Knock Wood

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikupKwbPQnWbKDcX65_QdNpJByGFB7Ww6apJ-90LIPXV0PG1jIzTgqpWDn5EWSZ_VDpd5nFjWwn2Pek5n5GhEn1B3CQfaxA4s0Ef4mjHHijrsAFFZhStVPUG-VAYzEWT_dS6GT6jiHm6U/s1600/knockersheader.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikupKwbPQnWbKDcX65_QdNpJByGFB7Ww6apJ-90LIPXV0PG1jIzTgqpWDn5EWSZ_VDpd5nFjWwn2Pek5n5GhEn1B3CQfaxA4s0Ef4mjHHijrsAFFZhStVPUG-VAYzEWT_dS6GT6jiHm6U/s640/knockersheader.jpg.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you hear there's a flu epidemic? The Boston mayor has declared a public health emergency and the subway loudspeakers announce a computer-generated, almost post-apocalyptic message with a reminder we must wash our hands with soap and water.   Small talk has changed from the weather to questions about flu shots.  Because of an egg allergy, I'm unable to have a flu shot and so far I've been lucky in avoiding getting it.  The latter statement is always followed by my superstitious grandmother's favorite saying--knock wood--which I've been saying a lot lately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_l83FBvCdfv_c3Em_26RGRKB1U4SknGRokoLXkLlk7elxPKraSymk12nYc99F-IvCrV-UjPa-WHimnUhoxlKDE9POOgOaTHCcgF3VCrQBcB3jgbMf8KKH0nPhgMloy-uYM-4L8O2cDQ/s1600/IMG_2302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_l83FBvCdfv_c3Em_26RGRKB1U4SknGRokoLXkLlk7elxPKraSymk12nYc99F-IvCrV-UjPa-WHimnUhoxlKDE9POOgOaTHCcgF3VCrQBcB3jgbMf8KKH0nPhgMloy-uYM-4L8O2cDQ/s640/IMG_2302.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louisberg Square, Beacon Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Knock wood" got me thinking about the fact I've never gotten a knocker for my front door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I chose not to add a doorbell to keep the front entrance looking historically accurate but I also love the individual statement a unique door knocker can make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an unusually warm day yesterday so I thought it would be a perfect day to get a little</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fresh, healthy air and check out the doors and knockers in this tony Boston neighborhood.  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdefTKA6YGiX7otvFxwrLkBBYQbh9Gd5H4MAQ9lgkgue8SO68sOxaBw_8w2KgLoLgNhQLx3sDRt8_Q48R7K2cl8EbtEIMLHCAe_NlckGVxKkQnAPhO0sP0eXoWtx7Y9FZdJu7FNoRX2gM/s1600/black-red-red.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdefTKA6YGiX7otvFxwrLkBBYQbh9Gd5H4MAQ9lgkgue8SO68sOxaBw_8w2KgLoLgNhQLx3sDRt8_Q48R7K2cl8EbtEIMLHCAe_NlckGVxKkQnAPhO0sP0eXoWtx7Y9FZdJu7FNoRX2gM/s400/black-red-red.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq3adhVj7zY4-k_FL1taV3YSw2q88aqTXkF07DDWSEGNFe7yx8DhOuRNTraX72pTCieSHoF7zqTvYTkPRd_pN7hdOFjkaQ8pbMsfFdsIz5g92dQ-I0Fu_2LQwWalV9rpehiASz08wqCo/s1600/red-black-black.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq3adhVj7zY4-k_FL1taV3YSw2q88aqTXkF07DDWSEGNFe7yx8DhOuRNTraX72pTCieSHoF7zqTvYTkPRd_pN7hdOFjkaQ8pbMsfFdsIz5g92dQ-I0Fu_2LQwWalV9rpehiASz08wqCo/s400/red-black-black.