3rd House Journal

Walk after rain

The department store cologne-spraying ladies
got nothin' on my neighborhood's spring blossoms.

Sweet and sour, light and dark

[Tulip rows, Watertown; 6:45pm, 4/29/09]

The tulips are springing up like lollipops in the neighborhoods where I walk now in the evenings after dinner. Yes, I have time now to come home from work, have dinner, and still head out for a walk before sunset. On Monday night, from the top of a high residential hill, I saw the sun blazing scarlet like a torched blood orange falling into the western suburbs, melding house and tree in the darkening landscape. As Tuesday's unseasonably feverish temperatures slowly broke in a scattering of fat raindrops, we cooled off with ice cream from the local parlor and came home to watch playoff basketball alternating with early baseball (one winning, the other not). It's all in flux - grace, disquiet, promise.

Outside my window (2)

[6:15 pm, 4/27/09]

April morning

[Front yard, basement window; 7:45am, 4/8/09]

It's still in the mid 30's(F) this morning, but warming up as the sun breaks through the clouds. Tomorrow, it may reach 60 degrees, then down to the 40s, showers and windy by the weekend. It's April.

Revival

[Grape hyacinth, front yard; 3pm, 3/29/09]

Through the long winter months it's hard sometimes to remember that the cold and darkness will pass. And when spring comes, no matter how many times we've been through it, we're still surprised by the extraordinary life sprouting up all around us. Every day we spot something new that wasn't there yesterday. Look! Yellow buds on the forsythia! Or, Finally! Crocuses on the lawns in my town! Is that hyacinth? I had no idea it grew in front of my apartment! Granted, I only moved into this place last July, after the sunflowers had taken over the tiny front yard. There may be more surprises in store.

[Gardening supplies at the Ben Franklin five-and-dime; 12:30pm, 3/28/09]

When we're ailing, it's also hard to remember that it, too, will pass, in most cases. We forget that when the body's weak, the emotions tend to be also, confusing the mind. And when illness ends, it's like spring.  Each old pleasure newly found is a joy.

[Crocuses in Cushing Square, Belmont; 12:30pm, 3/28/09]

My tendonitis and muscle strains aren't completely healed yet, but I'm done with my 2 weeks on naproxen. It made me feel like I was walking around wearing a lead suit - that on top of the exhaustion I'd already been feeling from stress and overwork. Yesterday I also started on herbs to strengthen my chi that my acupuncturist had compounded for me. It's beginning to work. Grocery shopping was actually kinda fun today - I want to cook again! I'd also like to clean up the clutter that's accumulated around the house when I was too fatigued to do any more than the minimum. But that's going to take some time. Yesterday, I went to the library and I also compiled a list of books to borrow in the coming months. Perhaps optimistic, but that in itself is a good sign.

Last night I saw the new movie, Duplicity, with a friend. David Denby had given it a good review in The New Yorker, and I have to say it was quite enjoyable. Not hard to watch Clive Owens at any time, but the story was also good fun.

Well, getting offline - need to minimize typing and enjoy the rest of my free Sunday.

[Sprouting in front of the apartment, basement window, this afternoon]

Lines drawn in the snow

[Around Belmont MA; 11-noon, 1/18/09; click any for larger]

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I'll be traveling again for a couple of days. Back on the weekend...

Can't add much about yesterday - watched the inauguration on a tiny TV someone brought in to work and we all huddled around it, rapt. Then last night, gussied up for an inaugural celebration at the Sons of Italy hall. I didn't bring my camera, but someone has a photo of me with President Obama (cardboard cutout though he was). If it turns up I'll let you know. A bit tired today :-) and now have to pack.

Belmont in the snow

[Near Cushing Square, Belmont MA; 11:30am-12pm, 1/18/09]

More snow

[Red Schwinn outside Marmelade, Belmont St; 4:15pm, 12/20/08]

It snowed lightly all day today, and another storm is due in tomorrow bringing another 3 to 5 inches here in the Boston area. It waited this year until just before Christmas, but it's coming on with a vengeance.

My landlords emailed everyone early this morning saying they'd come by with their snowblower sometime this morning. I shoveled the steps and dug out my car, then went back inside for breakfast. It was near noon when they made it over to my place and I came out and moved my car, shoveled where the snowblower couldn't, chatted with the landlords and my next-door neighbor and went back inside. A little while later, the doorbell rang - the landlords again, bearing a panetone and some homemade fig-strawberry jam.

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I also made toffee this morning to give as gifts. Wish you were here...

Give a fig

[Fresh figs off the tree; 6:45pm, 10/21/08]

My landlady has done it again. I ran home at lunch time to get something I needed, and the doorbell rang. She'd been up the street raking leaves, saw me pass by, and so came over to hand me another small brown bag, this time with figs from her tree, soft and just ripe. I feel so spoiled. Renting from Italians is not a bad thing.

So I snarfed a couple after dinner tonight. Should I just run out and get some prosciutto tomorrow to eat them with? There's probably not enough to bake into pastry. I'm not very familiar with fig-eating, 'cept the ones found in packaged Newtons or the occasional bakery fig bar...

Signs of Fall

[Mums at Marmelade, Belmont St; 5pm, 9/21/08]

[Pumpkins on a porch, and Red Sox heading into the playoffs]

[Once creamy white hydrangeas turn deep rose]

[House cats sop up the late afternoon sunlight; click to see larger]