Signs

Everywhere I look I see signs that the summer season is almost over.  It goes so swiftly.  Heat, humidity, and life changing events all occurred in the space of the 3 months we call summer.  The heat and humidity does not need to be discussed, I have moaned about it enough.  The life changing events between placing my husband in a Memory Care facility and our 43 year old son announcing his marriage plans have been like see-saw events.  One is "go tell it on the mountains" joyful and the other was filled with a sadness I have never experienced before.  To see the one you love's memories and everything about him that you fell in love with so many years ago just gone is heart wrenching.  It was time to let him go to a place that can care for him better than I could continue to.  But with the sadness comes the joy and that joy is spelled Lane and Nellie.  They are so happy.  I may have lost a husband to Alzheimers, but I am gaining a beautiful daughter-in-law thru marriage. 

As I drove up to visit with my husband yesterday I noticed how different the fields looked from just a week ago.  The corn stalks are beginning to turn that soft golden brown and instead of seeing hundreds of white billowing Queen Anne's Lace I am now seeing eye popping fields of goldenrods.  They are seen everywhere, along the roads, in the fields, along the ditches.  They are definitely a sign that summer is coming to an end. 

Last week I walked along the Riverwalk and saw more signs that summer is at an end......

The local swimming pool is now empty....

One of the newer hybrids of  Coneflowers, I thought I could find the name of this beauty, but there are over 30 varieties of coneflowers now.  Golly, remember when a coneflower was pink and that was it!!?? Now they come in various shades of pink, purple, soft yellows, oranges, reds and the list goes on and on.  I added a couple of textures to this and thought it was a wowser of a color to represent fall a'comin. 

Even the sunflowers are beginning to fade...  Sharing with Macro Flowers Saturday.

Apples and pears at the Farmer's Market, a sure sign that summer is over and the new sights, smells, and tastes of autumn are emerging.  I am looking forward to the changing of the seasons, my summer has been filled with too much emotion.  I am ready to enjoy the loveliness of the Fall, the bright hues, the crunch of leaves, warm sweaters, the smell of a pot of chili cooking on the stove, the taste of a good apple.  Hope your summer has been filled with good things and that Fall brings even better. 

"One joy scatters a hundred griefs."  -  Chinese Proverb

Until next time......

The Trip to the French Market

Before I begin I just have to tell you that I am excited about a new hole in the ceiling. We had an attic fan and a whole house fan installed today. I don't know why we waited this long to take the plunge. I grew up in Dallas, TX and I remember my Dad installing one of these...we did not have central air-conditioning, just 2 window air conditioners, one in the dining room and one in the parents bedroom. Most nights we had the whole house fan running and it kept us totally comfortable. In fact, most nights by 3:00 AM it would get so cool in the house we would turn the fan off. And I am talking Dallas, TX in the summertime. Our new fan is running, I can feel the cool air coming thru the windows and it is glorious.  None of us have ever had allergies (thank God) so keeping the windows open is the preferred method in this household, we have to keep them shut so long in the wintertime that to keep them closed all summer with air-conditioning just feels too confining.  No picture of the hole in the ceiling, just know that there is a big smile on my face.





Saturday morning we headed to the French Market in Wheaton, IL.  The French Market is really just a fancy name for a farmer's market.  Altho they do have more than just produce....jewelry, purses, cosmetics, soaps, bakery products, etc. etc. I was so pleasantly surprised that there was so much fresh produce this early in the summer.

I bought corn, tomatoes, asparagus, and peaches.  The peaches were the best I have had since I bought them here last summer. 

It is hard to resist buying the beautiful flowers that are in abundance.



A nursery from Michigan always has a wonderful display of the latest perennials that are in bloom.

There is even entertainment...this lovely lady had a beautiful voice and drew alot of attention. 

Shoes....of every kind.  I think the girl in the middle probably is wearing the smartest choice, but not with the black socks, definitely not with the black socks.

I laughed when I saw this little cutie's shirt.  I thought it said useless....but I think it was saying "use less" 

There were people laughing.....

People not laughing....looking way too serious for the French Market on a Saturday morning 

There were tall thin people and short not so thin people.....



These girls were just having a great time...they were all friends and all twelve years old...oh to be that young again.  They were all so cute and so willing to have their pictures taken.  I find that most people are just delighted that you want to take their pictures.  Look at the smiles on their faces. 

This young man had just graduated from the Moody Bible Institute college and is returning to his hometown of Cleveland, OH to teach at a christian academy.  He was a happy, happy man.  Again, delighted that I wanted to take his picture. 

We will return again to the French Market, it is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning.

"Every single day do something that makes your heart sing."  -  Marcia Wieder

Until next time......(comments are always welcome)