2007
The rain departed, the sky cleared, the temperature rose. Clearly a day to be outside! And so followed about 3.5 hours of walking. 
Melle’s place in Waterloo to Sherry’s place in Kitchener (with a brief stop before at City Cafe Bakery for pizza and a brownie). A circuit around Victoria Park. A side trip over behind St. Mary’s Hospital to see the house Sherry’s interested in. Back to Sherry’s, and then back home.
These were the mini variety, maybe six inches high. So cute!
Apparently the local graffiti artists have a taste for haiku. This one is by a Japanese poet named Sodo.
Another haiku, this one by another Japanese poet named Matsu Basho. Bit hard to read, so:
The usually hateful crow:
he, too — this morning,
on the snow!
Along the trail between Union Blvd. and a bit before the bridge where that graffiti is located, there’s a swamp, and the frogs were singing today (mating calls, I guess?) And it occurred to me as I was walking by that it sounded like a Mennonite church — all in multi-part harmony. Heh, frog descant.
A MUST in KW — the baked goods at City Cafe Bakery. Rhubarb tarts, apple tarts, date squares, brownies…
Best. Lunch. Ever. City Cafe woodfired pizza (chicken, pesto, and roasted red peppers) and a brownie. (Tip: eat outside, and let the brownie sit in the sun for a bit. Bliss.)
As if life isn’t good enough for the people who live in the stunning Victorians across from the park, they get views of blooming tulip trees beside the lake in spring…
I was sore by the time I got home. It was only the second time I’d worn those sandals, so it could have been worse. I have a few blisters, but nothing major, I don’t think. The best part was laying down for a nap, having the cat curl up on my stomach, and then… oblivion. One of the finest naps I’ve ever had. Slept unmoving for two solid hours, and woke up gently and could tell by the light coming in the windows that some time had passed. I’m probably screwed for sleeping tonight, but who cares.
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Shaneen Clarke