Friday Flags: Hotchkiss Field Flag Waving for MeIt has been a tough week, and I was not preprepared for this post. As I was making my way out of Prospect, I glanced over to the fields at Hotchkiss Field, and the flag was beckoning to me.I turned around and went in, parked and started to make my way over to where the flagpole was, which was on the opposite of the park.The wind had disappeared, and I felt I was going to be disappointed, but still, I had a streak to keep.The wind returned and I got my shot. So far this has been my best experience this week.Friday Flags: Hotchkiss Field Flag Waving for Me  01/16/2026

Friday Flags: The Prospect CT Post Office Waving HardDriving through town on my way in Waterbury I always pass the post office. This particular day the flags were really waving hard. I don't know if it was more than the wind, or just the wind gods giving me the shot I needed for the week.The flag was just raised to full mast as the state was honoring the 25th anniversary of the Sandy Hook School shooting.The second flag is for MIA's and POW's that was initiated in the 70's, many of them lost never to be returned.It is a proud flag and in the midst of the Holiday season, most appropriate as well. Friday Flags: The Prospect CT Post Office Waving Hard  12/26/2025

Friday Flags: The Breeze was Strong at the Prospect CT LibraryThe Northeast is into an Arctic Blast and fortunately there is no precipitation associated with it. It offers clear blue skies and where flags are concerned, enough wind to make them flutter proudly.As I went through the town center the flags were flying all over and I went by the library, and the flag was looking proud with the type of flutter that almost seemed to imply what took me so long.  It was an easy shot to take, and I proudly share it today.  12/12/2025

The Flags are Flying at the Golf Course in Waterbury, CTMy golf year is over and weather permitting the golf courses in the will be open until December 15 and then close for the season to re-open in the spring.The day was brisk with a bit of wind.Both the flag on the 18th green, and the big flag were blowing at a southeasterly direction which for me was the way home.Hopefully in the spring it will blow early in a northwestern direction so I can find my way back.The Flags are Flying at the Golf Course in Waterbury, CT 11/28/2025

 Happy Thanksgiving 2025 The Thanksgiving tradition is one that carried over from the fall celebration of a bountiful harvest so common among the farmers of Europe, long before they made their way to the New World.In the New World, it was celebrated as well for almost 100 years before the first Native Americans, of the Wampanoag Tribe were invited to join. The first national Thanksgiving was declared in 1777 by the Continental Congress.It has been celebrated on and off at the end of the Autumnal harvest ever since. Today we gather with friends and family to enjoy a bounty of food and the fellowship of each other. Traditions that may have been added along the way are expected, and also a prayer will be said for those that aren't here to celebrated with us this year.In our household, are ... 11/27/2025

Friday Flags: A Reason to Stop in Naugatuck CTI was on my way to an appointment one morning this week and noted a flag along the way that seemed to be speaking to me.I made sure I went home the same way and it was still there as if to say what are you waiting for, so I pulled into a church parking lot and walked to the curb. The flag sits on an island in front of a re-purposed elementary school, but the flag didn't care a thing about that.Friday Flags: A Reason to Stop in Naugatuck CT 11/21/2025

The Colors of Fall in Prospect, CT  2025  Fini!Each Fall I share a sequence of posts on the progression of colors on the golf Course at Crestbrook Park in Watertown, CT.I like it as it has high vistas that make for special views when the colors are turning, and as I played and walked almost every hole I ever played for almost 38 years, it has a special place in my heart.We do have some fine colors in our yard, but as they yard is not as large it doesn't last very long, except!In our front yard, stands a red maple tree, whose roots sit in the middle of the septic systemIt is always the last to change colors as the toes are warm and nourished, and for the same reason, the leaves stay on the tree until the snow knocks them off.So, as we got home from a slightly longer anniversary escape, I... 11/16/2025

