging inclines

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the main paves trail is and Berry Pond has several handicapped parking spaces right near the beach.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, beach, lakes, extensive trail system, campground area, rock climbing

Website: Harold Parker State Forest

Trail Map: Harold Parker State Forest Trail Map

One of the more vast state forests I have visited to date, Harold Parker State Forest boasts over 35 miles of trails and roads, a beach (Berry Pond), several ponds and lakes and a variety of wildlife. I spent over 6 hours there and, while I did cover a lot of ground, there was surely some a lot I didn’t see. Tip of the day: if you do go, bring a trail map!

The trails at Harold Parker are generally easy with some moderate inclines. Due to the various streams and wetlands, there are also several boardwalk trails.

Harold Parker is a popular spot for cyclists. According to the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) the single track riding rates at Harold Parker State Forest are: 30% easy, 30% moderate, and 40% difficult with some rocky sections.

It is a little difficult finding the exact entrance to Harold Parker (I found 3 different addresses but I included the address of the headquarters at the top of this post). It’s not a bad thing, though, because you can park in any of the various parking areas. Just to make sure to pay at the pay station when you do park. You can also drive to each different parking area as the main road is paved and fairly wide enough for traffic, cyclists and hikers to share the road.

I began my day at Stearns Pond, one of the many ponds in the area. Fishing is allowed and I met a friendly fisherman who goes there regularly to cast his lines. They also allow non-motorized boating in the ponds. There is an annual fishing festival held in September at the state forest.

Stearns Pond is only one of the many ponds, rivers and streams at Harold Parker State Forest. In fact, it’s hard to keep track of which pond or river you are at, even with the aid of a map. But, there were some amazing views from the various bodies of water.

Unexpectedly, I came across this huge rock. I bet there’s a good story about this rock. I couldn’t find anything about in my research, though. It’s one big rock, though! Right!?

One of the highlights of Harold Parker is Berry Pond which is essentially a beach area and playground for children and families. It was a perfect beach day and the beach was packed. But, with photographic trickery I was able to photograph the beach without showing the sun bathers and swimmers. After all, not everyone wants to be seen in their Speedo.

Walking along the SKUG Reservation Trail, I came across the site of an old quarry and soapstone mill, the Jenkins Mill. There’s not much now to indicate it was once a quarry. If not for the marking on the map and a few rocks dispersed around the area, I would not have known it was once there. It’s kind of a shame that something that meant so much to so many people and was once such an important part of the area is now little more than a blip on the screen.

There are lots of birds, chipmunks, frogs and other critters visible along the trail and in the water at Harold Parker.

Harold Parker State Forest is a dog friendly park. However, I didn’t see as many dogs as I thought I would. I did manage to see these three cuties, though!

Suzie is a 7 month old English Setter. She is hearing impaired. So, she can hear some sounds. Her dad uses signals to help him communicate with her.