Vacation Time

 

This is a list of places Sam wants to visit while on vacation. It's been amended a little since last year. 

"The Bakery" is a new addition, having been a new (to us) discovery last year. It was right around the corner (more-or-less) from where we were then staying. Plus it's right next to a jewelry store that Sam and I have little no interest in. While others shopped for jewelry, Sam and I got so bored we finally went next door and bought pastries. Why we never did this in the past, I have no idea. Whatever the reason, it was a hit and the beginning of a new tradition.

I'm not sure why "Captain Frosty's" was never on the list. We've been going there since the latter years of staying at the old cottage (thank-you, Mrs. Takki). Whatever the reason for that horrendous oversight, corrective action has now been taken to ensure no missed visits - this year or in the future (assuming we don't lose the list).

How well did we do in visiting all these places? Pretty well! We managed to cover everything (including 'Skull Island - despite the missing check-mark) except for the drive-by past the old cottage. (In the end, I think that may be one of those places better held unchanged in our fond memories.)

Anyway, a few photos to follow in the days (i.e., weeks/months) ahead.

Tip: Don't hang waiting.

The Road Not Taken

Yard Work

On my way back from walking Sam to work this morning, I passed some town workers taking down a few dead trees in the adjoining park. If I didn't know any better, I would say one of those workers bore a striking resemblance to Helaina...

Interlude

My porch at nighttime...

 

I have no idea why I'm posting this. 

Then again, if answers to questions like that mattered, I would never post anything.

Scene it Before

One of the nicer places many nice places Sam and I walk is through the farmland of the neighboring town. Up until this year, it used to be a cattle farm. Maybe it still is but today there wasn't a cow in sight. 

As we walk along, I often think about how lucky we are to be living in such a pretty part of the state - cows or no cows.

Our Saturday Outing

On Saturday mornings, Sam and I usually go on a walk to the Farmer's Market and back - a trip of a little over three miles or so. This Saturday, because we had nothing else to do (other than our usual errands) and because it was finally a beautiful day, we extended it to about twice as long...

It was pretty much our limit.

Under the Forsythia

Sam and I came upon a severely wounded goldfinch on our walk tonight. He was lying at the edge of the road, next to some tall grass. We almost didn't see him. 

At first we thought at first it was dead but as we stood over him, the bird gave a couple of barely perceptible twitches before laying still once again. It was awful.

This poor thing was going to die and there wasn't anything we could do for him. The best I could do was move him off the road, onto the soft grass and hope for the best - though Sam and I knew "the best" was unlikely. We both felt pretty bad. We both wished I could do more.

Back at the car, I asked Sam if he wanted to check on the bird and of course he did. So we drove over to where I placed the bird and pulled over. I got out to check on him. Sam felt he would rather wait in the car.

Sadly, but unsurprisingly, the bird had died. At least he wasn't suffering - a small consolation in this kind of situation.

I told Sam that we won't just leave him there, that we would take him home and give him a place to rest - which came as a small relief to Sam. I found a piece of a paper towel and wrapped the bird up, placed him in a safe spot in the back of the car and Sam and I and our poor bird, continued on our way.

Back at home, I got Sam his dinner and asked if he wanted to help me with the bird. He preferred that I take care of it. 

So I wrapped the bird up a little more, found a garden shovel and dug a place for him under the forsythia bush - a resting place for several other small creatures that have left us over the years. When I finished, I went in and asked Sam if he wanted to check it out. Sam followed me out and I showed him the spot. His relief was instantaneous. 

He smiled, clapped his hands together, leaned into me and thanked me.

We spoke a little of our relief that this poor bird wasn't left to die on the side of the road; that he was taken care of and laid to rest in a better spot. 

And for whatever it was worth, I mentioned again how I think the soul is a little bit like the flower inside of a seed - and now this bird's soul is out of it's shell, blooming somewhere up above us. 

Sam said "Yeah", but I think it was enough for him to know that the bird wasn't left to die alone, somewhere on the side of the road.