Summer blue

Nature works her magic everywhere. It’s up to us to appreciate her.

Even if you can’t get away, you can always find beauties to admire if you just get up out of your chair and look up.

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies do I see*

I have to remind myself of that when I’m wistfully remembering the pleasures of a particular trip or seeing friends’ photos of their travels, or reading about a place I either love or long to see.

My heart is often elsewhere—up north, across the pond, in the mountains or by the sea—but Pennsylvania’s forests and rolling hills deserve my respect and admiration, too.

The bird with feathers of blue, is waiting for you,
Back in your own back yard.**

Enjoy the sampling of blue skies below, and remember to get out and appreciate what’s close at hand while the weather’s so conducive to Sunday rides and long walks. It’s good for body and soul.

A farmer’s field in the Cumberland Valley.

In the gardens at Hershey.

Late Saturday afternoon in Chester County.

And just for fun, here I am in my favorite summer hat. Thanks to my friend, novelist Marina Reznor, for this fun shot. Her debut Fowled is not only well crafted, but also hugely entertaining, and the next book in the three-volume series is due soon.