MONARCH ON TENNIS BALL

 I usually pick up Gracie’s outdoor toys each evening, but her tennis ball escaped me.  The next day, I found this beautiful monarch butterfly perched on its fuzzy surface.  Luckily, I got off a few shots before Gracie chased it off. 

 

 

LANDSCAPE ROSES

 I’ve always loved rose bushes, but these newer shrub varieties have really grabbed me with their low maintenance and disease resistance.  They bring splashes of bright color to yards and gardens.

 

 

ENDURING BONDS

When I lived in Kalamazoo, Jen and Steve Earley were my next-door neighbors.  They had two young children, Megan, 7, and Scott, around 5.  Steve was in the Navy, so they moved before I retired and came north in 2006.  We’ve kept in touch over the years with occasional emails and yearly holiday letters.  Last week, Jen emailed that their daughter Megan, now 29 and an illustrator, was in Traverse City painting a fence mural for Wiggle Butts & Waggin’ Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding.  We met for dinner Wednesday evening and had a wonderful time catching up on our lives, twenty-two years later.  The next afternoon, I went to the daycare to watch Megan paint.  As Megan brought Quinn, the owner’s Great Pyrenees, to life with her artistry, I marveled at what this young woman had become.  On my drive home, my heart was full of friendship’s enduring bonds.

 

 

FIELDS OF COLOR

I love farm fields this time of year. Different crops planted side by side and golden corn tassels give these landscapes color and definition.  Peachy sunset skies capped off a perfect evening of picture-taking.

 

 

HORSE COUNTRY

Traverse City has gained a reputation for international equine competition with its summer horse shows. I also see a lot of horses and their unique barns south of my home.  My favorite horses are these two Haflingers with their chestnut coats and flaxen manes.  They are so gentle and friendly, often coming to the fence when I drive by.