Leaves found while walking along along The Causeway in Steventon, Oxfordshire. You can read more about The Causeway here: http://www.steventon.info/Causeway.html
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged autumn, colors, Inspiration, leaves, nature, nature photography, Oxfordshire, Photography, Steventon, The Causeway, walking, water | 13 Comments »
Jordan Playing in the Leaves
My brother is not off the hook for his guest post about music and mountains, but I must admit that this photo he did share of his son at play in a field of leaves was quite an autumn treat. A 3-year old the size of a 5-year old with big brown eyes filled with wonder at the world. My brother wrote that it is an image that makes him want to sit and write “about the joy and emotions of Fall and Winter.” I hope he does put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and that Jordan keeps playing in the leaves. 😉
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged autumn, children, family, fatherhood, guest post, happiness, Inspiration, joy, leaves, nature, parenting, Photography, play | 2 Comments »
The angel above represents Victory and the angel below represents Sorrow.
In the stained glass window (1878), designed by William Morris and executed by Edward Burne-Jones, the figure centered between these blue-winged angels is St. Catherine of Alexandria. If you have a chance to research her story, you’ll understand why both sorrow and victory were paired.
The face of St. Catherine is that of Edith Liddell. Her sister was the inspiration for Alice in the book, Alice in Wonderland.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged angels, architecture, Christ Church, churches, colors, Edward Burne-Jones, Inspiration, Oxford, Photography, saints, stained glass, the stained glass window, travel, William Morris | 4 Comments »
… I step into stone buildings, like the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
I had only a few moments inside the building while racing to another location so I decided to focus (of course) on the stained glass windows.
The story of the windows I will have to research later but for now I am appreciative of viewing their artistry in the autumn light.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged architecture, arts, churches, colors, Inspiration, Oxford, Photography, stained glass windows | 1 Comment »
… for long spells of time I have been having much fun walking in the English rain. I even hummed a bit as I walked through Oxford University Parks yesterday. Until the rains became too heavy … 😉
As for the reference to Gene Kelly, here’s a short youtube video of him Singing in the Rain. Enjoy!
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged autumn, fun, gene kelly, humor, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Oxford, Parks, Photography, rain, singing in the rain, travel, trees, water, youtube video | Leave a Comment »
This trip was unexpected, a work excursion for Steve and a whirlwind adventure for me. There was little time (or perhaps, energy) for research about what I might see and so around every bend in the road, I am treated to unexpected beauty. Like this tree winding its way up the side of a wall in Oxford.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged beauty, colors, landscape, nature, Oxford, Photography, travel, trees | 2 Comments »
Okay, I have to admit, not only the mallards paused to let me snap a photo. As I watched the swans’ feathers rustling in the winds whipping through St. Stephen’s Green, I thought of the Greek myth Leda and the Swan. Only later as I walked through the National Library of Ireland’s exhibit on William Butler Yeats did I learn that Yeats had published a highly regarded sonnet on the subject in 1924.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged birds, colors, dublin, feathers, Inspiration, ireland, myths, nature, Photography, st. stephen's green, storytelling, swans, travel, white, wildlife, William Butler Yeats | 3 Comments »
In my travels I have not forgotten stained glass or public libraries. Here is but a small section of a window found in the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. Via this link you can actually see a 360 degree view of the front hall where this and several other windows can be found along with beautiful mosaics and fine carvings. A lovely place to visit.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged architecture, art, beauty, dublin, Inspiration, ireland, libraries, National Library of Ireland, Photography, public libraries, stained glass windows, travel | 3 Comments »
There are many beautiful trees making up the woodland walks of the University College of Dublin – Belfield Campus. There are actually 5 walks that were formed through the purchase of old estates with woodland areas dating back to the 1800s, and the subsequent planting of many new trees. According to the campus website, there are now over 50,000 trees in place representing over 75 species. More information can be found here. I am still sorting through pictures from my campus meanderings, but I think this tree is one of my favorites — new growth against an old estate wall, bright leaves and bark on a cloudy afternoon.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged autumn, Branches, colors, dublin, Inspiration, ireland, landscape, nature, Photography, travel, trees, University College of Dublin, walking | 12 Comments »
I don’t remember seeing any ducks where I grew up in Virginia so maybe that’s why they caught my attention so much in Boston. Plus they are one of the few birds that don’t seem to mind me stalking them from shore. Sometimes they even come right up to me. Like this little lass on the Liffey River in Dublin.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged birds, dublin, ducks, Inspiration, ireland, mallards, nature, Photography, travel, water | 3 Comments »
Words + Images 