Lee's Bridge

How is all that water going to get through that small opening?

Lee's Bridge crosses the Sudbury River between Lincoln and Concord along Route 117. It gives you a better picture of the flooding we are still experiencing after last week's rain event.

Lee's Bridge was donated to the towns of Concord and Lincoln by descendants of President John Adams. Erected in 1912, this stone-faced cement structure replaced an earlier wooden one from the 18th century. Apparently, Charles Francis Adams II of Lincoln, desired a bridge which resembled the famous one across Fiume Arno in Firenze, Italy. It is also referred to by Henry David Thoreau in his writings.

In 1999 the old bridge could no longer handle the heavy stream of traffic that crossed it every day and a gaping 25-by-15 foot hole appeared. Nine years and nearly $7.5 million later, the granite masonry bridge was restored with historical accuracy. Constant high water was actually one of the reasons it took so long to rebuild.

Full Moon (Almost)

Full Cold Moon

I was so excited to take this shot and have it turn out as well as it did. I was also lucky enough to see a shooting star as I stepped outside to take it.

Yesterday, the 12th of December, the world witnessed the brightest full moon ever. It was about 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than the other full moons seen in the year 2008.

Flooding

Water Row, flooded as usual.

Most of New England was hit by a nasty rain storm last night and this morning. In our area we were fortunate that the temperature was above freezing and we just had to deal with flooding. Fortunate only if your basement stayed dry. The ground is frozen so the water has nowhere to go. Further north and west, they were treated to a spectacular ice storm. Although ice storms create amazing photo ops, they wreak havoc with the trees and power lines, causing power outages and needless to say, dangerous driving conditions.

Grist Mill

The Grist Mill is the iconic image of Sudbury. It is located just up the road from the Wayside Inn.

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

Dinner tonight at the Wayside Inn with my coworkers.

The Wayside Inn was first owned by David Howe and was originally known as Howe's Tavern. Its name was changed to Longfellow's Wayside Inn after the poet visited the inn in 1862. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about a fictional gathering of locals, including the inn's landlord, who described a midnight ride by Paul Revere in his now-famous poem.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.”

Knit Purl

In Sudbury, most shops are located in nondescript, clapboard clad strip malls along Route 20, also known as the Boston Post Road. However, the sign above the door, and the window boxes full of flowers hint to the treasure that is Knit Purl, a unique yarn boutique. Step inside and you are surrounded by the warmth of yarns in all textures and hues, knitting needles, patterns, hand made garments from sweaters, hats, leg warmers and shawls, and ladies knitting away with fingers flying. If you've never knit or crocheted, you will be tempted to do so before you leave.

Touch of Old World Charm

With a dusting of snow, this New England town looks as though it is somewhere in Europe.

Stair steps to the tree tops

Solar Panels

My gym is adding solar panels to its roof. How cool. Even though the price of oil is very low now, you know that it won't stay that way for ever. The sun, on the other hand, will always be there. I think this is wonderful. They almost look like sky lights.