Everybody

Rain rinse

My laundry often receives an all-natural, eco-friendly, rain rinse. 

Firefighters

Cosmos

Wildflowers

Imagine

Yesterday for a moment I closed my eyes and imagined that I was listening to the waves with sand between my toes. 

New semester

We are crazy busy getting ready for classes to begin on Monday.

Jimmy

Garden

School reunion

Thanks to Rhoda Byler for snapping this photo

Pastel

Lake Michigan

 At the end of July, Julie and I watched the sun set over Lake Huron. Sunday night, we watched it set over Lake Michigan.

Julie and I met our friend Lydia at Buttersville Campground, where we pitched a tent and then hurried down to the beach just in time to watch the sun sink beyond the horizon.

Boardwalk

Naomi's graduation

Naomi completed her high school studies this spring. Rather than having a party then, she opted to wait for August when all of her siblings would be in town. Thus, last Saturday, we gathered at the Cookie house and celebrated Naomi's graduation. 

Blueberry pickers

Perfect

Tea on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Dog days

Dahlia

Together

Classic

Water(less)fall

 While I was in Canada, we hiked to a waterfall only to discover the waterfall had disappeared since the river had dried up.  

Sweet corn

At the gas station

At a gas station in Canada

Lilies

Watching

Boy and his dog

Sleeping on the beach

 

I met Julie, and two of her friends, and several friends of Julie's friends at a beach in Ontario, Canada last weekend. I took a half-day off from work on Friday, and drove about four hours, circling the lake and crossing an international border, to reach an isolated destination on the shores of Lake Huron. 

We spent the late afternoon and evening strolling on the shore, splashing in the waves and cooking our dinner over a propane tank (we couldn't have a campfire due to a burning ban since there hadn't been any rain). After dinner we sat on the beach and watched the sun set over Lake Huron, which is a bit strange for Michiganders who are oriented to sunsets over Lake Michigan and sunrises over Lake Huron. 

Our plan was to sleep under the stars on the secluded beach. To that end, we rolled out our sleeping bags and went to sleep listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.

We only ended up spending half of the night on the beach. At two in the morning, as lightning flashed in the distance, we franticly gathered all of our belongings and lugged them up a steep path in the dark to the parking lot. We arrived at our vehicles shortly before the rain. I discovered that the backseat of my Edge is relatively comfortable in such circumstances. 

I didn't get much sleep Friday night, but it was totally worth it because I ended up with a good story (and some beautiful sunset pictures). Besides, half a night sleeping under the stars on the beach is better than no night on the beach. 

Progression of a sunset

Dog breath

Hibiscus

Splash!

Photo credit: Julie. I am on the left; Julie was sitting high and dry on the shore.