Summer Above & Below

A storm system that rolled through yesterday had spectacular cloud formations. Along Route 7 going north out of Middlebury, the vista is quite far enough to see a huge sky cloud garden. I waited to stop for pictures until I reached a turn off area in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.

Field and woods
very low clouds moving eastward

Pull over near Rt7 & Rt 22A
I stopped there to take photos.
Looking southward

Looking northward

And then, arriving home the resident toad greets me.

In the summer, subjects to photograph are as good as any perfect autumn day. Yet, when I scan through photo folders, there are far more fall pictures than any other time of year.  

As an amateur photographer, a seasonal balance hasn’t captured my attention. A autumnal moody forest interesting me more than a muddy trail with bare branches in spring, is the balance I naturally achieve. Although I see the beauty in both, the vibe of fall fills my soul. 

However, autumn use to be my very favorite season, but it is giving way to the warmth of summer. Old bones needing life less cold is my guess on that. 

How about you? Does one season over another capture your attention more?

What a sieve does

First thing this morning, I am happy to know today there are errands to do. The same errands that I mis-thought I had to do when I woke up yesterday, Sunday. (Saturday is a blank.)

Weekends are sieves the week falls through. 

I had 3 errands to do today. After doing the first two, I forgot to take care of the third one. Once home, I am not keen on going back out. Age, not fit enough or both, I always feel exhausted after errands. 

Doing errands is a part of life that I believe is more important as we age and/or our social circle becomes smaller.  Out and about we see people, catch up, make new friends, see interesting things and in general, contribute to as we absorb the community atmosphere. Value in that, I feel, is immense whether we are readily aware of it or not. 

• Plan errands for efficiency
• Make a list if need be
• Always check before going out the door that you have everything you need. There’s no sense returning a book to the library when you left it at home. 😎

A Saturday in August 2026

Big clouds, breezy, hazy blue horizons, today in this just about northern part of Vermont and Upstate New York, it is a day to be out before the a storm passes through the Champlain Valley.  

After a short trip to Middlebury, I decide to take pictures of boats on Lake Champlain from Fort Frederic at the Crown Point State Historic Site.  I haven’t been out much this summer not wanting to drive far. Well, scrap the usual by the lake photo taking.

Today and tomorrow is a special event for The French & Indian War Reenactment  from 9:30 AM to 4:40 PM, Free admission and parking. 

I briefly stopped at the visitor’s center before deciding the heat and I aren’t compatible on this day. The drive was nice though. I did take a few pictures.

On the way home, I passed stopping at two yard sales. The thought of bringing anything home when I need to get rid of so much, is giving me the discipline I will never have with buying cannolis. 😎

Hope your weekend is going well

Thank you for stopping by

Fort Frederic along Lake Champlain
Upstate New York

Lake Champlain in August

Day 219 of Week 32 of August 2026

Here we are with one week to go until the middle of August 2026! It is wild that summer is still going strong. 

Good news today that my wrist continues to heal so well, I no longer need to wear the splint all the time. I can see my whole hand! 🥳💃🎶🥁🎵😁🤣 Time to get those perfect long fingernails chipped. 🤣

For some reason, in the last month or so, using my cell phone for simple games, like mahjong solitaire, is aggravating because the screen either locks up or refreshes on its own to start a new game. 

There are four websites I use. They all freeze up the page. One website regularly refreshes the page.    

The daily painting set up process has been dented by a slight moving of stuff out of the corner where the drafting table will be. It is a new arrangement with a view to the outdoors. Note, a small room does not mean it is easy to arrange. 

Mailing packages has been a real shocker. If you haven’t used USPS Priority flat rate boxes recently, then you might be shocked as well. A large USPS flat rate box costs $34.02 to ship (as of April 2926)! Last I remember it was $19.99.  

I think it will be cheaper for me to drive to Massachusetts to drop off holiday stuff. 

Have a Fun Weekend

Bake tomatoes & feta cheese

Sing something silly

Walk with friends

Draw a grasshopper

Have a large coffee frappe

Buy an ocean scented candle

Have dinner outdoors

Silly in August

On a hot August afternoon thinking of silly things is appropriate. Summer likes silly.

