Happy 2015 and big thank you | Why I haven't been blogging

{Spring, Princeton}

In case anyone is still checking this blog, I wanted to say an official goodbye (for now). After an unexpectedly long period of work travel, I was looking forward to blogging again. Then I got sick. It was cancer. Luckily, my prognosis is favorable, but this space will remain quiet while I concentrate on my health.

Although I have not been able to return your kind comments and notes in my absence, I want to thank you all for making my blogging experience so lovely and enriching.

Below, some (pre-hiatus) farewell photos... Sending you best wishes for a happy, healthy 2015!

{Early spring, New York}

{Summer, Boston}

{Summer, San Diego}

{Last but not least: Kona the canoeing canine, Princeton summer}

The unintentional shot

I wanted a shot of peaceful geese on a pond, but our Kona girl (below) tried to give chase and off they flew.

{I deserve a belly rub for interrupting your picture}

Is that a big cat?

Princeton University's mascot is the tiger, after all. (Kona was so excited about snow - and cats! - she got into every frame. I was too cold to retake the shot.)

Postcard from England: Some sunlight

Despite English storms (hail and all), we got some sunlight in Sutton Coldfield. The area was once Henry VIII's hunting grounds and he favored the town with a royal charter. In 2nd photo, Jeeves loved the sun too!

Winter wonderland and really wet nose

Lunch yesterday, Princeton's (and Kona's) first big snow! (Kona enjoyed extra pets from the sledding kids:)

Recent weeks II: Hudson Valley, New York

Luckily, I got one weekend off and enjoyed autumn sun at the CIA - the Culinary Institute of America. (It's probably a more pleasant destination than the other CIA.)

Great blue heron

My point-and-shoot is too limited for wildlife, really, but I can't say no to a big bird. It soon caught a delectable frog.

Here's looking at you kid II

Kona is probably wondering why I pulled a camera out of my bag instead of a treat. I promise this won't become a pet blog - it's hard to get her to look at the camera:) 

Here's looking at you kid

Our groundhogs (woodchucks) are fattening up for winter hibernation (wish I could hibernate too!).

Postcard from Manhattan: Little wedding scene {+wedding-themed summer farewell}

Gazebo wedding, Central Park lake. The lake is also a lovely place to rowboat. And below, since our summery autumn heatwave is finally ending, a farewell look at that most summery of scenes - weddings.

{Clockwise from bottom left - all Summer 2013: colorful-quirky Princeton, elegant Paris, Cinderella London horse-drawn carriage and its London bride outside St. Paul's Cathedral.}

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard

At home in the nearby pond. Dry leaves that fell last autumn still linger, even as another autumn approaches.

Black squirrel

Our black squirrels are many - they're the town mascot! - but shy. This is the only one I've captured that didn't dart away in a blur. Enjoy your weekend!

***

{Doubtful-but-fun stories: The black squirrels were created in a science experiment and protesters released them. Or an eccentric Eastern European ambassador gifted them. Or a local resident obtained them in the 1800s, to reflect one of the official Princeton University colors (black/orange)}.

We're not in London anymore

After a mostly-London summer, small town Princeton took some re-adjustment (What is that weird noise outside the window?! Oh, right, it's just cicadas and crickets singing.) Getting handmade cheese 3 miles away at the organic dairy farm is a most pleasant re-adjustment!

Morning stroll

After days of rain, sunlight felt thrilling! Also, apologies for the top of the tree being cut off, it was the best I could do as my arms kept being tugged by a wiggly dog (below - her name is Kona, a 6-year-old English Springer Spaniel we recently adopted from a rescue group...she's been wiggling ever since:).

{wiggly dog, wiggly car, wiggly phone snap}

Bird's breakfast

Woken on July 4th holiday by a screeching bird (red tailed hawk?) devouring its snake breakfast outside the window. Who needs fireworks after that? (Sorry, hope it's not too full on.)

I'll be taking a break for a few weeks because of (yet more) travels. Be well, see you soon!

On the streets: It's a dog's world

Silly (phone) snaps to cheer up the day: Manhattan attitude, Princeton baby, and "faces" of Princeton.

Ah, Spring

A very little one. (And please pardon my dust while I spring clean the blog!)

Bird on forsythia branch

Another welcome sign of Spring: the birds are back, carrying nesting materials or singing among the blooms.

Frolicking in flowery fields

A sweet lunchtime sight. Our nights may be cold, but our days are happily warming!

A touch of Spring

Crocuses and the first Spring turtle, basking in the bright lunchtime sun!