Gorgeous Saturday
Yesterday was just stellar. Warm, sunny, and breezy. The trees have finally leafed out, making the world green again. I walked downtown, leaving early for my class at the library so I could enjoy being outside after a long week in the trenches. I stopped at the little park by the pond, where I found what turned out to be bluebells!
Just a tiny patch, but after envy of my British friends posting lovely photos of them, I was glad to find some here. I found out this past week that someone in my hometown planted a patch of bluebells near the river; I don't know if they were there when I lived in Geneseo, but if they were I wasn't aware of it. As I am now about 400 miles away, I can't just pop over to see them.
I sat on a bench by the pond, listening to the red-winged blackbirds with their distinctive calls, and watching them chase each other around. I spied a rather large bird circling over the water, and I tried to ID it with my Merlin app. As I was posting what I thought it was (common nighthawk), I heard a large splash and looked up to see said bird in the water, taking off again. Um, probably not a common nighthawk then. It was a rich chocolate brown color, buff underneath, with long, tapered wings that had a circular light spot on them, and as it flew closer I could see it had the beak of a raptor. There was nothing like it on the app, and I tried finding it online last night with no luck. Anyone have any idea what it might've been? It was not like any hawk I've ever seen, and not an eagle either. It was probably about the size of a gull, but it was definitely not a gull. It may be something that is not native to this area. Mystery bird! I didn't have my high-zoom camera with me, unfortunately.
After pondering the bird, I walked up to the library. I had signed up for a ukulele class; it's something I've been thinking about, and it was free, so why not?
There were about 20 people there for the class, all ages from teenager to elderly. Mostly women, but there were a few men scattered amongst us. The teacher, Julie, was fun. She had bags of ukes for people to use, but a few folks had brought their own. She chattered as she went around and tuned everyone's instrument, talking about the strings and tuning. Quite different from the guitar, which I used to play once upon a time. She took us through how to hold it, how to strum (there are many different ways), and how to make chords. Then she taught us a couple of chords, which we put into practice by playing a couple of songs. Then a couple more chords, and more songs, etc. It was fun! Everyone was having a good time, and some of us chatted after the class was over. I love it when people bond over things like that.
I went on Amazon last night to see what they had, and ended up ordering a ukulele kit that has a uke, tuner, extra strings, DVDs, carrying case, and songbook. It was surprisingly affordable, and almost exactly the amount I had left on a gift card. All I had to pay was shipping.
After I left the library, I walked down main street to find the piano by the UU Church. I had found the one by the bank last week; they're part of Hudson's 150th anniversary celebration. (People have lived here much longer than 150 years, but it was 1866 when they broke away from Marlborough)
I do love this little town.
I walked back via the rail trail, which is lush and green now. I spied a stern composer through a window at the old factory (which now has shops and studios in it).
Beethoven, maybe? I don't know my classical composers well enough to tell for sure.
At the turnoff to my street, there is a beautiful pink dogwood tree by a stone wall. Two of my favorite things.
I adore pink tree season. This weekend is pretty much peak spring: dogwood, lilacs, honeysuckle, the last stragglers of daffodils and tulips, and the beginnings of lily-of-the-valley. It's just heavenly.
This morning is deliciously cool and green and sunny. Just delightful.
Just a tiny patch, but after envy of my British friends posting lovely photos of them, I was glad to find some here. I found out this past week that someone in my hometown planted a patch of bluebells near the river; I don't know if they were there when I lived in Geneseo, but if they were I wasn't aware of it. As I am now about 400 miles away, I can't just pop over to see them.
I sat on a bench by the pond, listening to the red-winged blackbirds with their distinctive calls, and watching them chase each other around. I spied a rather large bird circling over the water, and I tried to ID it with my Merlin app. As I was posting what I thought it was (common nighthawk), I heard a large splash and looked up to see said bird in the water, taking off again. Um, probably not a common nighthawk then. It was a rich chocolate brown color, buff underneath, with long, tapered wings that had a circular light spot on them, and as it flew closer I could see it had the beak of a raptor. There was nothing like it on the app, and I tried finding it online last night with no luck. Anyone have any idea what it might've been? It was not like any hawk I've ever seen, and not an eagle either. It was probably about the size of a gull, but it was definitely not a gull. It may be something that is not native to this area. Mystery bird! I didn't have my high-zoom camera with me, unfortunately.
After pondering the bird, I walked up to the library. I had signed up for a ukulele class; it's something I've been thinking about, and it was free, so why not?
There were about 20 people there for the class, all ages from teenager to elderly. Mostly women, but there were a few men scattered amongst us. The teacher, Julie, was fun. She had bags of ukes for people to use, but a few folks had brought their own. She chattered as she went around and tuned everyone's instrument, talking about the strings and tuning. Quite different from the guitar, which I used to play once upon a time. She took us through how to hold it, how to strum (there are many different ways), and how to make chords. Then she taught us a couple of chords, which we put into practice by playing a couple of songs. Then a couple more chords, and more songs, etc. It was fun! Everyone was having a good time, and some of us chatted after the class was over. I love it when people bond over things like that.
I went on Amazon last night to see what they had, and ended up ordering a ukulele kit that has a uke, tuner, extra strings, DVDs, carrying case, and songbook. It was surprisingly affordable, and almost exactly the amount I had left on a gift card. All I had to pay was shipping.
After I left the library, I walked down main street to find the piano by the UU Church. I had found the one by the bank last week; they're part of Hudson's 150th anniversary celebration. (People have lived here much longer than 150 years, but it was 1866 when they broke away from Marlborough)
I do love this little town.
I walked back via the rail trail, which is lush and green now. I spied a stern composer through a window at the old factory (which now has shops and studios in it).
Beethoven, maybe? I don't know my classical composers well enough to tell for sure.
At the turnoff to my street, there is a beautiful pink dogwood tree by a stone wall. Two of my favorite things.
I adore pink tree season. This weekend is pretty much peak spring: dogwood, lilacs, honeysuckle, the last stragglers of daffodils and tulips, and the beginnings of lily-of-the-valley. It's just heavenly.
This morning is deliciously cool and green and sunny. Just delightful.