Under Consideration

Alma

2009-12-27T22:08:00.006-05:00

If you're down for a little dose of creepy, take two minutes to watch Alma, a beautifully-made animated short that I stumbled upon earlier this evening, written and directed by Rodrigo Blaas. But don't say I didn't warn you...

( via GeekTyrant)

Let's Hear it for New York

2009-12-23T12:32:00.011-05:00

I've had this song stuck in my head all day, and what can I say? I'm feeling the love for New York. Just wanted to share a few favorite shots of my favorite city in honor of that Empire State of Mind.

Snow Day!

2009-12-20T15:33:00.004-05:00

I cannot begin to describe how amusing it was to watch this dog experiencing her first snow day. Hazel, welcome to winter.

Pura Vida

2009-12-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

What better way to combat the winter blues during the first snowstorm of the season than by looking back to warmer and sunnier times when winter and work were thousands of miles away and your only concern was whether to apply SPF 45 or 70.

Time spent lying on the beach

watching the sun move across the sky, palm trees silhouetted above my head,

enjoying plenty of good laughs with good friends.

Perhaps with just a dash of adventure,

and the thrill of learning a new skill (or attempting to learn a skill and falling off the surfboard a whole lot in the process).

And of course, there were those moments of absolute hilarity, the memory of which will bring smiles for years to come.

Frankly, as I sit here at my computer with the snow falling outside and my tan fading faster than fifteen minutes of fame, it all seems a little like a dream.

Flash Fall

2009-12-09T10:14:00.001-05:00

What happened to fall this year? By the time I noticed the temperature start to drop and headed to the Catskills for some woodsy hiking and fall foliage photography, the leaves had already fallen.

Now that I'm getting around to posting the photos (just a few weeks later, truly!), we have already had our first snow of the winter and streets are bedecked with Christmas lights.

There wasn't nearly enough time to properly enjoy lightweight coats and tweedy skirts, pumpkin bread and mountains of apples and all other things that feel like fall. How did it manage to pass me by? Next year I must pay more attention.

A November Collection

2009-11-23T20:54:00.016-05:00

In my many hours of trawling the Internet, flitting from one link to the next, I often happen across a photograph, an item of clothing, a piece of furniture or something else that strikes my fancy. Typically I tuck those links away with the intent to revisit them later when I need a little inspiration or a gift idea.

With all the holiday gift lists I see popping up left and right now that 'tis the season, I thought it might be nice to share a few of the things I've enjoyed in the past few months. Things that might be just right for that special someone you know.

For the host or hostess:

gleena ceramics

For the friend who likes a little whimsy in her wardrobe:

crave jewelry design

bambako

For the many friends who have little ones on the way:

antiqued baby tile, The Inglenook Deco r

For the photographer in your life:

lomography diana dreamer camera

For the colleague whose desk could use a little brightening up:

three potato four

For the adorable niece who lives much too far away:

doll's pram, all the luck in the world

For the husband who owns a state-of-the-art ping pong paddle:

the curiosity shoppe

And finally, for yourself, as a reminder of the beauty in the everyday:

2010 calendar, on montague

(and visit Amy's blog to enter a giveaway for one of this lovely calendars!)

I must say it has been quite a bit of fun putting this collection together. I think I just may make it a monthly exercise.

Note: If you think I might have found an item via your blog, which may well be the case, please let me know and I will give proper credit for the find!

Just Can't Get Enough

2009-11-21T00:52:00.001-05:00

We all know that there is loads of fun to be had with Flickr, but have you seen this website?

Be forewarned. It's a little addictive. One could easily while away an indecent amount of time experimenting with color combinations if she were so inclined.

These shots come from the magical mix of photos that Flickr spun out for me today.

Montauk

2009-11-12T22:01:00.015-05:00

There is something special about visiting the beach in the off-season.

Perhaps it's the wide open vistas of windswept sand and bleached driftwood without a soul in sight.

The thrill of solitude after months spent in close quarters with millions of other New Yorkers.

And, of course, what can compare with the joy of feeling the wind in your hair and sand beneath your paws?

