messy necessity

The walls that were damaged by leaks in the excessive snows of the winter of 2015 are down. Soon there will be new (clean) walls.

looking forward

I think I need to read Alice in Wonderland again. Her words feel like a good match for my world today.

"I could tell you my adventures – beginning from this morning" said Alice a little timidly: "but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."

little changes

It's amazing to see the difference a little change makes. As part of the renovation the pulls to open the drawers and cabinets in kitchen and bath were replaced. The old pulls were removed days ago; today (some of) the new pulls were installed.

I like the clean look.

squill

It's funny, I need to find the name of this tiny early spring flower every year. I wonder if it will stick with me this time.

This tiny beauty is a Siberian squill (or Scilla siberica).

through the wall

It's a good thing I don't sleepwalk!

The living room has a cathedral ceiling, a very silly design in this northern climate. There was leak damage on both the living room and bedroom walls so a portion of wall has been cut away from both sides. The opening extends from the floor to my shoulders, and my shoulders are just a bit wider than the studs. Even if I did sleepwalk I wouldn't fit through the opening easily.

Here's a quick look at the wall removal in progress.

azalea in pink

Spring shows earlier color in the mid-Atlantic region than it does in New England. The bloom there is easily several weeks ahead of here.

A few azalea were wearing bright pink.

pond reflections

Yesterday was a pleasant spring day with the air wearing a bit of a chill. It was a good afternoon for a first walk at Jenkins Arboretum in Devon, PA.

I found myself captured by reflections in a small pond.

deconstruction

Repairs and renovations have started.

The winter of 2015 was rough around here, leaving me with interior damage from a leaking roof. The roof was replaced last year; now it's time for interior fixes.

I decided to do some renovations at the same time the repairs are done. As a result, most rooms in my house are either swathed in plastic or somewhat deconstructed. It will be interesting living in a construction zone for the upcoming weeks.

I'm looking forward to seeing (and living in) the completed project.

snowdrops

Snowdrops provide a splash of white in a sea of early spring green.

a walk in the woods

Sunday's walk at Maudslay State Park showed a splash of green in the form of evergreens and rhododendron leaves.

Spring color is popping in the form of small flowers close to the ground. Some tree branches wear buds; others are still bare.

snow crocus

The weather wizard delivered spring snow today, reminding us that snow can return in an instant. It was cold and snowy this morning but afternoon sun and warming temperatures allowed the very wet snow to shrink.

By late afternoon I was able to find crocus emerging from the snow.

daffodil

Today ushered in the vernal equinox, a symbol of warming temperatures, of lengthening days, and of emerging flowers. I went looking for flowers and found daffodils and snowdrops.

indoor flowers

In the colder months I seek color indoors.

This beautiful flower was part of an exhibit at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

patterns

Patterns in the sand and rivulets of moving water are visible as I gazed inland to the dunes.

at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

open

A bit of color for a rainy day, a crocus wears bright purple.

on the beach

I felt a need to visit the ocean this morning. I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, arriving just as the tide changed directions and started flowing inland. There were only a couple of other people walking on the beach; the birds were missing.

There were a few sections of beach that were full of bird footprints. I wonder which part of the tide cycle attracts the birds to walk on the beach.

product review :: FITT Gear Running Belt

When I'm out wandering with my camera my phone is usually tucked into my camera bag but when I'm walking for exercise that's often not the case. I always wear my RoadID which provides easy access to emergency contacts and insurance information but sometimes having a phone handy feels like a good idea. Recently I looked for something that would allow me to easily carry my phone (without noticing that it was there, no bouncing in a pocket!).

I found the FITT Gear Running Belt on Amazon. It has a slim profile with one pocket large enough for a cell phone and a second smaller pocket suitable for keys, credit cards, and perhaps a bit of cash. When it arrived I pulled it out of the shipping envelope, saw it's very narrow profile, and figured the phone wouldn't fit. Luckily my quick impression was incorrect; the phone fits with room to spare.

The belt is adjustable from 24 to 48 inches. It was comfortable to wear and quite stable. As I moved the (loaded) belt stayed in place.

I haven't had wet weather for a water resistance test yet but I did hold it under running water with the water hitting both the fabric and the zipper. After my quick water test I unzipped it to find a completely dry interior.

If you're looking to carry your phone easily when you're exercising or just going about your everyday activities I highly recommend this product.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Update on 10/7/2017: the FITT Gear running belt that I have has disappeared from Amazon but it appears that this product is a match.

sign of spring

A mid-afternoon walk yesterday delivered a sure sign of spring, crocus in full bloom.

purple

A flower for Friday, a pop of purple...

a pop of pink

A camellia in pink brings a pop of color into the day.

sunshine

It was quite amazing to compare my view of the ocean today with Friday's snowy visit. The sky wore blue, waves rolled in, people and dogs walked on the beach.

words of the day

The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, the air wore a bit of a chill.

The words on this sign seem quite appropriate. Thank you Charles Dickens!

wild snow

I headed to the coast this morning expecting an easy drive on dry roads. There were flurries in the air when I headed out, nothing that appeared concerning. The snow kicked up as I drove. The road became snow-covered and slippery, the air filled with white.

I considered turning back, but my desire to get to the ocean won out.

When I arrived in Hampton Beach I was amazed at the conditions. There were several inches of snow on the ground - and oops! winter walking shoes would have been a better choice for today than the lightweight shoes on my feet. The tide was heading out, the conditions were simply amazing. It was cold, windy, and snowy.

It was a wonderful gift to see wild weather at the coast.

delicate

I'm fascinated by the different shapes and colors that orchids wear. This variety looks quite delicate.

slippery

It was low tide when I walked at Halibut Point on Sunday. There were rocks that were just wet and others that were coated with a slippery substance. It was a time to walk carefully.