Sunday

It's become almost a truism to say that negative emotions are the triggers for change. In other words, there's a positive in the negative. It pulls you out of a rut. To be graphic about it -- if you're stuck in a mud hole, you're not going to throw up your hands and say -- oh well, this sucks. You're going to try to get out and spend the night instead in your warm comfy bed, head resting on a soft pillow. And you'll take a different path next time. That is, if you get out alive.

See, this is the other truism that could be floated: a mishap will make you stronger, if it wont knock you down flat. But it's not as if you long for mishaps to happen, just so you can feel your strength. You don't want to spend a night or two in a mud hole, no matter how strong you may feel afterwards.

(This, of course, is a matter of opinion. Ed, for example, would disagree. No mud hole? No mishaps? May as well stay home.)

I was thinking about this as we face another brilliant day, where positive feelings tumble one after another. It wont be quite as hot as yesterday, but still, it's warm enough. Short sleeve weather!

My first job is to pick up some baked goods at Bloom Bakery. This is a new visit for me. I've been stuck on Batch and Madison Sourdough for years now and I hardly notice the appearance of this new kid on the Monroe Street block. There was a family proclamation that there should be a birthday cake for dinner tonight and so I preordered one at Bloom's. 

I was pleased that Bloom's was very crowded this Sunday morning. I like the fact that Madisonians care about their baked goods. Bloom's is a mere 12 minute drive from our house, and I quickly decided that I should come here more often -- it had that feel of a special place, with all the smells of a really good kitchen.

It's windy today and so I opted for breakfast indoors. With Bloom croissants and pain au chocolat. 

A delicious plate of treats! A magnificent discovery.

And now you see the creeping in of that word from yesterday -- magnificent. Soon to be followed by beautiful (because it really is a beautiful day) and splendid, and I bet more than anything -- sublime. Am I amassing too many good feelings these days? Does spring keep you rooted in place, because so much of it is so good, you don't want to risk upsetting the applecart? 

I dont think so. We've had so many bad weather days and pandemic days and worried days this year that I think we deserve to coast with the superlatives for a while. 

And so we revel in the magnificent: we go outside, look around at all that's suddenly exploding in our yard and think -- what's there not to love!

In the evening, the young family is here.

... for dinner, and for cake of course. Lemon today. Light and airy. Sort of like the vision in my right eye!

Happy birthday celebrating indeed! Oh, and happy election results in France today. What a splendid week! Yep. Simply sublime!!

With love...