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were quite a few red and black front doors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Placed side by side, these characters could be playing card stand-ins for jacks, queens and kings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7jHES3oWn8XpsujT8Nn2hAXWA2wx61_C8p-O3gFccHUH2TFmgzSzxJaT3JoRoUY67i_WJcCRlyEU6kc7TH0tGteGF30iYwWo7mxT-3GQ3pYejzPw18YB4J8F7uxNodNxlAkKb7pNj8/s1600/IMG_2290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7jHES3oWn8XpsujT8Nn2hAXWA2wx61_C8p-O3gFccHUH2TFmgzSzxJaT3JoRoUY67i_WJcCRlyEU6kc7TH0tGteGF30iYwWo7mxT-3GQ3pYejzPw18YB4J8F7uxNodNxlAkKb7pNj8/s640/IMG_2290.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had forgotten that many New Englanders keep their wreaths up through January so it was harder than you might imagine to find door knockers that weren't covered up by wreaths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the egg shaped brass  and acorn decoration on this robin's egg blue door.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj_zXr5CoUQK2jqJI7TQ_suaSiPTFKelyEgTITqX69_rd3PDSQ0fWeeO3aB8UKuWHubCPMXav-23bYXNEfQYgEr2LOOpfijnHGcZWwuT-9N8Cxsc_8X9drMSInqgNQI46Rx34rzuPhVI/s1600/green.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj_zXr5CoUQK2jqJI7TQ_suaSiPTFKelyEgTITqX69_rd3PDSQ0fWeeO3aB8UKuWHubCPMXav-23bYXNEfQYgEr2LOOpfijnHGcZWwuT-9N8Cxsc_8X9drMSInqgNQI46Rx34rzuPhVI/s400/green.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most of the brass was left to develop a patina.  I think I prefer a little polish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjHq7fJaJU677UMJyhNK5pN-LG1caO8UOfIraIJHnvl2qa16Bj-2Jc3SSl8pAUmMsBkpH93H0d9r3j6xIRjgXOhcyesQc9HXT3GDHhKjUvMgNNXRUc2CQBjJn9qi-E6tG1aNd-n09m0o/s1600/IMG_2346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjHq7fJaJU677UMJyhNK5pN-LG1caO8UOfIraIJHnvl2qa16Bj-2Jc3SSl8pAUmMsBkpH93H0d9r3j6xIRjgXOhcyesQc9HXT3GDHhKjUvMgNNXRUc2CQBjJn9qi-E6tG1aNd-n09m0o/s640/IMG_2346.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carriage house door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYtTGBwBiupaGEit8LKNYZ42fDGDQIAvCa2Bs0D9E1ttqKIyqaPi8eB_K6Zv7N2rJfevCgnhcmryIvFaoYQD0c9a8cZ7enpyjc8CyyiW57NsLm4udXVuQcOsy1kK2L3uabaxKvH1GvH4/s1600/crusty.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYtTGBwBiupaGEit8LKNYZ42fDGDQIAvCa2Bs0D9E1ttqKIyqaPi8eB_K6Zv7N2rJfevCgnhcmryIvFaoYQD0c9a8cZ7enpyjc8CyyiW57NsLm4udXVuQcOsy1kK2L3uabaxKvH1GvH4/s400/crusty.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some knockers and numbers were crusty and painted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They all look very medieval to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1q9urQ2btpTl2HnEJp-4HxpB1yClt46WoiFhPdzrF0Z3iWq_4DXkCBcvYSx67EfpSHH_2INx6M998hgnGcwPCl_NQKQQIp7krVgAD1t3C4D-Wka9uWysDy7KPbHlLKdHdxBCLZ7q5Gqg/s1600/IMG_2276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1q9urQ2btpTl2HnEJp-4HxpB1yClt46WoiFhPdzrF0Z3iWq_4DXkCBcvYSx67EfpSHH_2INx6M998hgnGcwPCl_NQKQQIp7krVgAD1t3C4D-Wka9uWysDy7KPbHlLKdHdxBCLZ7q5Gqg/s640/IMG_2276.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Going au natural.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKvTCSzCiqrHzse7fjipgvq-zaeZJcmacCbZWgqT3sR09yfMB-GIm7yEj4g0ozY8cPCpfspgIUSwJiLozWJ2gP0SMYqffv2PTR7ijTd7HGn5r3j0Yhzf1s8GQFVuZjsLeDl4wcKzAbjA/s1600/wood.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKvTCSzCiqrHzse7fjipgvq-zaeZJcmacCbZWgqT3sR09yfMB-GIm7yEj4g0ozY8cPCpfspgIUSwJiLozWJ2gP0SMYqffv2PTR7ijTd7HGn5r3j0Yhzf1s8GQFVuZjsLeDl4wcKzAbjA/s400/wood.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The natural finish doors were lovely.  