This late afternoon - evening, while heading home, we stopped at the bridge...
What was gong to be a quick peek, ended up scooping us up into a walk to the fence change. It was so gorgeous.
What a gift to be somewhere we know so well, made equally amazing by shifting the time of day.
It was busier than we expected, but that made sense at 74°. Bikes, rollerblades, walkers and 3 men with a drone. We watched the crows flying home for the day. I feel so lucky.
Enjoy the photos...
What happy surprise have you had when doing something out of your norm?
A park across town. It looks so much larger in the photo. In a mostly winter looking tree, there was a very large clump of brilliant green leaves.
Today fed us some real humans news, some goodness. The screen shot below is from a story about the National Guard in Minneapolis handing out doughnuts and warm coffee or hot chocolate. They were not wearing masks, but instead wore smiles and kind voices. They wore bright vests to announce they are not ice. If you need a feel good moment, follow the link below.
We circled the perimeter, as usual. When we got to this section surrounded by Eucalyptus trees, we started seeing small butterflies. They looked similar to Monarchs, but they moved so quickly, so we couldn't be really sure. Anyway, the longer we stood there, the more butterflies we noticed. Think about that...read it again...'the longer we stood there'...I think that was the lesson there today: slow down, stop, just be. We talked about the butterfly grove up north and J. popped out with the memory of this old movie (below). I had not thought of this movie for a million years. I, of course, had to find it and watch it later in the day. What a trip. I was in 8th grade when it came out and wanted to be that wild and free...I just didn't know that it came with so much baggage (lesson #2! haha)
At any rate, standing there seeing the flitting and flying of the orange and black and white butterflies was amazing. I saw it through the eyes of magical, he had on his science/nature viewpoint. heehee.
We've been noticing the VA Eucalyptus trees all over town since we began the Parks Project. Their dark, dark trunks, rough bark and red, hardened sap. Today the ground was covered with dainty pink Eucalyptus flowers. We've also been seeing the the red berry bushes of my childhood everywhere too. Isn't it wonderful what you can see when you look?!
After looping the park itself, we walked over the bridge, which spans the width of the nearby main road. We then walked up a couple of blocks and back, while on the main road. Too busy (even if the photos I took do not show that!). We won't do that there again.
This photo was fun to play with. I like all of the lines and angles.
On that side of the road we saw big views on this clear day, beautiful sage and spent yucca flower stems. Tree trunks and fence shadows and views that go on for miles. It was again so clear. I marveled at how much we could see.
Wherever we go, whatever we find simple enjoyments. I count that as a blessing these days.
Yesterday we tried to visit a different park, but the small lot was completely full. I think someone was having a celebration of some sort there. So, we'll go back another time, on a week day. Today we tried a different park.
Small...a circular path for walking, children's play structure and bathrooms. That was it. We did not rate it very high for that reason. It was plain & simple.
That's not to say there wasn't things to discover or talk about. I think that has been the most interesting lesson in this Parks Project...there is always something to notice and we fall easily into conversations about things we've usually not discussed in the past. It is as if this time alone on our little adventures draws us together in a new way.
The first thing we noticed after rounding the end of the park was the astounding amount of pollen on the ground. It was green, green, green! I left behind a message for 'peace' for whomever comes along next.
We saw a woman making rounds on the path, an elder man with two small, excited dogs and a family of 4 playing on the structure.
Half way around, when looking through the chain link fence, I found it interesting that the slightest turn of my head (or camera) placed me in a completely different world. To the left was a large warehouse of some sort, while to the right was a rural landscape without a building in sight. Sounds like some sort of prompt - which story would you tell? Which scene are you drawn to?
Over by the climbing structure was this beautiful tree. It looked as confused as the pollen tree, except this one looked like it was an All Season Tree, for it held Spring blossoms, Summer green leaves, Fall orange-red leaves, with a few Winter bare twigs in between! I'm not sure that I've ever seen so much going on in one tree all at once! It really was quite beautiful.
If I had not been so tired, we coulda-woulda taken a few more laps around. As it was we were not interested enough to do more than one lap - quarter mile - walk today.
We were especially tired due the skunk activity last night. Not only last night though. 3 nights in the last 1.5 weeks I have been woken in the night by the strong scent of skunk. Window and door shut tight, I still was smothered in smell. Blech. Last night was particularly bad and I had trouble getting back to sleep. J. gave up and got up. 🤞 that tonight is uneventful. We were pooped!
On the way home we studied the most interesting clouds and contrails. The clouds were so unique and the contrail...zoom straight up like a rocket (or so it seemed). It was hard to capture the fine details, so these pics will have to do as reminders or imagination stimulators. So funny how different the sky looked in different directions on a drive that was only minutes long. Curious.
After arriving back home, I spent time with my paper making again. I'm having great fun with it and it is a nice diversion.
When do you stick with a plan? When do you change course?
May we learn from the past, remember the past and keep those lessons alive in the future...
The bracelet says; "Be your own hero"...the ring says: "Namaste"
A post to mark today, to mark where we are at this point in time. May the lessons of the past rise to the top of the current moment...and be seen and understood. I seem to be out of meaningful words, but feel I must continue in some way. Today this is my way: well-worn quotes and recent videos filled with love and peace and respect. May our world catch up with the movement these Monks are bringing across the miles. May the voices of the people rise up with strength and song. May we continue...
