Happy Holidays!

The casually (crazily) decorated tree in our town square. I'm taking a break for the holidays - enjoy yours! Happy 2014!

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Below, to make up for my holiday hiatus, a glance back at 2013...

Spring springing...

A mostly-London summer...

...(with a touch of Paris)...

...(and Norway)...

Autumn gold...

Let it snow!

Frozen and liquid

At the Princeton policy school, feels like winter! Today is also Human Rights Day - the school is hosting a panel discussion and exhibit of photos from "Justice: Faces of the Human Rights Evolution."

Recent weeks III: The Hudson River, New York

I showed you the Culinary Institute of America yesterday - this was the view towards the Hudson River.

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{Explorer Henry Hudson is famed for his exploits in the area, but met a sticky end 400 years ago - his crew mutinied and set him, his son, and several men adrift at Canada's Hudson Bay. They were never seen again.}

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.}

The meandering canal

The 1830s Delaware-Raritan Canal (shown previously) and towpath meanders lazily through Princeton and beyond. Here, it passes through lovely, neighboring Lambertville (20-30 minutes drive away). 

Postcard from London: St. James's Park

Lazy, hazy day. Still in London, but back to regular Princeton posting by end of next week. Thanks for bearing with my 'postcards.'

Postcard from England: Baddesley Clinton estate, Warwickshire

Moving back in time, I alighted here briefly before Paris. During Elizabeth I's reign, this 1400s moated manor harbored Catholic priests (see priest hole in 2nd photo), when it was treason to do so. Enjoy your weekend!

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P.S. Fans of the Sherlock Holmes TV series starring Jeremy Brett (a Warwickshire lad) may recognize Baddesley Clinton as the locale for a gothic, entertaining episode, "The Musgrave Ritual." :)

Postcard from Norway: Soft-lit fjord

After Paris, I took a real break and visited a friend and her family in Norway. They were lovely hosts, and we enjoyed casting fishnets, blueberry-picking, hidden beaches and long meals. I was so happy to see her.

A magical moment I could not photograph: As we ate outside one late and quiet night, "Amazing Grace," played by someone on a lone horn, sounded out across the entire fjord.

Rambling (updated)

Along the canal towpath, in the northeast corner of Princeton near Kingston Village. The gristmill ahead was rebuilt several times over the past 300 years; the current building dates from 1888. Enjoy your weekend!

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Update: I forgot to say I'll be traveling for work next week. Be well, see you soon!

Hong Kong-themed day

Mr. L was in Hong Kong briefly for work last week and sent these iPhone shots of Victoria Harbour. The giant rubber ducky ("Spreading Joy Around the World" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman) heads to Pittsburgh next.

Little fountain

In the town square, a welcome touch on warm nights. Toss a coin and make a wish! Enjoy your weekend.

Reflections

At the quiet "welcome garden," Princeton Hospital. (I showed the interior here). Below, the garden sign.

"I never think of the future, it comes soon enough." -Albert Einstein (Princeton resident, 1933-55)

Nostalgia post: Shangri La, Honolulu

Last week's Duke Farms posts got me thinking of another Doris Duke estate: Shangri La, Honolulu. Made me nostalgic for my hometown:) Enjoy your weekend.

{Diamond Head volcano in back. Both photos Autumn 2012}

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.)

Postcard from Hawaii: Makapuu {+ Election Day glimpses}

With view from the Makapuu Lighthouse hike last week. The light changes fast.
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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.)

November theme day: Water's edge

This month's theme day was a challenge. Hurricane Sandy devastated many areas. After travel delays, I arrived home a few hours ago to a town with almost no power...but am one of the lucky ones. Meantime, until I've new photos, here's a Waikiki Beach, Honolulu sunset from a few days ago. I hope to visit your blogs soon, and that you're well and safe!

~See more theme day photos at the new City Daily Photo site.~

"O, what a place for a lake!"

{Lake Carnegie and dam on the Millstone River}

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie reportedly uttered those words when he saw this area. Carnegie's gift, the construction of  Lake Carnegie, provided a great place to row, ice skate, sail...or just soak up some sun.

~Hope yours is a sunny weekend!~

The 1830s canal

Canal, lock and locktender's house

The Delaware and Raritan Canal, built 1830-34, now offers a trail for walking and biking. Hand-dug by Irish immigrants working in difficult conditions, the 66-mile canal ran for 100 years, floating mule-towed barges and steamboats.

Lock #8 here is a pleasant 2.5 mile walk from Princeton. One of the first commercial uses of the telegraph ("the Victorian internet") was at this locktender's house and station - to wire canal traffic reports!

Standing on the canal lock.