'Splodey

Where: Kew Gardens, London, UK
When: February 18, 2009

Glitter Time

Where: Kew Gardens, London, UK
When: February 18, 2009

Once a Stray, Always a Stray

Where: Primrose Hill Park, London, UK
When: February 4, 2009

My dog Piper - even after 5 years, she still manages to look feral a surprising amount of the time.

Imperfections

Where: Kew Gardens, London, UK
When: February 18, 2009

Looking Up

Where: Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, UK
When: February 21, 2009

We All Wear Masks

Where: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK
When: February 20, 2009

Grasses Make the Best Patterns

Where: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK
When: February 20, 2009

Mill

Where: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK
When: February 20, 2009

Step to the Left

Where: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK
When: February 20, 2009

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Where: Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK
When: February 20, 2009

Walking on the Moon

Where: Cruising altitude (what is that, 37,000 feet-ish?), somewhere between Osaka and JFK
When: April 9, 2007. In theory. My camera date/time settings may not be entirely accurate.

Lunchtime in Spain

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 26, 2009

I need a break from wet and wintry Istanbul.

Everybody Loves Rainbows!

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 26, 2009

It's About Scale

Where: Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

Please Tell Me There's an Exit Around Here

Where: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

We got completely, thoroughly lost in here. I was convinced that was part of the overall plan - we'd get totally disoriented and, weakened by hunger and desperation, we'd have to find a guide and agree to pay him vast sums of money to lead us, along with the cartloads of carpets we found ourselves buying from his uncle and three brothers in our delirious state, to the appropriate exit.

Mixed Messages

Where: Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

Bustle

Where: Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

Slim Pickings

Where: Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

Stray Cats

Where: Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

All the strays were in shockingly good shape, and looked well fed and clean. They seemed to expect to be chased off, but even the mildest evidence of friendly intentions could convince them to stick around.

Stray Dogs

Where: Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
When: February 14, 2009

We were at the entrance to the palace grounds, and I was shocked when she came around the corner. I expected her to ignore me, but after a brief hesitation, she walked right up (this is when I took the picture) and gently placed her head, easily hip-height, under my hand and stood quietly. The guards were laughing at us, bemused by our obvious delight. She had a lovely quiet, serious temperament, and I even got a tail wag when she realized that my pockets smelled like dog food. They were empty, but she followed us as we walked towards the palace anyway.

There is nothing quite like the feel of a dog that big and serious padding quietly just behind you.

I'll be back!

I'm in Istanbul, so for all of you waiting with bated breath for the next post (thanks Mom!), I'll post something new on Monday. Maybe even something from Istanbul, but it is supposed to rain pretty much the whole time so maybe instead it will be something else from Solterreno. Or from the before time, in the long long ago. Otherwise known as the period of 2007 through 2008. Or from the great London storm of 2009. Or all of the above!

I know, I can hardly wait either. I can feel all the breaths bating from here.

Gwen

Extreme Weather Event

It snowed in London a few weeks ago. It was classified as an "extreme weather event". And it WAS. Inches of snow accumulated, perhaps as many as six! This photo attests to the severity - days after the event, and snow was STILL ON THE GROUND. I don't know how people are expected to live in these conditions, honestly.


Where: Primrose Hill Park, London, UK
When: February 4, 2009

Soggy Blossoms

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 28, 2009

Wind Damage

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 26, 2009

It's About Movement

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

Stretch

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

Comfort

Where: Monkey Park Iwatayama, Arashiyama, Japan
When: April 5, 2007

Soft Soft Soft

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

A Puss Named Fuss

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 31, 2009

Textures

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 25, 2009

Variations on a Theme: Shifting Shadows

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 25, 2009

Variations on a Theme: Burning

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 31, 2009

Neighbors

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 26, 2009

From the Front Door

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 26, 2009

Spring Comes Early in Spain

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

Last Light

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 27, 2009

Linen

Where: Casita, Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 25, 2009

Emerging

Where: Meditation Space, Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

The Wash House Part II

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

The Wash House Part I

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

Winding

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 30, 2009

Luminance

Where: Solterreno, Vall de Laguar, Spain
When: January 25, 2009

We are stars
fixed and flowing
Free in our bonds
Each of us luminous
filled with grace
and glory bound