Here’s the view from the terrace at the back of my apartment … over the Leie River to the Ghent River Hotel and beyond.

Ever since moving here, I’ve loved the red brick, the red tile rooves, the long view to homes far away.  Take the round smokestack on the hotel building.  It’s so round!  And old!  And symmetrical!

At least it was a perfect cylinder … until a plant started growing on the left end.  At first I was offended by the momentum of nature.  I no longer had the balance I enjoy.

As I matured into Gent residency over the last few months, I came to accept the thrust of greenness at the top of my smokestack.  I tolerated it.

But then there was yesterday.  Perhaps I’ve been blind for the last two weeks but I hadn’t noticed the blossoms.  Yellow!  Brilliantly so.

Sudden beauty

A shock to the system

Being at home