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 »
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged birds, colors, dublin, feathers, Inspiration, ireland, nature, phototgraphy, swans, travel, water, white | 4 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged abstract, autumn, colors, dublin, Inspiration, ireland, leaves, light, nature, Photography, st. stephen's green, sunlight, travel, water | 7 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged color, flowers, Inspiration, nature, petals, Photography, red, water | 4 Comments »
Posted in Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged flowers, hiking, Inspiration, Middlesex Fells Reservation, nature, Photography | 5 Comments »
That was my intention when I walked out of the Brazilian grocery store with the bag of dried rose petals. To mix rice and roses. Perhaps sprinkle the petals on top of steamed black rice. Or photograph them as they fell upon a bit of mochi ice cream. But so far I’ve just let them sit in a small bowl in the kitchen, catching that light, their pinks and golds stirring my imagination. I did find this really cool recipe for rice with rose petals. The ingredients of the recipe read like a poem. I’m not into pomegranate and I don’t think I can afford saffron. We’ll see what variation on a theme unfolds in my kitchen this winter.
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations | Tagged black rice, creativity, flowers, food, Inspiration, mochi ice cream, petals, Photography, recipe, rice, rose, rose petals | 2 Comments »
