pond spring flowers

back to nature

at the pond,

tree buds

emerging,

the first flowers

were seen

the native skunk cabbage

what a charming name.

yellow coltsfoot (non-native)

on a sunny slope.

today april

showers.

easter monday

yesterday

easter lunch

at my

mother's house,

missed those that

were not there.

today pain perdu

for breakfast, made

with a very dry easter

bread (paska) from a

commercial bakery.

a recipe here.

easter sunday

happy easter!

easter holidays

a holiday theme today,

flowers,

treats from the imminently closing

bakery,

painted wooden eggs

from

poland and ukraine.

holiday preparations

have begun

in earnest.

croissants

the sign went up last week,

my favourite bakery is closing.

the owner is retiring after 33 years.

the building where he is located

has housed a bakery

since 1910. 100 years.

traditional privately owned bakeries

are becoming scarce,

replaced by cupcake shops and

franchise bakeries where the batter

is delivered in vats

and baking technicians extrude it

into glutinous forms.

what is replacing the bakery

you ask?

an anti-aging clinic.

i did not consume the platter of

pastries in one sitting... honest.

chicks and eggs

at

the shops

these days,

chicks in a bowl,

yellow egg candles

and

a decorative

boiled egg.

earth hour observed and dinner

it was not unexpected to read in today's

paper that not as many people observed

earth hour this year. the city hydro authority

recorded a 10 per cent drop in power use

compared to 15.1 per cent last year.

this did not surprise me,

more lights were on in my

neighbourhood.

disappointed, yes.

it is still rather cold here, last night's dinner

was a warming chili and wholesome cornbread.

the avocado and lime were not locally grown,

hmm.