Never been in a hot tub

Have been in a hot spring

Never been on a cruise

Have been on a boat

Never owned a walkman 

Have owned a record player

Never saw the Statue of Liberty in person

Have been to NYC multiple times

Never been inside the Empire State Building

Have been across the street from it though

Never seen Grand Canyon in person

Have studied Grand Canyon in a geology 

Never been to Europe

Have ancestors from Europe

That’s it for a slow Thursday

Peeling, Placing & Preparing

After a major change in diet, although feeling healthier, I’m not keen on figuring out what is good to have that’s quick and easy. There is more peeling things to eat than ever before fruit and vegetables. I open my fridge and feel like a liberal with only yogurt to snack on or boil a few frozen Brussel sprouts. 

Major goings on here clearing away things I save for just in case, and down sizing my wardrobe in order to have room to place things where they best suit my creative spirit. 

The chill in the air the other day has me thinking about autumn. Do I want to prepare for a foliage photography excursion? What I want is a theme to follow along the lines of best apple cider donuts. 

I found my notes from last year detailing a fall excursion to diners. That sounds interesting. 🤣

Well, until the leaves turn, enjoying what’s left of summer is the plan. 

Summer Catching up

Presently, I am engaging in doing things that are away from the Internet. Stepping back from that life aspect has a mantra…

Do something different.

Different than being online, not something new to me. 

I have an easel, a large desk space, a table easel and a portable drawing board. None of them replaces having a drafting table. If you draw a lot or do watercolors, and have the space, then consider a drafting table. 

The plan is to paint watercolors and draw on a daily basis, instead of when the mood arises. Depression is a mean mood squelcher. Together with a weekly theme and selecting common objects, the effort to create more will be a squelch buster.

Going into 6 weeks of healing, besides being stiff from lack of use, my wrist feels great, delicate, but near normal. The last ortho check up is days away. The stabilizer splint will not be missed as I hope to transition to a brace less cumbersome or just a wrap.

Summer being in its last half is sad and exciting. Yesterday I felt a slight chill of autumn as storms passed by. I did not want to go inside for a sweater. The air conditioner is still on. It is chilly indoors as well. 

The book I’m reading, The Siren’s Call, by Chris Hayes is a good read. The subject of attention is an interesting one. Non fiction is a good way to shake up the brain to think more. I’m even taking notes as I read. 

Enjoy your August

Reflection Monday August 2026

 

Lake Champlain

 

Fly or Float 

Wind or water

Think of all the places

you have traveled to

What has been going on between raindrops

Between raindrops for me, has me waiting see if any rain falls here so that I don’t have to lug water back and forth to water the flowers. Thus far, I have been fortunate that enough rain reaches the plants. 

Other than rain and high ambient temperatures, this summer has been a summer. Shrinking my summer plans and slowing my already slow pace has been a drag. So here’s a few things I’ve discovered about myself this summer.

⛱️ Not good waiting for deliveries. It is best that I don’t watch the Tracking information. Two days after placing an order, I fret over Where is it! 

🍉 Don’t watch Instagram produce videos that start with either “Look at this” or “You may never.” Yep, I will probably never eat another raw bing cherry or buy them frozen. 

⛺️ Camping videos are becoming a concern because of too many campers into bad weather, rain, snow, thunderstorms. A few are appear to be obsessed with storms. High winds, however, appears to be the weather element the majority do not like. 

What discoveries  have you made this summer?

Two Shy Monarch butterflies

Day 211 of Week 31 of July 2026

Hummingbird Happy

Once upon a time, you woke up with the feeling you want to travel, be somewhere for an adventure, have a good time, be out around folks. 

Then you made coffee, looked out the window, had breakfast and started your day. 

July 2026 in two days will be completely in history. We hear what Earth had to say, in its own native language, the Weather, on every one of those days.

Have a Chatty Weekend With Earth

Sing to the moonlight

Bake a peach cobbler

Look up the history of gloves

Paint a bowl of green beans

Browse sofas online

Grill veggie kabobs

Day 205 of Week 30 July 2026

Photograph of the week

First Morning Glory of the Summer

Have a Glorious Weekend

Draw a bouquet with color pencils

Make coleslaw 

Waltz in the living room

Bake pineapple upside down cake

Browse crochet patterns online

Wash your front door

Listen to bird sound videos

The Catalyst of Turmoil

In the measure of things, when turmoil blankets life, I believe, it can be a catalyst for change.  Change to take the overwhelming too much, and get out from under it by lifting yourself up.

Starting out easy on yourself at a reasonable pace. Focus on endeavors that can bring you success, even when you don’t win every time. 

