exploring my world, one park at a time
The weather radio blares it’s robotic warnings from the kitchen,
Thickening clouds swirl and blanket the skies,
Icy chunks clatter and skid across the planks and dot the grass,
The clouds roll on,
Silence descends,
The startled birds creep back,
To peck at the feeders again.
They think they’re hiding. They dart away when I slide open the screen and step out to join them. They don’t go far. The squirrels scramble under the benches and the birds decamp to the nearest trees.
In seconds, they’re edging back. They peer around the beams and perch on the top rails. They call and scold and cajole, then slowly surrender to the irritation of my presence.
Cloudy,
Rain braced,
Hovering chill,
Grass and shrubs and daffodils,
Coaxing the trees,
To burst into bloom as well.
Sunshine, blue skies, and so many birds.
They scatter when I first come out, but soon edge their way back. They line up on the railings, and hop across the planks, then finally flit up to the feeders.
They mostly allow me to watch from the swing, and sometimes put up with a quick photo, as long as I don’t move too fast.
A drizzly end to my attempted second 10/10 ride.
The weather report promised the rain wouldn’t start until afternoon. It started before I got out of the garage. I drove out anyway, then sat in the truck waiting for it to stop.
When it seemed to slow a little, I tugged out the bike and started off. I forgot the seat had a, now well-soaked, foam cover. The illusion of clearing quickly reversed itself, and I lasted barely a mile.
Back home, dry clothes and a few minutes huddle in the swing, watching the splatter reflect in the shine of the table.
Sunrise,
Slowly,
Conquering the dawn,
Having been rudely slapped down,
By the time change
Windy spring break sunshine,
I brushed the squirrel mess off the swing,
But didn’t last too long at Read on the Deck,
The breeze is still cool,
The trees are budding,
Setting off my two week anchorage,
To the tissue box
Icy cold wooden planks,
Clutching bare feet,
Eyes squinting at the rising sun,
Birds in chorus,
Traffic murmur,
Rush free,
Quiet,
Day after conference,
Peace
Night long soaking rain and shivery breezes,
The flower basket soldiers on,
While daffodils huddle against the back fence
Tiny feathered wildlife,
Fluttering their irritation,
Shocked to find me home today,
Settling eventually,
To my inevitable camera
Rambling ... 