Friday, February 28, 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

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!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

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

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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. 

Friday, February 21, 2014

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. 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

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.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Moon Through Snow Covered Branches

West Boxford, MA




I decided to look for images of Boxford on the internet to procrastinate on getting on the trainer in the garage.  Mostly they are homes I assume were on websites for sales, a few of some of  the local sights.  This is my favorite.  Here we are. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Backyard Sunrise on a Snowy Sunday Morning


West Boxford, MA

Meditation on Shoveling a Long Driveway

Sun rises into white branches.
Shadows stretch silent over the snow.
The wind came last night.
Snow is blown over the porch and against the door.
The deer came last night.
Tracks run through the woods and across the drive.

Later there will be birdsong and glistening light.
The wind will come again and bend the upper branches against a blue sky.
Now, there is a long driveway,
a yellow shovel, and work to be done.

The red skin of an apple nestles cold in unbroken snow.
Here on the driveway, the bite marks of a stranger are fresh.
I wonder who you are, you with the good arm
that pitched the apple past the slick slush of the road.
You nighttime apple eater.
You thrower of cores.
You who have carried the fruit of autumn into a snowstorm,
eaten it, left it, and moved on.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Friday, February 14, 2014

Operation Kelly Snow Removal Complete

West Boxford, MA

Survey of the scene of yesterday's snow removal melodrama.  Bottom line, it really isn't that hard.  Even I can do it. 

This photo is outside of the bounds of the project, as not a walking or cycling find - but it was the scene of a fair bit of meditative shoveling, a celebration of snow so I'll go with it.  Clear drive means the bike can exit the garage on Sat morning - out I go!

Last good snow before the storm

West Boxford, MA

Mocha and I hit the trails before a storm. 

With husband out of town I was on my own clearing the driveway later in the day.  I turned this into a melodrama that it didn't need to be.  Short story - operation Kelly snow removal complete and I can't wait for it snow again so I can put my new knowledge of the snowblower to use.  2nd shovel also has reached end of life - so trip to Home Depot is in order.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Lab Snowman

Pfizer Campus, Andover, MA

Monday, February 10, 2014

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Haffner's Hi Octane Gasoline


Salem, MA



A few beers to celebrate Olga completes her borders.  Borderline Running Club, North Andover Green

Friday, February 7, 2014

Sparkle Ice Morning

West Boxford, MA

"Constantly risking absurdity
and death
whenever he performs
above the heads
of his audience
the poet like an acrobat
climbs on rime
to a high wire of his own making."
-Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

Nest

Pfizer Campus, Andover, MA

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Three Second Thru Hike Pacific Crest Trail

Found this video through Facebook this week.  Love It!

http://www.halfwayanywhere.com/tag/videos/ 

The blog is also excellent - I'm really enjoying it.

Glide






 Locals took advantage of a warm (relatively speaking of course, 46 degrees) afternoon with smooth snow free ice to get out for fishing and skating.  This man and dog seems to be warming up for a bit of hockey with friends.  Later on this ride, I spotted a happy crew of father, grandfather and two very small boys in down jackets for a walk in their neighborhood.  The older boy pedaled a tricycle,  The younger boy was in arms with a tiny bicycle.