US flag

Summer red

lindastaatsphoto1 Comment

Our summer this year is best represented by the color red. These lovely coneflowers are a perfect representation – the full impact of summer’s heat and the warm colors that we associate with it. We jumped from our late and short spring of blues and greens into the heat and drought of summer. The Canadian wildfire smoke has been prevalent here. The usual clear and blue skies have been hazy and murky. The sun rises as a red and orange ball, sometimes barely visible , while the landscape takes on an eerie feeling where things aren’t as they seem.

And there’s the red of watermelon – a summer staple. Take a slice, bite into it, savor that taste of the summer months as the juices drip down your arms. And strawberries too, which are at their sweet peak right now providing a delicious burst when popped in your mouth. There’s red in our US flag representing hardiness and valor, and it’s sometimes said it also represents the blood of the men and women who have fought to protect our freedom and our country. A huge and heartfelt thanks to those people, and a happy 4th of July to all my US friends! Enjoy this carefree time of summer!

The unexpected strikes again

lindastaatsphoto2 Comments

In what seems to be a theme, once again I’ve been surprised by the unexpected scenes that present themselves.  A dear friend was driving home from work the other night and told me about a field of US flags that were just down the hill from the Minnesota State Capitol Building.  In my mind I was picturing a few small eight-inch tall flags.  And yet when I went there to see for myself, I was amazed at a lawn full of 800 full-size US  flags along with another area filled with 1,500 pinwheels.  This amazing scene was set up by the Minnesota chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America (www.pcamn.org).  Their Child Abuse Prevention Healing Field was in honor of Minnesota’s children and also those people who have survived child abuse.   With late evening light streaming across the flags and the Capitol Building, and a light breeze to unfurl the flags, it presented a very striking image.  For a few short days this scene graced our Capitol grounds, causing many passers-by both on foot and in cars to stop and reflect on the scene, the beauty, and the cause.