Thursday, July 17, 2014

Perfect


After coffee and a chocolate croissant at B&N with my gal pals I wanted no part of going home and doing something constructive like laundry.  It was a bell-ringer kinda day with large pouffy clouds, mild temps and soft breezes so I headed to the Arboretum, along with a zillion kids.  I think they are having a kids camp thingy this week, thus the amount of hyper active children.  They were acting exactly the way I felt....running barefoot, laughing, playing in the pools of water, sliding down the ramps, and no, I did none of these things, but in my young heart I was right there with them.

But what I did do was find beauties like this.....


And this...these are different kinds of bees that I have flying in my yard.  Mine (yeah right, like I have any control over the bees in my yard) are big, fat, bright yellow with black stripes...this one is more honey colored.  No clue as to the different types of bees, but know enough not to bother them.  They are super important to our environment so I am always delighted to see bees whatever kind they are.


And I was really surprised to see the sunflowers already in bloom....usually an August sighting.


Pretty, pretty pink hydrangeas....my pink hydrangeas didn't wake up this year.  The bush is full of bright green leaves but not one single bloom....drats.


Looks like a new type of cone flower with it's yellow/lime tips.


And a lazy frog, just soaking up the sunshine....



My contribution to TexWiseGirl's "Good Fences" meme for the week....


All in all it was....


"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." ~Sam Keen

Until next time.....

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Just Not Enough Time...


OK, if that entrance didn't stop you, thanks.  I got a new "do" a little while back and am having just a tad bit of a time getting used to the "new" look.  For years I was a curly top gal....couldn't live without a perm.  But I am kinda likin' the no curl look and it sure is much easier to take care of. So I ask myself...what took me so long?  But I promise you I have more wrinkles than what is showing up above.  In Lightroom I lowered the clarity thus giving me that kinda soft look.  Heh, when you get to my age, a little softness in Lightroom is sometimes just the right touch.

OK, definitely enough about me.  How is your summer?  Mine is moving too swiftly, in a blink of an eye the kids will be back in school and we will start hearing Christmas songs.  And if you are wondering why I am not blogging it's simple.  I am spending as much time as possible outside...soaking in the warmth, the sunshine, the breezes before Ole Man Winter makes his appearance again.  I have definitely not stopped my photography, so let me share some of what I have captured this summer.

I have found these winged beauties in my back yard.





I went to Milwaukee on the 4th of July where my grandson and his wife live (the one that is expecting my first great grandchild in about a month...oh be still my heart!).  First he took us to his new office where he spends his days being a creative graphic designer...


They only live about 2 1/2 blocks from Lake Michigan so we strolled down to the beach, along with about a trillion others to watch the fireworks.


About 2 weeks ago my granddaughter, Bailey and I took a drive through the country.  There was a threat of rain for most of the day but we still had a great time together.  We plan on doing some more "backroading" together soon.  I kinda freaked her out when I stopped in the middle of the road and jumped out to snap a shot, but I assured her I only do that on less traveled roads.  After about the 3rd time she settled down but was still nervous when we drove thru some questionable neighborhoods.


We have had so much rain this summer (beating records again) that the corn looks like it is on steroids.  The farmer's markets should be loaded with those delicious ears very shortly.  For the past 2 Saturdays I have wanted to check out our local markets but I was in Milwaukee a week ago and last Saturday it was pouring rain (again).  And because of the extreme wetness I missed another outdoor concert, but we decided to go to the movies instead and saw "Chef".  What a delight, highly recommend.


The daylilies are in full bloom now


As well as the cone flowers.....


I have had great fun in photographing children and families.....




So thus when I have been on the computer it has been editing and putting together these family packages with not so much blogging.  I have decided that there is definitely not enough time in my days to enjoy it all.

I do appreciate all that stop by and leave me some sweet comments and I hope that in the future I will be more responsive.  As I said, just not enough time in my days to do all that I want and "need" to do.

"Be/Accept/Value/Forgive/Bless/Express/Trust/Love/Empower....Yourself. " ~ unknown

Until next time.....