Sunrise

Saturday and wintry at last. Snowy morning fields always evoke this lovely poem for me, by Czeslaw Milosz:

Encounter 
We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn.
A red wing rose in the darkness. 

And suddenly a hare ran across the road. 

One of us pointed to it with his hand. 

That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive, 

Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture. 

O my love, where are they, where are they going 

The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles. 

I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder. 

--Wilno, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania), 1936 

Czeslaw Milosz, from "The Collected Poems 1931-1987" (The Ecco Press, 1988)

C for Confused Cherry Blossoms

Until last week, we were having an unbelievably mild winter. I've even seen people in shorts and, here, confused trees bursting into cherry blossoms - unheard of in mid-winter! Linking to ABC Wednesday.
{P.S. I'm back from travels and look forward to visiting your blogs soon!}

Australia National Theme Day

{Nassau Hall, Princeton University}

I was convinced I'd have nothing to show for my efforts to take an Australian-themed photo. As I was about to give up, I stumbled on this Instagram shot in my archives. The international diversity of Princeton University's student body is on display in this festive "P" for Princeton. Anchoring the lower right, I spied Australia, whose student contingent is represented by about 30 brilliant Ivy League Princeton-Australian students, or Tigers (school mascot, as you see!).

See more photos here, celebrating Australia Day!

{P.S. I will be traveling and away from the internet a few days, but will see you soon!}

Miller Chapel

Hardworking staff member in the morning hours at Princeton Seminary. Have a wonderful weekend!

Antiques browsing

The latest in old technology! A peek inside The Tomato Factory, an antique haven in tiny Hopewell, just a 20 minute drive away in the Greater Princeton area.

B for Battlefield Bride

Bright afternoon's bride at the Princeton Battlefield, near the tomb of unknown soldiers from the 1777 Battle of Princeton. (I showed a portion of the battlefield Monday.)

Linking to my first ABC Wednesday - thanks to LOLfromPasa at Today Around Coventry Daily Photo for suggesting I try it!

"Near here lie buried the American and British officers and soldiers who fell in the Battle of Princeton."

Fancy some lunch?

None of my shots of a live televised community viewing of yesterday's Presidential Inauguration turned out. So instead, here's where many people went for lunch after - the former home of another U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, reborn as a popular lunch canteen, Prospect House.
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Also, many thanks to Jackie/Jake at Junk Boat Travels for passing on a blog award - I fear I could never choose from so many lovely bloggers to pass on the award, but thank you for thinking of me!

This month many years ago

{Princeton Battlefield} 

 "It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world." 

-British politician Sir George Trevelyan on the Battle of Princeton

The Battle of Princeton unfolded here on January 3, 1777, and was a turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Lager from a favorite beer source (the only place in town with beer that won't disappoint resident Brit, Mr. L). Online reviews also call the shop's "beer guru," Gordon, a "brooding Johnny Depp type." Enjoy your weekend!

The cozy teahouse

It's not been here long, but Infini-T Cafe has a loyal following. Besides tea, they offer goodies like fluffy, made-from-scratch pancakes (the blueberry ones are delicious!).

Entwined

At the Institute Woods, two different types of trees growing right into each other. A bit close for comfort:)

Real estate

Bright-framed windows at an architect's home. The home is apparently for sale...for a cool $849,000(!). 

No walks, just belly rubs

Though we were keen for a walk, this 2-year-old pooch at our animal shelter had other ideas, preferring to plop down and get his belly rubbed. 

Flight

Where I waved at the sky 
And waited your love through a February sleep, 
I see birds swinging in, watched them multiply... 
Like beauty spots marking a still perfect cheek. 
I see them bending the air, slipping away, for what birds seek. 
-From "The Balance Wheel" by Anne Sexton

Morning at the former Princeton Inn, a 1920s hotel (now student residence) overlooking a spot where the British made an almost-last stand in 1777. Enjoy your weekend!

PRINCE-ton

I wouldn't mind having this car bumper sticker! 

Growl

More tiger (Princeton mascot) hunting - a close-up of artist/activist Ai Weiwei's Chinese zodiac tiger (also here). 

Bounties of winter

Apples, pomegranates, satsumas, pears and sun! We are fortunate to have so much produce from local farms (like this one).

Returning to Princeton

Trinity Church last week, on my first back-to-Princeton stroll. The second shot was my view on the train home from the airport.:)

Postcard from London: The Codebreaker

{One of the first general-purpose programmable computers, based on Alan Turing's 1945 design}

This is my last London post. A current Science Museum exhibit highlights the life of Alan Turing, famous for his WWII codebreaking work at Bletchley Park and pioneer of the modern computer. Sadly, Turing was treated horribly, forced to take hormones to "cure" being gay. He died aged 41 of apparent suicide.
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A brief but lovely article, humanizing Turing, was published by Princeton University when he was voted one of its most influential alumni (Turing received his PhD from Princeton in 1938).

Postcard from London: The Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital (1739-1954) for abandoned infants. Founder Thomas Coram was appalled by the sight of children left to die on London streets. Among the poignant artifacts are notes left by mothers with their babies, including a 1789 poem ending: "That I in better plight may live/I'd try to have my Boy again/And train him up the Best of Men".

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Across the museum, on former hospital grounds, is Coram's Fields, a children's park. Adults may enter only if accompanied by a child.

Philanthropist Thomas Coram

Happiest New Year

Back from travels and hope your New Year is off to a great start! This was a brief moment of London sun by the British Museum last week. May your 2013 be filled with bright moments, no matter the forecast!