Each week, a select photograph that depicts the season of Summer will be posted here on Mondays. The image can be any subject from an arranged still life to one simple scene that speaks Summer.
Here is a favorite from Summer 2024.
 |
| Route 17 Addison Vermont |
 |
| Birthday roses |
 |
| Open Summer Fields |
 |
| Lake Champlain |
 |
| Town Beach |
 |
| Tiny Deck Garden |
 |
| Otter Creek Falls |
 |
| Fields Days |
 |
| Lunch Time Along Lake Champlain in August |
They are very hardy, even here in Vermont. The rose hips are large with a lovely dark coral color.
Do you have a favorite summer flower?
The chill in the morning air has convinced me to not resist the end of summer drawing closer. Instead, I daydream about autumn being spectacular. Soup Season is a delightful time of year. I sort of look forward to feeling soft socks on my feet. Even seeing Halloween decorations no longer makes me cringe that they are out so early.
Have a cringeless fantastic week!
Posted using my cell phone
 |
| August 2022 Route 17 Addison, Vermont |
This summer of 2024 has been the definition of what summer is, hot, rainy, and muggy with weather as delightful as a country fair. I am grateful that I have been able to sit outdoors under an umbrella to have my lunch; and moments to think about nothing special. My list of summer plans may have few things crossed off, but what has filled my days is much appreciated.
Appreciate Your Weekend!
 |
| Small Petunias in a Vase |
Have a Flowery Weekend!
 |
| Summer Sandals |
July 2024 will be missed for being a summer with warm enough ambient temperatures to create some very nice days to be outdoors.
August. High Summer it is in my mind. Solid season, knowing if you don’t get in the water early month, then it will be chilly water to frolic in. The next four weeks are vacation zones, each one with a new robe to wrap around us as autumn giggles with a frosty grin. I am not looking forward to fall because I want summer to last longer, in a nice way. Putting sandals in storage is always sad for me.
Are you having a nice summer?
 |
| Summer On Lake Champlain |
Please, let's not rush into fall foliage fever. Already I'm eyeing my comfy socks like they're the last cannoli on the shelf.
What else has been catching my attention? Cargo pants! The more pockets and zippers the more Me I feel. I've always fancied a rugged outdoors look. Sandals this year are another struggle between fashion favorite and arthritis.
About sandals. The first pair of sandals of un-named brand that I bought on sale lasted forever. I bought another pair in a different color. This 2nd season of wearing the 2nd pair, they are not holding up well. This has also happened in knit garments, and other brands. Quality varies.
About Blogging. The decision is to continue this blog on a weekly basis, one or two posts per week. The thought is that if I slow down posting when I'm in a slump, then I can post more when I've feeling better.
 |
| Summer Sun Umbrella |
Ages ago, more than once, I set about to train myself to only use one fork, spoon, knife, cup and plate. There's no reason, I feel, for one person to empty the utensils' holder in a day. That's a lot of spoons! Yet, I do it all the time. Collecting containers and utensils for my summer excursions has brought me back to trying again the one utensil life style.
The summer set up will be complete when I get are a small clip on sun shade umbrella, picnic blanket, cooler for ice, and put together a first aid kit. I already have the mosquito net hat, bug spray and sunscreen. The sun hat for this season, bought a couple of years ago, will be redecorated. A rain umbrella as a parasol for walking is also on the buy list (with the clip on shade umbrella).
Have you begun preparing for summer?
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
 |
| Lake Champlain in April 2024 Upstate New York at Fort Saint Frederic |
So what's up?
 |
| Leaf on Hot Concrete Digital photo August 2019 |
Clouds. I have a lot of cloud pictures. Moon. Lots of those pics as well. Plants. Like I'll forget what basil and nasturtiums look like. Autumn. Season favoritism shows.
You can be engaged in pursuing adjustments in your life when other things you do merge, enter the room, have a sit down on the brain until you figure out why it deserves a seat. Becoming a better photographer deserves a seat in my mind is a no brainer.
