Summertime Scenes

These are some things I'm seeing.

First fruits of the "garden":


Hydrangeas - I love them all. This one is a great palette - maybe I'll use it for decorating inspiration:

Morning yard:

Sun over the hydrangea:

Homemade ranch dressing - if you've never made your own, and you like ranch dressing, get thee to a grocery and make thy own. There are several good recipes on the internet, I started with Pioneer Woman's version. Yum. Yum, yum, yum.

What are your summertime scenes?

Blue Sky

Yesterday I visited a friend at her lake house north of town. We spent our time visiting and catching up, plus one errand and a lunch in town. I couldn't resist this photo of a small town street...the sky was so blue. A cold front came through and knocked off about 10 degrees from the day before and pushed out the humidity.


We had lunch in a diner run by the local Mennonites. I don't know if it was a family operation or a community or church operation, but it was good. And see the chalkboard? Free dessert because it was their 3rd anniversary.

It was a great day. I've never wanted a house on the coast, but I can totally see myself in a lake house (in my dreams!).

'Mater Watch, Part Dieux

The walk on, the grape tomato vine, is making up for lost time. Aren't they cute? The big vines have about 10-12 tomatoes, and two have begun adding some orange color. It won't be long now!

These pepper plants, in the primo sun spot, are all hat, no cattle. They have loads of foliage and height, but no peppers.

These pepper plants, in the make do spots, each have a bell pepper well on it's way to the table. Can you spot them?

Off to the lake for the day! Hopefully I'll pass some farm stands and stock up on produce until my crops come in (ROFL!).

Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson burst onto the scene my junior year in high school with Off the Wall. Then came Thriller.

Over the years there were so many hits and the dancing, oh the dancing. Everyone wanted to move like that. I think Smooth Criminal, the video, captures it all. This is long, about 9 1/2 minutes. If you don't have time for the whole thing, go to about 6:40 and you will see my favorite part. Oddly, you can't buy this version on iTunes.

Whatever you may think about the man, the musician made an imprint on music that will live on.

North Facing Window

One thing there hasn't been much of in my photo portfolio is portraits. So when a friend needed some informal candids, I jumped at the chance.

I put her in a chair in front of a north facing window.

Tried to make her comfortable and used my fake photographer's laugh. Or did I? Maybe I just said something goofy.

Things were going well.

Then she asked "do you know what you're doing?"

Then I showed her the shots in the camera.

But really, it wasn't me, it was the subject.