High heat and humidity can only last for so long. Eventually the atmosphere needs to clear it all out. As the sunshine disappeared, the air stilled and the clouds moved in. There was just a line of light on the far shoreline, but the rest of the sky was filled with billowing clouds – grey and dark. Their reflection in the eerie calm of the lake seemed ominous. A few minutes later the rain started in big drops, the wind picked up, and the rain became steady giving us the much-needed moisture.
summer
Ride the slide at the MN State Fair
Summer’s official closing party took place this past Labor Day as the Minnesota State Fair came to its conclusion. I spent the final day of the fair with 170,000+ of my new friends enjoying the perfect weather, the food, the animals, the rides, the entertainment, and the people watching. One of the oldest rides, and in my opinion one of the simplest rides, is the Giant Slide. Climb up the stairs, sit on a mat, and slide all the way down to the bottom. No flashing lights, no blaring music, no mechanical anything; it’s simple, it’s fun, and attracts people of all ages. It’s a chance for adults to be kids again and for kids to be amazed at the adults around them having fun! This cutout was meant for someone to put their face in, but it became the perfect frame for all the fun and laughter that was going on behind it on the Giant Slide. Wheeeeeeeee!
Butterflies
Delicate and light, constantly in motion, mesmerizing and beautiful – these are the words that come to my mind in describing the Blooming Butterfly exhibit at Como Park. Yesterday morning’s gray and cool weather provided the perfect conditions for a photographer’s visit to the exhibit. The lack of sunshine and temps in the low 60’s allowed the butterflies to rest and not be as active as when the sun is bright and the air is warm. The exhibit is filled with butterflies from Asia, Africa, North and South America, although only one of these can be found native to Minnesota. Some are bright with multi colors, others are one or two colors, but beautiful just this same. This Paper Kite butterfly settled among the bright flowers and rested, as if posing for this photograph.
Purple petunias
It’s summer today – hot, humid and muggy. But in the shade in our backyard I got lost in some everyday petunias. With their bright purple and white they add welcome color to the summer greens and yellows. I began photographing the mass of petunias, but as I got in closer I was captured by their fragile thin petals that blossom out from small stems of green. Their stickiness and tiny hairs catch any small bugs that are near. The blossoms are short-lived and will be shriveled tomorrow and dry by the next, but they are a beautiful burst of color and joy when it’s their moment to shine.
Basking in the sun
On a recent bicycle ride through the countryside, I saw this common scene – freshly cut hay bales scattered across a field, blue sky and clouds overhead. Here in Minnesota we’ve had more than our usual amount of rain, leaving the landscape lush and green. The hay harvest has been done and appears to be plentiful. Unfortunately some of our neighboring states have been battling severe drought, decimating their hay fields and other crops. Like the help that was given earlier this year to farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, many people are offering their hay to those suffering in North and South Dakota that have none. A wonderful reminder of the good that takes place and yet is often overlooked.
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