Buds on Bare Branches

West Boxford, MA

Window Nativity

West Boxford, MA

Creek Running Through Snow

West Boxford, MA

Blue Sky Tuesday

North Andover, MA

Bliss Spa and Salon

North Andover, MA

A place I fantasize about when riding by it on bad weather mornings, looks warm and dry in there!

China Mandarina at the Shore

Rye, New Hampshire

It has been interesting to pick up winter themes in this project.
red berries
wreaths
bare tree branches
nests
I was not expecting roadside litter of Mandarian oranges and parts of oranges. 

sans the china, plus a tree

I found myself with malaise this afternoon, something even a trip to the shore didn't help.  How unexpected to find Team Hoyt there running down the highway.  What an inspiration to set the malaise aside and start looking for something wonderful.  You can read about them here http://www.teamhoyt.com/

 or better yet, buy their memoir.

 http://www.amazon.com/Devoted-The-Story-Fathers-Love/dp/0306820749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393203891&sr=8-1&keywords=team+Hoyt

See Through House

West Boxford, MA

West Boxford, MA

China Mandarina

This time, whole china mandarinas in the street, also on the other side of the road.   Found more of these in a nearby road.  Also this week, someone or perhaps the same person threw baguettes and rolls on snowbanks along the road.  This is strange behavior.  Last weekend I ran on these roads in the dark and the same marijuana smelling car passed by three times.  I wonder if the odd baguette tossing and pot smoking cruising are related. 

Mocha and Creek

West Boxford, MA

Found a great blog today.  http://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/ Check out the Feb 17th photo of owl marks in snow. 

China Mandarina

Draft #1

China Mandarina

Memories of Barceloneta

I.

I keep finding orange peels on black pavement

In one Yankee town after another

Exotic color in a New England winter.

On these cold days, I imagine china mandarina

A sweet taste alive on the tongue.

I pedal fast to stay warm and dream of tropical sun

II.

If you have a bicycle and an afternoon, you can find La Boca

Take the road that heads back under the interstate

Up the hot pavement hill

Past lizards that scurry among puddles and plastics bags

Past the multicolored graveyard, the rooster

Strutting, the man that stands on the corner

Turn at the gasolinera and ride

Through a neighborhood of regatón and dust

Out past the last boxy house

To where the air smells of earth and rain

Sky meets cane field in a luscious kiss

Of blue and green

Or gray and green

Or hot ragged sun

Pedal up the hill (hear the waves) and over down gravel

Loose in the corner

Behind the beach, ride in the shade of the trees, and sooner or later

You’ll feel sand in the chain

Tires slip in the thick of it

When the road runs out, it is time

To take off your shoes and walk, ankles in and out of the ocean

The sand will turn black under your feet and you’ll find

The sound of the wind

The moment where the river meets the sea

 

Road by Johnsons Pond

Groveland, MA

As I'm working on Garbage Poem #2, I was delighted to come upon this pair of crutches in the dumpster.  Seems like too much like a cliche to be a potential subject for poem #3.