The Solstice Approaches

I sleep very little at this time of year. It is light by 4:30. The birds are in full force. I am up.

I hate to miss a second of the daylight. It is invigorating and exhilarating.

Likewise at night, it is still twilight after 10:00. So I don’t go to bed. Like now.

There has been a tremendous amount of activity from the birds the last few days, particularly today. Robins, chickadees, crows, flying hither and thither, sparing in the trees, chattering, busy busy busy. Mating activity must be increasing with the increased light of the solstice.

We have just set (or tied) a new record for the longest stretch of dry weather between May and June in the history of Seattle. 30 days without a drop of rain. And not 30 cloudy days without rain. 30 glorious, perfect, clear, magical days in the 70s. Every meal outside. Lots of gardening. Working outside on our laptops. Not a second of the delicious light has been wasted.

The Best Days of the Year

“Gentle Hermione”, an English rose bred by David Austin, which I planted last spring in my garden. Hermione was the faithful wife of King Leontes in Shakespeare’s King Lear. Taken this morning in my office window.

Beautiful weather continues. The days are long and lovely. The solstice approaches.

The best time of the year.

– Badminton tournament match play: D 3 matches G 2 matches

– Roses everywhere

Bliss

One of the things I love most about photography is being able to capture those moments of serendipity and magic in life that you can’t really plan or prepare for. Yesterday afternoon I took my Mum to our local rose garden. As we arrived, we came upon a few members of a wedding party, among them this little girl, who ran and skipped and and twirled barefoot through the rows of blooms with pure joy. And yes, amazingly, I had my camera ready.