Still, when your own chickies fly the coop and move to distant places, you’re not going to get all bunny and basket about life, are you? Effectively, secular Easter becomes just another day.
And yet, when I got on my computer this morning and downloaded photos from yesterday’s bike ride, they did strike me as terribly, well, Easterish.
It was a glorious ride. For one thing, I survived it. I’d been warned: Nina, it’s at least twelve miles of hills and vales from Fitchburg to Paoli. Nina, you hate hills. Mr. B hates hills.
All true and yet the idea appealed to me. Bike over to a small little town, get a cup of coffee and a pastry, an ice cream maybe, bike back. The day was perfect for it.
Twenty eight miles later I was back, with photos of spring and a Starbucks latte under my belt. Not exactly from Paoli. The only refreshment you could get in Paoli that did not have either heaps of sugar or alcohol in it was this:
Paoli pump
So on a detour back, we gave in to the only café within a twenty mile radius that keeps decent hours: opens at 5:30 in the morning, closes at 10 night, every day of the year. Sigh. Another Starbucks success story.
But forget the Fitchburg latte for a minute and look through the lens of a ride to Paoli. Over hills and vales, past peering eyes of local inhabitants. I’m told I’m a duffer: a casual cyclist, relying on three speeds, singing to myself, dangling a camera. Yeah, and proud of it.
prairie dog, making sense of the duffer
a highlander watching me, sort of
baby highlander
highlander scratching his back
birches: last week's gray is today's green
getting the apple trees in shape
...and the soil ready for spring planting
Happy Easter, if this is your day to revel in the potent moods and flavors of spring
I love the Highlander ... though I'd have been scared in person. Out in the country, don't dogs run at you? Frankly, I think this whole biking thing is terrifying. And did you know prairie dogs carry plague?
ReplyDeleteSeems like a more fun way of spending Easter than, say, doing one's taxes without a calculator.
ReplyDeleteThings do change after the children have flown the coop. Taking the time to enjoy the bounty of Spring does renew the heart and soul after the doldrums of winter. Your pictures beautifully show the transition from gray to green.
ReplyDeleteThese photos look great! I did have to work today and it did feel like just another day. No one at work was into celebrating. I've never seen a highlander...very cool. Thanks. Jane
ReplyDeleteThat baby highlander looks a lot like someone I know. Reminds me of how dogs sometimes look like their owners.
ReplyDelete(This is not an invitation to tell me that Daisy resembles me.)
Thanks, all, for comments. Ann -- the dogs here are not a problem. And I'm somewhat used to them from my years in the Polish countryside. Though I am a little nervous about stray dogs in the Sicilian countryside. They say to carry a stick. Sounds menacing. I intend to hide behind my hiking companion at the mere sight of a barking dog.
ReplyDelete