The landscape is filled with the bright colors of summer now. Everywhere I look I see deep greens accented with yellows, pinks, reds, blues, and whites. The contrasts are clear and glorious. Where once the scenery was mono or duo-tone, we now have an array of shades and hues to rest our eyes on. In our backyard, the coneflowers and rudbeckia are in full flower. They are similar, yet so different in their patterns and petals and I never tire of studying them. It’s a delightful time to get lost and absorb all the wonders that Mother Nature provides during our short-lived summer months in Minnesota.
Minnesota
A bicycle ride through the countryside
We spent the morning on a bicycle ride through the countryside of central Minnesota. The Tour of Saints is billed as a “heavenly little ride” and today it lived up to its billing. The thunderstorms that moved through prior to dawn cleared by the start of the ride, and the clouds and cooler temps made for comfortable conditions. We opted for the 50-mile ride and enjoyed every uphill and downhill along the route. Starting at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, we wandered the back roads until the rest stop in Cold Spring where we were treated to delicious (and ride-hearty) cinnamon rolls and baked goods. Another 13 miles and a stop near St. John’s University for bananas and cookies. Then it was 15 miles for a stop of candy bars and Gatorade in Avon (when you ride 50 miles you need to eat and stay hydrated, and rest stops are much appreciated!). The countryside was green and verdant, with wildflowers in bloom, fields of soybeans and corn, and wonderful old barns. These horses seemed quite intrigued by our mode of transportation as we rode by. We ended back in St. Joseph, tired but appreciative of a morning spent in a beautiful countryside.
Amidst celebration, a bit of repose
Like most, my three-day weekend has been filled with various activities and events. Places to go, people to see, things to do. We enjoyed dinner and a musical at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. We clocked off the miles on a summer’s day bike ride on the Cannon Valley Trail between Red Wing and Cannon Falls. We did yard work and house work. But with the perfect blue skies and summer temperatures, I made sure to pencil in some time to relax. With a baseball game on the radio, a lovely breeze blowing through the back yard, blue skies and sun, it was the perfect time to relax on the hammock. A clearing of the mind from the work-day routines and a nod to what we love about summer. When the cold, the snow, and the darkness of winter are howling outside, these summer days are the ones that keep our spirits up.
Garlic scapes
For the past few years our vegetable garden bed has included garlic. So very easy to grow, but the highlight to me is at this time of year, about a month prior to harvest. Certain varieties of garlic develop scapes – a bulb or flower near the top of a characteristic curled stem. They appear graceful as they twist and curve on the long stems high above the ground. Even better is that they are delicious and provide a “preview of coming attractions” prior to the actual bulb harvest. We particularly enjoy them sauteed, lending a subtle garlic flavor to whatever they are served with.
Cars and dads
I spent this morning wandering the Minnesota State Fairgrounds at the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the Fifties celebration – 12,000+ vehicles dating from 1964 and before. For a photographer, it’s a treat to the eyes with all the colors and details, reflections, and car enthusiasts. Even though the temperatures were hovering near 90 degrees, there was a plethora of people and families, with many Father’s Day celebrations taking place. As I was getting ready to leave, I saw these two Volkswagen Beetles, and was instantly taken back to my childhood and memories of my father. I remember the small light green Beetle he bought when I was about five or six years old. This was way before children’s car seats, and I would sit on my large stuffed red dog that was wedged over the parking brake between the driver’s and passenger’s seats and watch the world go by. There was also a small cargo area behind the back seat, perfect for one small suitcase, but it would hold me quite nicely. My memories of this little car are all good, and it was a welcome delight to reminisce of my father on this Father’s Day.
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