There's something very yacht-like about them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLLw4ISCbn619bcereiBbVK30_flkOwwgRDEgQRrZOwbBTXaVwj_vdDnjfLECgQ_BG0i_QTzOr7x9RY15r7pQ_1EyQmFlCECRCKcVsX-1ElSexk95XOVEgFiEkBy0XotbQtPp3P2-VHc/s1600/IMG_2388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLLw4ISCbn619bcereiBbVK30_flkOwwgRDEgQRrZOwbBTXaVwj_vdDnjfLECgQ_BG0i_QTzOr7x9RY15r7pQ_1EyQmFlCECRCKcVsX-1ElSexk95XOVEgFiEkBy0XotbQtPp3P2-VHc/s640/IMG_2388.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Castle-like doors on Beacon Street.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJsYvpEQopwp1v0VFdheCiVyDxjuf6wCuC5pBgzMdHwDlKZ3lRt-4CGFbOzPmt0qaAPNSa-VE7SSx4DLbQvwStpZFAapKLo3o9HESBCV8fM8-NhUjUmwr1GqP52P_zqjadEMO-ldH-fs/s1600/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJsYvpEQopwp1v0VFdheCiVyDxjuf6wCuC5pBgzMdHwDlKZ3lRt-4CGFbOzPmt0qaAPNSa-VE7SSx4DLbQvwStpZFAapKLo3o9HESBCV8fM8-NhUjUmwr1GqP52P_zqjadEMO-ldH-fs/s320/IMG_2389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The most ornate knocker I found.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcPt9Var9Y7ppSekoc5EDS5eeCJlu056p8fuy7l5IF069K_X4E4X4ZDf01r2P0JvCFZ64Gfpaba6f1j3gYPfj1jW9ZRXaenPelNB1dasfMuy3WcV5YPipGd_CZ9l1qIbgm7z1nInNS-E/s1600/IMG_2348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcPt9Var9Y7ppSekoc5EDS5eeCJlu056p8fuy7l5IF069K_X4E4X4ZDf01r2P0JvCFZ64Gfpaba6f1j3gYPfj1jW9ZRXaenPelNB1dasfMuy3WcV5YPipGd_CZ9l1qIbgm7z1nInNS-E/s640/IMG_2348.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How awesome is this oversized gas lantern over the door?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwZ30y-doo1my05nfrfqzbK1hdOwg3mY6mjHxjVXZs6DEXPt952nxfbzD6V4RqRvAOA5GSQzp2p4yFOWOckszwlcuDXrZndhPzZzGxs0q2PV2h-VElOO37eO3y-tej_7yxx4fbQFnUx8/s1600/black+square.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwZ30y-doo1my05nfrfqzbK1hdOwg3mY6mjHxjVXZs6DEXPt952nxfbzD6V4RqRvAOA5GSQzp2p4yFOWOckszwlcuDXrZndhPzZzGxs0q2PV2h-VElOO37eO3y-tej_7yxx4fbQFnUx8/s640/black+square.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think my favorite combination is brass on black.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3CsHNc_zBLE0I9Mg1rYkh0ef_T6kEc2Hmi09bkhfRoRtWEETlKCI4FIgRYRhDm9fchNNo-_GjQOnyp8TLY5zwZTz64x0gqggcyGmy0VG1oQmRg9T0A4f-Iq4SegbL1rSHK0TnO4WW_0/s1600/green9.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3CsHNc_zBLE0I9Mg1rYkh0ef_T6kEc2Hmi09bkhfRoRtWEETlKCI4FIgRYRhDm9fchNNo-_GjQOnyp8TLY5zwZTz64x0gqggcyGmy0VG1oQmRg9T0A4f-Iq4SegbL1rSHK0TnO4WW_0/s640/green9.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Green and brass is also a popular combination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagP86GxpQ1Ls10SXyByzaXr9aYUpeMmd_cVNIiBsxeptP0Wx7J9FJigpsV0GUJOSg4EHutMfnifafCHcy62e4b5nM5RK9HbRc4IrbdEF5tPdt2Q0VsjcUH3RkTJyI27P1_WI5bMEvHoo/s1600/lions.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagP86GxpQ1Ls10SXyByzaXr9aYUpeMmd_cVNIiBsxeptP0Wx7J9FJigpsV0GUJOSg4EHutMfnifafCHcy62e4b5nM5RK9HbRc4IrbdEF5tPdt2Q0VsjcUH3RkTJyI27P1_WI5bMEvHoo/s640/lions.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were a lot of lion heads symbolizing strength and courage.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These seem very British to me.  Maybe because No. 10 Downing Street has a lion's head on the front door.  