Improves with Age

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Daily Picture Theme - #Cleaning

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:01:28 GMT

Good Morning

Your daily photo theme and an “On this Day” photo taken last year

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 27, 2026 is #Cleaning

Cleaning Gravestones

During the summer Carl Toko can be found cleaning our town’s gravestones. He uses a proprietary biological product named D/2 which doesn’t harm the stones. It restores the original brillance of the limestone on our early graves.

Carl puts his priorities on cleaning the Veterans stones

Note how white the stones appear after cleaning. Some dirt sprayed up on the base after a heavy rain.

On This Day- June 27, 2025

On the last friday of the month, Peggy Cournoyer and her pals host a breakfast at the Friendship Hall in Temple, NH at 8:30 in the morning. Always a nice community event.

Temple Friendship Hall - June 27, 2025

Peggy making pancakes

Outro

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Flashback Friday - Seven Years Ago

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:16:30 GMT

Daily Picture Theme - #Mix

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:13:35 GMT

Good Morning

Your daily photo theme and an “On this Day” photo two years ago. Plus a few others for paid subscribers.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 26, 2026 is #Mix

Mix Tapes

I remember spending hours making mix tapes, carefully trying to get as much music on one side of the cassette before the tape ran out. These were recorded in real time so it required at least 90 minutes to complete. Most of my mix tapes were recorded from vinyl.

Mix Tapes for car tunes

On This Day- June 26, 2024

It looks tropical but the “Big Leaf Magnolia” can grow in New Hampshire.

Big Leaf Magnolia tree - June 26, 2024

Outro

CCR was always on whatever mix tape I made

On This Day- June 26th (Bonus Photos)

If you provide dried mealworms I can almost guarantee you will have bluebirds. They bring happiness - June 24, 2024

My favorite rose is the Rosa rugosa or beach rose. I have several clumps of them. They remind me of the ocean and have a heavenly scent, something that is lacking in the one sold by the florists. - June 24, 2024

Keddy’s Kittens - Luanne Keddy’s orange cat. I took this photo June 26, 2022 when we had a nice visit with her in Maine. Beautiful cat.

Green Center - Open Jun 27, 2026

John M Poltrack — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:01:06 GMT

New Ipswich and Greenville Residents:

Come shop for FREE at the Green Center - Saturday June 27, 2026 - 9:00 till 12:00

Donations on June 27, 2026 from 13:00 till 15:00 (1 -3 PM)

Fourth of July Fashion

Puzzles for your vacation getaway

If you are lucky enough to vacation near the shore or a lake you may need something to do in the evening. We used to work on jigsaw puzzles. The Green Center has many choices.

Jigsaw puzzles

Children’s Section (Toys & Books)

Check out the Children’s section, it looks like a toy store!

We are swamped with these items

Fine china sets! Enough to furnish a restaurant. Eat in style.

Summer Flowers

You have the flowers but we have the vases. Please take some home, we have too many.

Vases

Odds and Ends

Hair extensions, office supplies and more. We have all types of stuff.

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Daily Picture Theme - #Ring

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:02:10 GMT

Good Morning

Your daily photo theme.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 25, 2026 is #Ring

Ring Toss

The earliest ancestor of the game is believed to be Quoits, an ancient Greek and Roman sport where players threw heavy iron rings at a peg in the ground. Some legends even claim a stable hand in ancient Greece invented it by bending a horseshoe into a circle to emulate an Olympic discus.

Antique ring toss

On This Day- June 25, 2024

I gave away my yellow clivia after learning that it was toxic to cats. It was a reliable bloomer when I put it outside during the summer.

Clivia - June 25, 2024

The Reflection Pool

I checked out the reflection pool, even saw a glimpse of a blue meanie.

Outro

Daily Picture Theme - #Work_With_Me

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:49 GMT

Good Morning

Grab a coffee. I finished “Widows Bay” on Apple TV. They managed to make a series that is funny and scary. Well done, has some Lovecraftian vibes.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 24, 2026 is #Work_With_Me

Setup Week

The New Ipswich Children’s Fair is a big deal and requires lots of workers. It is a 165 year old tradition requiring lots of folks working together.

