77 degrees in February

                                Walden Pond
                                Concord, Massachusetts


 Children filled pails with sand and emptied them and filled them again. They swished the water with tree limbs and waded ankle deep

    A thin layer of ice melted leaving holes for the water to seep out

    Mothers shared their beach blankets with coolers and tote bags filled with  sandwiches and snacks

    Four boys cast their fishing rods into open water and waited for nibbles

   Walkers circled the pond, some sat on rocks, some settled down and read,a few brought sketch pads or journals—perhaps to record the day