Central Park, Clinton – not so much passive, as passive-aggressive? March 28, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in New England, United States, baseball, textiles.Tags: New England, dogs, baseball, New York, churches, Central Park, textiles, Victorian, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Worcester County, Clinton, MA, architectural design, textile industry, public buildings, housing stock, baseball diamond, Fuller Field, oldest baseball field in the world, statuary, fountain, Town Hall, ointment, ball playing, frisbee, football, soccer, golf, skateboard, rollerblading, bicycles, swimming, wading, metal detecting, littering, prohibitions, park, carpet
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Sign, Central Park, Clinton, MA
Clinton is a small city, in Worcester County in the western portion of Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1850. It is about 42 miles from Boston, and therefore 30 miles from where I live. A visit to Clinton is usually most enjoyable, if you appreciate architectural design, as the prosperity of the 19th century caused by its booming textile industry (especially carpets), allowed the town to erect many impressive public buildings. Also, the housing stock contains fine examples of homes in the New England Victorian style. As an aside, it also is home to the oldest baseball diamond in continuous use in the world (dating from 1878), Fuller Field.
At the core of the town is Central Park, a fine public space with paths, seats, statuary and a fountain, which has many mature trees. The park is surrounded on three sides by a variety of notable homes, churches, the Town Hall and other buildings. Like its much bigger and more famous counterpart in New York, Central Park should be a haven of rest, relaxation and recreation.
There is, however, one fly in the ointment. As you can see from the above notice, Central Park has been designated a ‘passive park for the enjoyment of all’, with the authorities banning virtually ALL forms of activity. No dogs allowed, no ball playing, no frisbee, no football, no soccer, no golf, no skateboards, no rollerblading, no bicycles, no swimming, no wading, no metal detectors, no littering. A couple of these are fairly standard (and useful) prohibitions, but the main aim of the city seems to be to forbid almost anything that makes a park a park! Not so much ‘passive’ as ‘passive-aggressive’, in my opinion.
Perhaps, on my next visit, I should enquire at the Town Hall to see if I can go into the park and breathe a little?
Meet a gentle mugger! Eddie the St Bernard January 15, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in England, dogs.Tags: Alps, bacon, bed and breakfast, Bernard of Menton, brandy, dogs, farmyard, genetic fault, Italy, osteosarcoma, rescue dogs, sausage, St Bernard, Switzerland, Wiltshire
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- Eddie the St Bernard!
I love dogs – big dogs, small dogs, feisty dogs, calm dogs – I just love ‘em. In my travels I meet lots of dogs, but some really stick in my mind.
Here is another family dog! January 14, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in England, Scotland, dogs.Tags: Cairn Terrier, dogs, Dylan, farms, Northumberland, Scotland, vermin, weatherproof coat, Western Isles
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Dylan wants to play!
Dylan is one of my favourite family dogs. He is a ‘dark phase’ Cairn Terrier, and is a most handsome lad. Cairns were used to eradicate vermin on farms in the Western Isles of Scotland, and as such they are strong and quick, with a weather-proof coat. Dylan is an intelligent dog (as all Cairn’s are) and enjoys playing, and I have great fun with him. Fortunately, the breed lives well into their teens.
Another fine dog……this one’s called Tigpig! January 9, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in dogs.Tags: dogs, Tigpig
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Tigpig
Since I like dogs a great deal, I thought I would introduce you all to a fine one! Here he is – Tigpig.
A thrower of balls and toys, a digger in gardens, and an excellent snuggler, Tigpig is the apple of almost everyone’s eye…including mine. When he behaves himself, that is……
Oh yes, and then there’s the whole business about sneaking onto people’s beds!
Happy New Year! December 31, 2008
Posted by shortfinals in New England, dogs.Tags: dogs, New England, New Year, Old English Sheepdog, Oliver, Snow
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Oliver
Well, another year has rolled around, and this one was full of challenges and difficulties galore, but with a lovely surprise and much joy at the end. To celebrate, here is a photograph of Oliver, a neighbour’s Old English Sheepdog, here in snowy New England.
I wish you all a wonderfully prosperous and peaceful New Year, filled with joy and love.
Cheers!
