It was Easter, and we wanted to get back home from our Sunday morning walk along the canal before the live Easter service taking place on the Internet at noon. I felt a little rushed because of the time constraint. We ended up walking a little less than what we would have done normally. The weather was also not ideal, but this was compensated for by the fact that there were a few more, even different, signs of Spring from the previous weekend. Here are a few pictures.
We see squirrels in the park frequently, and we have sometimes even mistaken the noise that they make to be that of birds. This particular one was observed just after we left Riley’s Lock. I don’t think I have ever seen a squirrel carrying a bunch of leaves in its mouth like this. Perhaps somebody reading this blog has a better idea of what is going on.
The dogwood flowers were out by the trail.
These flowers of Spring in the picture below are called Trillium. There are other varieties of Trillium, with other colors, but this particular variety dominates the towpath. I could not remember the name of this flower for the longest time after I first saw it. I fear that my mind is becoming like a sieve. I have had the hardest time recollecting names of the flowers that I saw last Spring. I am too dependent on the Internet!
We could hear beautiful music in the air as we approached the Horsepen Branch campsite. The culprit was this wren sitting on a dead tree stump. This was as close as I could get to it before it flew away. What a wonderful bird – entertaining us in the morning! Puts Pavarotti to shame!
If you look carefully at the picture below, you will notice that the ducks’ heads are actually pointed towards the camera. They are turned around 180° from where they would normally be pointing. Maybe somebody knows why ducks behave this way.
Of course, Spring would not be complete without the dandelions.
Meanwhile, our world continues its adjustment to the presence of the coronavirus. Many of us are getting more and more getting restless with the need to stay home bound. Many, many, people are also unable to make a living in the current environment. Bills need to be paid. Food needs to be placed on the table. It becomes harder and harder with time to continue to accept that what we are putting ourselves through makes sense, especially in the context of the common good, but like it or not, that is a fact. The first responders, health care professionals, and those ensuring our safety, continue to put their lives, and even the lives of their families, at risk. Politicians are still being politicians, and are using all of this as an excuse to fulfill their own agenda. People in power are also quite happy to deflect responsibility and play the blame game instead of solving problems. Chaos, and a lack of will to take charge and do something concrete on a national scale, seems to reign at the highest levels of our government – even as the individual states struggle without adequate support from above. In a time of trouble, when you think we would come together, we are falling apart, not just in the country, but as a global community. I fear that this is all going to continue for a while.
Some of us that are more fortunate like to complain about how the coronavirus has impacted our lives. We are actually the lucky ones. There are others who are really suffering, and are going to continue to suffer for a long time – much more than us. I might worry about when I will be able to get a haircut, getting my car serviced, being able to meet my friends, or something else, but others have more basic needs that are not being fulfilled today.
I have to note that the last time I went to the food bank, there was not enough food for all the people who needed it that day. We had to reduce the amount of food for each family from what they would normally have gotten. I felt a little dispirited when I returned home that day. I hope that this was a one-time event. It would be hard to sit by without action if this continues.
Splattered Brains 