On This Day- June 24, 2024

House wren with dinner - June 24, 2024

Outro

Daily Picture Theme - #Next_Level

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:50 GMT

Good Morning

A rainy start. It should be an intesting day. I have a physical therapy session to help with lower back pain. My first experience with this. One of the many joys of aging it the degeneration of the body.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 23, 2026 is “Next_Level”

Going Up

You need a really big elevator to move aircraft from the hangar deck to the flight deck. When the elevator was down, this was a popular area for pick up basketball games. Somehow they arranged a basket. It also served as a stage for a USO show.

USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 - 1970

On This Day- June 23, 2024

Female Common Eider (Somateria mollissima), identified by her mottled cinnamon-brown feathers with distinct black bars. Rye, NH - June 24, 2024

Daily Picture Theme - #Hood

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:52:34 GMT

Good Morning

My goal is to get this posted in time for your morning coffee. I’m a little late today, needed to solve those NYT puzzles (WORDLE, MINI and CONNECTIONS) also WAFFLE. Hope you thought of your Father on Father’s day. I have a nice BBQ with my family.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 22, 2026 is #HOOD

Orange is the new black

Selfie

On This Day- June 22, 2025

Atmospheric interference at 3000 mm (35 mm equivalent)

Sailboat Rye, NH - June 22, 2025

The Nikon P1000 is a super telephoto bridge camera. With the crop factor of a small sensor it can shoot the equivalent of a 3000mm lens. However at that magnification the atmosphere has a profound effect especially shooting on a warm day over cold water.

Outro

Daily Picture Theme - #Pump

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:26:10 GMT

Good Morning

Beautiful start to summer. I’m enjoying this Father’s Day. Two of my kids will be running in the BAA 10K in Boston. Later we’ll have a cookout. My wife made me an apple pie. Let’s see what we have in store for a photo theme.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 21, 2026 is #Pump

Antique Pumps

Antique gas pump in New Boston, NH

Antique fire pumper. I believe I took this photo at Knotts Berry Farm in California in the early 1970s.

Water pump at the “Little Red Schoolhouse” in New Canaan, CT

The Ericsson style engine is a "beta" engine, which contains both the power piston and displacer within one cylinder. The cylinder has a hot end, within the firebox, and a cold end, surrounded by a water jacket. As the air is heated within the cylinder, the air expands, driving the piston upward. The displacer next moves downward, pushing the air from the hot side into the cool side of the cylinder. The air then contracts, pulling the piston downward. The displacer then moves the air from the cool side to the hot side, the cycle begins again.

On This Day- June 21, 2025

Friends and neighbors gathered to celebrate the life of Joe Trainor, a musician, carpenter, skier, bike enthusiast and friend. He is still missed at our music jams.

Joe at a “Music in the Meadow” jam in 2020

Garden bridge built by Joe for his neighor

Father’s Day

I forgot how young my Dad was when I was born.

1947 - Postwar Veteran housing

Outro - Steve Goodman (true story)

Daily Picture Theme - #Calories

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:36:58 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 20, 2026 is #Calories

Dessert

Presentation

On This Day- June 20, 2024

Two years ago I sent a DNA sample to Ancestry. Today (June 20, 2026) I sent a DNA sample to My Heritage , It will be interesting to see how they differ. The VA also has a sample which they are using for medical tracking of Veterans. I have nothing to hide anymore.

Happy Birthday Susan

My sister’s birthday today. I taught her everything. You are welcome.

Father’s Day

Let’s close with a Father’s Day photo. The fish is bigger than me.

Daily Picture Theme - #Junk

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:12:51 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 19, 2026 is #Junk.

(Chinese: 䑸; pinyin: zōng)

Hong Kong 1970

On This Day- Juneteenth (2023)

Dianthus growing in my yard, I mow around it.

June 19, 2023

Father’s Day

Let’s close with a Father’s Day photo. Getting some support from my Godfather Ed Poltrack (left) and my dad Tony Poltrack (right). I appear to be completely out of it.

Stamford, CT 1947ca

Juneteenth

Daily Picture Theme - #Crazy

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:15:35 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 18, 2026 is #Crazy.

Patsy Cline

I couldn’t find a picture that matched the theme, but this is certainly the song that came to mind. Written by Willy Nelson and sung by Patsy Cline.

On This Day- Jun 18, 2025

A visit from Luna is still part of my morning routine. Solving WORDLE while holding a cat. It is difficult to type with both hands.

Father’s Day

Let’s close with a Father’s Day photo. Here’s one from the late 1940s when my Dad taught me about why they call it salt water. Fairview Beach, Stamford, CT.

