My sister suggested a walk in the sun to get myself out of the funk I was in.
No writing today also helped. There is such a thing as writing-fatigue.
So off I went.
On my head a hat with a brim to shade my eyes from Aotearoa’s very bright sun.
The signs of the first day of Spring were everywhere – as they have been for a few weeks, to be honest. But somehow today it was official.
Neighbour’s magnolia – bigger every year. Power pole vying for impact.
More Spring features along our driveway.
Grows like a weed but a very pretty one and a seriously reliable harbinger of Spring.
Love this tree growing at the bottom of our ‘bank’. Especially fond of it since finding out (by the magic of synchronisity … too long a story to go into now) two years ago, who planted it originally. And why. This beautiful tree was planted in April 1968, by the first owner of our house (which was built that year). We were told that our totaras were planted in memory of those who lost their lives in the Wahine disaster.
At our gate, pansies and (among other things) a Clydesdale-sized horse shoe from Robert’s grandfather’s farm in Kingston.
Like little suns.
‘The genus name Calendula is a modern Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning “little calendar”, “little clock” or possibly “little weather-glass”. The common name “marigold” refers to the Virgin Mary.’ Wikipedia.
Little weather-glass – I like that.
Fresh green is such a Spring thing – inducing panic among those of us tending lawns. (Who invented lawns?)
Planted in autumn – bulbs are the epitome of a belief in hope.
Back inside. Time to get organised for grocery shopping.
* Jacket (it may be Spring and a sunny day to boot, but this is Dunedin and we’re in precautionary Level 3, so no guarantee there won’t be a twenty-minute wait in the queue outside the supermarket.)
* Scarf (as above.)
* Mask.
* Phone for tagging.
* Bags.
* Go!
11th Letter In 