Remembering Veteran's on Nov 11 2025 Today, in the United States, is Veteran’s Day. It’s a day to acknowledge brave men and women that found it important to enter military service and cooer their service to their country remember all Veteran’s that have served their country in a time of war. Originally it was known as Armistice Day, which was the day the articles ending World War I were signed, at the 11th hour of the 11 Day of the 11 month.On June 1, 1954, Congress changed the day and replaced Armistice with Veteran's Day in order to include the veteran's from WW11 and the Korean conflict.Some people use the day to recognize the sacrifices that were made by some as well.I have family members that served in World War II, and friends that were in Korea as well as Viet Nam.Those that serv... 11/11/2025

Friday Flags:  A Colorful Background for The Prospect CT FlagOur fall colors this year have been very weak. As I was passing McGrath Pond in Prospect I had to stop as the breeze was moving. There was still some color on the trees behind the pond, and aeration pump was working to keep the pond healthy. I was also fortunate to get the shot as this area is sheltered and that flag doesn't blow that hard to get the flag moving.These shots are aways special and the backgrounds are a bonus.Friday Flags:  A Colorful Background for The Prospect CT Flag  11/07/2025

Waterbury CT  Brass Capital of the WorldBy population, Waterbury CT is one of the top 5 cities in Connecticut. In heritage it could be the top city. Early settlements in the new world were established around farming as all needed to eat.The core of the land between the two rivers, or the Indian name Mattatuck, later changed to Waterbury was not as suited to farming because of the hills and the flooding created by the rivers. The power generated by the water, however, was ideal for manufacturing and metalworking in particular.It became a center for artisans, gifted in metalworking that spawned its growth.The first products were brass buttons made by the Waterbury Button Company and were worn on the uniforms of the revolutionary soldiers.Waterbury Clock Company was a huge complex, and at ... 10/27/2025

Friday Flags: Home Country In Top PositionLast year we vacationed in Portugal in September to visit family. It was a great time and most appreciative to enjoy all the first cousins on my father's side together.Surprisingly, in the small town in the northern part of the country where we were staying, I found a US Flag on the same pole as the Portuguese flag.Host county enjoys the top position.Ironically, within the same month, a year later, I came across a similar style, with the US flag in priority position.As I was taking the photos, the owner came out of the house to chase me away. I explained who I was and what I was doing.Reality was he was very familiar with my family and even remembered us when we were kids, although he was a few years younger.In addition, as I was dressed from co... 09/12/2025

Friday Flags: Not always a Good Sight to BeholdThe flag fluttering in a light breeze is always a dear sight, but this week it also carried a note of sadness as well.Our governor ordered all flags to fly at half-mast out of respect for the shootings outside of Minneapolis this past week.Our state is no stranger to school shootings with the Sandy Hook shootings 13 years ago.There is no justification for these atrocities.Is it generated by the media so consistently covering them and starting a thought in some crazed mind that they could do equal or more?The Second Amendment is there to guarantee rights, and it also covers the wrongs as well.  At some point, it has to come to an end regardless of political views and support of gun lobbies.Here's what the entire pole showed, and it was pride... 09/05/2025

Friday Flags: Dinner with a View and a Flag in East HavenAs I approached the end of the week, I realized I had no photo for this series. I was going to go into the archives and find one to just keep it going.Before I got ready to prepare the blog, however, I needed to collect my wife from the regional airport in East Haven as she had been visiting with her brother in South Carolina.Almost 7 PM on the shore, I forced her to come with me to dinner and suffer through an alfresco seafood dinner.In spite of the hardship of the shore line dinner, my wife did ask if I saw the flag across the roadway on the shoreline.  There wasn't much of a breeze as the air was heavy, but I asked the wind gods for some assistance.The flag started to flutter a bit and I got a better shot.I chose to not press m... 08/15/2025

Friday Flags: A Little Help with Wind Direction in Waterbury, CTThis past weekend, I was participating in a 2-day golf tournament. At the public golf course in Waterbury, Western Hills we had some delays as people labored over their shots.One of the tees is adjacent to the back of the clubhouse and the wind started to pick up as we waited to hit our drives. I took a photo while waiting and wasn't completely satisfied and said so out loud. I guess the wind decided to blow a bit harder just for me or maybe an indication that I would need to follow the direction with my drive.I felt great with this shot, and it also allowed me to be more comfortable with the drive. Friday Flags: A Little Help with Wind Direction in Waterbury, CT 07/25/2025

