summertime

at day, hot. in the evening, warm. at night, breezes.

cicadas & fireflies.

eating out of the garden.



















handfuls of purple coneflower.

and in a couple of days, a pool party with fireworks.

kansas june saturday

evening at my brother's. kids ran around in swimsuits.
except my nephew, determined to be naked.
friends. family. beer. food. soft summer air. cool in the shade.
a hayrack ride. without the hay. and with an old smelly tractor.
wheat is ready to harvest.
soybeans are just coming up.



















my smiley niece. in a dress that I made for her.
she's more than just cute.

bicycle dreams

this western "fairway" flyer didn't sell at my neighbor's garage sale. so, they had put it on the curb for trash.

I walked by it and couldn't pass.

she's a little heavy. and a little rusty. but when I sat on the seat, seemed to be a perfect fit.
so now she waits, in my garage. for someone to make her pretty again. so I can go for a ride.

one day. dream a little dream.

june time

june.
it starts right after I turn another year older. gasp.
it gets hot. you "have" to turn on the a/c for the first time.
and then it rains. and everything is cool again.
you get your first sunburn.
and you remember that with the amazing growing garden you have, you also have gangly, indestructible, chameleon weeds.















a new dress for little A.
sewing for myself, just not as much fun.



















learning to grow tomatoes in pots.
in effort to get more sun.















sweet peppers.















and that basil, is happily in the ground. (but, somebody has been munching on my marigolds)

may weekend

some things mother nature has going on for my birthday.

so along with a pretty bouquet from my mom, a lovely fantastic spa afternoon with friends, and a late morning of pancakes and sunbathing, I've had a good weekend. and I've got presents, a manicure & pedicure, and a sunburn to show for it. and it hasn't quite ended yet. since I still have dinner, and have yet another day off from work tomorrow.

thanks everyone, who wouldn't let me forget today.

storms and sunsets

this afternoon rolled in a big storm. of the sort I imagine we only see in Kansas. heavy, dark, warm, humid, then all of a sudden filled with cold wind. clouds billowing. and then the rain falls.
and you wonder if the hail will. and you listen.















and it all filters away. leaving everything wet. and with different anticipation.
after it tumbled out, the sun went down. and as it did, I tried to capture the glow it left on my house.

and now for the weekend.

into may days

I had decided to thin out my geranium population & thrown one into my compost pile. this one has decided to continue living.

I always forget how rainy early May is. I managed to get my tomatoes planted, and some zinnia seeds. but all else, still waits. I know it will be warm soon enough.

knowing that I'll be a part of the now, 2nd annual, Garden tour this year. means I keep thinking about July.

in the meantime, being stuck inside means I should go clean my bathroom.

on the agenda for the summer, getting back onto my bike. I've even found a kind bicycle-y soul who will get it tuned up & fixed for me.

happy mother's day to all my motherly figures out there.