Instant Calm

This image I captured on a crisp morning in early June.  A couple months have elapsed since then but my love for this image has only intensified.  Why?  Let’s start with the extreme calm as everything is a mirror image, including the bridge, peer, homes, sky, water, landscape and clouds.  Instantly, when I look at the photo, it elicits a tranquil feeling in my being and I take a deep breath in and relax on the exhale...this happens without me thinking about it.  Ahhhh.  Such stillness and peace to sooth my soul that I want to share it right back into the universe.  Enjoy.

Love the Name

 Do you love uncommon words, clever phrases, puns, corny jokes, unique names and so on?  Of course, I do and that’s also the reason I bought the hosta that’s featured in the image below.  When I was strolling through the aisles of beautiful perennials, I was struck by this miniature hosta and its deep blue-green stems and leaves as they were tiny, compact and somewhat velvety.  Yes, I admit it was love at first sight but when I glanced at the name there was no doubt this little tike belonged with me.  So, I’m excited to introduce Blue Mouse Ears.  That title is spot on.  It makes me smile as I imagine a tiny rodent in this shade of blue....perhaps that would make a great children’s book....an entire family of mice all with velvety blue ears.  

Perfect Things

 

One of the things I've recently been more aware of is paying attention to the things that I naturally gravitate toward, including activities, things and places.  Clearly, if you follow my blog, my love of flowers, blooms, plants, trees, and leaves is obvious as I constantly photograph them and post them here.  It's a perfect fit.  

Another great catch was this piece of driftwood that I found while kayaking (another favorite thing).  It was the perfect size to grab from the water and place on the nose of my boat while I paddled back to the dock.  It's about 16" long and an inch and a half in diameter.  After a couple weeks to dry, I sanded the branch (by hand....yes, it's a good work out) with some sandpaper a neighbor graciously shared with me.  At that point it was so beautiful and soft that I just wanted to draw art tangles with some favorite markers.  Bingo!  That also was a perfect match as these colors and patterns are beautiful on this canvas. 

Ahhhh.  Some of my favorite things....they are perfect. 

They're Back

Hydrangeas

Although considered a shrub, it's still a showstopper with the enormous snowball-like blooms in vibrant colors.  They are also unique in that the soil pH impacts the flowers' colors.  From what I've read, a low soil pH allows the plant to absorb aluminum and that turns the blossoms blue.  And adding ground limestone increases the pH and the brilliance of red and pink blooms.  Nevertheless, there are a lot of experts with great information about these beautiful plants; however, I most enjoy seeing them all and photographing those huge clumps of brilliant petals all nestled side by side.  They are masterpieces just waiting for us to notice.

Simply Beautiful

 

Like some of you may experience, my mind races from one thought to the next and easily gets caught on so many hot topics that can really keep me distracted and feeling uneasy.  However, I can simply let all those thoughts come and go....by staying in the present and not getting stuck with all the emotions attached to those thoughts.  And, being in nature sure is helpful for being in the moment.  The image on this post is an example of one of nature's beautiful creations that recently appeared on my path -- just out of the blue this leaf that was riddled with holes from the beetles feasting on it.  How spectacular was the leftover portion -- it's lace.  So fragile and simply beautiful is this gift from Mother Nature.  Admiring this spectacular creation brought me back to the moment and made me feel grateful for all the magical things in my life.

Christmas on the River

Everyone in Iowa knows that December looks much different than the images featured in this post.  Usually there is snow, no leaves on the trees, ice on the river and boats are in storage.  So, that's the perfect reason to celebrate with all sorts of lights and costumes during the warm humid days in August.  For several years this has been an annual tradition on Lake Delhi, a stretch of the Maquoketa River that runs between the small towns of Manchester and Monticello on the eastern side of the state.

"Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart."

                                                                                       --The Polar Express

 

Summer

"Live in the sunshine.  

Swim in the sea.  Drink in the wild air."

                                                                                                     --Ralph Waldo Emerson

" 'Cause a little bit of summer is what 

the whole year is all about."

                                                                                                                               --John Mayer

Garden Stake

A few weeks ago one of my posts included a photo with me in my kayak and described some of what I encounter while on the river.  Another advantage of sitting about right on top of the water (in the kayak) is seeing everything on the surface, including all sorts of debris and trash.  So, sometimes if a floating object is easy to grasp, small enough to ride on the nose of the kayak and lightweight, I'll grab it.  And, I love doing that with small pieces of wood.  

The next step is drying time followed NOT by a trip to the burn pile but rather to be sanded and then to embellish it with a wood burning tool.  It's so simple and yet so beautiful.  No varnish or other harsh chemicals -- just the wood remains.  It's now a garden stake that includes one of my favorite phrases:  DISMUSBEDAPLACE.  Yes, that's equivalent to someone mumbling under his/her breath while driving in unfamiliar territory while trying to locate a particular destination and saying "This must be the place."  

Where did this come from?  Well, when I was a youngster and GPS and internet were not apart of our culture, my grandparents had a sign with the same phrase that was posted on a tree at the entrance to their cabin.  It stuck.  I loved it -- always have.  The original sign is long gone but it remains vivid in my memory. Now, whenever possible, I reuse the corny statement and post it at our cabin.  Currently, that beloved saying is on a sign on a shed greeting visitors, another on the deck, also on a small stone on the window sill just above the kitchen sink and now on this garden stake.  They are all perfect.

Table of Plenty

What do you get with a miniature picnic table, a couple ears of corn, a tree and a few ratchet straps?  A squirrel's paradise -- an easily accessible perch on which to feast on something you love that someone kindly provided. 

Really?  Is this a dream?  

When I first noticed this, I couldn't believe my eyes as most folks I know spend their time thinking of ways to keep squirrels OUT of bird feeders, especially during warm-weather months.  But this generous neighbor is a gracious host for the seemingly hundreds of squirrels in our neighborhood.  And, it made me wonder about all the different creatures of the forest who might feed at this buffet.   Indeed, it's a table of plenty but timing is everything as I'm certain the food disappears in an instant.