A Walk Around the Neighbourhood #4

The weather has been all over the place lately - one moment is sunny and hot, the next it gets cloudy and it starts raining suddenly. Today, for example, is cloudy and it's been raing on and off all day. It doesn't feel like summer, but it's a nice respite from the scorching heat!

I haven't been taking a lot of walks lately. I've been working out from an app and so I didn't feel the pressure (and need) to move my body trying to reach those 10,000 steps. Lazy bum much? I did see pretty things over the last few weeks, though, and here are some of them:

the waterlilies on the nearby pond are a sight for sore eyes.

i save this little thing last week! it was trying to get to the other side, but the street was in its way. i picked it up and carried it to the nearby grassy area. i hope it's save and sound, and not cars crushed it!

sour cherries for days!

sour cherry tree in golden light

the annual mulberries picking. i love these so much and i could eat them daily without getting sick.

that ominous sky is pretty!

there are a lot of ducks on the nearby pond and they are cute to look at

aren't those waterlilies beautiful?!

cute but wild

the last roses of June

in the summer the weeds are pretty

+++

in every walk in nature one receives far more than he seeks. - john muir

A Walk Around the Neighbourhood #3

Like many people, I don't leave my yard/ garden because of the social distancing regulations. I'm all for that, but when I do have to leave the premises, I'm both excited and scared? For sure there's a knot in my stomach. Who knew buying groceries could be such a straining thing? Yesterday I went to my GP's office to get a prescription I couldn't get otherwise, and I was able to walk there. 50 minutes of listening to a podcast episode, quickly snapping photos of trees in bloom and flowers. It was so quiet, although normally at that time of day the traffic is no joke, and many people are on the streets. Not yesterday. Even the interaction with my GP was unusual. We're living strange times indeed.

Here's the latest glimpse of nature from my corner of the world:

the grapevine is budding!

dandelions are a favourite staple of spring

dandelions in the grass, trees in bloom against a blue sky, that green house in the background - it all looked so peaceful.

how lucky those people living in that house must be to have this gorgeous tree in front of their house!

i don't know what tree this is, but its flowers are a beautiful shade of red

photo taken on my way back from the store

aren't they gorgeous!?

yellow is my favourite colour, but these tulips sure are an exception!

i have a thing for sunsets

this very morning. it was raining and i quickly snapped this photo. i've missed rain! but in spring, even during rainy days trees and nature are beautiful.

Is it spring yet?

I went on a walk this afternoon. It felt good to stretch my legs and I saw pretty things I couldn't help but take a photo of.

New recipe today: brownie cheesecake with raspberry. The amount of sugar I ate today is way over the daily limit. Way over! No regrets, though, because it's good!

 This happy looking car was the first pop of colour on my walk today! I like to look at it + photograph it every time I see it.

 

 

 I am not normally one to notice cars, but for some reason today these made me stop and snap a photo. I think it's the color and the I-can't-wait-for-spring mood.

 This dog with its too long bangs was on a leash waiting. 

And now, pretty buildings:

 

Look at the cute dog!

 The last five are taken on the street where the University is. There are some old buildings that have all sorts of knick-knacks in the windows or on the balconies. I've always liked these houses, they seem houses with strong personalities.

 It's interesting to see that I took photos of a lot of yellow things. That's my least favourite color! But I think I was in need of colour and warmth because of the longing for spring and I unconsciously snapped the photos of these.

And now, nature:

 Look at that bulrush!

It was a beautiful day, around 10 degrees C, and I am so glad I got out of the house.

As I walked around, I listened to two episodes, this and this, of the What Should I Read Next hosted by Anne Bogel, and one episode of 10 things to tell you hosted by Laura Tremaine. Walking is one of my favourite ways to catch up on podcasts. The other one is doing the cleaning around the house. Oh, and on my way to & from work.

These are from this week at the bus stop while waiting for the bus. Thursday was a very very meh day and I was eager to get home. I am a look down kind of person, and on that day I was glad of that because otherwise I wouldn't have seen these cuties. Snowdrops are a sure sign we're in the last stretch of winter. Hallelujah!