+++
title = "All is not doom and gloom: go for a walk !!!"
author = ["George Jones"]
publishDate = 2020-04-25T00:00:00-04:00
lastmod = 2022-02-26T08:33:49-05:00
tags = ["life", "hope"]
categories = ["blog"]
draft = false
+++

I find that when I stay glued to twitter (pick your
social-media-of-doom-amplifier) I tend to get a rather gloomy view of
life.  There is indeed a lot one can be gloomy about these days.  But
if you just go for a walk and look around you may be
surprised:

I found this art [sidewalk art](#figure--pic:sidewalk-art) at just about the exact place where last
fall I had purchased a cup of lemonade from 4 eager young
entrepreneurs.  I suspect the ring leader of that optimistic young
bunch.

<a id="figure--pic:sidewalk-art"></a>

{{< figure src="/ox-hugo/sidewalk-art.jpg" caption="<span class=\"figure-number\">Figure 1: </span>Sidewalk art" >}}

<!--more-->

Spring is the best time of year.  The daffodils bloom, [dogwoods are in
full bloom](#figure--pic:dogwoods), red-bud trees come out, the tree-frogs sing up a storm (at
least that's how it goes in Virginia)

<a id="figure--pic:dogwoods"></a>

{{< figure src="/ox-hugo/dogwood.jpg" caption="<span class=\"figure-number\">Figure 2: </span>Dogwoods in bloom" >}}

I recently had my yard re-graded and re-seeded and now, after 17 years
I have [full luscious grass](#figure--pic:grass) (that has to be mowed).  This may not happen
again:

<a id="figure--pic:grass"></a>

{{< figure src="/ox-hugo/grass.jpg" caption="<span class=\"figure-number\">Figure 3: </span>Actual grass" >}}

And last but not least I saw a bird I don't think I've seen before,
it turned out to be a common [tree swallow](#figure--pic:tree-swallow), but it was startling to see
the almost metallic, shinny dark blue back and white belly (the
picture does not capture it well)

<a id="figure--pic:tree-swallow"></a>

{{< figure src="/ox-hugo/tree-swallow.jpg" caption="<span class=\"figure-number\">Figure 4: </span>Tree Swallow (_Tachycineta bicolor_)" >}}

Go for a walk.  Look at the world around you.  It's spring.  All is
not doom and gloom!