The Sunset Afterglow

There is that special time after the sunset when the golden orb has dipped below the horizon, and you are left standing with your loved one, watching the rich-hued afterglow. Its rays splash over your faces and you reluctantly realize you must head to the car because it will turn dark soon. But you carry that vision home and remember that quiet time you shared, watching the cherry and orange fire in the sky. Knowing you have spent another precious time with your dear spouse, hardly realizing you have been married over 20 years. And knowing the evening has just begun. :D It's moments like this sunset that make me realize how truly blessed Jeff and I are to live right across from this magnificent lake. We love hopping across the highway to Lake Huron and making the most of it.

Jeff left his computer last evening when I told him the sky was going make for a great sunset and we weren't disappointed. It was a SPECTACULAR one, but we should have arrived a few minutes sooner because the fiery globe was half sunken on the horizon. We still managed some fun photo snapping time. I am trying out yet another camera because I am not completely happy with my landscape photos with my Canon Rebel XTi. Will try a different lens on the Canon to see if that works.

Soon it's daughter visiting day, which means a drive across our beloved Upper Peninsula and stops at misty waterfalls and parks. We'll have fun as Jeff and I are really only two kids who never grew up and delight in everything we see. But the most anticipated part with be a hug from the beautiful person waiting at the end of our journey.

On another note, my project was sent in to the publisher. :D Contract number one is behind me.

Hugs, JJ

Yellow Winter Squash Blossom

The yellow winter squash blossoms are huge in the garden and numerous. I hope this means we'll have some fine squash stored up for the winter season. But the deer have been invading the garden, nipping off the pea plants and the swiss chard leaves. Jeff wonders if the squash blossoms will be next. Time will tell. I hope the deer leave us SOMETHING to eat. I'm longing for squash with melted brown sugar drizzled on top of it.

Today Jeff brought in yellow wax beans and a few peas. Fresh veggies are so YUMMY!!! I looove this time of year when the land produces food. The sweet cherries are all done and were delicious! And the plums and peaches will ripen next in the orchard. The apple trees have that blight again which we can't figure out. Jeff has been spraying to no avail. That's too bad because we have six apple trees. They do give me some great blossom photos in the spring, however.

Summer is moving on. I'm seeing more colored leaves on the ground...granted they are the odd ones out amongst all the greenery but they are telling me to enjoy the summer. It's interesting how the seasons subtly change. You would miss it if you weren't watching closely. The grass has also turned golden and some of the ferns are giving up the ghost. When I see the blue jays in the yard, I'll know the chickadees will start wanting the feeder again. I have the cutest sunflowers growing under where the birdfeeder was this winter. :D I told Jeff to let the plants blossom and not mow them down. I love sunflowers. They are so bright and cheery.

Have a super evening! Do you have a garden?

Hugs, JJ

Bubba the Photo Ham

Bubba my cat looooves to have his photo taken. Whenever I'm outside with my camera lens close to a wild flower, he brushes himself against my leg over and over again. I'll say, "You're a sweetie," laugh, and continue moving around to find more wildflowers where I can keep the lens steadier away from him. But Bubba finds the way into my stride and now he's walking in between my legs and I'm thinking how much the camera would cost to replace if I fell on it.

Sooo...the cheaper way to go is to take as many photos as Bubba wants until he tires of being in the limelight. Above is a photo from today. Who could resist! Bubba, I love you. You're a darling kitty and I'm lucky to have you. I also have his daddy and they look almost alike, except Bubba's hair is a little lighter with the tabby coloring.

Having pets has been a great joy in my life. I have a huge nurturing instinct and with my children grown, pets make a great extended family. :D

Please tell me the silly things your pets do!

Have a super weekend.

Hugs, JJ

Forget-me-nots

Forget-me-nots always make me smile when I see their country blue blossoms enlivening the green around them. This tiny flower also brings home the thought that none of us want to be forgotten. When I gaze at their beauty, thoughts run through my mind. Today I am remembering my grandmother as I look at this photo.

Grandma T was also known as "Funny Grandma", as my kids tagged her. She would tell us family stories that literally had us on the floor in stitches, our ribs hurting from laughter. Grandma T was also an immaculate person who would lay newspapers down on the car carpet before you hopped into her vehicle, making a great show if it, and this laid down over the plastic mats the car already had. When we were on the road, she would bounce us around with her stick shift maneuvers and we had to stifle giggles. When you sat on her burgundy velvet couch, you only sat on the edge, for fear of leaving a lint ball and heaven forbid carrying a drink to sip while you sat there. She was fussy. Nothing was ever amiss in her house and that made us imperfect souls nervous.

