Green Visitor

 This guy was visiting in our blueberry bushes the other evening.  He blended in so well, we almost missed seeing him.  I don't think he eats the blueberries ~ we've had many to eat this year.

Sweet Jake

I had decided some time ago not to post hundreds of photos of Jake on my Blog nor to make him the number one subject of it.  He means the world to ME, but I realize that a photo now and then is enough for you, my friends.  Of course, when he utters his first words, I will be sure to post about it pronto!! (:

Recently, several of you have asked me to post some recent photos of him.  Happily, I am doing just that.  These were all taken in the last week or two.  Jake now weighs a whopping 6.2 pounds ~ the perfect size to hold close to my heart.  He brings me so much joy every single day ~ I love him dearly!!!!!

Summer Solstice

It is the first day of Summer ~ SUMMER SOLSTICE!

Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year.  The sun reaches its most northern point in the local sky at noon.

The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice).

In temperate regions, we notice that the sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, and its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle, causing the efficient warming we call summer.

In the winter, just the opposite occurs:  the sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky.  Its rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle, creating the feeble winter sunlight.

The sun is directly overhead at its most northern point at "high-noon" on the summer solstice, creating more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere on this day than any other.

From folklore, the night of Summer Solstice has long been revered as a time of magic and manifestation, when the sun is at the height of its power in the shadow of the waxing Moon.
MAY YOUR SUMMER SOLSTICE BE MAGICAL!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mark !!

Smile

Mother Teresa

"LET US ALWAYS MEET EACH OTHER WITH A SMILE, FOR A SMILE IS THE BEGINNING OF LOVE."

BE SOFT.

DO NOT LET THE WORLD

MAKE YOU HARD.

DO NOT LET THE PAIN

MAKE YOU HATE.

DO NOT LET THE BITTERNESS

STEAL YOUR SWEETNESS.

TAKE PRIDE THAT

EVEN THOUGH

THE REST OF THE WORLD

MAY DISAGREE,

YOU STILL BELIEVE IT TO BE

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

Nolan Miller

RIP

Nolan Miller

January 8, 1935  ~  June 7, 2012

Black and White Stanwyck Gardenia Pin

Pretty Papillion Pin

Nolan Miller was a well known Fashion and Jewelry Designer.  These two photos show examples of his beautiful jewelry designs.  I own a couple of his pieces and I enjoy wearing them.

June

"This is June, the month of grass and leaves . . . already the aspens are trembling again, and a new summer is offered me.  I feel a little fluttered in my thoughts, as if I might be too late.  Each season is but an infinitesimal point.  It no sooner comes than it is gone.  It has no duration.  It simply gives a tone and hue to my thought.  Each annual phenomena is reminiscence and prompting.  Our thoughts and sentiments answer to the revolution of the seasons, as two cog-wheels fit into each other.  We are conversant with only one point of contact at a time, from which we receive a prompting and impulse and instantly pass to a new season or point of contact.  A year is made up of a certain series and number of sensations and thoughts which have their language in nature.  Now I am ice, now I am sorrel.  Each experience reduces itself to a mood of the mind."
~Henry David Thoreau, Journal, June 6, 1857
~Photo by Audrey

 Those we love don't go away;

they walk beside us every day.

Unseen; unheard;

but always near.

Still loved; still missed;

and very dear.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Patrick !!

I do believe you've joined the ranks of guardian angels, dear bro, and that you are here in spirit every day.  I love you and I miss you.

♥

Dream

I may have posted this quote before, but it's well worth reading again.  I keep reminding myself that anything is possible if I set my mind to it.  I feel it will take me several lifetimes to accomplish my goals and realize my dreams ~ I have many responsibilities and so little time.  I better get busy stealing bits of time when I can and get started.  After all, you have to begin somewhere......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Gumpie !!

May all your dreams come true.

**************  

I hope we can meet up in Ohio again this year in July.