Travellin' Lady

On the Metro North train, arriving from New Haven, CT

In the Hudson Valley

at Barrytown, NY

and then at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson. First, the film/video building at Bard, then Frank Gehry's Fisher Center for the Arts, and a kinetic sculpture on the back lawn of Manor House, an old mansion and now a dormitory, looking west towards the Hudson River and the Catskills.

still at Bard College, early evening, a view of the river and the Catskills beyone from the lawn of Blythewood, the haunted mansion that now houses the Levy Economics Institute

Blythewood itself, ghosts and all...

the Blythewood gatehouse, a sexagonal structure not uncommon for the late-19th century architecture of the Hudson Valley

along River Road, Route 103

and the Amtrak train station at Rhinecliff, a town founded by Dutch settlers in the 1600's

the station is a stone's throw from the Hudson River

and here's the train bound for New York

back at Bard College, the woods leading up to Tivoli Bays

The ailanthus, called "tree of heaven," is in bloom right about now.

In the country

Picnics are encouraged.

A small building, a car, a lamp, the trees.

Two pictures from the village of Tivoli, New York, small town living at its finest.

Then a large modern science building on the campus of Bard College in the Hudson River Valley.

Inside is outside.
And the dogwoods are in bloom.

I found this tree, where the flowers bloom from the sides of the leaves. I had never seen this before. It seemed like an alien life form. It was creepy, but I guess it's not atypical of how certain trees or bushes send forth blossoms.

This is what the whole strangely blooming bush looks like - very normal, until you get close-up. What is it?

Then, also, in the country you can run across arrangements like those below.

Upstate, Duchess County, New York

A frog pond, the first thing my path crossed this morning, after the little skunk ran in front of me and into the woods.

Flowering bushes throughout this part of the woods create a sweet scent along the path.

Just a few pictures of a gorgeous place - common enough here but new and wonderful after spending months in Brooklyn (which is a city I love, but still...)

People get bored in the country and have to drink lotsa beer and smash the bottles against rocks. It seems to be a part of the culture here.

Looking towards the Catskill Mountains from across the playing field.

And further down the path, wildflowers are in bloom.

Then one of several streams that run under the pathway.

Another wildflower - anyone know what this is?

The path itself.

A patch of fern.

Now, heading back, once again passing the wildflowers.

Stopping to appreciate a row of pine trees.

Frog pond, once again, and this time I almost caught sight of one. I only heard the 'plop!' and saw the ripples in the water where the little creature had just jumped in.