Amsterdam and tulips

A perfect weekend to visit!

The tulips are in full bloom in Holland!    For my “hike” this weekend, Pam and I joined our friend Jen for a weekend in Amsterdam. (It’s only four hours from London via train!)  Jen kindly arranged a bike rental in Lisse, a small village south of Amsterdam surrounded by vast fields of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths – all in full bloom – where the air was sweet with the scent from hundreds of thousands of flowers.  We spent a lovely few hours riding the bike paths – the Netherlands are heaven for bikers, because nearly every street and road has an adjacent bike path, with dedicated signage. 

Vast fields of tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, and other flowers – outside Amsterdam.
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2025 Favorites

Favorite photos and videos.

Wow, 2025 was quite the year. With a dozen or more hikes in New Hampshire, and travels to Australia, England, Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, Colorado, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and South Carolina, I had many opportunities for photography. Check out some of my favorite photos!

Sunrise view from Fryingpan Firetower, in the Blue Ridge of NC.
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Japan, Day 3 (September 5): Takamatsu

A visit to a bonsai farm, Shikoku-mura outdoor museum, and Ritsurin Gardens.

When we woke on the third day of our voyage we were in the port city of Takamatsu, on the northern shore of Japan’s inland sea.  We visited a bonsai farm, an outdoor architectural museum, and Ritsurin Garden, a large, elaborate Japanese garden. Read on!

Sunrise over the inland sea of Japan, near Takamatsu.
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Strawberry season

A favorite time of year!

Every spring I look forward to strawberry season. Around here, that means late June (or, back in the day, the first week of July). The days get long, the weather gets hot, and the strawberries become red and juicy. I go early in the morning, when it’s still cool, and pick a whole tray. At home, the ripest, juiciest berries become an instant snack while I wash, trim, slice, and freeze the rest. They become part of my breakfast parfait for months to come!