The part of the creek I refer to as “Rivendell”… no elf sightings yet though:)
“Why not seize the pleasure at once? — How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!”
― Jane Austen, Emma
Finding pathways through the lily pads…
It was 7:30 at night, the after-dinner mess was mostly cleaned up, and I was joining my younger son on the porch for conversation and relaxation. After that, my big plans for the night were pajamas and maybe an HGTV recording. Then, out of the blue he asks, “Want to go for a kayak ride?”
My son with his river companion “creekdog”
That was the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth, and truthfully one of the last things I wanted to do. It had been a busy day, and my pajamas were calling my name! I could think of other reasons as well….like dusk was smorgasbord time for mosquitos and, well, I had just downed about 10 ounces of vegetable juice, enough said.
It took me all of about three seconds, though, to dismiss those thoughts and head for the paddles! Many of my fondest memories have been spur-of-the-moment ideas with those I love…so many memories I would have missed had I reacted “logically” or dismissed because of not wanting to leave my momentary comfort.
With that in mind, I rounded up Princess-who does love a good paddleboard ride-grabbed the camera, fortified the mosquito spray with extra cedarwood and lavender, and off we went!
Pure Bliss.
As someone once said, “Spontaneity is the best kind of adventure,” and I, for one, wholeheartedly agree!
Nobody could capture the Phantom. She was the wildest mare on Assateague Island. They said she was like the wind, that the white “map” on her shoulders was her mark of freedom.
Saturday was a wonderful day here on the Delmarva Peninsula to escape the 90+ degree heat and head to one of our glorious beaches. The escape was real…I was actually cool with my beach chair pulled just close enough to the ocean for my feet to catch the refreshing waves. The ponies evidently had the same idea and provided the show most tourists come to see and one I never get bored with.
There are two theories about how the wild horses came to be on Assateague Island, which spans 48,000 acres of Virginia and Maryland’s eastern shore. One theory is that they arrived with the early colonial settlers and the other is that they swam to shore after escaping a Spanish galleon cargo shipwreck, of which they were the cargo. I think the latter is a much more exciting theory, and with the discovery of a sunken Spanish ship off the coast in 1997, it is the more credible one as well.
Sweet family picture…a young foal nursing, stallion in background.
The ponies, officially named “Chincoteague Ponies” for the nearby island off of Assateague, VA, survive eating the wild grasses, bayberry twigs, rosehips and persimmons. They drink fresh or brackish water found in the lower lying areas of the island. They became famous largely because of the book Misty of Chincoteagueby Marguerite Henry.
Though there are signs posted everywhere to stay at least 100 ft. away from the ponies, the ponies, and most people, don’t quite adhere to that warning. They have been known to bite and kick, so I have a respectful fear of them as I do the ocean. Apparently, they have also been fed “people” food over the years, also despite the signs, and have developed quite the taste for it. It is common to see them come up to the belongings of beachgoers and rummage through their bags in search of tasty treats…we have been among those beachgoers! They have become quite adept at stomping bags of chips to get to the forbidden contents inside.
As the afternoon grew late, the ponies started heading down the beach…
Fires began to be built….
And by nightfall the campfires burned all around, illuminating the fun gatherings of families and friends, while the ponies slept nearby under the spectacular starry sky.
∼ Jen
‹My apologies to the ponies, as cell phone pictures don’t do their beauty justice.›
It’s said that confession is good for the soul, so here goes…
I am guilty of a crime, and I committed this crime/sin with the full knowledge that what I was about to do could quite possibly kill, or at the very least, temporarily wound the innocent and unsuspecting. I, however, could not help myself-much like a man armed with a chainsaw can’t stop until every last branch within eyesight is maimed “pruned,” I, too, was on a mission.
My crime? Transplanting a very happy plant in the dead of summer….in fact, in the middle of the worst heat wave so far this year. What was I thinking….well, that’s just it, I wasn’t. Much like a spoiled, rebellious, impatient child, I didn’t care about the rules-I simply defied all authority in the transplanting laws of nature. That plant simply was not where it needed to be and I wanted it elsewhere, heat wave or not. Waiting for fall was not an option.
The innocent? The one and only, beautiful beyond words, Russian Sage.
This gorgeous plant has been my favorite perennial since I planted my first flower garden way back when. In my previous garden, I had abundant sunshine and it thrived and returned yearly like a faithful friend. Because I am still trying to find the right spot for these to thrive at our new home, they lack the abundance of stems seen in the above picture. Mine boasts only several per plant as seen in the first picture. For that reason, the victimized plant was moved to a much sunnier location where it will hopefully flourish and return next year to let me know all is forgiven and it is loving its new abode.
My favorite garden picture…my then 3 year-old son, Daniel, chasing butterflies amidst the flowers- Russian Sage in the back.
In spite of the heat, or maybe even because of it, my little Russian Sage looks like it may make it after all:) In the first hour after it was transported away from its buddies, it looked very sad and wilted indeed. I watered it, of course, but then because of the intense heat, upper 90’s to be exact, I watered it two more times that day and three times a day since.
