The Fourth of July Nature Walk

      

      Every day that I am not at work, I try to get a four mile walk in for exercise.  Since I live where I do.........this walk is almost always also a nature walk.  On the Fourth of July, my oldest daughter and I headed up early to the lake, where we planned to watch the fireworks later. And that's where we took our walk on that day.

     We walked a part of the trail that I had not yet traversed;  around every turn was a gorgeous view.  I probably snapped twice as many pictures as I have published here. It was a lovely day: perfect temperature, perfect setting, wonderful company.

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    End of Summer Blessings,

 

                                        Chari

Just the Clouds

I kept noticing the clouds today.  There were so many fascinating shapes.  The light on the clouds was ever-changing.  I refrained from taking a photo from every view that caught my eye........till I took the three dogs along with me for my exercise walk. At that point, I simply lost control.  Some of these were taken from the same location.....but the sun was setting, and so the view kept changing....  This is not every photo I snapped.......nor did I snap every angle I spotted.  Just most of them.  ;)

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

by

William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good thing I had some self-control.

 

 

 

Autumn Blessings,

 

             Chari

 

Note:  All photos were taken from the area behind my house.  Sorry about the quality of the pictures.....iPhone.....

 

 

 

Pictures of Aidan

May is over, and we certainly didn't manage a photo a day, but Chari and I probably managed to post more than we would have otherwise, given how busy last month was for both of us.

In honor of Aidan's 14th birthday tomorrow, I thought I would post this picture.   It is Aidan at Thomas Aquinas College last fall at the beginning of his sister's senior year.

Aidan being thoughtful at college

Though Aidan can talk, he seems to communicate his interior life more by pictures than by words, because most of his vocabulary is very concrete.

He keeps coming up to show me this picture on my phone.  It is picture 75 of about 300, so he has to hunt for it.   Actually, I had to ask him to find it for me so I could upload it. 

"Look at this!"  he says.  He has showed it to me again and again, and I have no idea what it is that means a lot to him about this picture.

Maybe he understands that for the first time since he was about 5, he does not have a sibling at the college?  Maybe he realizes that this picture is in some sense an emblem of the past?

Or maybe he just likes the visual composition? (he definitely has a strong appreciation for design, judging by the care with which he hunts on the internet for Just the Right Picture of a car or a church or a cooler).

It is a bit of a mystery to me, but I agree with him that it's a nice picture, so I thought I would share.    To me it looks contemplative and transitory.    If it were on the cover of a book, it would be a coming of age and discerning vocation story.

When you think of Aidan's first few years,  perhaps it is the calm and stillness of the picture he likes?

We did Aidan's official birthday party last week, because Clare and Peter had stopped by after their honeymoon to share his birthday with him, but we will probably have another little celebration tomorrow for his real birthday, so that his two oldest brothers can share too.    After all, there can never be too many birthday celebrations for our miracle Aidan. 

Here are a few more Aidan pictures:

Aidan in his nice suit at Clare's wedding

Aidan with his beloved Dad

Aidan waiting for his botox treatment (for his CP).  He brings the Toy Story video cover with him everywhere.  The cheerful faces cheer him up. 

Love you so much, Aidan!

You are special to everyone who knows you!!