Cafe Sign, Assisi

In ancient cities, old and new must exist together. Something about this sign made me take a photo of it. At the time, I was immersed in Assisi's feeling of age and history, the narrow stony streets and buildings, the relentless uphill and downhill of the town. The black on yellow boldness of the sign seemed too modern, but I was also taken by how it tried to cover all the bases, offering every possible refreshment one could want. Although it is a simple sign in a simple font, its incongruity made me notice and appreciate it for its pure graphic sensibility.

New Growth

Our early spring has been interrupted by snow and a few more days of bitter cold. But the signs are all around us that we are already trading winter's grays and browns for green. Even the evergreens will join in the springtime renewal. My neighbors drooping branches sprout new growth, adding fresh shades of green. First almost florescently bright, it settles down to a nice spring green. Eventually the new needles look just like the old ones. During a week when Bostonians are dyeing their river green and people are drinking green beer, I'm looking forward to the all-natural greens.

Weeping Cherries, Oak Hill Cemetery

Weeping Cherries, Oak Hill Cemetery
On an early spring morning, Oak Hill Cemetery is an inviting place for a walk. Laid out in the mid-1800s, Oak Hill is an example of the garden-style cemetery that was so popular in Victorian times. It's easy to imagine families strolling along the paths or sitting for a while on a grassy slope, admiring the view. On this day, the light filters through a curtain of blossom-laden weeping cherry branches. The petals fall on a row of family headstones. The smallest one marks the resting place of a baby. Our lives are finite but spring continues to make an appearance, full of sunlight, hope and beauty.

Daffodils'-Eye View

Winter and spring have been jumbled for weeks. Buds opened too early followed by a dusting of snow or a morning glaze of ice. The daffodils refuse to wait any longer. This group, planted long ago along an aging fence, remind me why daffodils are a favorite subject of crayon-clutching children everywhere. It's an analogous-colored composition based on circles and lines. The fence adds a nice rhythm. The view is great from down here!