Turquoise

2009-08-22T10:25:00.008-04:00

1. Grass on turquoise, 2. Turquoise, 3. Mosaic in Turquoise and Rust, 4. Lady of Turquoise, 5. turquoise Cuff 2, 6. turquoise and cream, 7. Terra cotta - Turquoise, 8. Turquoise door - Albuquerque Old Town, 9. Turquoise Tunnel Silhouette, 10. Ma che vuole questa???, 11. Firstborn, 12. my new turquoise sidetable....., 13. turquoise and gold, 14. three leaves on turquoise, 15. Oxidation in Turquoise, 16. Turquoise Dream

There is just something about the color turquoise that makes me think of sunny skies, salty ocean breezes, the soft rustle of palm trees and a tall glass of something frosty.

What about you? What colors evoke a picture in your mind?

Summer in the City: The High Line

2009-08-20T12:23:00.003-04:00

One of the last things I ever expected to see winding through the rooftops of lower Manhattan--about level with the pigeons, power lines and escaped helium balloons--is a pathway bordered with prairie grasses and wildflowers, but New York City never ceases to amaze.

The High Line is an abandoned elevated train track that has been refurbished and landscaped and opened to city dwellers for strolling, watching the sun set over the Hudson River, and yes, even napping.

The old train tracks have been preserved and the landscaping makes it appear as if nature has begun to reassert herself, eclipsing the rusty leftovers of the modern world.

As you walk, the bustle of the city dims to a low hum. If you listen carefully, you can actually hear songbirds. And somehow, (though you know you must be dreaming this one) it feels like you might even be breathing fresh air.

A few more photos here.

Summer in the City: Times Square

2009-08-10T00:24:00.005-04:00

Times Square might just be my least favorite spot in New York City. Noisy, crowded and full of tourists taking those leisurely strolls that are so foreign to speedy city walkers, I usually just keep my head down and try to dodge the human traffic as I walk through the neighborhood as fast as I possibly can.

Nonetheless, Times Square is the picture many bring to mind when they imagine this fair city. It's where the ball drops to ring in the new year. It's the classic movie scene-setter--that image that tells us "Aha, now we're in New York City!" When someone hums "Start spreading the news...." don't you visualize those Broadway lights that make Times Square so famous?

For that reason, a couple of weekends ago when I was passing through the sweaty crush of Times Square, I decided to stop. Stop dodging and weaving through the tourists. Stop ducking to avoid people selling me I (heart) NY T-shirts. Stop saying "No, I'm not interested..." to anyone and everyone who approached me about anything and everything. I just stopped. I took it in. I tried to remember that, pretty soon, I won't be in this city anymore and I had better start appreciating, even the things I typically avoid.

The lights, the color, the sheer overwhelming visual stimulation assaulting you from every side. That is Times Square.

Perhaps it was because I was with a first-time visitor to New York who was in awe of everything we passed. Perhaps I was on a high inspired by the Broadway musical we had just seen. Perhaps I need to stop and appreciate more often. But for a few moments that one evening, Times Square seemed pretty incredible.

Into the Light

2009-07-31T00:02:00.000-04:00

Have you ever lost a blog post? Drafted it, added your photos, maybe even checked for typos, and then never posted it? Let it languish among your drafts for a while and then eventually just forgotten you ever wrote it?

That's what happened to this post. Last summer I had a teeny little obsession with lens flare. Out and about on a sunny day with a camera, I couldn't resist turning my lens towards the sun to see what scattering of light I could capture. I collected a few of my favorite shots to share here, and then they somehow disappeared into the morass of draft posts I have going on at any given time.

Finding this unfinished post in the middle of another (sometimes) sunny summer, remembering the wonder of seeing the sun cast its rays across an image just so, makes me think lens flare might just be an obsession worth revisiting.

While I'm at it perhaps I should revisit my unfinished draft posts once in a while too. Who knows what other good stuff might be in there...

Spotlight: The Uniform Project

2009-07-28T21:37:00.006-04:00

Last week a good friend (whose snazzy redesigned blog can be found here) shared with me the website for The Uniform Project, and ever since I have been eagerly anticipating Sheena's daily updates.

The basic idea: Sheena has selected a uniform and will wear it for 365 days straight--an ambitious exercise in sustainability and creativity. She accessorizes with items donated, thrifted and previously owned and manages to take the versatility of the little black dress to whole new dimensions. There are few who could pull off something like this but Sheena does it with great style. As if that's not amazing enough, her efforts go towards a good cause--fund-raising for the purchase of uniforms for a girl's school in India. Read more about it here.

