Do You Ever See Your Reflection?

Imagine mine and ms. sophiejane's surprise when we went out to the deck at our lake house this morning, to enjoy my coffee and a few minutes of solitude, only to feel cooler temps and even a lil breeze blowing thru the tops of the cypress trees across the lake!!!  A time to plan the day.  A time to start making a little list of girly things to bring on our gal pal getaway in a few weeks!
As I just stared into the water, one of the beautiful white egrets flew right down the river showing off all of his graceful moves like a ballerina on stage. The cardinal birds were chirping in unison with each other and I could have sworn I heard my mom and dad talking back and forth to each other..."No Boo.....I said I was playing 9 holes with the men today!"  I'm totally convinced their souls are living on in the bodies of the beautiful cardinal birds!!!  As I sighed with relaxation, I noticed off to my right a lone fisherman.  He had quietly glided into place right next to our boat house. His limber casting moves were like those of a slinking cat.  Quiet yet right on target!  He slowly lifted his beverage to his mouth while never leaving his line out of the water.  And yet, then...he would just stop. Stop to look around at his surroundings.  Smell the air.  Wonder about the breezes in the trees and maybe even make himself a little list of things that needed to be done this day.  It dawned on me that we were one in the same.....just loving and appreciating our environment.

                             

                                        Reflection:  the production of an image by or as if by a mirror.
           ~when the movement is slight and the water is calm, it's easy to see the reflection from above.
                                                                     ~~Art at its finest~

The above images are just mere photographs, yet when you slide them into the waterlogue app, they become paintings!!

That Odd Uneven Time...

...as we sit here mid August, the heat is still here (big time!) and the flowers are spent from hot, humid air.  Yet, the school buses are ruling the roadways and the sound of 'Yes Ma'am' to their teacher's commands are in full swing. What do we call this time? After a full, fun summer but before the first hint of a cool breeze....it is as if we are in a holding pattern.  Waiting for college football season, hunting season and that first nip of coolness on a crisp fall morning....

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.'"

Sylvia Plath

Soon it will be time to clean out the refrigerator, put the pool toys away and lock up the doors to the lake house for another season.....but THIS weekend???  The Cap'n and I had a glorious end of summer weekend doing absolutely nothing!!  We lounged. We cooked and ate magnificent meals. We swam.

We just enjoyed life!!

3 more cruisin' into school days.....

Katiejane, after doing one day of testing last week, began her school career today......and did just fine. Even her mom put on her big girl panties, got a stiff upper lip and enjoyed her first day of freedom in a while!!

Austin Rex was way ready to get back into his school routine.  He loves school!!

but was happy to be greeted by his new lil Lulu when he got home!!

Case Nelson also began his school career but it was like old hat to him since he went to his school for pre-k, so he already knew the ropes!!!  His small brother will miss him tho during the school days.

Or will he???????

His mom constructed a fort out of a big box and had a good movie to watch.....in peace!!!

I think he's going to enjoy having some one on one time with Mom!!!

As I sit here remembering the first days of school for my own little boys.....these kid's dads....all the emotions come rushing back and I know exacly the way the moms felt as they walked away from their babies on the first day.

The circle of Life!

RAINY day lagniappe!

Imagine a desert.  Where there is no rain nor water for months and months. But still lots of humidity. That's what it's been like around here this summer.  The grass is dying. The plants are screaming for water every day. And a trip out to the car makes you sweat like there is no tomorrow.  We've been in drought for months now.
Imagine our delight when we woke up yesterday morning to the sound of raindrops falling on our tin roof!!!!  We grabbed our coffee and our books and ran out to the deck to plant ourselves and relish in the delightful temperature and rainfall.

brunch was bacon and egg sandwiches eaten outside while reading....

I must take a moment to tell you what a wonderful book this was....written by Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun.  She has no doubt got another best seller on her hands and my hope is that this one will also be made into a movie.  I've already decided who the characters should be!

It took me right back to my trip to Italy and made me yearn for those days.  Last night when I couldn't sleep, I re-read my Italy blog, remembering all the coolness of that trip!!

This one is definitely worth the read....I didn't want it to end~

During a break in the rain, a dip into the pool to try and let the salt water calm down my raging case of poison ivy...

(that's Claudia diving into the ground....another story for another day!)

I made a Hatch Chili pasta for dinner and Cap'n grilled some bacon wrapped shrimp

Hatch Chilis are only available during summer months and have a nice mild flavor.

(just read on Estelle's blog that they even have a Hatch chili festival where she lives!) 

We've got rainfall again today which is making for another VERY lazy day and we are lovin' it!!

Last weekend, all the grandbabies came out to the lake for one last day of summer play together before that "S" word happens....SCHOOL!!!!

feeding the fish and turtles....I just love how Lane, the youngest of them all, watches and listens to every word the big kids say and do...so sweet!!

I made them a fruit/cookie pizza but they were so busy playing that we forgot to cut it....THAT was weird!

Austin was invited to a sleepover at Case and Lane's house that night, which was so cool because since austin lives in Plano, he doesn't get to spend alot of one on one time with them.  And they had so much fun!

the boy cousins!!

But they were back bright and early the next morning for breakfast.  Here's Lane, patiently waiting for Cap'n to get the sausage cooked.  He and his brother love Cap'ns sausage!!

Next up was a boat ride!

Lilli and Katiejane participated in an end of summer music camp at their church and were part of the play at the end of the week.

Lilli had a solo which she mastered!!! and Katiejane was in the chorus.  Precious!!

But now the time has come to strap the books back on ..oh wait, do they even use books anymore???..

and sing about School Days, School Days...Good Ol' Golden Rule Days!!!!!

(my boys are rolling their eyes right now!)

Two of our Six have already started. 

The rest begin this week....

As I close out this post, I look outside and see a beautiful site....water puddled up in one of our sitting areas....and just look how loud the green grass is singing!!!

WOOOOO-HOOOOO!!!