Abstract Inspiration

Here are a few photos from our trip that are more abstract - and much more likely to end up as part of a quilt than the people pictures.

Bubbles made by a busker in front of the Tate Gallery

The British Museum

A blurred British sunset

Travel as Inspiration

My husband's job has required him to travel very frequently, usually on short notice, for the past few years. This is tapering off now, but in the meantime he has lots frequent flyer miles!!

We're trying to make the most of our time before our oldest goes to college, so we've been using the miles to take trips that we feel are meaningful for our kids' education. Plus, of course, it's fun! Two years ago we visited a variety of our great national parks, last year we went to NYC and drove the Pacific Coast Highway, and this summer we went on another truly amazing adventure. We've just gotten back from visiting London, Paris, Rome, Venice, the lake region of Italy, and part of Switzerland!

As you know, I love to take photographs. On this trip we of course took photographs of every major monument and historical place we visited. What was most important to me, though, was photos - often candid- of our family. Here are some of our family snapshots from this wonderful trip.

Stonehenge was closed - though we still got a peek from a distance in the lovely British countryside. These two are thick as thieves and I love to watch them together.

London!

A cafe in Paris

Waiting for a wreath laying ceremony at the Arc De Triomphe

Vince will jump down some stairs at Versaille if dared.

Leaving the Forum in Rome. I love how they are all perfectly in step. You can just see Vince's head in front of them.

One bonus of the kids being older is that we now have some decent pictures of us!

Gazing at the lagoon in Venice.

Lending a helping hand in the Swiss Alps

Our crazy, funky hotel room in Interlaken.

A token pretty shot - sunset and a storm in Interlaken.

I came back feeling relaxed, happy, and inspired. I hope you're having a great summer too!

Architectural Inspiration

I take many types of photos - family photos (of course), macro photos of almost anything that looks interesting, lots of flowers, butterflies. Increasingly, I also find myself taking photographs of reflections, and architectural subjects - both buildings as a whole, and parts. I mean to share some of these with you, but somehow don't always get around to it, so here are a few.


Back in November I went on a field trip to Mount Vernon with one of my sons. As we wandered across the lawn, I couldn't help but look across the river to where I grew up in Maryland. I excitedly pointed out Fort Washington to my little troop of boys, but they weren't very interested.

Fort Washington National Park, as viewed from across the Potomac River.  You may just be able to see the lovely yellow house to the left of the main fortification.

 

We've taken the boys to the Fort before, but it was so long ago that I don't think that they remembered it. Since the park was literally in our backyard when I grew up, I have many vivid memories of it. We decided to stop by on Easter Sunday while visiting family.

This building, now restored, is used as a visitor center. We used to sled down the hill in front of it. The home course for my high school cross country team was in the park, so I also had many opportunities to run UP the hill, which we dubbed "The General" .

Detail of one of the windows - almost looks European, doesn't it?

Looking out of the fortification, towards the hill with the visitor's center. Two of my sons are visible within the arch, on the draw bridge.

This used to be the quarters of the head park ranger. In elementary school I was friends with the ranger's daughter, and was invited to spend the night. To my surprise, she had been telling the truth about there being a skeleton in the closet there - and a headless one at that. I didn't get much sleep that night. The building currently appears to be undergoing renovations.

Will any of these photos end up in a quilt in the future? Only time will tell. Either way, I'm glad to have them.