What do Massachusetts, a road trip, and cross country have in common?

Admittedly, not too much. However, the other weekend, all three of those things converged in my life...

And after a few hours on the road...

I found myself in the middle of a field in Massachusetts getting ready to watch the first cross country meet of my life.

The best part of the whole weekend was the last-minute nature of everything. About mid-week I learned that my aunt and uncle were flying out to the east coast to watch my cousin in her second-ever college cross country match. They happened to be flying into NYC, where they had planned to rent a car and drive up to UMass to watch the race. When they asked if I wanted to tag along, I jumped at the chance!

So on a beautiful, sunny Saturday I found myself at the UMass Invitational, surrounded by all sorts of runners, fans and coaches! Since it was my first match, I had a lot to learn.

Luckily, the boys ran first, so I had a chance to practice taking pictures as they sped by...

Before I high-tailed it to another part of the course to catch some more action shots. (Thank goodness my uncle had scouted out the course ahead of time and was able to tell me exactly where I needed to run to, etc. in order to see as many spurs of the course as possible!

Therefore, by the time the girls were ready to race...

I was an old-hand at taking photos of people running.

That's actually not true at all: I just snapped as many pictures as possible when my cousin ran by in hopes that some of them would turn out.

And you know what?

Some of them miraculously did!

I must say, my cousin is a fast runner...

And it was so much fun watching her whiz by!

And while I thought she was running really fast...

I had no idea what was in store as she neared the finish line.

My shutter-finger was going crazy at that point...

But I was so glad to have captured these shots as she blew past the girl from BC!

And not only did she come in 3rd for her team...

But the race also happened to be a PR (personal record) for her! (She was realizing just how fast she had run in this shot!)

As you can see, it was an exciting day for everyone...

And I'm so thankful that I was able to be there! So thanks to my Uncle D and Aunt J for bringing me along, and congrats to R on an amazing race!

Thank you for stopping by- I hope you have a great day!

All by myself...

With millions of people living in the Big Apple, there are very few times when I feel "alone" in NYC.

But the other morning, as I walked up Fifth Avenue, that's exactly how I felt... ALONE!

It was pretty early on a chilly morning, so most folks were probably still curled up in bed...

And while it may have been a little eerie to walk the streets without seeing another person*...

It was certainly a welcome change to the hustle and bustle that this city is known for!

Thanks for stopping by- I hope you have a great day!


*Pop culture reference: Did you ever see that Will Smith movie I Am Legend? It was kinda like that...

Bethesda Terrace

While I was in Central Park the other day, I paused to enjoy a few moments on Bethesda Terrace.
As the park's website explains:

Offering breathtaking views of both the Central Park lake and woods, the Bethesda Terrace is an architectural marvel. The terrace was one of the very first structures to have been built in Central Park; its construction began in 1859, continued throughout the Civil War, and was completed in 1863. The structure's layout consists of both an upper and a lower terrace, which are connected by two grand staircases and a smaller one leading directly to the Mall. The entire terrace is constructed primarily of New Brunswick sandstone, paved with Roman brick, and boasts granite steps and landings. While the upper terrace flanks 72nd street and is responsible for the amazing views witnessed by tourists every year, the lower terrace connects to the Mall and features the majestic Bethesda Fountain.

When designing the terrace, both Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux agreed that nature, rather than architecture, was to be of paramount importance in their plan. They proposed that the terrace would be known as the "heart of the park," and Vaux was once quoted as having said, "Nature first, second, and third – architecture after a while." The two creators' vision consisted of a place where people could experience nature while holding social gatherings, a place to see and be seen while mingling with like-minded people. It was meant to be an escape from the often stressful and busy urban life of the typical city-dweller. Mould supported Olmsted and Vaux's emphasis on nature with his designs of the decorative elements of the terrace, created according to Vaux's own original ideas and concept. Mould's carvings depict such things as the times of day and the four seasons. His designs also present images of birds that can be found in the area, as well as seasonal plants that are grown within the terrace.

The Bethesda Terrace has experienced many changes throughout the decades. In the 1960's its function aligned with its creators' intention as a place of social gathering and it even featured a restaurant. In the 1970's however, the terrace was used primarily for drug-trafficking before it was restored by the Central Park Conservancy in the early 1980's.

Since then, very few minor changes and restorations have occurred, including the addition of ornamental poles topped by medieval banners in the vista, and the replacement of many older tiles located in the steps of the terrace in 2007. Today, it the Bethesda Terrace is known for its spectacular views, people-watching opportunities, and frequent appearances by talented street performers.

