While reading a brief biography of St. Patrick a while back, I learned nothing about snakes. I did, however, learn quite a bit about the harrowing, early life of Patrick, and how all the relentless despair (after early years of privilege) caused him to look more thoughtfully at his priorities. I admire his devotion to prayer, often during weeks of imposed isolation and struggle. I know that it’s difficult to maintain focus while in pain, but Patrick did, and that makes his story, to me, quite remarkable.

St. Patrick - Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

St. Bridget - Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Rosette Window: 'Steadfastness'

“Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

“The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed–and gazed–but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,”
William Wordsworth, 1804

Can one be mindful/prayerful/thoughtful, and still admire the elegant face of architecture, quickly disappearing with the set of the winter sun?

The Mark Hopkins at sunset, as seen from Grace Cathedral, Nob Hill, San Francisco

Over the next few weeks, I’ll post the photos of these stunning stained glass windows in their pairs. Along both sides of Grace Cathedral’s nave, each elongated window is split vertically into two, distinct, stained-glass panels, each panel depicting a specific saint. In most cases, each of these window pairs has an additional rosette window above them, depicting, I believe, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The trio of windows forms a triangle, echoing the pointed arches which form the articulated ribs of the noted Gothic cathedral.

In honor of Valentine’s day, here are the windows beneath the rosette “Love”: St. Mary Magdalene, and St. Martin of Tours.

Enjoy.

St. Mary Magdalene, stained glass window, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

St. Martin of Tours, stained glass window, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Rosette Window: 'Love', stained glass window, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Look up

On occasion, I’m obliged to walk up the one hundred and five steps of Lone Mountain, to the administrative offices at the top of the hill. It’s a beautiful walk — often punctuated by an occasional sighting of a red-tailed hawk circling restlessly above — but I’m embarrassed to admit that, because my head is often quite thickly wrapped in a tight gauze of work responsibilities, I frequently forget to open my eyes and enjoy the expansive views. This is, unfortunately, not a new development for me, nor, I sadly suspect, a unique one, but on occasion, if we are in a present state of mind, we are treated to the overt or covert beauty of a place, if we give it more than simply a passing glance. This happened once in college, when, deep in the middle of examination stresses, I looked up from my distracted gaze, and away from schedules, internship apps, and personal woes, and discovered, as if for the first time, the serene and spectacular beauty of the woodland university I attended with its towering redwoods and frequent sprays of sudden wildflowers. This happened again last night, while, walking toward home on a pleasant street, I remembered — as if a veil of forgetfulness were lifted from an amnesiac — that I enjoyed the blue dim of dusk, the cherry trees in the near burst of (a west coast) bloom, and the light, refreshing sprinkle of rain on a late winter day. I was lucky. I might have remained in the constrictive fissures of my thoughts, and gone home and festered on something, and awoke exhausted — but I didn’t. It’s one of those moments when I must say, audibly, ‘Thank you.’

So enjoy the following photos of and from Lone Mountain. These were taken over two separate occasions, one in the late summer, and one on a crisp, winter day last week.

And enjoy your own beautiful walks today, wherever and with whomever that may be.

The arch at the top of the South Stairs of Lone Mountain, University of San Francisco, looking up from Turk Street

Arch and Lion Fountain at the first landing of the South Stairs -- 105 steps

A view to the South East

A bench by Loyola House, and a peek at the San Francisco horizon between the trees

Click on the picture to open this wide panorama in full size

Palm Tree walk to South Stairway

Beautiful detailing on the main doors to the Lone Mountain campus

South West view above the South Stairs: Lion Fountain architecture, St. Ignatius Church spires, and Sutro Tower on Twin Peaks

Downtown San Francisco skyline, from Lone Mountain courtyard

The Marin Headlands under puffy clouds, looking north from Lone Mountain courtyard

Walkway toward K-Hall, morning

For fans of architectural and social history, the story of the West Baden Springs Hotel will easily hold your attention. Any natural curiosity about the architecture is augmented by the proud display of historic photos of the building in esteemed use by countless guests. Artifacts and memorabilia from the hotel’s earliest days through the recent efforts for its historic preservation, adorn the walls and cabinets of the parlors and shops. But even this ample evidence of the hotel’s colorful longevity can only hint at the elegant intrigue the hotel must have hosted.  At one time the “getaway” of choice for Al Capone (because of its proximity to Chicago), if the walls could speak, a remarkable story I’m sure they would tell.  Read the history of the West Baden Springs Hotel here.

Having visited in January, I can only wonder what the resorts must look like in the spring, when the trees have filled out, and the fountains once again flow. I do intend to find out one day, but until then here are some photos I took of the beautiful West Baden — the stunning French Lick Hotel will follow in a few days.

Click on the photos to see them full-size.

West Baden Springs Hotel -- Historic Stairway Entrance

A Latin saying on the tile mosaic at the entrance translates in multiple ways, but generally means, 'Virtue through Adversity' or 'Strength through Struggle'

The magnificent dome -- 100 feet high and 200 feet across, rising six stories.

Hotel rooms ring the interior of the atrium.

Lavish mosaics cover the floors.

This photo of the interior elevation gives a better sense of how high the dome rises.

Some of the more ornate architectural details of the original hotel were carefully covered up by the Jesuits while the building was in use as a seminary. Their desire to tone down the opulent, Beaux arts style of the hotel -- by covering up its more lavish flourishes -- may have, in fact, saved those architectural details from irreparable deterioration in the latter part of the century.

The hotel lobby, where the check-in desk and concierge are located, is equally stunning, with a radiating light fixture echoing the main atrium.

The famous ceramic fireplace

The elegant dining room often hosts Sunday brunch.. I'd love to dine there someday...

Detail of a transom window, topping french doors which lead to the veranda.

Artifacts from the hotel's early days

Bottled water from the area's mineral springs was branded 'Plutowater,' and was sold as a curative. The natural springs were the primary reason early guests stayed at the West Baden and French Lick.

Looking out from a parlor onto the front veranda.

The January cold keeps the veranda silent and serene.

Staircase, leading to the gardens.

Formal elegance in the quiet gardens

Looking toward the old bowling and billiards building. Some parts of the brick walkway were covered in ice.

Classical engraving for the bowling and billiards pavilion.

Classical gazebo, covering the mineral springs well.

Looking back toward the majestic hotel from the far end of the garden

After Midnight, with light and incense, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA

Snowman Ornament on a White Tree

My Mom's Christmas Village

Vintage Angel Ornament

Christmas Village, the Town Square

Saint Ignatius Church - Winter Night

Vintage Elf Ornament

Christmas Village - Snow Fight

Sutro Tower in the Winter Clouds

“The Action of Snowfall”

Act on your life like
a billion-billion snowflakes.
You will see
in time,
garlands of crystalline acts –
All unique –
adorning those same branches where
green leaves shivered
yellow and dropped by the weight
of mortality.

One by one, let
each act
loose,
To wander in the crisp breeze
of your yearning soul –
A meandering harmony of many acts,
a carol aloft
on life’s unpredictable
breath.

Make all life yuletide:
Quiet evenings
with tea,
by fires, beside love.
Let Blitzen, herself, deliver
your needs
with a bell.

Finally, Traveler,
Let every soft-diamond act
twinkle brilliance
as it descends –
Until your own head is
wreathed in acts
you’ve let loose in love,
only to return to you:

This Crown –
Priceless, transient jewels,
is your life’s reward.