You would never know, by what you are about to see, that a worldwide pandemic holds us in its clutches. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the blossoms and flowers are blooming.
All of Nature is singing HALLELUJAH this Easter weekend.
And YES, we're still allowed to go outside for exercise, for which we're thankful. But we're still being warned...
...to keep our distance.
Gorinchem's 5-km citadel wall, on which we walk, surrounds our inner city, where we live.
It's always a heaven on earth for us, no matter the time of year.
But now it's paradise, especially while the rapeseed blooms.
Even the dogs are keeping distance.
All the trees, of course, are starting to bloom.
But even in the Netherlands, yes, some of our beautiful trees have pests.
Birdhouses along the path protect the birds that eat the tree bugs.
Too bad the wild garlic can't keep them all away, right?!
I had never heard of this ground cover till in England one year, where it garnishes salads.
It now flourishes along our citadel walk.
Our most famous canon, from Napoleonic times, if not before,
keeps the peace, all day long, year after year.
The windmill a block from our home continues to turn, grinding grains for Astrid's breads.
And many a bench waits to welcome back our companionship.
It's that time of the year when we remember Death and Resurrection.
Winter (which some of you are experiencing again this week!) turns into Spring.
The Lion will finally lie down with the Lamb once again, without distancing.
It's what we all hope for. Spring. Life. Love.
It's what we all hope for. Spring. Life. Love.
HALLELUJAH
and a
HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND!
You give me hope!
ReplyDeleteIt's what we all need right now, Marie, isn't it!
DeleteOur citadel is beautiful no matter the time of year. Your post shows that this is a wonderful time of the year and that we are so lucky to be able to enjoy it. You picked the right time to go for a walk, hardly anybody there. It is a good reminder to everybody to show what "one and a halve meter" is.... we have to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteWe need to keep hope, without hope there is no life.......IHVJ.
I was thinking about Faith, Hope and Charity after I wrote this, Astrid. I can't think of a better time when we're all being reminded of what it means to be truly Human, in God's image. Bedankt.
DeleteHow beautiful! Hard to believe we had crocuses and daffodils popping two days ago, and now we are under a winter storm with 5 inches on the ground. Such is spring in the north country. We had loads of wild garlic at the farm in Dansville! I never knew what it was until I looked it up.
ReplyDeleteThe Lion is still roaring in some parts, Ruth, yes. But who knew it would hit you now! As I've said before, we had our hottest day on record here the other day at 77 F. And here I think of you in Maine being at our same latitude, right? So strange. But that wild garlic is something else. Did you ever collect it in Dansville and sprinkle it on your salads (as our friends in England do)?
DeleteOh, wat een prachtige wandeling rondom Gorichem.
ReplyDeleteIk heb genoten van je mooie wandeling en de prachtige foto's.
Bedankt, Marjolein. We absolutely LOVE where we live and often pinch ourselves because of how beautiful it is, right at our fingertips. We enter the path just a few meters outside our building's back door. More close you cannot get! Maybe one day you'll walk it with us!
DeletePerhaps, but you visit Brielle first together ;-0
DeleteAs soon as we are able to do so, Marjolein, we plan to do it!!! For sure!
DeleteJust beautiful! And once again so IMPRESSED with your country. Do you think the USA could even begin to pull off marking walking paths with the “safe distance?”
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for giving me hope that there are people in our world with common sense, creativity and that are caring!
Take care you two!!
Xo xo
Robin
We all need HOPE these days, Robin, don't we!!! I must say it did give me a smile to see our paths marked like this. I wonder if that's happening all over the Netherlands? I have no clue.
DeleteYou take care, too, in these uncertain times!
I look at your beautiful photos of the outdoors and it is, as we say in French “le supplice de Tantale” (I guess in English it is the Torment of Tantalus?) Yes, I have not been out of the house for 31 days now – just to my front porch. Because of my new diagnostic of acute heart failure my daughter does not want me to take a walk. Also I’m less than a mile from Vanderbilt University and the students still walk in groups without masks and our zip code has the highest number of cases in Nashville. It must be so wonderful to take a walk where you live.
ReplyDeleteOh, Vagabonde! I'm so sorry to hear about your new diagnostic. Dear me. But I'm glad you are alive and near your daughter. Do take care of yourself!
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