Déjà vu

July 29, 2013

July 29, 2013 Photo of the day: "Déjà vu"

Every year when we shop for annuals for the planters,

Eric always chooses African daisies (Osteospermums).

They are so clean & pretty. I never tire of them.

Love from Above

July 28, 2013

July 28, 2013 Photo of the day: "Love from Above"

When I was a little girl and I saw a sky like this,

rays of light shining down through the clouds,

I thought it was a glimpse of Heaven;

God and His angels looking down on me.

I believed that my grandparents and loved ones

who had passed away were watching over me,

and every once and a while, with a sky like this,

they were letting me know that they were there.

Now that I'm all grown up, I still believe that...

Hi Dad! XOXO

50° in July

July 27, 2013

July 27, 2013 Photo of the day: "Cozy"

It's 50° today...in July!

It's the perfect day for a cup of tea & a good book!

I can't put this one down:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Over the Rainbow

July 26, 2013

July 26, 2013 Photo of the day:

"Over the Rainbow"

I love a good summer storm: the dramatic approach of dark clouds, the thunder and lightning, the steady rhythm of rain on the roof and downspouts. Today's storm brought temperatures in the sixties (over thirty degrees cooler than last week) and enough rain to satiate our lawn and garden. This afternoon, I watched the sky darken in the east as the sun broke through the clouds in the west. A prismatic sheet of rain fell straight down, illuminating a rainbow on the horizon. I used to draw pictures like this when I was a little girl: fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky and a vivid rainbow that allowed me to use all of the beautiful crayons in the box!

Queen Anne's Lace

July 25, 2013

July 25, 2013 Photo of the day: "Queen Anne's Lace"

In honor this week's arrival of His Royal Highness

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

I present the most regal of wildflowers.

Trivial fact of the day: Queen Anne's Lace,

Daucus carota, actually belongs to the carrot family.

Nagawicka

July 24, 2013

July 24, 2013 Photo of the day: "Nagawicka"

Eight years ago, we had our wedding reception here at Seven Seas on the shores of Lake Nagawicka. It's a beautiful venue, but I didn't know that there is also a French song about Nagawicka, until our French friends came to visit us a few summers ago. Julia, then 3 years old, who proudly refers to me as her "American Auntie", began singing the song with her papa each time that we passed the lake. How fun that there is a French song about a Native American (albeit a bit passé/non-pc) and a lake right here in Wisconsin!

Un petit Indien, un petit Indien

Nagawicka, Nagawicka

Chantait gaiement sur le chemin

Nagawicka, Nagawicka

Quand je serai grand, quand je serai grand

Nagawicka, Nagawicka

J'aurai un arc et un carquois

Nagawicka, Nagawicka

Avec mes flèches, avec mes flèches

Nagawicka, Nagawicka

Je chasserai le grand bison

Nagawicka, Nagawicka