Happy Holidays!

Hamilton Jewelers window and our town square. Crazily enough, I'm traveling again, thanks to last-minute tickets. I may not have internet for a week, but wishing you a Happy Holiday! Be safe, see you soon.
***
Below, to make up for my post-and-run week, a little farewell look at 2012...

New spring leaves...


After a summer storm...

Autumn is beautiful...

Dreaming of a white Christmas.

December

Back from work travels in a month that went by too fast. The tragedy in Connecticut has been on my mind. I hope everyone has been well and safe.

Afternoon walk

Such colourful, climbing vines! I'll be away the next few days for work travel. Be well, see you soon!

Sculptural stairwell

Sherrerd Hall, Princeton University: I've passed this building many times and never gone in - what a surprise! I was unprepared and only had my phone camera.

Baby ginger

At one of our last outdoor farmers' markets (the ginger did not need peeling & was delicious brewed in chai tea). This week, the market moves indoors for the coldest season.

Feline look

Stare-down contest on Princeton campus (I lost). Enjoy your weekend!

Wobbly bridge

Crossing Stony Brook, Institute Woods: The perfect place for an unsteady photo:) Lenape tribes, 1690s Quaker settlers, Washington and Einstein all passed through these lands, once upon a time.

Quaint waiting room

For the wee "Dinky" train (posted before).

***

I also learned of the below locally-filmed ad - it includes sites I've shown. (But no one dresses like this, haha!)

Mid-morning scene

On my way to an appointment, a quick shot of the 1896 Lower Pyne Building, decked out for the holidays.

Pea soup

Lunchtime yesterday: I wonder how these intrepid golfers could see? (On a random note: my mind wandered back to a memorable school lecture titled The Killer London Fog of 1952.)

Swing

My street includes this tempting swing. The kid in me wants to try it; the adult in me eyes that skinny branch and thinks better of it.
*Enjoy more theme day photos here.*

Cold, crisp morning

Two seasons in one: budding plants (I think) amidst the morning frost yesterday. Nature's gone doolally here!

November sun

Enjoying the November sun outside Hoagie Haven, a greasy food dive. They have a sandwich aptly named Heart Stop (here's a review).

Craft market

The Princeton YWCA held its annual Crafters' Marketplace the previous weekend to raise funds. These recycled bottles made colorful lanterns. 

Weekend explorations: East Village, New York

{Abraco espresso bar} 

It's been a while since I've posted photos from the city. This area was "Little Ukraine" in the East Village, but  (like so many areas) is now pricey and trendy.

Turkey Trot

An emergency crew member (and festive running shorts, below) at last Thursday's Turkey Trot 5K Race for charity. I was there to cheer on a racing friend.

Second spring

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus
***
Happy Thanksgiving Day! My favorite autumn holiday. I'm signing off for the week - enjoy your weekend!

Bonfire time

{Pre-bonfire} 

{Post-bonfire, next day} 

Princeton lit a bonfire Saturday to mark football wins over Harvard and Yale. I couldn't stay, but from the charred 1700s cannon buried here (left by the British, its top is visible in 2nd photo), it was a big blaze!

Autumn roses

Roses still blooming last month in Prospect Garden...

(And even this week near the Chestnut Street firehouse!)

Instagramming

Friday night (with dead camera battery, alas) among Princeton students at Rockefeller College's dining hall...

Plus a student Bach concert in "Rocky's" Common Hall  (the "pen ceremony" scene from A Beautiful Mind was filmed here). It's nice to occasionally attend/support student events.

Raw goods

A tangle of colorful (and tasty!) carrots at the farmers market. Have a colorful weekend!

Fishmonger

Nassau Street Seafood is very serious about its fish. (Thanks to this gentleman for briefly posing!)

Colorful show

I wanted to share these colorful trees from a few weeks ago, when they were starting to peak. (Happily, the ones here survived the storm).

The pranksters have been busy

There was a Princeton versus Yale football game this weekend. Blue is Yale's color and everyone woke to a Yale-blue Scudder Plaza pool for game day. (I've shown those Ai Weiwei zodiac statues before.)

Remembering one of many

The Graduate College (tower visible in yesterday's mist) was home to "father of computer science," Alan Turing, while he earned his PhD at Princeton University. Turing had a crucial role Britain's WWII codebreaking activities.

***

(More at Princeton's Turing Centennial site, Google's tribute and the Science Museum exhibit, London.)

Postcard from Hawaii: Goodnight {+ Princeton good morning}

One last Honolulu sunset from last week...

And Princeton yesterday morning (that tree fell in the storm). Hope to share a more recovered Princeton soon. Enjoy your weekend!

Postcard from Hawaii: Endangered species

The endangered Hawaiian green turtle (using Mr. L's newer Lumix camera!) off Magic Island, Honolulu...

The critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal (only 1,200 in the wild) at remote Kaena Point trail...

And that's the Hawaiian flag at bottom - an American state flag with British banner is also rare!

Postcard from Hawaii: Makapuu {+ Election Day glimpses}

With view from the Makapuu Lighthouse hike last week. The light changes fast.
***
And from yesterday: "This building is closed. Still no heat." sign greeting voters (thanks to the lovely lady who drove me to the new venue - the kindness of strangers!), voting booth, and autumn leaves.

Postcard from Hawaii: Queens Beach, 6am and 9am

Bodysurfers and boogie-boarders near Waikiki - from my visit last week (Hawaii is my childhood home). I'll share cheerier, non-hurricane images this week.

(P.S. This Jack Russell terrier loves to surf.)