A few days later, the flower is still blooming. It has continued to flower one after another for almost 3 weeks. I didn't know petunias will root and grow like that.
Today is half a day of summer. Half a day of thunderstorms with rain. I keep reminding myself there isn't a drought. (Ooo, that was loud!)
After week one on the exercise bike, I ache without ibuprofen. I'll adjust the handle bars lower in the hopes the muscle pain decreases. I'm also going to every other day with a stretching routine in between.
On the down slope of peak summer, my hopes are on August being wonderful.
 |
| Petunias & Torenia |
Torenia flowers fit well under the petunias still in the plastic planter.
The small purple petunias are the type with white patches, In the shade the white grow better. In the sun, the flowers are all purple.
Next week is my excursion time, a simple walk downtown to a Vermont state park for a picnic lunch and plein air painting. Matching it with a home project, the dinning table sanding will be next week as well. It will be a challenge to get outdoors, but outdoors I must go. Wherever anxiety is the lowest will determine the destination.
How are your summer excursions going?
 |
| Dusty Miller & Petunia |
What are your plans for July 2023?
Beach, lake, lawn or patio, July is peak summer in this northern hemisphere.
 |
| At the Seaside c. 1892 William Merritt Chase |
I think of sun, sand, sweat, shorts, sunscreen, umbrella/parasol, humidity, and heat waves. Last year the season was perforated with brutal heat that kept me indoors.
At my age, there is no braving the high temperatures. As a kid, being outdoors was better than inside a home with no air conditioning. Cooling off was at the penny pool, (later price increase). Kids yelling, water splashing sprinkled with a scream now and then, those were the days.
Learning to swim, I was so proud as I literally annihilated the pool surface in a violent flaying of arms and white water. "See what I can do!" I can still feel those words. No surprise that a life long dream is to be able to glide through the water like Ester Williams. (I can float and glide though.)
Time for me to stop day dreaming and do errands. Deciding on dinner today always ends with a no, too salty, too hot to use the oven or no McD's for a diet consideration.
 |
| Otter Creek Park |
The trees are on the northeastern side of the park where you can drive down to. On the other side of the creek, at the boat launch area, there are picnic tables as well as a hiking path.
Have a good last week of June 2023. Clean out the coolers. Dust off the straw hats. Select your picnic dining utensils and insulated water glass.
Buy Sunscreen &
Bug Repellent!
PS...1:11 PM EDT there is a thunderstorm and downpour over Vergennes.
 |
| June Rain Clouds |
Cloud formations have been mainly overcast. There have been dramatic skies with clouds so low, you could almost touch them. In the higher Vermont elevations, clouds can hug you.
Summer offers most and almost, is it or isn't it contrasts that I don't feel from the other three seasons. The stronger desire to be outdoors in summer elevates the interest in the weather. For the four months, I have a background vibe focused on whether or not it is nice outside. Those nice days are so important, I will give up a god nap to be outdoors.
Sacrifice with a smile.
June arrives with heat as the forecast reads today, Hot, as in the 90s°F (32°C).
Sitting in the shade by Otter Creek is cool and relaxing. I didn't stay long because it was time to go.
When there are people around, being outdoors feels safer to me. We should always be aware of our surroundings no matter how many folks are around. A long walk on a deserted beach may sound lovely, but not quite safe.
That day I was alone after another visitor left. Then another arrives. Despite a near empty parking lot, in a space marked for trucks with trailors, (boat ramp area), the visitor parks right next to me. Not a cool thing to do. I left, taking my better safe than sorry attitude with me.
This summer I pray for the end to the violence in our communities.
When out and about, please don't be alone in lonely places. Always tell others where you are going, and when you will return. Read up on hot weather safety. Be prepared for the unusual from stubbing your toe to worse.
Have a Safe Summer!
 |
| Salubrity Summer, In Progress Drawing 18" x 24" Mixed Media Acrylic |
