Monday Morning Musings:
We measure time in sunglow and moon-sighs,
in the numbers of hellos, goodbyes–
and we do it again.
Morning Moon 
Sunrising over Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield.
We measure time in heartbeats,
the food we eat,
the hours spent with friends,
our hair greying,
our shadows growing
as wine in summer glows, easygoing
like a lazy river flowing
the memories growing—
love, family, companions—
Do you remember? I say,
that time, this day?
We celebrate the decades gone
and hope that more remain,
though nothing stays the same.
Still, the sun glows, the moon sighs,
hello, goodbye. Love moves through phases,
so do I. Waxing, waning, silver, gold, while the sun blazes
I might seem cold,
but I’ll still shine while you grow old.
So, measure time in love you hold
folded gently, held within–every story told.
We celebrated our wedding anniversary by walking through Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in Bucks County, PA, and then having a delightful lunch at Martine’s Riverhouse in New Hope. We walked through the town a bit, and then walked along the canal path. We couldn’t have ordered a more beautiful day. Earlier in the week, we enjoyed wine with dear friends at William Heritage Winery. On Saturday, we visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the first time since the pandemic, and then walked along the Schuylkill River. It rained, and then got steamy. For dinner that night, we opened some champagne and ate Indian food from Spice Affair Indian Cuisine in Swedesboro. Then ate leftovers the next night.
Common Blue Damsel Fly 
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve 
New Hope
Philadelphia Museum of Art 
Merril’s Movie Club: We re-watched the movie About Time (2013). It’s on Netflix. I’m not especially into romantic comedies, but this one is delightful. There’s time travel, family, and searching for love. I will watch almost anything with Bill Nighy, and the father-son scenes are especially touching and funny.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Your anniversary photographs are glorious. You chose a wonderful place to celebrate and to share with us. May you have many more.
Huge Hugs
What a delightful post: from the poetry to the photos, all of it lovely.
Thank you so much, Dale! 💙
My pleasure! 🧡
It looks like you’ve been celebrating in style, as you should. I love how you describe the changing seasons of love and life!
Thank you very much, Ingrid.
We didn’t go away, so we decided to do a fun day trip. 😀
Loved this!!!! So beautiful! And, I love the photos too…so uplifting! 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda!💙
It looks and sounds like you had a picture perfect anniversary celebration, Merril. Beautiful musings and photographs today. Your husband is always so animated. He seems to enjoy having his picture taken. 😉
Thank you so much, Jill. We were so fortunate to have such a beautiful day.
I don’t know if he really likes his picture taken, he just acts goofy if he sees I’m taking one. 😀
Such beautiful photos, Merril! And I love the ones of you and your husband. You make the life of couples our age look so wonderful! xo
Thank you very much, Luanne! ❤️
It’s easy to take beautiful photos when the setting is so lovely. 😀
Well, it does make it easiER!!!
😀
You (and Doug) are making your mark on the river of time. Besides Doug’s antics, my favorite photo is of the window closeup in New Hope. I agree with Luanne. ;-D
Thank you very much, Marian! We were just walking by that shop, and I said that’s so pretty, I need to take a picture. 😀
What a wonderful weekend. Thanks for taking me along. (and your photos get better and better) (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe. It truly was a beautiful weekend.
Love this: “So, measure time in love you hold / folded gently, held within–every story told.” Thanks! I hold love for those I’m with and also for those who’ve gone on ahead of me – we are still connected, just on different planes.
Thank you so much, Pat.
That’s it exactly! I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents and others who are gone. 💙
Having someone to measure time with is the best part of this.
ALL of these photos are fabulous, Merrill, but especially the sunrise and the stone structure.
Thank you so much, Ken. You are so right about having someone to measure time with.
I think the stone structure you mean is at the “new pond” at Bowman’s Hill. It’s very pretty with a sort of meadow around it. There’s an old pond and streams throughout the preserve.
A beautiful post evoking the memories of a shared lifetime. As you know we had a huge hiatus in ours but we share our early ones and filling in the gaps has made those we didn’t experience together part of our individual psyches
Thank you very much, Derrick.
You and Jackie have a beautiful relationship.
🙂
Thank you for sharing the pictures celebrating your marriage. I love the poem. I’ve never thought about shared history in quite this way before.
Thank you very much, Liz. 💙
I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents, ancestors, long-time friendships, and this year–as well as our anniversary.
You’re welcome, Merril. I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents and my brother lately. Our shared history is gone.
I’m sorry, Liz. That’s rough. It’s funny two when my sisters and I compare memories that we remember different things. And my brother is so much older that he had a whole different experience with our grandparents and parents.
My brother, my dad, and I were in sync with what we remembered, my mother and I not so much. Apparently, she was in survival mode when George and I were children because we were so mischievous.
Interesting. I’m not sure I ever compared memories (or don’t remember) with my parents and siblings like that. My younger sister, my niece (who we call our sister), and I were recently sharing memories of my dad. My niece didn’t have a father, so she always called him Daddy, but she was a little kid when I was grown and married.
Happy anniversary congratulations~
Thank you so much!
A splendid post about a most wonderful day, your anniversary!
I like the mural, Merril!!!!
Thank you, Resa! We had such beautiful weather (on the actual day).
I was hoping you’d see the mural. 😀
I did see the mural! I adore it.
I’m hooked on art we get to see outdoors! 😀
I know you are! There’s a lot of public art in Philadelphia.
I know! Philadelphia is well known for its murals. One day, I hope to get there!
We’re talking about the mural tour with friends last night. 😀
OMG! You’re taking a mural tour?
Our friends took one awhile ago–a bus tour. I want to do one at some point, but we don’t have tickets yet.