KStevens's PhotoBlog

5.10.13 - Spring looks good on you Syracuse

2013-05-13T01:44:18Z

A tour of my tulips and spring garden. Yay for spring gardens! Old ladies take every passerby on a tour through their yards, proudly describing every flower, every plant. You get the same thing, but virtually. :)

05.09.13 - Wineries

2013-05-13T02:08:32Z

So, this semester was rough, and photoblogging took a hit, a major one. So I'm going to try to come back, because I enjoy taking pictures, sharing them, and writing the accompanying stories. I felt I didn't do anything fun enough to share - and that's a problem! So I'm off to find some fun things to share and then to share them. You should never be too busy to stop and enjoy a scenery, a moment, and share some creativity. Thursday, the day after everything for this semester was due, I went off to enjoy my favorite activity in update NY - wine tasting on the Finger Lakes. This time we hit up the east side of Seneca, visiting Silver Thread, Hazlitt, and a bunch others. We finished the divine day by eating Mexican outside downtown Ithaca with a bunch of other happy graduate students. I just pretended I was one of them and hid the Syracuse hoodie.

11.23.12 - The First Snow

2012-11-28T01:31:44Z

The first snow has fallen in Syracuse - and not a surprise it is lake effect! Syracuse tops the list for snowiest cities with a population over 50,000. See for yourself. Now I need to go find my snowbrush... http://www.city-data.com/top2/c464.html

11.22.12 -Thanksgiving at Home

2012-11-28T01:26:58Z

For the first time in about 9 years I had Thanksgiving at home again. I made this amazing pumpkin and cheese potato casserole that I HIGHLY recommend and we headed over to my sister's to feast on not one, but TWO types of turkey, tons of delicious, homemade sides, and plenty of good family company. Potatoes to die for: http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/10/pumpkin-and-cheesy-baked-potato-casserole.html

11.18.12 -Philly Marathon

2012-11-28T01:02:17Z

Despite blinding race jitters the days and nights and mornings before a marathon, this race felt a little different - I didn't quite feel so keyed up. I was nervous, especially given the extended taper, but part of the wind in my sails had been deflated I suppose, so this was part just do it to do it, and part - well, see what can happen. With that in mind, I went out conservatively. I was careful and cautious and kept at a pace I was mostly confident in, even though it was 10-20 seconds slower than the race pace I trained for for the NYC marathon. The plan was to slowly pick it up as the race went on, and so I did. By the end I was flying having gone out too conservatively. I had a bit of spare energy and renewed surge with the realization that I could overcome the circumstances. And then I really flew when the PR was still in sight, which was not anticipated. PR I did! Philly was AWESOME. The marathon route was scenic the entire way. The crowds were awesome and plenty all along the way. There were a ton of welcoming signs for us NYC runners, and the weather was about as perfect as it could be. Mom and dad made the best pit crew a girl could ask for and I think enjoyed the adventure as well.

11.17.12 -Philly!

2012-11-28T01:11:50Z

Philadelphia marathon graciously opened up 3,000 spots for the cancelled NYC marathon runners. This meant I would taper another 2 weeks for a total of 4 - not exactly ideal. But, I was excited to run a big city marathon I had heard good things about with fellow runners in my situation. My parents were up for the trip and SE to Philadelphia we went Saturday morning. The trip took about 5 hours so we arrived early afternoon and promptly headed to the expo. After the expo with some time to kill I naturally suggested we drive as much of the race course as was possible. The route takes you through downtown Philly for the first 13 miles along all the big sights of the city - the Rocky steps, the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps - before kicking you out to an out and back along the Schuylkill River on Kelly Drive. A beautiful fall day with promises for another clear and calm day following... things were looking good...

11.16.12 - It May be Cold

2012-11-16T11:49:46Z

But Syracuse can still be really pretty. Caught this looking south over the valley on my way out of campus tonight.

11.15.12 - Sexy New Furnace

2012-11-21T14:19:42Z

Oww owwwww!

11.14.12 - Lights on the Lake

2012-11-16T11:45:32Z

This week Annie and I walked the Lights on the Lake at Onondaga Park. Every year Wegmans decorates a 2 mile stretch along Onondaga Lake with Christmas lights, although this year there seemed to be a lot of non-holiday lights. Segments of the park were covered in lighted forest animals, wizard of Oz characters, sea creatures, even sports teams. But the elves and Victorian village brought back the spirit of Christmas keeping us entertained for our 4 mile jaunt. After Wednesday, only cars that have paid a fee for admittance are allowed in to enjoy the lights , but I think walking them for free is a better way to go.

11.12.12 - Goodbye... for now

2012-11-16T11:40:57Z

Temperatures soared to 72 degrees on Monday, signifying my last opportunity to enjoy one of my favorite indulgences - sandals. As I write this, there is a hard frost covering everything outside. I'm sure my sandals are done for 2012, but I can only hope they don't have to wait through much of 2013 before resurfacing into my wardrobe again.