Given our colonial connection to Britain, these make a lot of sense.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Z5BvmgB8G1Z5SDMXamyw6puHaEk-cDoYLROrmg2LHffl_UyE3n2aiO6T931DhsMcrQDslfBKbGqVzt-GwXRkh1sv7V-7Ku6AXdqPF_PPGrhLGPHrb9eNvW65-sUlhLiht282gBInXI/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Z5BvmgB8G1Z5SDMXamyw6puHaEk-cDoYLROrmg2LHffl_UyE3n2aiO6T931DhsMcrQDslfBKbGqVzt-GwXRkh1sv7V-7Ku6AXdqPF_PPGrhLGPHrb9eNvW65-sUlhLiht282gBInXI/s640/IMG_2314.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This place had two lions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkjCbZvWv1HZ7dXgHwZ88733vG-ysUGA10H8FpJM2f4Zgjy2ZKAFyivmd5s7aoYdHpVE9yb-hAK2Q-vwk1NDhOs9S5m3C2zOWuwjfonGLC89ORWf4XDIkABTUUIXiSNEsWHv1uXoF8RA/s1600/IMG_2405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkjCbZvWv1HZ7dXgHwZ88733vG-ysUGA10H8FpJM2f4Zgjy2ZKAFyivmd5s7aoYdHpVE9yb-hAK2Q-vwk1NDhOs9S5m3C2zOWuwjfonGLC89ORWf4XDIkABTUUIXiSNEsWHv1uXoF8RA/s400/IMG_2405.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I was surprised to find only one dolphin fish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For an interesting post on the dolphin fish, see this post on <a href="http://streetsofsalem.com/2012/08/15/dolphinfish-decoration/">Streets of Salem</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHJ6zZ-mr-k8ELR2iarCwHWONUpvTpXF71nW3fFSZdMjPfWi62yVmzFghR1SNpqA9zv3QB5f2X0MJHCgFTYmYolnynKA8phmYvNMAu8LyxZHYu1q6tvahHN6MGub5aKJ7QHA97uCI9fg/s1600/IMG_2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHJ6zZ-mr-k8ELR2iarCwHWONUpvTpXF71nW3fFSZdMjPfWi62yVmzFghR1SNpqA9zv3QB5f2X0MJHCgFTYmYolnynKA8phmYvNMAu8LyxZHYu1q6tvahHN6MGub5aKJ7QHA97uCI9fg/s640/IMG_2283.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Acorn Street is one of Beacon Hill's most charming streets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGh1Em9Jg44Hi3zo38lS0L3pf20Ntp6Vp0lW-GJLOcDTIR4Kd-ZLRvXiF_Lzi2j6IIrpbCHhyUA9QMpmzMICQn14y7BcCEpdoAMQEir2fp3ZtoiGmbXhIMQZHC_ZdnjF_BGKNHMsAClM/s1600/IMG_2291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGh1Em9Jg44Hi3zo38lS0L3pf20Ntp6Vp0lW-GJLOcDTIR4Kd-ZLRvXiF_Lzi2j6IIrpbCHhyUA9QMpmzMICQn14y7BcCEpdoAMQEir2fp3ZtoiGmbXhIMQZHC_ZdnjF_BGKNHMsAClM/s640/IMG_2291.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Acorn Street residence with a simple brass ring knocker.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzAXq9_JefauqBPn8hFEQPlXJlO_IfgN8w-3K035QjMv9ozEPX-sPybuYsCV_mkRdD0iwO-rYFOLZ0ufb8GMdQoEulOaRpOttCZrKCs2_WlPQ0FVXnMfJ0nkstCK9e_scU3stBpe4B70/s1600/IMG_2398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzAXq9_JefauqBPn8hFEQPlXJlO_IfgN8w-3K035QjMv9ozEPX-sPybuYsCV_mkRdD0iwO-rYFOLZ0ufb8GMdQoEulOaRpOttCZrKCs2_WlPQ0FVXnMfJ0nkstCK9e_scU3stBpe4B70/s400/IMG_2398.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pinckney Street residence with Federal style knocker.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibskS97ikLWO8jovD7G6bTD2G0XlsLqYaUloYhBSKZNw7IKAWqW262fuDGEkvVPO19LKKcptPdjz4V0okGXlR9upMvuOSfW86Nz9INyMeVZq9mZ_jt0otVtaxH3p_xbnGjER7utlvS6D8/s1600/federal.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibskS97ikLWO8jovD7G6bTD2G0XlsLqYaUloYhBSKZNw7IKAWqW262fuDGEkvVPO19LKKcptPdjz4V0okGXlR9upMvuOSfW86Nz9INyMeVZq9mZ_jt0otVtaxH3p_xbnGjER7utlvS6D8/s640/federal.