As usual on sunny days, I’m paying a lot of attention to shadows, and thinking about shadows often calls to mind these words from A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended—
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
Although Shakespeare is referring to the characters as shadows or perhaps the actors, I’m wondering whether we’re the ones who are shadows. But if so, who is slumbering and seeing visions? When I go down that path, I get all snarled up. Better back off.
Today I was planning to share light and darkness in the form of photos going back to Easter (which seems a long, long time ago for some reason), including photos of shadows. Doesn’t the picture above make you think of a New England painter best known for projecting loneliness?
Sandra M. Kelly sent pictures of the Easter Sunrise Service in New Shoreham and a statue that the folks on the island call Rebecca. Please note she’s wearing her mask.
I used a Sharpie for my hard-boiled eggs this Easter as I had no dye. There were 8 other Easter eggs representing the people who would have come here but for coronavirus. We ate them. 🙂
Kristina Joyce shot the cactus. It bloomed for her twice this Easter. She told me that had never happened before.
On April 18, we had snow, which surprised the flowering bushes at my neighbor’s. The Trout Lilies persevered.
There follow random items that caught my eye on my walks. The mystery vegetable arrived with my farm produce order Thursday. It turned out to be ramps (as in the awesome history of Appalachia called Ramp Hollow) and we sauteed the whole thing, minus roots. We saw online that you don’t cultivate ramps. They need to be foraged. They tasted like a very sharp onion.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Lovely thoughts, and lovely images to accompany them–thank you.
And if we are the shadows, who are the “gentles” that we might have offended with our weak and idle theme? (Heading off into the weeds again!)
Love this post. We, too.
Always fun to hear from you, Gail. Thanks for reading.
You have a nice collection of photos here.
Well, I appreciate that as you are a serious photographer and I point and shoot with a phone!
Trust me, some photos on my blog are iPhone snaps too.
Yes, Edward Hopper. I feel as though this country has had “a weak and idle theme” for quite a while. Those eggs are mighty cute. Always enjoy seeing the various pictures.
LOL. Laughed at your comment about the nation’s weak and idle theme!
Love your photos
Thanks, Patti. I enjoy the photos you post on Instagram and Facebook. Especially those energetic grandchildren!
Deb, who blogs at https://abearsthimble2.wordpress.com/ sent this: “I love the photo of grandma and Morfar. 😊 so enjoyed the tulips,that’s a plant that doesn’t do well here. Lovely post!!!”
You may know this, but “Morfar” means “Mother’s Father” in Swedish, so we use that with Suzanne’s kids, who are half Swedish. I am Mormor with that family and Grandma with John’s family.