But we all loved her. She balanced her cleaning obsession with a sense of humor that outdid anyone in the family. Like the story of when she told Uncle W to be CAREFUL sitting down at the Thanksgiving table, because he tended to lean on it in his crippled state. Of course he ended up tipping the table when he sat down and the whole Thanksgiving dinner ended up in his lap or on the floor. I'm surprised Grandma T didn't have a heart attack because she certainly had a fit. LOL

I have been told I'm starting to walk like her...it's the arthritis. Well, I AM a grandma. :D But I don't think her cleaning obsession will ever overtake me. If it did, I would drive Jeff nuts. I have carpal tunnel and he needs to do the heavy work. No, I choose to overlook what hasn't been done because Jeff is busy, but I do hear a scolding voice in my head. Have him move that refrigerator! I talk Jeff into that twice a year and call it good. While he's at it, I add on the washer, dryer, and stove. :D

Grandma, I know you're watching over me. I love you!!! Thanks for helping me get Jeff to move the appliances. :D

Hugs, JJ

Lake Superior in Summer

Jeff and I hit the road at 4 AM one Saturday morning to arrive at Lake Superior when the day had just awakened. This photo was taken after the sunrise, when the earth was dewy and the day crisp and new. This way of traveling gives us the closest feeling to camping we can have, arriving at Lake Superior early in the morn. We have too many pets to consider camping now but still can have a full day of experiences to enjoy. The only drawback is waking up at 3 AM and needing toothpicks to hold our eyelids open. :D My parents get the biggest kick out of the fact that we wake up that early for a jaunt to the Upper Peninsula.

This is a photo of Pendills Bay, which edges the Hiawatha National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Jeff and I loved the boulder strewn beach and enjoyed the time we spent walking on the sandy shoreline, while watching the calm waters that stretched as far as the eye could see. We live for moments like this, even heard a loon. What a precious sound that is!

Summer is fading too quickly. I already see subtle signs of the autumn changeover, so I hope we are able to travel more before September. We haven't used the video portion of our cameras much, and would love to capture some summer moments that are fading too quickly.

Hugs, JJ

Wood for Winter

Jeff has almost finished hauling in the winter wood supply. He's been busy sawing down trees, hauling them in with the tractor and trailer, and then splitting the wood rounds that he has already cut to length to fit our woodstove. The wood fitting the woodstove is the trick. Ours is a bit smaller than normal and if we order wood, it arrives in too large of pieces. But why order wood when you have your own? I can see doing that in case of an emergency.

I've grown used to the sound of the chainsaw in the woods, hearing a tree crashing down in the forest, hearing the tractor start up and putter along as it pulls the full trailer; smelling the fresh cut wood when I go to check on Jeff. Life is good.

It's a feeling of joy for both Jeff and I when we know we won't freeze during the winter. We don't use our furnace, in fact, it doesn't work. With the rising heating costs, heating with wood is a far the better way to go, since we have the wood resources on our land. But it does take a lot of dedication day in and day out for Jeff to keep working at filling the woodshed. You can see his strong, capable hands in the photo. :D He sure keeps in shape!

We love living simply. Fresh air! Lots of space! Grow what we can for food. If the world ever falls apart, we can still get by. I love the thought and security of that.

Hugs, JJ

The Pale Pink Rose

The pale pink rose stood glowing in the early morning sun and I was attracted to the beauty from halfway across the yard. When I strolled over and bent down to capture the bloom with my camera, my heart stilled for a moment. I was in awe of the delicate beauty while the flower stood amidst invading crab grass, saying here I am despite all the difficulties I had keeping my roots nourished.

I had a defining moment as I whispered to her how lovely she was. When I snapped her photo, I knew I would miss her later when her petals fell to the ground...and I do. The bloom showed me how to keep my roots firm and in place and to drink in the nourishment life offers. Be strong. Be tough. Be delicate. Be true, she said. Be beautiful. Be you! Life is fleeting. Enjoy it while you can.

Nature holds many lessons for us. :D And yes, I do talk to plants. LOL

Hugs, JJ

Chasing Butterflies

Does anyone know what kind of yellow butterfly this is? I had fun chasing it around the land the other day until I figured out the butterfly would land on hawkweed close to where it had landed before after flying around in a wide arc. LOL We had a fun time. She gathered sweet nectar while I waited for her to hold still with her colorful wings spread open. I loved the blue spots at the bottom of the wings and wanted to capture that.

The wind was strong and the butterfly hung on for dear life as the hawkweed bobbed and swayed in the wind. It was cute to watch, and something I would have never noticed if my camera weren't inches away. That's part of the fun of photography - learning the ways of nature. I never cease to be delighted with what happens in my own backyard. If only I could capture every second. :D After a while, the butterfly became the perfect model. She must have figured she wasn't getting rid of me until I had my photos taken. LOL

Jeff and I are going on an Upper Peninsula trip tomorrow. WOOT!!! I live for those trips. We'll try to catch a Lake Superior sunrise. I hope it's not too chilly. The summer has never heated up here as it should. How has your weather been?

