The storm brought wind, rain, and hail and it seemed to stop as quickly as it started. This had been the third or fourth storm to roll through in as many days. But as the dark clouds moved further east and the skies began to clear, there was a brilliant rainbow that arced across the sky and was reflected in the still lake surface below. This was our “reward” for getting through the storms, and with all the uncertainties that are in our day-to-day lives this was truly the brighter side.
landscapes
Pointed to sunset
I recently purchased a kayak – nothing fancy, just a hard plastic one that I can take out on the lake. I don’t have to worry about beaching it or scratching the hull, but it allows me to explore and enjoy the lake and the shoreline at an up-close and leisurely pace.
I’ve enjoyed watching deer and small fawns along the bank of the lake, turtles that are quickly diving into the weeds, fish that are swimming in the clear and warm summer water, eagles overhead that swoop down into the lake and rise again with a fish in their talons, and loons that cruise the lake then disappear as they dive for their meals. I’ve been mesmerized by the still lake surface in the early morning when the water is like a sheet of glass reflecting the clouds overhead, the whitecaps that ripple across the lake when the wind comes rushing through the channel, and the quietness of evening as the sun descends behind the trees to the west while the moon rises in the east.
I will never grow tired of nature and all that it offers up to us, no matter the season.
Summer at Lake Como
It’s been a string of summer days here in Saint Paul – sunshine, blue skies, beautiful white puffy clouds, and warmth. I took a walk to Como Park and followed the path all the way around Lake Como. Near the pavilion there were people considering the rental of water crafts. And they had many to choose from – kayaks, canoes, peddle boats, and paddle boards. A tough decision, but any of those choices would bring a change of scenery and some cooler air out on the lake.
These are the long summer days we look forward to all winter. It’s worth the snow and cold temperatures to finally turn the calendar to June and welcome the sun and the warmth of summer.
Como Park in the evening
I was very fortunate to be at Como Park the other evening. It had been a beautiful day and many people were enjoying the evening and the park. There were people walking, biking, running, flying kites, setting up hammocks between trees, picnicking, and taking in all that our urban park offers, including a recent high school graduate celebrating his accomplishment. The sun was fighting through the hazy clouds on the western horizon, but it threw a lovely light on the waterfall on the right side of the Frog Pond. And that same light was streaming through the glass of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. How lucky I was to be there at this very moment.
Pink lady’s slippers
I was contacted by a neighbor saying they had pink lady’s slippers blooming in their yard; oh, what a wonderful invitation! Semi-hidden amidst some tall grasses, she showed me multiple clumps of these lovely flowers. Pink lady’s slippers are part of the orchid family, and are about 6 to 10 inches tall. They are delicate and stand tall on a single leafless stem. Like other ephemerals they bloom for only a few short days before the deciduous trees form their full canopy of leaves blocking sunlight to the ground. I sat on the ground and marveled at these beauties, thankful that I could enjoy them at their peak.
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