Good morning

My Monday walk to fitness

For the last 2 weeks I started to walk everyday with two days off a week. Today is hot with a mild cool breeze. What did I see today?

From top of Maxwell Bridge in Imola Avenue looking down Napa River are kayakers.

I climbed the bridge and down to Kennedy Park where the trail joins the Napa River Trail and I met a gentleman pushing a stroller where his big dog is riding. Sometimes the dog rides a surfboard, sometime the dog walks and other times rides the stroller he said.That’s the bridge I climbed and down.

Napa Downtown’s renovation includes a new hotel, Archer Hotel and new stores and wine tasting venues. The hotel has a simple modern architecture. Very pleasing to the eye.

On the way back I passed by a samll garden with pink trumpets.

I made my 10, 000 steps for the day.

red

Wordless Friday

first things

Every journey begins with the first step
Or the first mistake
That’s not their vacation’s first day
But a day in the water, kayaking
They have never done it before
Like Icarus flying with man-made wings
Excitement hums, quiver of holding
The quill, the first words written
The power of the first decision
First acts of youth, memories are written.

They are in the water with others
all listening to the tour guide
history of the river, fauna and flora of the place,
prepare and be aware of dangers
mirth and fun and a mix of caution
What a day and days to come
They can be optimists.

Preference

The lillies are beautiful though I wish they have the fragrance of a gardenia or frangipani.

Flowers on Memorial Day

Mrs. Abstract and I are trying to accomodate only one car. She has more activities every day than I do. She has the car this morning.

There is a Memorial Day celebration today at the Veterans Park in Downtown Napa on the Riverfront. The day is warm in the mid-80’s with a light cool breeze.

I walk to the Veteran Park, watch tpart of he ceremonies then continue my walk to Oxbow Public Market like one other day.

nasturtiums

On my way to the Veterans Park I talk to a barechested man pruning his nasturtium. We talk for a bit. I learn that nasturtium is edible and has high nutritional value. He says one of the restaurants in town uses the blossoms in the salads.Are the leaves protective of the flowers from the sun?

The Veterans Park is all sunshine and has plenty of people, dignitaries and
speeches.

Memorial Day celebration honoring the veterans
On my return home I selected one of the streets lined by tall redwood trees for the shade. Many front yards are planted with roses, white, pale pink, and red. I find one garden with yellow lillies. One frontyard has a white magnolia tree with blossoms on the top.

With all these colors I’m empty of poetic lines.

After posting I will take a nap.

a well

Everyone seeks experiences
looking for insights from a common well
A bouquet of flowers

small living

Living in a 900 square feet condo means everything is small space.We have a backyard, enough to have an umbrella with 2 chairs, a palm tree growing in a barrel, a newly planted bougainvillea, a richly flowering gardenia, a prolific growing bird of paradise, a potted small pink rose, vase growing hibiscus and a rose tree and an air conditioner.

Outside the front door is a rose tree surrounded by vinca flowers on a large vase and another palm tree planted on the ground.

Once a week I cut and put a gardenia on a bowl of water on the dining table.

Psychologists say that flowers, plants and outdoors and fresh air bring a gaiety mood.

Small space means no clutter. That’s not true. But certainly it is small place to clean. Is that a good trade off?

color me with flowers

note: Flowers at the entrance to Celadon, a restaurant at the Napa Riverfront.