winter trees

Trees wearing bare branches stand tall, creating a reflection in the Shawsheen River.

bright

Painted crates and cans create a splash of bright color.

ripples

As the tide flowed out it left ripples in the sand.

music of the waves

It was a good day for a walk by the sea, a walk accompanied by the music of the waves.

I arrived at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge about an hour and a half before low tide. There were sections of beach that were clear of water and other sections that still hosted quiet pools.

Listening to the waves as I walked provided a sense of calm.

breathe

I feel like I can breathe again.

The inauguration is over, we once again have sane adults leading the government of the United States, and it's time to look forward to positive change. I'm so relieved!

under a bridge

The Clipper City Rail Trail in Newburyport, MA almost forms a loop, leaving a small connecting section off trail. This morning I was able to connect the loop, walking along the road between the ends of the trail.

At one point the trail went under the road into a bit of a dark tunnel. It was lined with sculptures of fish, some lit in blue. I loved this fish, snapping at what appears to be a floating clam.

A Common Thread

This afternoon I headed to Lawrence with hopes of finding something new painted on a wall. I visited murals I had seen in the past, walking, looking. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a splash of bright colors on a building that appeared to be a block away, down a cross street.

When I got there I found a mural created by Mattaya Fitts that she called "A Common Thread".

Here is a statement from the artist as published here:

"This mural is inspired by the city’s past and present as a manufacturing giant that has become home to many different immigrant communities over time. With textile/factory work being “a common thread” in many immigrant households (including my own family and the family who owns the building), I decided to depict a young woman passionately sewing the day and night away, adding to her headscarf (which doubles as a map). Helping her out is a Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird known, with sub-species found all over the world. I like to think that she’s making a map of all the places she has gone and will go, creating a legacy but staying true to her roots."

building clouds

As the day wore on, clouds started to decorate the sky. Today's dry weather is predicted to change to heavy rain tomorrow.

It was a good time for a walk in Harold Parker State Forest.

winter flower

A friend gave me a bulb sprouting leaves and a single bud in a small glass jar last week, telling me to water it once, then wait. I don't know what name this flower wears but I do know that its bloom creates out-of-season floral beauty.

looking inland

Water left high on the beach by the tide flows to the ocean as the tide cycle nears its low point.

Can you see why the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a favorite place to visit? It's incredibly peaceful.