Wordless Wednesday. . .or before she was a doctor

Good things come to those who bait.

Minnesotans fish year round [seriously!] so its not unusual to walk past a lake and see at least one or two fishing boats out. This cloudy day, White Bear Lake was loaded with sailboats. . .and then I spied these bass fishermen with a little guy in a red rain jacket between them. Some days red just pops out at me--and I have Mary the Teach to thank for that and her colorful meme Ruby Tuesday. Do stop by!

silent yet knowing

I captured the lake in repose on one of the few days we've had with sunshine and without wind. What you can't see is the little muskrat that ferries himself across from shore to shore, usually with a big mouthful of dandelions, roots and all.

Enjoy more beauty from around our dear planet at Skywatch Friday.

In silence and movement you can show the reflection of people.

Marcel Marceau

She's here!

In homage to summer: two wild, green and wonderful signs of summer. Visit Today's Flowers and celebrate the first day of summer!

To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a

Book it lie -
True Poems flee.
Emily Dickinson

you're it!

Behold the illusive Great Blue Heron reluctant to give up his prime fishing spot along the lake.[I'm especially fond of the long feather that sweeps off his crown.] Visit Camera Critters for more beauty.

compare and contrast

This is a bend on the trail that is a favorite of mine because of the stately birch trees--and the fact that it marks a half way point on my walk.

On the right is how it looked in late winter before the leaves appeared. . .and much greener in early June. It is a lovely spot to look up at the sky in any season and once in awhile a deer will be hiding in the dense undergrowth.

See more sky views at Skywatch Friday.

Note to self:

Smile first, ask questions later.

wordless Wednesday

[note guy on the left]

red abounding

This tulip's last hurrah seemed elegant enough to capture in a neighbor's yard in May.

Fast forward to this weekend where we wandered around an annual vintage motorcycle show. This gorgeous Indian from the 1950's was one of my favorites.

Enjoy more reds here.

the secret to life

Another rainy day, with no end in sight, plus a new experience for me: riding my bicycle home in a downpour this morning without upending, arriving home soaked yet humbled. So I humbly submit today's Rhyme's with Orange by Hilary Price. Who knew that the secret could be so, umm, simple?!

Happy Monday, All!

from the North Star state

Looking north this was the sky I saw above our apartment: busy little clouds headed up higher and higher. See more sky action at Skywatch Friday.

word-less Wednesday

Taking Georgia O'Keefe's advice, I looked deep inside this poppy and found the most beautiful shade of purple! And to think this little 'crepe paper 'beauty was in a flower bed at a rest area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I'm sure there's a message in there somewhere. . . see more here.

turtle yoga

or how to stand out in a crowd. I caught these guys sunning themselves at the Minnesota Zoo awhile ago. This is the dangerous season for turtles to be crossing roads to find the best spot to lay eggs. I wish them well.
See more brave and wonderful critters at Camera Critters.

singin' the blues

The sky may be blue but it changes from state to state. I took this photo of the contrail filled sky over where Erica's neighborhood in D.C. as we were leaving for Philadelphia after graduation.
This was the Eastern Pennsylvania sky I saw over the carpeted rolling hills near Wilkes Barre after we left Philadelphia for home.

Back home in the Midwest I took this view of the big sky and flat terrain of Illinois on the way north to Minnesota.

See more panoramic views of the 'big blue' at Skyview Friday.

I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.
Maya Angelou

she's gonna fly now

Under the radar for the past two weeks, we're back from an incredible experience. On May 23rd our youngest daughter, Erica Joy, graduated from Georgetown School of Medicine as a doctor of emergency medicine. Pride, joy, love, excitement, memories. . .these words barely scratch the surface of our emotions as we watched her move across the stage and into her new life after four grueling and incredible years.
The benediction for the commencement included a plea to the Creator on behalf of the 'young warriors' to 'look down and call them to do extraordinary things' using 'their own deep gladness which can meet the desperate needs of the world.' They left DAR Constitution Hall to the theme from Star Wars--fitting battle music!
We helped her move to Philadelphia the next week where she will begin three years of residency at Hahnemann University Hospital. When Erica was little I used to raise her little toddler arms singing the theme from the film Rocky because she was such a tough, energetic and curious creature. Little did I know she'd start her career in the same city years later. Life is sweet that way.