Check out The Uniform Project--you may just get hooked too.

Clockwise from top: Executive chic; Bon voyage at the pier; Cause I'm gonna be a dancer; Friday I'm in love.

Summer in the City: Coney Island

2009-07-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

The other day I posted about the fact that I'm counting down my days in New York City and am trying to pack as many quintessential New York experiences as possible into my last months here. I thought Coney Island might be a good place to start.

I know the very name conjures visions of crowded beaches, amusement park rides alive with lights and music, and all manner of odd characters prowling the boardwalk. Coney Island is a undoubtedly a colorful mixture of images. Some of them are iconic, like the famous Wonder Wheel and the Coney Island Cyclone--rides that have been around since the 1920s.

Others are more...shall we say...tawdry, but nonetheless part of Coney Island's unique blend of entertainment and oddity.

I confess, I don't go in for the crowded beach/amusement park scene, so I made my Coney Island visit early in the season when the shores were still empty, waiting for the throngs of summer tourists and city day-trippers. Even though it was not high season, I feel like I got a taste of the Coney Island magic. Do you feel a bit of it too?

Chicago is...

2009-07-21T11:40:00.006-04:00

(Cloud Gate, sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Millenium Park, Chicago)

My kind of town, Chicago is...

At least that's how Frank Sinatra felt, and I'm hoping the same will be true for me because that's where we are off to. In just a few short months we will be relocating from New York City to Chicago (or, more accurately, the Chicago suburbs). That leaves me just a few more months to enjoy life as a resident of New York City to the fullest, and to prepare myself to embrace a new hometown.

With that in mind, I'm creating two lists. Because who doesn't love a good list?

First, a list of things I must do before leaving NYC. Places to visit or re-visit. Sights to photograph. Restaurants to enjoy. Parks to picnic in. Museums I have yet to explore.

Second, a Welcome to Chicago list. What are the sights, sounds and tastes that every resident of Chicago should experience? How should I go about getting to know the Windy City? As you can see, I have already visited at least one Chicago highlight, a dazzling sculpture affectionately nicknamed The Bean. So one down, many to go.

Those of you who have loved, lived in or visited these two beautiful cities--help me say goodbye to one and hello to the other. What do you think should be on my lists?

Bella Italia

2009-07-07T23:02:00.004-04:00

I visited Italy for the first time a couple of months ago. I was only there a week, but somehow, two months later, I am still daydreaming about the rolling green hills, picturesque city streets and one very memorable plate of asparagus risotto.

The scenery was stunning. The Italians were warm and welcoming. I took to saying "grazie mille" like a fish to water. And the food was so. darn. good. So good that I have no photographs of it. It was all eaten too fast. So good that I began to wonder whether fresh mozzarella might have been the key to the Renaissance.

And the gelato. Pardon me while I swoon at the memory.

Quick, somebody remind me again why I live here and not there?

From ancient Roman civilization to the churches, frescos and fountains of the Renaissance, we all know that the richness of Italy's history is staggering.

So rich, in fact, that artifacts which would be priceless ancient treasures anywhere else in the world are left lying by the railroad tracks. In Italy they're just the extras.

But the most memorable aspects of the trip remain the little details. Geraniums in a window in Verona. A bulldog sunning himself on a balcony over a small piazza in Venice. A tiny white Fiat 500 sandwiched into a parking spot about the size of my coffee table.

An elderly gentleman boarding a tram in Rome with his briefcase and fedora. Giant wheels of cheese and mountains of salami pouring out of the stalls in the Florence central market. Ornate doorknobs, rain-slicked cobblestones, and lines of laundry hanging against a blue sky.

Puppy Love

2009-06-15T00:36:00.010-04:00

A while back I posted about an expected new addition to our family. About a month ago Hazel finally joined us, and she has turned our lives completely upside-down. All the carpets have been temporarily rolled up, doggie barriers have been erected in strategic locations throughout the apartment, my nightly Law & Order fix has been replaced with The Dog Whisperer, and I've been getting up before 7 a.m.

In short, things are all topsy-turvy.

She is half golden retriever, half poodle. They call them golden-doodles. I wish I were kidding.

