As I mentioned yesterday, we have adopted some Icelandic traditions including the Yule Lads. One by one they start arriving on December 12 with the entrance of Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod who harasses the sheep) who also departs on Christmas Day. Yesterday the last of the Lads, Kertasníkir (the Candle Beggar) arrived and he will depart on the 6th. I've heard them described as "santas," but to me they are "their own thing." (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, 2025)

After living in Iceland we have adopted some of the Icelandic Christmas traditions--including Jólakötturinn, the Christmas Cat. Getting socks for Christmas is an important thing. (Reykjavik, Iceland 2024)

I was having lunch with a friend the other day and she was talking about going up in the lighthouse for the solstace. As I was listening to her I realized I lived across the harbor from the lighthouse and I had never climbed up it--but I have a number of photos, (Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2012)

The first time I saw the Grand Canyon was in January just after a snowfall. I've been there several times since--always spectacular. This visit was special. (Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 2001)

We were staying on a coffee colective in Nicaragua when my collegue caught me on the porch just before breakfast. Knowing me I think I was looking for coffee to start the morning. (Matagalpa, Nicaragua, 2007)

When I'm asked about the winter darkness in Iceland I tell people that it looks the same as darkness anywhere else. It's the daylight that becomes special. I took a lunchtime walk along the harbor in late December. It was unplanned. I had come out of a meeting and the city was just so lovely in the orange light I had to walk and see it. (Reykjavik, Iceland 2024)

Yesterday I wrote about a place I've photoed and re-photoed over and over. I've wanted to get back here, but each time I was in Vik, I just didn't make it back to this spot. I love this shot, but I would love to see it in different light and conditions as well. (Dyrhólaey, Iceland 2017)

We were walking near the Tjörnin in Reykjavik on a lovely late summer day. We liked this photo so much, it hangs over the fireplace. Later when I was living in Iceland I took a photo of it every time I walked by it. Those photos tell a better story about light and space. (Reykjavik, Iceland 2017)

There were a number of good slides in that box from Kathleen's dad. This is what it looked like long before "Men in Black." (New York, New York 1964)

Kathleen's dad shot this during the 1964 World's Fair. We found it in a box of old slides. We have it hanging on the wall in the house. What we love is how the people are dressed and are interacting in the photo. (New York, New York 1964)

Kathleen took this one, but it is excellent. We had just had a quick snowfall with very cold temperatures. Lake Michigan steamed like the Gordon Lightfoot song said. (Kenosha, Wisconsin 2013)

A few years ago I was visiting a friend in London. He has a flat overlooking Regent's Park. He walked me along Regent's Canal to King's Cross so I could catch my train. The revived landscape along the old industrial canal was fascinating--and I have to go back. Recently I watched episodes of Slow Horses where Lamb and Taverner are meeting along the canal. They make me smile. (London, England 2023)

It may not look like much, but the floor of Death Valley is covered in small yellow flowers. It had been a particularly wet winter and the desert was in bloom. (Death Valley, California 2005)

I woke up to get coffee and the desert was covered by a light snow and frost. It warmed up and didn't last long that day. (Taos, New Mexico 2010)

I've traveled with a lot of people over the years. None match traveling with Kathleen. A friend captured us wandering up the hill. (Sedona, Arizona 2005)

I went back to Roosevelt Lake to re-shoot the photo shared yesterday. It was April and it had been an exceptionally wet winter in Arizona. The reservoir was filled and they allowed water to flow in the Salt River for the first time in 11 years. (Roosevelt Lake 2005)

If you took a class from me, you probably saw this image (you may not remember it). I would ask students what they thought they were seeing. The answers varied widely and I was always pleased at their creativity. That's my truck sitting at the bottom of the Schoolhouse Boat Launch at Roosevelt Lake. I'm actually standing on a hill that is supposed to be underwater. The lake was at about 30% capacity at the time. (Roosevelt Lake, Arizona 2004)

When I was doing field work in the Superstition Mountains, I tried to arrange my work schedule so I could have lunch here. One of my standards for a Mexican restaurant is that they serve menudo. Even if you don't like it, it is a good litmus test for the whole menu being good. This place has changed hands since then--but it still looks like it's worth stopping at. (Miami, Arizona 2004)

Eating is an important part of traveling. Often the food is good. Sometimes the surroundings are exceptional. The sky had cleared. The sun was warm. Lunch overlooking the Sound was just the thing. (Iona, Scotland 2018)

We were rushing to catch the ferry to Mull. However the morning, the light, and the stillness of the water made me stop and just admire the space. We made the ferry in plenty of time. (Oban, Scotland 2018)

New Town is a portion of Edinburgh that was built between 1767 and 1850. It's filled with great Georgian architecture, museums and Waverley Station. Although I've been here a few times, my visits are not long enough to see it all. (Edinburgh, Scotland 2015)

I was enjoying the dhow (boat) traffic. These are mostly used as tour vessels in region. At one time, they were fitted with sails and were the cornerstone of the pearl diving industry. (Doha, Qatar 2016)

If you have lived in the desert, you know that sunset brings that relief from the heat. Even though it was November and the weather was pleasant, the sunset this night brought cool breezes from the Gulf that felt glorious. (Doha, Qatar 2016)

We have had a lot of great meals in great places. A few of them rise above others. It was a beautiful little cafe with some fabulously prepared mussels. The meat and cheese to die for. Did I mention the bread? I would go back just to have that meal again. (Dubrovnik, Croatia 2012)

This is as close as I could get to the old ticket counter in the LA Train Station. This section is just used for events and filming. You can imagine what this looked like when train travel was at its peak in the US. (Los Angeles, California 2004)