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A federal style knocker is a timeless choice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZYCaZBvuXphy_ZHLlU_sATB2iCfg9TXgFfPl95uEP9jQm2l7KIM7fEMZqJeOxcC8485ZgOX4TYmXmuUvb-Rrl-hrzrmML3d0MR0wblrGvLF52Q2svKV-frKKkrzFfGHdYjP_OaR5Xjg/s1600/physicians.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZYCaZBvuXphy_ZHLlU_sATB2iCfg9TXgFfPl95uEP9jQm2l7KIM7fEMZqJeOxcC8485ZgOX4TYmXmuUvb-Rrl-hrzrmML3d0MR0wblrGvLF52Q2svKV-frKKkrzFfGHdYjP_OaR5Xjg/s400/physicians.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The physician's knocker is also very classic choice although many </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">were crooked and that would drive me crazy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGF52hbW56seVe3N2amlhpHeqolP316MH-2Hdp1qbujtGziOimYjbHcxxo7UZ33hoX_0XGeQ1O4aYktNyN05ksMHWyJ02oPDj629ZMD8UxBJ8WmDide0FdLKz6I8RBkd3GWf7SX7gB7c4/s1600/heads.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGF52hbW56seVe3N2amlhpHeqolP316MH-2Hdp1qbujtGziOimYjbHcxxo7UZ33hoX_0XGeQ1O4aYktNyN05ksMHWyJ02oPDj629ZMD8UxBJ8WmDide0FdLKz6I8RBkd3GWf7SX7gB7c4/s400/heads.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These two heads were quite unusual.  They seem better suited a Victorian home than to a Federal style rowhouse but I do like them, especially the Egyptian Revival one on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmZBhK6hqCdQsBUf569uUVVLEsIFty9dOzbT2ffMu1FSoGjc329eRD1y_hm9ciHMMSbKYZp34J_bCB2pWk7Xk_gzpnBth7n5Mk2JRWo5CVdVy7hW2qmKcZTsiApA-7wLmUOp2k-QkJt0/s1600/be+unique.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmZBhK6hqCdQsBUf569uUVVLEsIFty9dOzbT2ffMu1FSoGjc329eRD1y_hm9ciHMMSbKYZp34J_bCB2pWk7Xk_gzpnBth7n5Mk2JRWo5CVdVy7hW2qmKcZTsiApA-7wLmUOp2k-QkJt0/s400/be+unique.jpg.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joy Place, Beacon Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While I wouldn't recommend having a front door two feet off the sidewalk, it's great to be unique.  My favorite door knockers are the ones I saw only once or twice as I walked around.  Those places left an impression.  While it's great to pick something that sets your front door apart from others in the neighborhood, I think it's equally important to consider time and place.   Eagles, lions and Federal shields are appropriate for old houses. Whales, anchors and shells are perfect for locations close to the sea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My personal favorites are ones that not only take time and place into consideration but pair a door knocker with a house number that provide one focal point at the front door.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQ4fpOkrxmpOy6y2rqopn5tyhYw8BO6x3xXPJLfYY-i85qZ7fg9Zg_Gz7iEGbwG5Lzt7YT_rOlWGVfOcqSJY8RvDG6GS4i5NrW6t2zdFArwiciRP3gpA-zNQGt_TkKHv22T6qnzUVWQ/s1600/unique.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQ4fpOkrxmpOy6y2rqopn5tyhYw8BO6x3xXPJLfYY-i85qZ7fg9Zg_Gz7iEGbwG5Lzt7YT_rOlWGVfOcqSJY8RvDG6GS4i5NrW6t2zdFArwiciRP3gpA-zNQGt_TkKHv22T6qnzUVWQ/s640/unique.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do have any favorites?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Knock wood, I hope you will all stay well.</div></div>

Knock Wood

Did you hear there's a flu epidemic? The Boston mayor has declared a public health emergency and the subway loudspeakers announce a comp...

Read more »