At the base of the terrace is the magnificent Bethesda Fountain:

The Bethesda Fountain is one of the largest fountains in New York, measuring twenty-six feet high by ninety-six feet wide. It is one of the most well known fountains in the world, and the statue at its center was the only sculpture to have been commissioned as a part of Central Park's original design. This neoclassical sculpture, also known as Angel of Waters, features an eight-foot bronze angel who stands above four small cherubim representing health, purity, temperance, and peace. The angel herself carries a lily in one hand while the other remains outstretched, poised in the action of delivering a blessing on the water pouring from around her feet and into the basin at the bottom of the fountain. This is to commemorate the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct, which supplied New York City with fresh water. Angel of Waters was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1868 and dedicated in 1873, at which point Stebbins became the first woman to receive commission for a major work of art in the city of New York. Stebbins linked the new, pure city water flowing from the fountain to the healing powers of the biblical pool, and quoted John 5:2-4 at the statue's dedication, saying "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called... Bethesda... whoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."

What an incredible place, right? It's even better when the weather is warm enough to turn the fountain on! I can't wait until that is the case... but for now, it's still pretty nice!
Thank you for visiting my blog- I hope you have a great weekend!

Just a walk in the park

Central Park is a beautiful place! Perfectly planned amidst the urban jungle of NYC, the park is an oasis. Sometimes I need to get from the east side of the city to the west, and while taking a bus across town is the most efficient route, I'll use any excuse to walk through the park instead!
Yesterday was one of those fateful days when I got the chance to trek through Frederick Law Olmsted's handiwork. And wouldn't you know it, I saw something I hadn't noticed before: The Pilgrim.
Here is some information from the Central Park website about The Pilgrim:

On the occasion of the New England Society’s 75th year, the association commissioned the statue to honor the early colonists. The pilgrim grasps the muzzle of a flintlock musket in his right hand. The pedestal comprises four bas-reliefs depicting Crossbow and Arrows, the ship Mayflower, Commerce, and Bible and Sword. The inscription on the pedestal reads “To commemorate the Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock: December 21, 1620.” The statue stands at the bottom of Pilgrim Hill, Central Park’s favorite sledding area.

Sculptor: John Quincy Adams Ward (1830-1910)
Pedestal: Richard Morris Hunt
Date: 1884
Placed in Park: 1885
Material: Bronze on granite pedestal

After that quick stop, I had to hurry up and get going. But as I walked, I couldn't help but check out all the amazing trees throughout the park. Without the layers of leaves that will start to bud in a few weeks (I hope), I was able to truly appreciate the beauty of the trunks and branch structures.
For instance, check out the bark on these trees- isn't it cool?
And the ivy crawling along this trunk was a welcome spot of green among the mostly browns and greys of a post-winter world.
And this tremendous burl caught my eye as I wandered by... isn't it incredible? (I wish I could have touched it, but it was pretty far up the trunk.)
I can't tell you how happy I was as I walked through the park... what a great way to spend a half an hour in the middle of the day!
Thanks for visiting- feel free to stop by tomorrow for more photos from my stroll through the park!

Paris anyone?

No, I haven't been to France recently.... just Washington Square Park!
This park is pretty famous, and I can still remember the first time I saw it in When Harry Met Sally.
I thought it was lovely then, and nothing has changed! While the whole park is pretty beautiful, the arch is my favorite part.
As wikipedia explains:

In 1889, to celebrate the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as president of the United States, a large plaster and wood Memorial Arch was erected. The temporary plaster and wood arch was so popular that in 1892 a permanent marble arch, designed by the New York architect Stanford White, was erected. White modeled the arch after the 1806 Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Isn't it beautiful? I love checking out all the intricate details.
As a further testament to the first US president, 2 statues of George Washington were 1918. The statues are very different, but they lend a lot of meaning to the inscription on the arch:

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God. - George Washington

I must admit, it never ceases to amaze me how many beautiful things can be found throughout NYC! If you ever have the time, I highly recommend a quick trip to Washington Square Park (the bottom of 5th Avenue).
Thanks for visiting- I hope you have a great day!

Sleigh Ride

One of the last things we did in Vermont involved horses...
And the beautiful Vermont countryside.
It's true- we got to take a sleigh ride through South Woodstock...
And it was awesome!
The snow let up for a while...
And as we traveled through fields of white...
Covered in bear skins (really)...
I was in absolute winter heaven!!
And as you might expect, I took a ton of photos:
Wanna see a few of my favorites?


The sun even came out at one point...


As you can see, the ride was incredibly fun...
Thanks to these lovely creatures!
If you ever have the chance to take a sleigh ride in the winter, I highly recommend it!

Thanks for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful weekend... see you Monday!