Greetings from the study on this Easter Sunday, where here in southeastern MA we’re having clouds, gusty winds and rain later today, so another typical early Spring day. I hope where you are that the weather is decent and if you do celebrate the holiday, that you’re doing something enjoyable today. The cup of Nor’easter coffee from Speedwell roasters is particularly welcome this morning.

I have fond memories of Easter when I was young. It was tradition that we’d go to my maternal grandparents’ house, where we’d have roast leg of lamb, oven roasted potatoes and a delicious gravy that always had a bit of red wine in it. I can still picture the dining room with all of us sitting around the table in the house where my mother grew up. I recall one holiday when they came to our house. My grandfather was a gregarious man with a huge laugh. On this particular day, he joined the kids out in the neighbor’s yard next door, reached into his pocket and pulled out a huge handful of change, which he then tossed into the air, where it fell into the as-yet uncut, very high, deep green grass. Everyone had fun searching for coins.

I recall that Easter was the one day when I’d look forward to going to our small Presbyterian church on the downtown Main Street. It’s still there today. I don’t attend church anymore, and haven’t for well over 50 years, but those Easter services were special back then. I’ve long since soured on organized religion.

Switching gears, it won’t be long until the Warbler migration starts, and I look forward to getting some good shots. May is drawing ever closer, and that also means Hummingbirds will be back. Birds will be nesting. New life will be starting. Reason for hope.