Barbara Friehs - On the way to work

A woman pedals calmly along a winding road, her bicycle cutting a gentle line through a landscape bursting with color. The hills roll in shades of turquoise, coral, and sunlit gold, as if the land itself were painted with joy rather than realism. Wildflowers blur into ribbons of red, violet, and yellow along the roadside, and the sky above glows with layered blues and soft pinks, suggesting either early morning or a dreamlike dusk.

Just ahead of her, a small penguin crosses the street with quiet determination, its black-and-white form delightfully out of place against the warm, vibrant scenery. The woman slows, her posture relaxed and amused, as if she accepts this unlikely encounter as perfectly natural. The moment feels whimsical and serene—an intersection of everyday life and gentle absurdity—capturing a sense of curiosity, kindness, and the magic of unexpected pauses along life’s journey.