Note: Tom and Swubird were most helpful in identifying this beautiful butterfly. Here is Swubird's answer to my question. Thank you, guys!

Swubird -

"We saw many of these butterflies when were were in Washington DC. Its common name is the Tiger Swallowtail, and its scientific name is Papilio glaucus.

The Tiger Swallowtail is thought to be an American insect comparable to the American Eagle."

Hugs, JJ

Cinquefoil Wildflowers and the Fiction Scene Ending

Yellow cinquefoil graces our land at this time of year, just as the painted daisies are fading into seeded balls. If Jeff would have mowed this area, I would have missed these bright flowers that make me smile. :D They are bright rays of sunshine, especially after a rainstorm, when the grown around them has darkened.

Here is the ending to my short fiction story:

***

Marissa had fallen into a fitful sleep after telling Thelma her life's history. That woman had a warmth that gained Marissa's confidence from the first questions that were asked. Before Marissa knew it, she had told Thelma her hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations, and indecision about Marcus and her engagement. Why was she here waiting for Marcus to arrive in Safeway harbor. Why hadn't she waited for him to come to her?

Was she over eager? That particular question haunted her through the night. The cat continually jumping on her chest didn't make her night any more comfortable. She was in the wrong place and should have stayed home with her daughter, instead of placing her in her mother's care for a couple of nights.

Now she found herself in a field of wild cinquefoil, the yellow blossoms kissed by the golden morning sun, as she pondered what to do. She had to report Marcus' absence to the harbor master, but she would wait another hour to see if he showed up. Her first check had found an empty harbor and that brought more worry about his safety, clenching her stomach so that she refused the fine french toast breakfast Thelma had offered. Looking at her watch, Marissa had forty more minutes until her last check. She turned and made her way past the wildflowers rubbing at her calves and to the pine forest that edged the property. An early morning walk might ease her stress.

At her first step into the scraggly, picky junipers that edged the tree line, she heard a cough. Swirling around, she saw Marcus standing in the center of the field, his arm in a cast, and a bandage wrapped around his head.

"Marcus!" she hollered and raced to his side, her heart full of love and tenderness for this wanderer who stood before her. There was no doubt about it. She loved this man. The sight of him lit up her life, made it whole. Her fears had been unfounded. "What happened?" she said, not drawing in for a hug, afraid she would injure him further.

"Come here, Missy," he said. "Give me a bear hug. I'm sorry I'm late."

"But your arm!"

"I have one strong one left."

She gingerly squeezed part of Marcus's strong chest to her and then pulled away to look into his sky blue eyes. Seeing pain there, she stepped away.

"I thought you'd never come," she said. "Thought you were lost in the storm last night."

"I never made it to my sailboat," Marcus said. "My buddies wanted a game of football before I left. Let's just say I ran into a tree."

"You didn't."

"No, it was a more embarrassing accident than that. A tackle knocked me unconscious. Guess I'm not the sport hero I used to be. My arm hit a tree stump on the way down. Sorry no one called you on your cell. By the time I was out of the emergency room it was the middle of the night."

"I understand," Marissa said. "Did you just sail in?"

Marcus shook his head. "I had to rent a car. My sailboat is still docked in Lake Michigan. But, in a way, I'm glad I had this accident," Marcus said. "It was like a wake up call. "Come, let's walk the beach. I have something I want to ask you."

Hand in hand, Marissa and Marcus walked through the wildflowers and then kicked off their shoes so they could enjoy the lapping waves with the water's coolness on the bottom of their feet. Marissa loved standing next to him as they stopped to admire a freighter shouldering its way through the waters in the wavy distance. With the slight aroma of fish in the air and the wheeling of white seagulls above them, Marcus turned to Marissa and said. "I've decided to give up sailing, except for daytime trips. And have decided to live along Lake Huron instead. Where I can awaken to her dawn and watch her sunsets from a lawn chair....with you by my side."

"That sounds heavenly, "Marissa said. "But it's not just me. I have to raise my daughter, Chloe."

"I already bought a smaller lawn chair. It's in the trunk," Marcus said.

"Are you asking me to..."

Marcus' pupils dilated and Marissa became lost in the depths of them, their souls bonding for life.

"Will you marry me?" he asked. Marcus pulled Marissa to his chest and she could feel his trembling, knowing this question affected him as much as it did her.

"Yes, Marcus, Yes!"

"I was hoping you would say that," Marcus smiled, joy filling his features, leaving the pinched pain behind. I wish I could lift you up and swirl you around, but let's take a long walk along the shoreline. I never want this moment to end."

"Let's hang on to it as long as we can," Marissa said, grabbing his extended hand. "And then let's go tell Chloe she has a new daddy to fill that void in her life."

***

The end. Hope you enjoyed the fictional story.

