High Line Garden NYC

Fabulous view of Manhattan as we circled over Brooklyn to land at LaGuardia.

With four and a half hours in New York City, we walked from Penn Station to the amazing garden on the old high line rails, three stories above the street, and a mile long. The garden was featured recently in National Geographic.

Even in April flowers were a delight.

The Empire State Building from the High Line Garden.

Even though hundreds of folks turned out on a Saturday afternoon, there was space for brisk walking.

Here and there, sculptures decorated the gardens.

Nothing boring about the route, with platforms stretching out over city streets

An abundance of varied seating with interesting views

Flowers and flowers and flowers

Glass protection from the wind

More flowers, with some sort of self watering system which I have not studied

These folks are seated over the street, where they can view the traffic passing under, from the left in this picture.

Note the train wheels on the train tack under this seating.

The High Line train delivered food/produce to the third story, out of the way of traffic and pedestrians. Shown here, the train actually passed through some buildings.

Planting among the rails

Great place for children

Displays detail the history

Chalk art

Midway along the mile, looking over Chelsea, where we walked by busy ball parks, and finally to Good Foods store.

Roast turkey in a box and a Starbucks latte for supper before the train ride from Penn Station back to Summit, New Jersey.

Patriots' Day and Taxes

Paul Revere’s Ride

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1860.

"LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year."


Patriots' Day: a call for all American citizens to step up and pay their taxes without cheating, with gratitude for bravery of the patriots who served before us and all opportunities and blessings.


... And the running of the Boston Marathon!

Easter at St. Andrew's

Congregational singing of hymns: heart of participation by the people
FIVE Easter Hymns at the 10:00 worship service:

"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
"Alleluia! Alleluia!" (Hymn to Joy, Beethoven)
"I Am the Bread of Life"
"Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds"
"Thine is the Glory"

Liturgy leader: Pastor Sarah Breckenridge (a friend!)
Following the sermon, the senior pastor led the affirmation, "CHRIST is risen", "CHRIST is risen, indeed".
(a more life-giving focus than "HE" is risen)

American Sign Language interpreter (on the left)
Bell ringers
Children's choir

Women at the tomb pictured on the service bulletin
By Dr. He Qi, internationally known artist (China)

Music by orchestra, organ, piano, choir:

Prelude: "Coronation March"
"Worthy is the Lamb" from Handel's Messiah
"Simple Gifts" Aaron Copland (St. Andrew's Orchestra)
Postlude "Amen" from "Messiah"

St. Andrew's orchestra at the far left (beyond the altar)
Full senior choir processed to the chairs, bright in the sun, behind the altar
Easter garden of lilies and tulips

Crocus chorus in our yard to wish you a blessed Easter season

Maryland Signs

On I80 in eastern Ohio, car trip to the Annapolis marathon (see previous post.)

On the trail




On the wall of the high school hosting the expo and post-race activities

More signs on the trail



At the historic Annapolis State House, at one time serving as national capitol

Another sign in the school hallway

Art lives at this school!

Back on the trail


No dead ends on the trail. The entire course was well-defined and staffed with volunteers.

Marvelous spring day, March 4, temperature at noon on race day

B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon

Annapolis Striders' races on the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail
Holly along the trail

Runners gathering in the high school before the races

And the runners are off.....

Annapolis Striders' bunny mile makers

Kids cheering, bells and whistles

Many many Navy shirts, men and women runners

Go Navy Women!

Families came to cheer

Kids helped out with volunteer jobs.

Turned out to be a "high flying sky day" (poet John Ciardi)

This was absolutely the only evidence on the half marathon trail of recent rains.

Bridges on the trail are substantial.

DAFFODILS were abundant in the Annapolis area, along the trail and in ditches were no exception.

Last water stop!
Water stops were adequate for a chilly day.
And the very last water stop was enthusiastic and cheering until the last runners came by.
Yea Volunteers!

They did NOT run out of post-race food: oranges, whole bananas, bagels and cream cheese, pizza.

Post race party

Wonderful volunteers in charge of awards

Two half marathon finisher's medals
Oh sad, though, they ran out of full marathon finisher's medals, which will have to be mailed later.

For more information about the B&A Trail Marathon, see my Don's blog: minnesotadon.blogspot.com.