Monday, April 20, 2026

Cherry blossom, indoors and out


Kanzan cherry blossoms, bought in bud from the corner store (Mr. Kiwi, a bustling hub that never closes), and now open at last. Beyond these walls and windows, the city is dripping with them, their petals chilly today after a very strange week that soared into the nineties before thundering on Friday into a storm and dropping to today's high of just below 50 degrees. 

Corner stores. Whenever we think about living somewhere else, we think of the things we don't think about. Like walking around the corner to buy milk at 9pm. Or our favorite bar soap or organic eggs. How is it to get into a car every time you need something? I mean, we have a car, and she is the only thing of value that we own, but she is reserved for Adventure. (Yes, she is a she.)

I posted some of our local ornamental cherry blossoms to Gardenista, photographed over two days. 


Sunday, April 5, 2026

She who feeds the pigeons

Spring is arriving, and here I am, clearing my camera's memory stick and filing photos that began in February. 

As I walked out of Prospect Park one dark afternoon, I noticed, in the failing winter light, a flurry of pigeon activity at Grand Army Plaza. They flocked around a woman in blue, who was feeding them. She looked down tenderly at the birds when they perched on her coated arm.


Her electric Citibike rental was provisioned with various containers of seeds, and when one was was empty she'd return to her bag in its basket for more supplies. Soon, all the seed was eaten up.

I don't like to skulk around, stealing pictures of people, so before I left I walked up gently and said, They love you! She smiled shyly, hopped back on the bike, and sped away, zipping south on Prospect Park West.