Stamford, CT - 1947ca

Daily Picture Theme - #Pay

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:18:14 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 16, 2026 is #Pay.

Payday

It was payday for a snake charmer in Singapore in 1970. There were plenty of snakes to charm.

Singapore 1970

On This Day- Jun 17, 2024

Almost every week day I’ve been practicing Tai Chi in Temple, NH under the capable instruction of David Rosen (Text 603-878-3968). Starts around 7:30 AM in either the Town Hall or the Town Green. I’ve lost count how many years we’ve been doing this.

Snake creeps down (part of the 24 form) - June 17, 2024

Paying Subscriber

Todays photo theme is #Pay and I would like to give a shout out to Jody, my only paying subscriber. Jody wears many hats. She is a fitness and dance instructor and an accomplished cook. Thank you. My postings are not paywalled so having a paying subscriber gives me incentive to continue with this effort. One benefit to paying is access to the archives. I’ve been doing this for several years and there is a lot of stuff I forgot about.

Jody with her chili offering at a cook off event in Greenville, NH - 2019

Outro

Daily Picture Theme - #Port

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:37:47 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 16, 2026 is #Port

Port Alberni

Fisherman at Port Alberni

On This Day- Jun 16, 2025

Cats vie for a spot in the window - June 16, 2026

Outro

Daily Picture Theme - #Who_do_you_appreciate

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:16:44 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 12, 2026 is #Who_do_you_appreciate

Friends

I do appreciate my family, but I get them as part of the package of being born. However I chose “Friends” as the subject of this theme because we actually choose who we want as friends. As I grow older I appreciate them more and more.

On This Day- Jun 15, 2025

A butterfly lands on a Sweet William flower cluster - June 15, 2025

Birthday Wishes

Trump protest - Peterborough, NH - June 14, 2026

Thematic Outro

Play it several times and pay attention to the lyrics

Daily Picture Theme - #Little

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:29:50 GMT

Happy Flag Day

MAGA has tried to co-opt the flag as their own but it belongs to all Americans. even left-wing lunatics like myself. No Kings, No Tyrants.

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 12, 2026 is #Little

Cute little figurine spotted in a rental house in Cape Cod

On This Day - June 14, 2025

A visit to Mason Hollow Nursery in Mason, NH. A demonstration of Bonzai techniques.

Mason Hollow Nursery - June 14, 2025

Flag Day Event - Jun 14, 2026

I have flags for this, lots of flags

Outro

Green Center - Open Jun 13, 2026

John M Poltrack — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:13:36 GMT

New Ipswich and Greenville Residents:

Come shop for FREE at the Green Center - Saturday June 13, 2026 - 9:00 till 12:00

Donations on June 13, 2026 from 13:00 till 15:00 (1 -3 PM)

Another chance to get some gifts for Dad

Disclaimer: These photos were taken two weeks ago, some items may not be available.

Grads

Prom Dresses

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Daily Picture Theme - #Wasted

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:42:36 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 12, 2026 is #Wasted

Liberty in Hong Kong

When you need your buddies to carry you back to the ship, perhaps you are wasted.

Back from Liberty in Hong Kong 1970

On This Day - June 12, 2023

This is the time of year when the mountain laurel is in bloom.

Mountain Laurel blossoms - June 12, 2023

Flag Day Event - Jun 14, 2026

I have flags for this, lots of flags

Outro

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

Daily Picture Theme - #Wish

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:53:39 GMT

Daily Picture Theme

The theme of the day for June 11, 2026 is #Wish

Scares for Charity

For many years a family in Nashua would set up an elaborate “Haunted House” in their yard, collecting donations for various New Hampshire charities. It was a popular destination at Halloween.

On This Day - June 11, 2023

At one of our monthly jams in the Temple town hall I noticed this unique Kousa dogwood. Google helped me identify it as a a Korean variety ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’. It is a lot smaller than other Kousa Dogwoods and the fused flowers are definitely a unique feature.

Flag Day Event - Jun 14, 2026

I have flags for this, lots of flags

Outro

And I wish I was young again my song still to be sung again
The sweet tunes of my life have gone sour and off key
Writin' my tired old rhymes tryin to turn back time
If wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets in the sea

I wish I could care again reach out and share again
Mend whats been broken and let it run free
The older I get it seems the more wishin' takes the place of dreams
If wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets in the sea