Time to get The Swimming Shorts, Smiles, and Splashing Out---It's the Last Days of Summer

These are the moments that will hold us through the long winter......goodbye summer, you're welcome back anytime, you were a pleasant guest.

Orange and Blue, Color Harmonies in Nature

Yes, some days I am quite stressed and think, " Come on, how much more can I handle?", but then there are days like today, a day without any other obligations than to give undivided attention to my son.

I don't have a pic., but I have a scene description to brighten your day and put things into happy perspective:

Bits and I picked up sticks in the yard, went down to the park and played and played, then came home for lunch outside sitting in chairs on the back walkway. As always, Bits takes a bite and then runs away distracted. He caught sight of something fluttering around, and in his blue shorts and orange shirt, he chased through the long grasses after a teasing monarch butterfly.

A true photographer would have had camera in hand to capture such visual harmony, but I am not a true photographer, I am a mom, sitting in the sun enjoying her little one find fun in the nature around us.

It's not Really Summer, Until you Lay in the Lake

Life has been more than a little busy, I am exhausted, and yesterday I ran out of chai tea. After an already long day, and a 3 mile walk (anyone know if it is really 3 miles around the lake here, or does it just feel like 3 miles), I had to go grocery shopping. I could not put my poor family through another day with me moving about without my morning (and afternoon) cup of chai.

Saturday, I helped out in the morning with a yard sale at our neighbor's home. We then splurged and went for lunch at the Deli and saw four(?) baby foxes in the ditch playing and enjoying the sun. Later we walked down to the beach and Bits splashed and splashed and laid down, fully clothed, in the water.

Today, I have a huge to-do list and am thinking I need to take a double dose of my vitamins to get through it. The bugs are here and biting and the sun is up and shining. We have ants making themselves at home, coming in right through the front door, and sandy clothes still hanging on the line out back--summer's here.

Swings, Slides, and Jungle Gyms

Every nice day should be a park day in Bit's book. Thursday was a park day. I try my best to take him down to the park on our little lake, every sunny day we get, but sometimes the time in a day gets eaten up with other silly things to do.

Bits is becoming skilled at the playground structures and could stay down there all day if I'd let him.

When was the last time you were on a swing? If you can't even remember, don't be shy, find a park and plant that behind down on a swing and feel your cares fly away.

We all Share the Same Sun

Look around and I can see the colors changing around me. From different professors, I was taught to look deeper, and see the true colors in an object, form, or landscape. Now surrounded by the beauty that is the U.P., I find myself catching all these colors and their changes throughout the day.

If you've been to our modest rental home, you know that we have a spectacular view, which I appreciate every day. I have to say I'm a couch potato, not that I sit and sit with the T.V. on (but, then, I do have those moments), but I sit and sit looking out the window.

When the sun comes up in the morning, the snow is tye dyed in blues and purples as the warm sun splatters it's compliments. As the sun sets in the evening, the sun streaks colors across the clouds and bounces those same colors against anything white or reflective. Yesterday, the icicles on the eaves absorbed some of this color play and I found myself taking it all in as the sun slipped away.

Ahhhh, to Do Nothing at All

I may be doing things (meaning a whole lotta nothing) less than blog worthy, but I still look up at my blue skies.

If I am up early enough, have opened the curtains, and drank at least a cup of coffee, I'll peek out the windows to see the sun coming up casting its warm orangey pinks on the snow. If my caffeine is really kicking in, I'll even tilt my head up to see the sky coming to life on a new day.

I captured these beauties the other morning. Save this pics. for yourself to view on those gray, cloudy days that remind us to expect more snow for many more weeks to come.

Smashing Pumpkins and Long Underwear

My Grandma G. called me out on not keeping up with my (almost) daily posts. I'm not sick or anything excuse worthy; I'm just really boring. I've been working on a super secret mission that I can't wait to share with y'all, but you'll have to remain in suspense on the edge of your computer chairs until after I share the surprise with the intended recipient.

The weather forecast gave us "abundant sun" the last few days. Bits and I took a walk into town on Monday and hit up our normal trendy spots; town hall to pay the utility bill, the post office for Mary and Child stamps, and his favorite locale, the library. The days have been bright and beautiful, but as soon as the sun starts to set, the temp. drops quickly and reminds me that I better go shopping for some long underwear soon (oh, didn't I tell you? -long underwear is sooo in this season).

Beautiful Sunday Lake has started forming a thin sheet of ice on-top. There are areas of open water and the overflow is still moving, but is noticeably slowing down.

Bacon and I took our pirate pumpkin friend and after removing his features, smashed him in the brush patch out back. If you're like me and still have a pumpkin on the porch and have an area where woodland creatures like to visit, smash your pumpkin and the little nibblers will make the most of this surprise treat.

Ooooo...Frosty!

This morning, the outside was covered with frost. Although frost normally means cold, it's different than waking up to a bunch of snow. Frost is sparkly, crisp, beautiful, and very much temporary.

You have to catch the really frosty sights before the sun is up long enough in the morning to warm the ground and melt it all off into plain, boring wetness.

Yes, it was cold this morning, but with frost adding a little beauty and the sun adding hope for a warm bright day, there will defintely be exploring to do.

The Sun Shines in the U.P. (at least on Wednesdays)

The sun is shining and all indicators are saying it'll be a beautiful day up here. Crisp, bright, and beautiful. True fall! After almost two weeks of rain, it's great to see the sun again. Dad's in town for a few days, so future blogs this week will document our explorations. Black River Harbor today? -Yes! Even on cloudy days, the changing leaves are a great sight to see, but should look much bolder with the full sunshine on them. Check out the picc of Beautiful Sunday Lake from M-28.
"Environment conscientious" moment- turn off any unnecessary lights, and let the sun shine it through open drapes. It'll brighten your mood and your room, and help to lower those silly electricity bills.