The Easter bunny came! Left a trail of golden wrapped chocolate eggs on the stairs, across the floor, and into the living room where a basket of goodies was set on the hearth. A few treats before breakfast. Then, into the yard. Not like the Easters of my childhood or my childrens’ childhood. No church. A pretty secular day over all. My brother and sister-in-law no longer host the wonderful family Easters we had, which were lovely for so many years. Frank and I had to clean the porch! Yikes! It’s getting renovated and that was a huge job of the morning. But, done. And I did take my brief walk, alone, into the woods. Quiet time for me. And stopped at the river at the trestle bridge to admire the sky on the water and the buds of the maple branches. A family hike and a family dinner for my daughter’s birthday around the table by the fire. Oysters and crab and ice cream cake. I’m tired tonight. And particularly glad for the cheerful, hopeful, lovely lovely power of these maple buds on my spirit.