Cloudy and Calm

 
It's a perfect spring morning.  A bit overcast, 59 degrees, and -- gasp -- no wind.

I've got the windows open, partly for fragrance and birdsong (the blackbirds and finches are going at it non-stop), and partly (full disclosure here) because I burned a couple of pancakes a while ago.  (Amy, the parcel arrived -- yay! -- and I was almost as excited about the gluten-free baking mix as I was to see my summer clothes.)

(The last of the bluebells, plus columbines)

The birds have a bit of competition from a lady with extravagant vibrato; it was nice to have some background radio music when it was merely orchestral, but I think I will switch it off now and focus on the chirps and tweets.

 (The view from that open window; the birds seem to be hiding now)

Yesterday's walk was a bit different from the previous ones.  After an occasional foot-arch twinge turned into steady pain and made me think plantar fasciitis (!), I opted for a gentle amble on soft sand instead of my usual rapid-clip trail hike.

(Ninety minutes of gentle ambling yields a lot of treasures, although no, not all of these!)

The foot thing is a good wake-up call, and I'm glad to have a set of useful stretches, as well as fresh incentive to return well and truly to my old reliable anti-inflammatory way of eating.  And yes, it's another reminder to make these walks a little less bat-out-of-hell and a bit more stop-and-smell-the-roses.

Speaking of which -- look at what I just found in my garden.  First ones of the season!