Stormy...

We visited the Rachael Carson Salt Pond yesterday evening as the sun was setting. At the same time, a wild storm approached with the bright sunlight falling in front of the dark clouds. The gulls seemed to almost panic and the raindrops fell.

Buddy...

This is our friend "Buddy". He adopted us (and perhaps others who rent here?) and taught us a few things about manners. When another gull comes around, he tilts his head back and squawks until the offender moves on. However, he also allows his girlfriend - her name is "Belinda" - to come by and even seems to encourage her to help herself to any handouts that may be around.

He seems nicer than a lot of people I know and he knows how to pose for a portrait.

Afternoon Sun and Surf...

Morning Downpour...

Evening Begonia...

The evening sun brought this beautiful sunlight to our angel wing begonia. What beauty there is around us every day.

Tall Guy...

Vermont Evening...

Vermont Morning...

Possibilities...

We visited the home of Augustus St. Gaudens today - I was particularly struck by the amount of indoor/outdoor space in such a Northern location, with this open air reflecting pool being a beautiful example.

Morning Dew...

Industry and Beauty...

Chillin...

This young mother took a little quiet time the other morning. It was raining lightly and she just relaxed, enjoyed the rain on her face, and munched on the nearby grasses. A good lesson for us all...

Morning Sunflower...

Twins on the lawn...

Morning on the South Carolina Beach

A shot of the beach on the morning that we left Pawleys Island.

Morning Web...

What are you lookin at?

Found this fellow crawling through the rugosa roses this morning; he seemed cross with me.

Late afternoon sun...

I can't get over how the late afternoon sun illuminates these beauties...

Flying Fish...

This guy flew overhead last night...

Morning Bee Balm

A morning shot of our back garden as the bee balm has popped in the last couple of days - the hummingbirds are sure happy.

Nothing like the Ocean...

There is nothing like the beauty and the change of attitude that time near the Ocean brings. This is a late afternoon shot from the beach in Georgetown South Carolina. It's been a great but short visit.

Gator Country

Saw this fellow at the Huntington State Park in Pawley's Island...

Sandpipers of South Carolina

Sneaky Pete...

This fellow, that I caught back in the middle of June, was absolutely convinced that I couldn't see him...

Foggy Morning...

The sun was really trying to get through the fog this morning...

Summer in VT...

From the foot of our property, my favorite barn from through the trees...

Hawk...

This guy landed in our front yard this afternoon looking for lunch... We moved him along...

Finally a Flicker!!

I've been trying to catch this guy for some time now... The Flicker is my favorite bird...

Morning Hay...

The field these days glistens in the morning sun...

Racoon Visit...

We found out who has been occasionally emptying the hanging bird feeder we keep in the woods.

Misty Morning Barn...

This shot of a local barn one misty morning came out more like a painting...

Rugosa Roses in the Morning Mist...

Pasta and Water...

This time of year brings many mornings when the early sun catches the night's dew - or in this case drizzle - still on the hosta leaves...

Daisies...

We picked up some daisies to augment the back garden yesterday. They are competing with the rugosa roses and the bee balm both of which have settled in beautifully this year.

The Heat..

As Glenn Frey sang on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack: "The heat is on..."

We're going through the first of a few hot spells that we experience every summer here in Vermont. As I get up this morning the temperature outside has dipped to 70°F but is *very* humid. The temperature inside the house is stuck at about 80°F and I'm trying to cool it down with fans before the temperature starts back up.

For various reasons we are trying to get through this summer without installing the air conditioners. As a result, we are directly experiencing the weather in a way we typically don't. It changes ones behavior pretty dramatically, just as the onset of a stretch of -20°F does. It's a bit easier to sit around on the back deck if the bugs aren't too bad and feel any cool zephyrs that might come by. It's easier to sit and watch an old Cary Grant movie until late at night when the air finally starts to cool.

Sleep is affected for sure. I'm finding I'm sleeping a bit more but also differently. It's harder to sleep when I go to bed but the "morning sleep" is deep and longer lasting. I wake up groggy and slow and even more in need of hot coffee.

Today purports to be the last day of this hot spell with humid temps in the mid-nineties and a chance for violent thunderstorms. I can believe it as the sun is up and strong at 7AM already. Delightfully I see a low of 47°F for tomorrow night...

Canada Geese

The other day I was walking in the field here at the house and heard the unmistakable sounds of Canada Geese approaching. I pulled out my camera and took this snapshot of them flying directly overhead. It was a scuddy day and they appeared very determined to get where they were going...

Bearded Iris

Sunset Season

Deva and Buddha...

Daffies redux...

I can't quite stay away from the daffodils. Today was another gorgeous Spring day in Vermont. The late afternoon sun gave me another chance at the photo I took yesterday morning...

Fresh New Day...

The first Daffodils...

Welcome to Lyme, NH...

Our first flowering Crocus!

The Early Bird...

Spring Frog

Meg shot this very groggy spring frog a couple days ago. He seemed to be having trouble waking up after a long winter...

Portrait of Deva.

I finally got Deva to sit for a portrait the other day...

Good Friends

I had dinner tonight with my good friend Mark down in Concord at our traditional haunt, Hermanos. I realized as I was headed there this evening that we never even discussed where we were meeting; it was common knowledge. It's great to have habits and friends like that.

Little Gray...

We found this fellow enjoying some seeds this morning. He's the junior member of our contingent of gray squirrels...

Foggy Morning...

I don't know why, but I'm sucker for these foggy mornings and the effect it has on our still bare trees reaching for nourishment from the sun.

Bat Cat...

I caught Nina poking her head through the banister rungs yesterday. She seemed surprised to see me...