She is a clumsy, shoe-chewing, tail-wagging fuzzball.

But she turns those sweet brown eyes your way, and her puppy exuberance is so infectious, that playing fetch and getting drooled on suddenly seems like a perfectly thrilling way to pass an evening.

We named her Hazel after the lead character in Richard Adams' classic novel Watership Down, which Ash and I both read in the spring and loved.

(We initially thought of naming her "Fiver" for another character in the book, but that was rapidly shot down by a number of critics. I think the words "worst dog name in history" may have been mentioned. Suffice it to say we won't be sharing the names of our future children.)

But Hazel suits her, don't you think?

Welcome to the family, Hazel.

Two Cities by the Sea

2009-06-14T22:02:00.002-04:00

In April we spent nine days visiting the Baha'i holy places in Haifa and Akka, two cities on the edge of the Mediterranean that hold a special significance for all Baha'is.

In Akka we walked the paths of history through the ancient city, following in footsteps made over a century ago.

In the rooms, the courtyards, and the gardens we passed through in Haifa and Akka, the air is heavy with the weight of the prayers and thoughts of hundreds of thousands of visitors to these sacred places.

We had time to reflect, to remember our loved ones, to soak in the beauty, to breathe those Mediterranean breezes touched ever so slightly with the scent of roses, and to refresh our minds and hearts.

More photos on Flickr.

Back to Blogging

2009-05-29T19:41:00.001-04:00

This may not come as a surprise, but I have been getting some grief about my lack of blog posts lately. The other day someone was telling me that the construction of certain gargantuan seagoing freight ships takes about six months. My brother turned to me and said, "Hey Elizabeth, that's about how long it takes you to write a blog post."

Point taken.

And there is plenty to share, so I have no excuse. There are photos being processed and posts in the works, and you will be seeing more of me here very soon. Truly. Cross my heart.

Here's the Question...

2009-04-04T12:51:00.005-04:00

What does it take to draw a blogger out of a long winter hibernation? The arrival of spring? With the all the warm weather, improved lighting and flowery photo-ops that the season brings? Eh. I don't know if that's quite enough.

A sweet face like this one? Maybe, just maybe...

Back to Programming As Usual

2008-12-20T20:25:00.013-05:00

Now that travel photos have been shared, I can return to posting about the mundane, and occasionally wonderful, details of daily life. As winter has deepened, as the snow has fallen, the icicles have lengthened and the days have gotten ever shorter, here's what's been going on:

Plenty of cappuccino drinking. Can't do winter without it.

Most definitely some baking.Wintertime just cries out for warm pies, crumbles, and New York Times chocolate chip cookies.

Intense board gaming. Specifically Settlers of Catan. Who wants to go out when you can build an empire while sitting at your dining room table?

Holiday-light appreciating. They are almost enough to make one forget how chilly and dreary the weather is.

Guest blogging. I have been taking photos every morning and evening this week to contribute to Amy's photo blog, Every Morn and Eve. (Needless to say, I am in talented company, so the pressure is on!)

And finally, that coziest of winter activities, knitting. Latest off the needles is this cowl, knitted with some soft and fuzzy Malabrigo chunky yarn in the appropriately-titled color of Polar Morn. (A big thank you to Parikha at sixoneseven for the pattern!) This cozy wonder is already warming the neck of a good friend, and there is a second cowl now in the works. (A bit of cowl obsession has developed over here at Under Consideration this season, so you will surely see more of them in the coming months.)

What wintery activities have you been up to? How do you pass the time when it's cold outside?

The Heart and Soul

2008-12-11T00:03:00.000-05:00

Wildlife adventures and beautiful scenery are all well and good, but people give a place its heart and soul. It is the photographs of the men, women, and especially children I interacted with that are the best reflection of the warmth and friendliness I love most about Nepal.

What a country of beautiful faces.

A country of diversity.

Of shy smiles.

And irresistible cheeks.

And little boys wanting to play with the big kids. (Photo courtesy of Ash)

A country of curiosity.

And warm welcomes.

And just a little bit of camera-shyness.

It is a country filled with playfulness.

And amateur photographers. (Video also courtesy of Ash. Thanks Ash!)

And distinguished gentlemen.

Nepal is a country of eager models.

A place where everyone wants to join the fun.