Hugs, JJ :D

Lake Huron Sunset and a Fiction Scene

This is a continuation of the fiction story I began writing in my last post. Hope you enjoy. :D It's off the top of my head.

***

"Please open the door!" Marissa heard a man's deep voice demand as she dug into her purse for something she could use for protection, but produced a lollipop the bank teller had given her for her daughter instead.

Why don't I carry pepper spray? Marissa's heart pounded in her ears and her hands shook as she tried the key in the ignition once more. Nothing but a click again.

"Tornado." She heard the muffled word after a thunder crack.

The word registered. She hadn't been listening to the radio all afternoon. After unlocking the passenger side, an elderly man wearing dirty yellow rain gear yanked open the car door. The interior light caught the sparkly gray of his beard, and Marissa could see tobacco stains mixed in here and there.

"Miss. I came to tell you to seek shelter. There are tornado warnings out for this area." His voice was impatient, and he didn't attempt to climb into the car, but leaned an arm over the opened door as he talked to her. Wiping water away from his eyes with the back of his hands, he said, "Did you hear me?"

"Y-yes, I did. Thank you," Marissa said. "But my car won't start." In the distance a warning siren screamed through the night. "I'll have to call for assistance."

"No time," the man said, crooking his finger. "Follow me." He slammed the door and waited for Marissa to step out of her vehicle.

What should she do? Trust this man or wait out a tornado in the car? The car could get carried into Lake Huron if a tornado swept it up. Marissa opened her car door and stepped from the vehicle. The man was already halfway across the murky lighted parking lot and it was all she could do to catch up with his long strides. She noticed he carried a fishing rod and tackle box.

He must be a local, she thought, and relaxed her shoulders as she caught up with him.

"Where are we going," she hollered through a gusty gale.

"My cabin," the man said. "My Mrs. will know what to do with you. Hang onto my arm if the wind becomes too strong for you. We'll follow this pathway and then the shoreline a hundred yards."

"Will do," Marissa said, glad to hear she would be in female company soon. She concentrated on not piling too much sand into her shoes as she half-jogged alongside the man who had come to her rescue. After they rounded a point, a weak light was seen in the distance. "That's my place," the man said, nodding toward it. We're almost there. Thelma's already in the cellar."

"That's good," Marissa said. Southwest corner, right?"

"E-yup." The man nodded.

After following a narrow footpath that only the man could see open up from along the shoreline and stepping on some wet flat stones, Marissa found herself on the lighted cabin porch, noticing that the cabin was squared-logged and hand hewn. It looked a hundred years old.

As they entered the cabin, a slatted wooden door next to the coat rack in the entryway burst open. Marissa jumped, but relaxed when she saw it was an elderly woman wearing pink rollers wound in her salt and pepper hair. "The tornado's passed by us, " she said. "I just heard it on the radio. It skimmed us and now is out over Lake Huron. Praise the L...oh I see you fetched her in."

Marissa bit her lip so she wouldn't cry, thinking of Marcus out on the lake. She hoped he had had the sense to find a safe place from the storm.

"I fetched her," the old man nodded. "Now you figure out what to do with her. Her car won't start and I'm not a mechanic."

He dismissed the both of them and headed into the kitchen that led off the entryway where he shrugged out of his rain slicker, sat down and began pulling off his yellow rubber boots.

"Don't mind Buzz," Thelma said. "He did introduce himself, didn't he?"

Shaking her head, Marissa said, "There wasn't time. You must be Thelma. I'm Marissa Sevens." Marissa held out her wet hand and shook the woman's stout one. "Sorry to be a bother," she added, dropping her eyes to the clean, polished floor.

"Oh, nonsense. I saw you walking the shoreline earlier like a lost soul and had Buzz come to see if you were still there when the weather turned bad."

"You're very kind," Marissa said.

"T' weren't nothin'. Just look at the sunset over the lake. It's broke through the storm. I take that as a good sign. Let's watch it from the porch until it dims and then I'll fetch you a nice cup of coffee and I'll see how we can help you."

Marissa turned toward the glow of the window, and the sunset had found it's way through the passing storm. It was red ball of fire over the lake, quickly sinking on the horizon. "How beautiful, " she said. "I don't see many lake sunsets."

"Here, take this shawl. Go on, wrap it around you. You're soaked to the bone."

As Marissa thanked Thelma and accepted the tasseled wrap around her shoulders, she said, "Thank you. I'm glad your husband came to my rescue."

"Did some man leave you stranded like that?" Thelma clucked her tongue in disapproval, knowing the answer before Marissa met the woman's dark eyes. A look of understanding passed between them as the outside inked into night.

Grabbing Marissa around the shoulders, Thelma said, "Let's get you some stew. If Buzz saved you any. Then I want to hear your story. The radio said the power's out in town so you might as well spend the night. We'll just throw the cat off the couch."

Hugs, JJ