Good Morning!

Good morning!

Just popping in to let those of you who only follow me here know I'm still alive. 

Just busy. 

(For details, check my other blog, Long Hollow.)

But I have managed a few morning walks with my camera and the puppies in the past couple of weeks 

and thought I'd share my favorite shots...

Flowers can come in green, too, 

but I always forget that until I peer in close 

for a good look at summer weeds.

(Thanks to Theresa aka TexWis Girl, I now know the top flower is called Snow-On-The-Prairie. Perfect! Thanks, Theresa!

The American Beautyberry is coming along. 

Can you see Belle turned back to look at me, 

looking at them through the flowers? 

They think I'm crazy. 

But they're very patient and love me anyway.

These little yellow flowers died back a few weeks ago but seemed to have gotten a second wind.

Yellow flowers of all kinds are springing up from the rocky ground in the Hollow.

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. 

~ Aaron Rose

Hope your August is full of color and light, even if it's speeding past like mine!

On this 4th of July, just remember...

"Just remember, as you celebrate the 4th of July weekend that there are 6,118 between Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and members of the Navy that paid the ultimate cost for you to be able to...This Shit Ain't Free (TSAF)! We are very blessed to be from the USA!" ~ Heath Williamson, United States Army 

Heath, the son of one of my dearest friends, has served two tours in Iraq. He posted this on Facebook last night and when I saw it, I knew I needed to share it.

Happy birthday to the United States of America. I may grumble about you at times, but I'm always grateful to call you my homeland.

Thank you, Heath, and all of the others who serve so valiantly to guard the freedom we too often take for granted.

(Click HERE to read more about TSAF.)

Ours is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea.  ~John Gunther

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. ~ Adlai E. Stevenson

What is the essence of America?  Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom "to" and freedom "from."  ~Marilyn vos Savant, in Parade

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died,who gave that right to me. ~ Lee Greenwood

Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.  ~Sinclair Lewis

An American Beauty

Metallic magenta pops against a green bower backdrop, defying the drought. 

I'm pleased to introduce American Beautyberry, now appearing center stage by our little pond, 

for our viewing pleasure and the nibbling pleasure of neighborhood deer and cardinals.

It's a limited engagement, I'm sure.