Neighborhood Walks, Runs and Rides in Quarantine

We have been going out for walks at least once, if not twice a day to try and relieve some of the cabin fever of staying at home. The kids and I always take Violet for a walk around 9:00 am, before we start on their schoolwork. Lately, we have been hearing a lot of the same bird calls around our neighborhood, often with a call-and response of two or more birds singing the same song. We've heard it so much that we've memorized it, and we've even been able to spot the birds singing too. With a little detective work, we figured out that we are hearing the white-crowned sparrow, which pulses a repetitive tone that sounds like "seeee me, pretty, pretty, pretty meee."

I hope as we continue to listen to bird calls during our neighborhood walks that we'll be able to distinguish them. We bought a bird guide that sits near our windowsill, so we can identify the birds that come to our birdfeeders.

I've been trying to expand my running and biking routes in the neighborhood, so I can explore new streets and see something different. Last weekend I took a bike ride above Kennydale Elementary. And now that the Eastside Rail trail is closed for non-essential use, I've needed to be even more creative. Yesterday I took a four mile run and went to-and-from Hazelwood Elementary (except my going up the very steep hill at more of a sluggish jog than a run).

The spring flowers and trees have kept my spirits up as I've been outside. I am sad that I haven't been able to see the cherry blossoms at UW or the Skagit Valley tulips this season, but I'm trying to appreciate what flowers are available around me.

This is the magnolia tree in my neighbor's yard, just two houses away. It needs pruning and isn't quite as elegant as the magnolia on my work campus, but it still has been a delight to see (even from Lucy's bedroom window).

This white tree on is around the block from us, on a street that parallels our own. We often pass it on walks with Violet, and it has been one of my favorite things to see, with its exuberant white blossoms.

The trails are closed, but the closest thing we have been able to enjoy is this path lined with wood chips in the neighborhood just west of ours, near the water.

This is the tree that I saw on my run to Hazelwood Elementary, just near the school. I felt really happy on this run, because I had just finished a Zoom chat with my college friends and Ben Brinton, so we could wish Ben a happy birthday. I hadn't chatted with Ben for over a decade, so it was really nice to see him.

I took this picture today on our Easter walk. We drove to a neighborhood near The Summit in Bellevue, to try and get a nice view of the area. We ended up parking by a marsh with dozens of croaking frogs, and this cheerful tree was growing in a house not far away. We are a little tired of walking in our same neighborhood every day, so it was especially nice to walk around in a new place.