A place where everyone is welcome.

On Safari

2008-12-05T09:48:00.001-05:00

Only about 100 miles south of the Himalayas, a completely different world exists. A world of flatlands, lush jungles, palm trees, broad meandering rivers, and rice paddies stretching into the distance.

The south of Nepal is also home to all manner of wildlife, like this Asian rhinocerous that stood silently contemplating our jeep for a moment before crashing off into the brush.

Royal bengal tigers are also native to the region, though due to their nocturnal nature (and decades of determined poaching) they are rarely seen. The tiger below (eyeing me hungrily through the rather flimsy wooden bars of his enclosure) was captured by the Wildlife Service after he and his mother terrorized some local villages.

There is no better way to see the jungle that from the back of an elephant.

The elephants were very friendly with us. They didn't bat an eye when we ungracefully scrambled up their trunks to ride on their backs, even giving us a helpful lift. I found them remarkably beautiful, with deep, wise eyes framed by incredibly long lashes.

This little baby elephant was particularly feisty and eager to play. It's all fun and games until a 400-pound 8-month-old mistakenly steps on one's foot. Ouch!

Coming up: the last post of my Nepal series.

The Himalayas

2008-11-30T21:36:00.003-05:00

There was something surreal, almost magical, about trekking in the Himalayas. Our journey began with many hours of intensive four-wheel-driving on winding roads through rolling foothills, past villages, across crumbling pathways washed out by monsoon avalanches, and occasionally stopping for a herd of goats or stubborn water buffalo sunning himself in the middle of the road.

We began the first day of our trek in the fertile high hills with the warm midday sun warming our shoulders and the delicate beauty of Langtang peak shimmering in the distance.

As the hours and days went by we gained altitude, passing through temperate bamboo forests and into wooded alpine slopes, thick with old growth trees and hanging moss. As we climbed, lost in our own meditations, we couldn't help but marvel at the ethereal beauty of the scenery.

Eventually we left the forests behind, pushing beyond the tree line to the high plateaus, beckoned by the mountains.

It was a magical landscape, rocky and cold, where the air began to feel thinner and the fog would roll in at a moment's notice eclipsing our path, where an occasional yak would appear suddenly out of the mist to watch us go by.

As we climbed to the highest point on our trek, gasping for breath in that rarefied air, the whole world was spread out beneath us. The forbidding magnificence of the mountains, those sheer faces of ice and rock, was everywhere we turned.

Prayer flags wave in the high winds at the top of many of Nepal's hills and mountains. It is said the prayers written on them are carried away by the wind to spread peace and compassion throughout the world. I think a few of those peaceful and compassionate prayers may have caught hold of me on their way, setting my mind at rest and refreshing me in heart and spirit as I took in the all the beauty of the Himalayas.

(This photo above was taken by my very talented brother, Grady.)

Next post: On Safari

Where I've Been

2008-11-23T23:03:00.003-05:00

As you may have noticed, I've been on vacation from blogging for the last two months. Many thanks for your sweet comments checking in on me and for optimistically keeping me in your RSS feed!

I have been intending to post for a couple of weeks now, but there is just so much to catch up on I hardly know where to begin. The last two months have been a whirlwind of planning for travel, actually traveling, and post-travel withdrawal. The travel in question? A trip to Nepal. Or as I like to call it "the homeland." I grew up there and though I've lived in many places since, it firmly occupies the "home" spot in my heart. Even after two weeks back in New York City, I'm not sure I have the words to describe what a joy it was to be there again after many years away. So I'll let photos do the talking, starting with a few of the capital: Kathmandu.

The eyes of Buddha, Swayambunath Stupa.

Prayer flags blowing in the breeze, Thamel.

Candles lit in celebration of a holy day.

The Old City, Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Beans and lentils for sale in the market.

Two friends keep a shopkeeper company in the bead market.

A mother and son sell colored powder for the Tihar festival.

Father and son, selling flower garlands.

Looking out over the river with Pashupati Temple in the background.

A happy-looking cow kneels in a temple doorway.

Snacks for sale on the temple steps.

A sculpted lion sticks a tongue out at passersby, Swayambunath.

A woman carries a basket of greens on her back.

Goodbye, Kathmandu.
Next post: pictures from the Himalayas.