Spot On

Dog Days

Gentleness is everywhere in daily life,

a sign that faith rules through ordinary things:

through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, fishing,

tending animals, and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music and books,

raising kids — all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines.

— Garrison Keillor

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Now Playing: Summer

What Goes Around

Dry stomped down grass + dusty sandals + Tilt-A-Whirl + Lemonaide (dubiously "fresh squeezed") + sundown + cool down + thank goodness, it's been too hot + Ferris Wheel + groups of Twentysomethings on the prowl + stuffed animals + no chance of winning, it's rigged + and they're ugly + yes, the stuffed animals are ugly + and gross + hotdogs on sticks + don't point that at me, please + livestock barns + cows + horses + pigs + chickens + bunnies + did you see the goats? + how can anyone eat these animals after raising them? + that's one weird looking chicken + I guess I could eat that one + deep fried Twinkies + okay, this is wicked good, I'll give it that + deep fried Snickers Bars + really? they can deep fry a Snickers bar? + clogged arteries + my jeans won't fit in the morning + spinning rides + barfy rides + sketchy roller coasters + I need to sit down somewhere + ew, that's sticky, not there + melting ice cream + eat fast! + where's your sister? + I said, WHERE'S YOUR SISTER? + Oh. I didn't see you there. + pony rides in a circle + poor ponies + Pick-A-Floating Duck + Pop-A-Balloon with a bent dart + only three tries for $5 + for the love of Chrysler, why is everything here $5.00? + $5 hamburgers + $5 stir fry + $5 tacos + $5 Cokes + how did you win that? + not that, THAT + elephant ears + you need more ride tickets? + what happened to the other ones? + I said, WHAT HAPPENED...nevermind, here + no, I'm not interested in what you're selling, thanks + pitches hand out flyer + live bands + beer tents + fluttering flags in the warm night air + blinking lights + tired teens + tired grownups + happiness + smells and sounds of summer  =  COUNTY FAIR

Small Town Saturday

I had to fight some honey bees to get these purple cone flower pics. They weren't happy that I was interrupting their collection process so I worked quickly. I love that these shots are just as they are. The color isn't retouched and the petals are at peak perfection. These flowers just seemed so happy and peaceful I had to share some of that energy. They definitely are on my "favorites" list and I have never once regretted planting these. I don't have to do anything to them but let them go through their cycle and every year that they pop up it's like hearing a song you've long forgotten and then suddenly you remember the words.

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