Little sage is much perkier now with all the extra, tender-loving care, and its bounce back, despite my initial offense, reminds me of a particular verse…love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Happy Gardening!
∼ Jen
PS….I have a new temptation in the form of a wayward Autumn Sedum. I am desperately trying to resist, but the promise of rain in the coming days may lure me towards my shovel yet! 😉
“No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest comer.”
– James Russell Lowell, The Vision of Sir Launfal
Early morning drink
Dust from the fireworks has settled, Princess survived yet another year of booms and bangs, sure “they” were after her, and once again, like every year, I wonder how it’s possible that so much of summer has already gone by.
As I enjoyed looking back on my morning pictures from May once June arrived, I have done the same for my morning times in June. I love looking back at photos taken and relive some of the moments and memories of my early, quiet times on the porch and beyond.
Comfy seating upon a lily padJune daylilies greet the morning sun
The turtles were out in full force this month. I like them a little more when they stay in the creek, if they happen to be snapping turtles that is. I have not seen our pond visitor again up close as I did in May, but I spotted it’s relative sunning on this log with a friend….
and another duo with the same idea further out…
I always love the way the early morning sun highlights the ferns and glistens on the waterfall…and the moss on the rocks, well, that’s just the icing on the cake.
The American bullfrog in our pond that we have dubbed “cave-frog” still occupies his cave and was seen peeking out beyond the water grass one morning between croaks.
“cave-frog”
He is loud, but I had no idea just how loud till my neighbor across the street told me she could hear him! She is a nature enthusiast herself, so it was an appreciation not a complaint:)
As for flying creatures, our little hummingbirds have been enjoying their new feeders……..
And “Harold” was observed on several breakfast hunts…
Upon arising one morning I was greeted with our first hydrangea bloom of the summer, and by evening the same bush boasted several more blooms.
Replenishing my morning cup of coffee on another morning, I heard scratching on our porch, screen door. I looked to see a real cutie, who upon seeing me quickly ran off. I captured him resting his very visibly pounding heart before ascending the tree. The poor guy was beyond shaken.
I have no idea why he was intent on entering the house….I would say he was drawn by the aroma of coffee, but it was more likely that he was running from our cat, “Gladiator Gabby.”
The large trees in our back yard are a wonderful habitat for birds, especially the woodpeckers, but it was the sunlight streaming through the hole in the above tree that caught my eye on this particular morning.
Blooming Fuchsia, a hummingbird favorite
Leaving a hotel one morning after a weekend trip, my son pointed out some adorable ducklings enjoying a morning swim. It was the mother with one of the ducklings near a blooming lily, that, of course, captured my attention the most…
And lastly, I have Princess to thank for the following picture taken at the end of June. Her morning vigil by the front door resulted in a sight I am ever so glad to have seen…
and kudos to the deer for allowing me to photograph her in front of such a lovely, blooming backdrop. She seemed to enjoy her morning stroll through the neighborhood, so I may see her again in the future.
Until next time!
∼ Jen
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love…Psalm 143:8
“I could never stay long enough on the shore; the tang of the untainted, fresh, and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought. ” Helen Keller
The above quote could very well be mine…..there is never enough time spent on the beach. I usually leave the shore most reluctantly, the last to ever want to start packing up to go, as if, somehow, I’ll never be back again. There simply is nothing quite like the feeling one gets on the beach or the myriad of memories to be made there!
Brothers making beachy memories
Not having to keep an eye on little ones of my own anymore on beach outings, I find my eye is drawn to the antics of other children on the beach. The two boys in the foreground of the above picture were so much fun to watch. They were about the same age difference apart as my own two sons, and brought back so many wonderful memories of our own beach days, gone too quickly by.
“wave-jumping”
The larger group of boys in the picture were having the absolute time of their life! The squeals from them jumping the waves together as they came rolling in one after another quickly caught my attention and provided amusement to anyone watching.
I love the freedom and joy kids have to just be kids on a beach….laughing, squealing, jumping, running, playing, splashing….the sand and waves make for the most wonderful playground of all!
Add a bucket or a giant hole in the sand and what kid could ask for anything more!
Taking a walk down the beach we came upon this royal work of art. I can only imagine the fun had building this sand castle…I do hope they got pictures of their wonderful masterpiece!
Drip castle building on Jekyll Island, Georgia
My favorite sandcastle picture of all-time, however, is this picture taken years ago of my own two boys creating their ever favorite “drip castles.” There is a beautiful story behind this picture, but I will simply say, it is a tangible reminder to me of the love and care the very Creator of the waves and sand Himself has for me, and indeed, each of us.
I don’t remember seeing Brown pelicans on the beaches around here growing up, only seagulls. Perhaps I was too busy building my own sand castles to notice back then, but either way, I enjoy watching them now as an adult.
Bottom brown pelican with fish in its pouch
I can tell you pelicans don’t sneak in and steal your fries from under your nose when you least expect like the rascals below have been known to do! And as more than a few members of my family will attest to, they also have habits a littlemore annoying and messy than simply stealing your fries! Still, the beach would not be the same without the sounds of gulls in the background.
Birds, Blooms and all things Beautiful 