May 31, 2009

I imagine it's awfully tough to get off of this boat and onto the dock. Ha ha, even a landlubber like myself knows this is low tide (note that the boat is aground).

Sometime I want to try kayaking. The ocean was as calm as a millpond this morning.

Memorial Day

This is the site of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home near Wollaston Beach. It was a farm and home for Civil War veterans. It closed in 1931. It is very quiet and peaceful here. Furnace Brook is in the background.

I went over to Moswetuset and found this flower in the middle of the wood. If I knew more about flowers I would tell you what it was. Maybe a daffodil ?

Old House

My friend's former home (divorce, etc.). This was the office and showroom of the Quincy Lumber Company (?). Every floor in every room is finished with a different wood. It was pretty cool to see.

Cemetery Statuary

I went to Mt. Wollaston Cemetery this morning. I ran into a guy with a tripod, photographing this statue of an elk (raised by the Quincy Elks). I said "it's nice to know I'm not the only crazy person taking pictures in a cemetery". He laughed (a sure sign of dementia !); I laughed back (an even surer sign of dementia !).

Now we are looking at an impressive piece of masonry. Was he famous ? Or did his family have a lot of money to spend ? What will mine look like ? I have already requested burial in a dumpster, but I don't think my family will comply.

This is a particularly sad story, if you enlarge the photo. Five children. One made it to the age of eight, and he drowned (last name at the bottom). I have never been a parent, but I can't imagine 5 more kids would erase those kind of memories. I guess it really illustrates the differences between the 1850s-60s and today, with our doctors and hospitals.

50 Birthday Beers, part 5 (done !)

Peak Organic Beer and Czechwar Premium Czech Lager

Franziskaner Weissbier and Wachusett IPA

Lakefront Cherry Lager and Avery Karma Ale

Victory Sunrise Weissbier and SkullSplitter Orkney Ale

Dogfish Head and Bavik Belgian

As I have said, I should have kept notes. There were too many varieties to keep it all straight in my head. 50 of these unusual beers, ales, and stouts are too much to expect every year, so I don't think I'll be doing this again for a while ( maybe 60th ? ).