Wanted to be in nature so a walk in
our village park fit the bill. Sights and sounds galore.
The clock rang the hour followed by carillon music.
Park benches near the water fountain beckoned.
My eyes and ears were filled with the awe of a child.
seeing and hearing for the first time. Look
at all the colors of flowers and trees!
Such beauty to behold! My soul swelled.
Weeks of staying home tend to limit the
viewpoint to nature in one’s garden. On this
day I longed for more and was not disappointed.
Dinosaurs! Creatures in books and movies.
How can that be in our village? Curiosity pulled
me across the street to a feast quite unexpected.
A rain garden. An art walk complete with words
to children’s books. But the piece de resistance
was yet to come! Behold xylophones, mallets,
music notes galore! Picking up the mallets, I played
the notes of a scale and then children’s songs burst
forth. A percussion instrument too! The
music notes in color and names were intended as
aids to play and sing songs: When the Saints
Go Marching In; Amazing Grace, Row, Row,
Row Your Boat and on they went. Not once
not twice but three times I had to play and listen
to the dulcet tones. How soothing and comforting
a walk in the village park and neighboring
library still closed. Who approached wearing
a mask? A woman who worked in the library.
Weekly changes are made on Mondays to
the pages from children’s books. Wonder of
wonders! Today it was my own private park!
The pace of life has slowed now. Passing
cars missed the hidden beauty. Let that be our secret!
My heart is happy. My soul is full. Note to
self: return here again and often!
What a beautiful post! I love it and the photos! Nature is the most therapeutic place to be! Glad you got to get out and enjoy a nice day and have fun too!
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Emily-thank you for your great comment. Nature provides wonderful therapy if you just use all the senses. A short visit provided the backdrop and my heart and soul were gladdened. We had grand fun! Enjoy the weekend. oxox
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I love that creative park! Thanks for taking me along. Lovely pictures Mary Ann.
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Balroop-the creative park satisfied all the senses. I just love music and music making but the dinosaurs were sculpted by an artist along with embedded fossil-like images of ferns in one of the cement benches. I have been twice and plan to return again. It was a pleasure taking you along on my walk. Glad you enjoyed the photos as well. Have a wonderful weekend, Balroop. oxox
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Tom says:
I like the melon stone. Very cute.
Looks like a beautiful day.
Enjoyed your poem!
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What a delightful find!! You must return.
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Darlene, thank you for your lovely comment. You can be sure that I plan to return. Such a delight and treasure in a public space! Enjoy the weekend. oxox
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I could not have resisted the xylophone, especially with music there! What an adventure!
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Anne-you read my mind with your lovely comment. Thank you. I was a kid in a candy shop with these musical instruments waiting just for me. I even had my husband play one of them while I was opposite playing the other. A creative adventure indeed. Thanks for coming along on this walk with me. Enjoy the weekend. oxox
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That was the greatest walk of this pandemic!
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Anne, it was. Thank you for the comment. It was the icing on the cake when I discovered this small gem next to our local library in the village. Who knew? Enjoy the weekend. Hope you are back open now. Churches all over the US are supposed to be now too. None of this 10 people policies! oxox
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Our church has a lot of retirees, so we are going ahead with a streamed service that was taped earlier in the week. They are discussing adding a service next week to spread people out. What about your church?
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Anne – Online still although our church never closed for private prayer from 10 AM-7 PM daily. I suspect that next week we shall hear further plans. Be safe and stay healthy. ox
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I’d love to know what your church does next week. oxox
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Memorial Day service at the cemetery. Online then. I know that First Communion has been planed for the church proper in mid-June. My guess is they have no plan in place yet. I say personal responsibility and common sense should take over. No more micromanaging. Only time will tell. When I feel that they have good plans in place, I’ll return to singing. We have high ceilings and our choir has lots of space to spread our. if I know our Sat. group numbers 5, I will feel confident. If masks are mandated, then no. I will not sing with a mask on. What are the plans for your church next week? Enjoy the weekend! ox
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Next week we will still be showing a taped service. We are going to resume services in church on June 14. There is talk of adding an extra service so that fewer people will be at each one. We now have the ability to stream a service, so that will be done, as well. oxox
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We resume about the same time in June but have no directives yet. Our capacity is a very large number so we have overflow areas which might have the service via streaming on the monitors. Best of luck to you. ox
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Meanwhile, we’ll go to streaming service today. God bless you. ox
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Just received word about 10 people and a certain number in our parking lot. Proposals are being submitted to the Bishop who will review and vote on proposals. We shall continue with live streaming meanwhile. ox
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Anne, an update with more to come regarding church. 10 inside and a certain number in the parking lot. Don’t know exactly how this will go but if I have to sit in a car for the duration as opposed to sitting at home with my AC, I’ll pick home for now. Age discrimination is rampant too with the over 65 crowd to remain at home. Our constitutional rights are being trampled. We do enjoy religious freedom in the US. Hope your state is better. My friend in TX said Fort Worth opened in church services while Dallas did not. Until they get things ironed out, it is home for now. Sad. oxox
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I haven’t felt any age discrimination yet here. Yes, the push against the church is sad. This isn’t the America I grew up in.
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The church is predominantly the over 65 crowd although we have many, many young families. We both are active participants in choir and music enhances the service. I suppose in good time, we will return to normal worship. Only time will tell. ox
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I think church will be a haven once again. I hope it’s soon, because we miss our friends there. oxox
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Anne, ask again in five minutes. Church keeps evolving here. More on that tomorrow. ox
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Mary Ann, I can see that this is not just a place for children. I visualize myself in front of one of the xylophones and to try my luck with the music. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Peter, children of all ages! You would simply want to get your hands on the mallets and play the notes. A regular big/little kid! No one was there either which made it my own slice of paradise. My husband has started some of the gardens but can’t seem to find the collard plants this year. It will happen. We are opening up again and churches too. Hope your weekend is peachy. Enjoy. “”__””
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So lovely… Must share your secret! ❤ xoxoxo
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Bette – thank you for the sweet comment and for sharing. Stay healthy and safe. oxox
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Ditto! ❤ xo
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Thank you. oxox
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