I’m searching for blogs and vlogs/channels to balance my main interests with my reading and viewing time. So far, the inspiration is rewarding.

Writing is back on my agenda. Gentle Scary Stories is a public blog again. There will be weekly installments of short stories as well as commentary about my writing process.

Gentle Scary Stories

 At present, a story I began years ago has the first part posted. It is based on a true event that I experienced. As it is often said about writing, write about what you know.

 Thank you for visiting

     

The Nostradamus Sparrow 
an old favorite digital photograph

Day 197 of Week 29 In July 2026

Sunflower bud

 Have a wonderful weekend

Read a book of poetry

Write a poem

Sketch wildflowers

Make a deluxe potato salad

Sing a hymn 

Tell the Sun a funny story

Have a picnic with friends

Use bug repellent & sunscreen

The Blog Expedition

Reading blogs is often a boost of inspiration. To enhance the experience, I’ll pursue finding blogs in areas of interest. A weekly blog expedition will add blogs to a bookmark folder. 

In the weeks following, reading the favorites will sort the blogs to regularly read, and the others to visit sometimes. 

What’s interesting starting out to blog search is that in the year’s of my blog reading, my favorites don’t cover well my main interests. The majority are for needlework, sewing, crafts, and such. I read more about gardening and quilting than I do fine art, creative writing or geology. 

Fine Point. It is the people over content that are interesting! I will explore that idea further during my stepping back healing time. 

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Sewing— it’s not just a craft,

it’s therapy. 

Proverb

Photograph of the Week

My Go to sewing repair kit

Glitch (was) going on

Text is covered by background photo when you click on comments

Fixed by adding text that closed paragraph.

Stepping back

Once again, things get in the way of life going smoothly for me. On one side, I reached my limit dealing with a situation (resolved). On another side, sorrow appears. Not to leave much of a sliver for relief to shine through, adjusting to my injury fills in the rest. 

I usually take refuge here as blogging is a place away from most of the woes of life. I’m taking a step back for prayer and time to heal. I will post a weekly photograph and read blogs.

Enjoy your summer

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

After much needed sleep, I am feeling better. Yesterday was turmoil heavy. Today things are clearer. The theme for this week is: Better

Day 191 of Week 28 in July 2026

Peak summer time is the best part because it is hot, stormy, full of being outdoors and being summery.

I polished my right hand fingernails using two fingers sticking out of the wrist splint wrap. It was funny to do. The left hand nails look great polished nice with no chips, all the same length filed perfectly. They almost look fake. The right hand is shabby polish all worn and chipped. 

The other day I bought a treat, a mini pint of ice cream (at the same price of the old pint size container.) Calculating calories for that day, I mentally screamed when I saw 930 calories on the info. 😱 For about a cup of ice cream, that is outrageous. No more treats without checking the calories first. 

Day lilies are beautiful to see on the side of the road. However, allergy wise they are sneeze. city. Sinus stuffed, one’s balance can be off. I believe it is best to be on the summer slow setting. 

Have a Summery Weekend!

Use sun screen

Have a coffee frappe

Mix a big green salad

Draw a meadow in sunlight

Read a fiction novel

Read about umbrellas

Browse patio chairs online

 

Cool Thoughts in July

The bluejay has an Ah vibe that brings on a feeling of cooler temperatures.

Meanwhile, enjoy summer!

Bluejay in January 2026

Reflection Monday July 2026

Exploring ways to adjust a style of living is like browsing a hard copy catalog with all the choices only available online. 

The directional choices for consumers have flexibilities that are, I feel, uneasy to grasp. 

Why is something so good for the human mind as researching is, be taken away in the guise of helping mankind, by pushing AI? 

Technology is a constant tide flowing into our lives. There is no ebb. 

A Geranium

 

Day 184 of Week 27 for 2026

 Mid way of 2026 was day 182.5 July. You can feel the year is half over or celebrate another half is left to enjoy. Summer 2026 is 93 days from 21 June to 23 September. There are 81 days left of summer 2026. 

If the passage of time interests you, then keep a journal that numbers the days. Instead of floating on your future as a background always there, enjoy the your view, the one you create for as much as you are able. 

Shape your weekend well

Celebrate the 4th of July 250

Create a deluxe potato salad

Read about New England

Sing to sourdough bread

Draw a picnic basket

Make peach ice cream

Decorate your front door