Moar Trees and Water

Went to a presentation by Mark Manske of Adirondack Raptors. This is his Harris's Hawk.

 I recently went home to NY for a couple weeks. As it turns out, they have mountains there. And lakes and streams. And trees.

Here is his barn owl, Tessa. Adirondack Raptors does bird population monitoring and educational presentations. We also saw a European eagle owl and a horned owl.

The artist's studio at Camp Santanoni, formerly a recreational complex for a banking family from Albany and now a public park with hiking trails, canoes, and camping. One of my favorite hikes, as it requires virtually no exertion.

Boating on Brant Lake.

Coral fungus at Santanoni.

Stealthy heron, Brant Lake.

Stone wall, Santanoni.

Chester Creek.

Fall is coming.

Lily pads, Brant Lake.

Lake George.

Indian Pipes.

King of the Frosties LIVES. And smells like fried.

I like saprophytes.

Nice to see old friends-Lobelia.

Waterfall at Loon Lake.

A loon at Santanoni. When I was a kid, loons were rarely seen. Still threatened, changes in the economics of the greater northeast and greater conservation efforts have helped them come back to some extent.

 

Lucifer Falls, Ithaca

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness.

The North Creek Mosaic Project.

Detail from the mosaic.

Lucifer Falls, Ithaca

Santanoni trail

 

Lake Pleasant, Speculator.

Pharaoh Lake

Santanoni

Santanoni

Schaefer Trail at Gore Mountain

Lake George

Stewart Park, Ithaca

Stewart Park

Oh hey it's America/Lake George.

Turtle, Chester Creek

Cascadilla Creek, Ithaca

Arantzazu

The Sanctuary of Aranzazu is an important center of Basque culture and Catholicism. The idea is that the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd here in the 1400s. Having suffered a number of fires over the years, the actual basilica is relatively modern and features work by the artists Oteiza and Chillida, among others.

Aranzazu is situated in the Aizkorri region, which is dramatic and mountainous.

The stained glass was done by the Franciscan monk Javier Alvarez de Eulate.

Given its isolation, Aranzazu was a place where people could go to mass, publish books, and otherwise communicate in Basque during the Franco years, which was a punishable offense in better monitored areas.

There are a number of trails running between Aranzazu and other shrines. A friend of mine did a segment that ended up totaling 45 kilometers, in one day, out of improvisatory planning. That would be quite the strenuous hike.

 

Sculpture of the apostles by Oteiza, at the entrance.

In addition to stalls of overpriced local foods and the souvenir shop, people come to Aranzazu to have...their cars blessed, for an offering. Or similar requests. Photo credit: my brother-in-law. The Basque Country is not thought to have been Christianized until the 1100s or later, with the older pagan traditions living alongside Christianity probably until the 14-1500s.

 

Udaberritik Udara

From spring to summer/a completely unedited collection of photos from the past few months.

Orchid

Local elections in Lasarte-Oria.

One of many bands at Herri Urrats, an annual fundraiser for Basque-speaking schools in Iparralde, the northern Basque Country.

Mobile ska band at Herri Urrats. It is not possible to be more annoying/cool at once.

Joaldunak, I think.

One of many interesting buildings in the Catalan city of Reus, hometown of Gaudi. No actual Gaudi, but plenty of other modernists.

Sant Joan Baptista, also in Reus.

Local elections in Reus.

Sheep naptime at Herri Urrats. Warm day.

 

A square in Reus.

Hoss behbeh.

Dance festival Lasarte.

Ornamental cherry, Lasarte

Donostia view

Another orchid.

Ain't no party like a pottoka party.

 

FERDINAND.

Main stage at Herri Urrats.

Hoss behbeh, bigger.

Number 2 in a series on Fake Chickens on Baked Things: Bread Edition.