Out for a leisurely drive.

Today's Joy: A Fourth of July Trail Ride/Drive & Picnic.
Happy Independence Day, dear Reader! Hope this most patriotic holiday finds you celebrating with loved ones while being mindful of all the sacrifices that have been made (and are being made now) to protect this wonderful country of ours. How blessed are we to live in this incredible land of opportunity!

I was blessed enough to have the day free to join 20 of my friends and family on a trail ride/drive at the local Hampshire Forest Preserve. After rolling over hill & dale and having a marvelous time (including a cart drag race across the back forty, but I'm not naming names...), we regrouped for a picnic, with the incomparable Aunt Chef at the grill. In her red, white & blue apron, she doled out mouth-watering burgers and the juiciest BBQ chicken I've ever had. We did get a tad wet when our picnic was ambushed by a fast-moving rain shower, but it was gone toot sweet and we picked up right where we left off. See below for all of the day's photo highlights!


Aunt & Poodle


Out on the trail.

Aunt, Pony & Poodle

Kathy, Harry & Sugar

Getting Fred ready.

Aunt Chef & Dreamer

Driving a wooded lane.

Grilled Corn

Helen & Jim driving Ginger.

Aunt Chef's delish BBQ Chicken

Sarah, pulling Grace (& I) in the marathon cart with Aunt Chef & Dreamer just behind.

Mike & Kelly driving Tobey.

Aunt & Her Poodle, Portrait

Calling for directions.

Sally & Julie waiting on the rest of us.

Road Trot

Relaxing after a good ride.

Fresh-picked
Originally uploaded by Fresh Lens Photography

Today's Joy: Loving Every Moment.
It's been a great day, Reader. Had a good, productive day at my new job. I'm really enjoying it. Then rushed home ahead of the storm to get the horses in. They are warm and safe and dry, though I got thoroughly drenched!

But all was right again when I got to Aunt's for dinner. Made plans with Mom to attend our first auction of the year tomorrow morning (we are estate auction junkies from way back). SO looking forward to perusing all those treasures just waiting to be found.

Then had Aunt's taco salad and a good, long visit with her, Aunt Chef & Uncle. The later two being substantially sunburned after a day spent planting heirloom tomatoes in their ever-expanding farm garden. Aunt Chef proclaimed there would be Green Zebras and Black Krims among this year's crop--two of my very favorite heirloom varieties. I can't wait to use them in fresh, summer recipes! There is nothing like the taste of an heirloom tomato. It's like tradition and magic and photosynthesis all rolled into one. Will be sure to get lots of photos for you, Reader.

I love days like this, when you have worked hard, fulfilled your responsibilities and now are pleasantly drowsy on the sun porch as the evening light fades. Content and surrounded by laughter. Would that we had whole summers full of such evenings! Good Night, dear Reader.

Purple-edged Iris.

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. ~Gertrude Jekyll

Today's Joy: June & Indigo Flowers.
Happy Thursday, Reader. While perusing some of the flower photos I haven't gotten around to posting yet, I came across these three beauties. There's something so blue & white and summery about them. Each year, I love rediscovering the traditions of early summer. The feel of a sundress, that first pitcher of iced tea, wearing sandals to the first wedding of the season. Now that it's June and wedding season is in full swing, I am enjoying helping Aunt gather flowers, candleholders and glass hurricanes for her friend's upcoming wedding.

It's no wonder so many people tie the knot this time of year. There's something almost perfect about June, when the cool, late spring weather lingers and everything is still lush and bursting with green. Only a few weeks now until the heat of summer sets in and I'll be longing for 70-degree afternoons. But, there's no time to worry about that when we could be out having a picnic under an Oak tree. Perhaps this dreamy, cool beauty is what the Garden of Eden was like.

What's your favorite early summer tradition, Reader? What renews your spirit this time of year?

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance. ~Bern Williams


Daisies.

In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them. ~Aldo Leopold

Violas.

Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.