Friday Flags: A Middlebury CT Car DealershipAs I was making a drive for an appointment this morning, I was thinking that I hadn't found a photo for this Friday Flag series. The thought that I would need to put up a pole photo with a flag wrapped around it didn't set well.At the entrance to the office park, I saw a car dealership with a flag that wanted to wave to me.I parked and went over to see if it was going to flutter again and even had to have a few words with the wind gods for assistance.Within a few minutes, I saw the tops of the trees start to wave and then I got the shot I wanted.It was a rather large flag so my patience and good standing with Mother Nature were rewarded, and I share that here. Friday Flags: A Middlebury CT Car Dealership 07/18/2025

Friday Flags: A Patriotic 4th of July in Prospect CT, 2025We have a most appropriate Friday Flags, which coincides with the Birthday of our country. YAH!Our small town is mostly residential with the requisite businesses. It is the intersection of 2 state roadways, Rts 68, East & West and Rt 69, North and south.The town intersection sits atop the highest point in town where the town hall is located.Every utility pole for at least 1/2 mile coming into the intersection bears our flag, and on the day, I took this Friday Flag photo, the town hall flag said no reason to wait today.Have a safe and happy Fourth of July Friday and weekend. Friday Flags: A Patriotic 4th of July in Prospect CT, 2025 07/04/2025

Friday Flags: A Union of Church and State in Prospect, CTOur spring, from what I read has been like all else, with temperature extremes, a lot of rain and intermittent winds, and even a combination of all with a 48-hour span. It was no different early in the weekend.As I was driving up one of the man roads in town, the lawn and flags on utility poles were appreciating the airing out by the winds.A look down a long drive of a large church in town offered a view that just made it mandatory for me to turn around.A I had seen if flying full just a short while ago, I chose to wait a bit to see if I could get the shot.  My patience was rewarded.The people that call this church theirs have a great sense of pride as the building and land were meticulous.They also have a bit of pride in their co... 06/27/2025

Flag Day 2025 Show it ProudlyUnlike many flags around the world, our nations banner has been altered as our country grew.The original flag, commissioned by General George Washington and sewn by Betsy Ross, displayed the 13 colonies both as stripes and as stars.January 1, 1776: The first United States flag, the “Grand Union,” was displayed by George Washington. Of course, all know that it was credited to Betsy Ross as the designed and creator of the first flag. June 14, 1777: The Stars and Stripes were adopted by the Continental Congress as the Flag of the United States. The modification above was one that was flying when we visited Yorktown where the final battle for Independence was fought and the British General Cornwallis surrendered. June 14, 1877: Flag Day was observed nationally f... 06/14/2025

Memorial Day 2025 Remember Those That Paid the PriceWe watched the Memorial Day Concert last night on PBS It was emotional as they had set the show to have storylines given by award winning stars that presented the real-life accounts of heroes from WWll, Korea, Viet Nam and the Middle East.At the end of each presentation these people walked away from the podium to greet the heroes they had just honored.They used the phrase, Gold Star to recognize those that had fallen in battle.I was once told a story by my father, a WWll Navy veteran, who lived with an aunt in New Bedford, MA prior to enlisting in 1942.That aunt had 3 sons of her own each of which had enlisted in the service. Recognition was shown when families with sons in the war put starts in their windows to show that they cared.Th... 05/26/2025

I Don't Remember That Pond in Waterbury CTWe have an above average wet spring, or at least it feels that way. We are a bit sun deprived and hope that it does find a way to break through the clouds before too long. For some of the wildlife, however things could not be better especially for the waterfowl.No waiting around when there is a freshwater pond to take a break.For sure the golfers will be considerate and not interrupt the water activities. They don't like to be in the water anyway as it costs then strokes and occasionally a lost ball.There could be a slight problem, for then, however, as they would not be expecting there to be water in this area.As they are more comfortable when the hole plays the way in normally does.Not normally a water hazard hole, but then again, we don't nor... 05/25/2025