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Upstate, New York trees are hesitating, waiting for the first warm day before committing their leaves.
Or so it appears.
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While temperatures have moderated considerably, it is still quite cold.
Even sunny days like this past Friday have been chilly because of strong winds and the few eager plants that pushed out of the soil when the snow retreated seem to have halted their progress.
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Past experience has been that once Spring decides to arrive, it comes on full tilt.
This year it seems tentative.
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All in good time. I’m in no rush to begin moaning about hot weather and bugs.
Ticks have already made an appearance.
One creature I can do without!
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Hudson River near Fort Edward.
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Glens Falls in the distance.
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Water level in the canal was very low, despite recent flooding.
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Some places attract the light.
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Like this house at the end of a road.
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We arrived at destination just in time to miss the morning exodus of school buses!
You really don’t want to be behind one as they stop every two minutes and you have to sit watching the little darlings drag their feet. No doubt a universal routine.
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From the first time I encountered one, I have always detested school buses!
At JFK we rode the same vehicle to and from the employees parking lot and I seem to have spent my life waiting on them!
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It is interesting though, how you can be persuaded to appreciate something.
Some sort of mechanical repairs necessitated substitution once with a bus that normally transported small children.
Very small.
“That’ll teach you to complain about the transport!”
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Yes, indeed. Learn to be grateful!
After all, when I lived in London as a small child, I walked to school, whatever the weather.
It was less than a mile but I had short legs and there were busy roads to cross.
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Surprisingly, the school is still there. I thought it had closed years ago, but this is definitely it, the “Boys” and “Girls” entrance signs still in place.
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On the corner of the Old Brompton and Warwick Road there was a flower shop, now a real estate office.
One afternoon I went in and asked for 2-/6d worth of flowers for my mum but when I fished my money out, discovered I only had 1-/6d.
The nice owner let me have the flowers anyway. A kindness I have been grateful for and remembered for 70 years.
Ticks!
Ugh!
I’m so glad that you remembered the kindness of that florist. I also walked to school until I was 15. Then my dad moved us to the Kent suburbs. That necessitated a longer walk to Bexley Station, changing trains at Sicup, followed by a bus in heavy traffic from New Cross Station. I preferred walking!
Best wishes, Pete.
My brother had a home in Bexley for many years and I remember taking that train.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your lovely post and the photographic images. Your title reminded me of Cicero’s words: ” Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others.”
Joanna
Your photos of the Hudson River are beautiful – now no longer frozen I see. But I can see from your photos that it’s still cold (and I can’t believe the ticks have already made their appearance)! It’s such a beautiful story of the florist who gave you the flowers despite not having enough money – what a lovely gesture.
Sadly, I don’t see too much of this type of kindness these days.
Your images of the Hudson River brought back memories of when we sailed down on our friends’ boat from Poughkeepsie to New York – how wonderful!