Laurel Falls in the Smokeys

A mere 30 minute walk from the road, Laurel Falls (small this time of year, but still beautiful).

Great Smokey Mountain National Park in October

What happens to a BMW in the rural South

Cosby Town Fair

Just happened on this...
Cosby TN's town fair.
Country singing karaoke, local honey, crafts, fresh cornmeal, fried apple turnovers, tractors, and LOTS and LOTs of republicans with McCain/Palin stickers.

Prodigal Summer

While driving from Boston to Nashville, we got Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer on CD. She talked about moths in Appalachia, and while we were out on our hike we saw this beauty.

A little fun while moving in

Okay, I know it's about two months late, but I'm finally posting my photos from my move-in. Dad helped me out and we had a lot of fun taking breaks around the area. We went to Edgar Evins State Park, and had a little swim and hike.

teapots in the making

i know i said the next update would be from elsewhere, but i got excited about something and decided to post.

i've been making teapots again. inspired by the moorish architecture i saw while traveling in spain, i have been working on a series of teapots i'm calling "the alhambra series."

look at the beautiful detail in the carvings at the alhambra in granada, which i tried to imitate in the teapots (one pic here is from the alcazar in sevilla, also with a similar history). i posted a couple of pictures from the first two teapots in this series back in the spring.





the teapot photos were taken before glazing. soon i'll have the final product to show.

the big move

it's really happening, folks. the movers came today and i'm now without a bed and am down to a suitcase full of clothes (not that it troubles me much to live like that). starting wednesday the roadtrip will begin. next updates will be from my new place.

cupcakes

my latest creation, mini cupcakes!

the spirit of italy

while i was there, italy's national team was playing a soccer game, and people were crowded into plazas and bars watching the game on any screen available.

and of course, the food of italy is unbelievable!

rome

the vatican
and

the roman colosseum

venice

Venice and India are two of my favorite places to photograph (coincidentally they're also two of my favorite places to eat!). On my trip to Venice last weekend, I found myself thinking that every photo I was taking was a cliche. I mean, isn't Venice one of every photographer's places to take pictures? Or maybe it's just because I've already been there, but I often felt like I'd already seen the picture before. Despite all these doubts about photographing in Venice, I thought I'd still post a few photos, because it IS a beautiful and charming place.

happy passover

Every year at my grandparents' house for Seder I sculpt the chopped liver into a Passover-themed display. In the past I've done a sphynx, King Tut, a pyramid, baby Moses in a basket, the tablets with ten commandments, and a few others. It's getting harder and harder each year to come up with a cool idea. This year's chopped liver was the Torah.
And while I was on my computer I figured I'd pull out a picture of last year's tree of life. My cousin Sam started apprenticing with me last year, and my uncle Jeff carved us a bird for the branches, so it was a bit more of a team effort.
Happy Passover!

parque del retiro, madrid

as great as the art museums are in madrid, it's never been one of my favorite cities. it's always felt just a bit too big, loud, and dirty, but today i discovered el parque del retiro, which has softened my heart towards the city. it's huge, unlike most other city parks, with a pond where you can rent boats, a duck pond, a rose garden, a little library stand, cafes, a botanical garden, exercise areas, playgrounds, and plenty of green!

one of my favorite areas was the duckpond with weeping willows that reminded me of being back home, and these quaint little bridges.


lots of beautiful shady green areas

and it finally felt like spring, with the trees in bloom and flowers all around

the few early roses in the rose garden


i'm not entirely sure what this is, but it's cool looking.


here's where you could rent boats. i was tempted, but there was so much else to do and see in the park!

salamanca

i went back to salamanca this weekend for the first time in the two and a half years since i studied there. it was neat to see it again, especially after having seen much more of spain. it's kind of an interesting mix of opposites, dominated by the large historical university, and the religious focus there (two cathedrals, and at least one monastery and convent), with lots of young people and lots of old, but not much in between.

the plaza mayor is one of the best (if not THE best) in spain:and it's even nicer by night!
just another cathedral in spain...
and one more church