word-less Wedn.

 Same gate but two different seasons,

.

 months apart from each other. Open more gates at ABC Wednesday here.

Be nice to nerds.

Chances are you'll end up working for one.

 Bill Gates

summer skies

Green calm below, blue quietness above. John Greenleaf Whittier

Minnesota farm roads and ominous clouds--a skywatcher's dream! More beautiful skies to see at Skywatch Friday.

F is for goldFINCH

 

Around here they're called wild canaries, but are part of the finch family. They frequent our feeders and we've enjoyed watching their feathers turn to this bright yellow from their duller colors during the winter. Their eggs hatch toward the end of summer which has filled the feeders and airways with bright, flitting bits of color and commotion. Capable of flying and singing at the same time [something to admire and emulate], they love thistle when it goes to seed. These photos aren't the best but I was glad to catch a glimpse of this guy's thistle-down frenzy. Not dainty, yet so acrobatic.

Another famous Finch. . .Atticus

More fun words at ABC Wednesday.

I had only heard about this drive-in and yesterday on a late-August, early-early fall Sunday afternoon we rode around Lake Minnetonka and on to Delano, a little farm town west of Minneapolis. There it sat in all it's pink glory! The Peppermint Twist drive-in is pretty famous in these parts, and was even featured on the Food Network a few times. Its all about bears, famous red raspberry shakes, free juke box and car hops. To keep things in the red family, there's Dave on the right waiting for me, as usual.

We had soft ice cream cones and played Roy Orbison, Jan & Dean, the Sufaris and Beach Boys on the juke box. Did that date us sufficiently?!

I'm thinking about Ruby Tuesday for more delicious reds.

hazy, crazy days of summer

A perfect day in August:

lazy morning clouds at sunrise burning off into a hazy blue sky the rest of the day.

We treasure these hazy mornings and clear days up north knowing fall is in the air, showing itself in the cool morning air.

More cool skies can be visited at Skywatch Friday. 

Farewell, Klaus!

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted.  John Lennon

beauty and the beast

You thought maybe I was kidding?

These are all photos I took on walks last week, gathering bits of August to remember...then I ran into this guy guarding his house and bird feeders. Scary. Sometimes life is just too funny, eh?
Have more red fun @ Ruby Tuesday.

Johnny Depp meets Skywatch

Sunday the motorcycle took us to WineHaven Winery in Chisago City for a wine tasting. O.K., so the first state that comes to mind when you think wine isn't usually Minnesota, but this winery only imports grapes for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the rest come from this beautiful little valley.

 

Below is the sky view across a corn field leaving the winery. All in all a perfect day for a ride, a sip or two of rhubarb wine or honey mead, a jazz trio backed by incredibly blue skies and lakes.

See more skies from all over our dear planet @ Skywatch Friday. 

Wino Forever

Johnny Depp's tattoo once read 'Winona Forever'
 

D is for Damson

as in plums. I took this photo when I lived in Chicago. Walking through Hyde Park to catch the train each day, I always passed one house with a small plum tree next to the front gate. Season by season I'd watch them grow from blossoms to these beauties. Then one day, just like that, when I'd walk by to admire them, they'd be gone! Probably already in jars on the counter.

For more tasty D words visit ABC Wednesday.

Hesitate in August.
Be shy.
Let your toes tremble in their sandals.

Ann Sexton

Here's to a new day in a new month full of golden possibilities. Enjoy--and do let your toes tremble!

more beauty here.

a sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind

For Skywatch Friday I give you an illustration of our summer--and maybe yours too:  humidity (note the hazy trees), white skies and a hot wind. I took this in July at White Bear Lake.

Happy August!

quote by Webb Chiles

delicious C's

 Canna Lilies (a divine color; I've only known red before), cleome and a cosmos or two--

along with a bite of my Creme Brulee. If you want more C's to make you happy, check out ABC Wednesday.

a little gift on Tuesday