Under a Cloudless Sky

At 4:45 this morning, clear light filled the high upper window where I stood, as always, watching the summer sunrise. The dawn chorus, much later than in months past and much diminished in voices and duration, was barely discernible at first. But I could see the robins darting through the trees and beginning their jaunty hop across the lower front lawn seeking the first worms.

Soon the full daylight revealed a pure sky dotted with seaplanes heading toward the San Juan Islands. They take off from Lake Washington, a short distance from our home and pass over so low that often I’ve thought they might clip our tall trees.

The first place the rising sun illuminates is the lower front gate, entwined with Lavatera ‘Bredan Springs’, Tree Mallow, with an explosion of fuchsia, hollyhock-like blossoms on tall stems.

The bees love them as do the hummers.

I planted both of these three years ago from one gallon pots and they have thrived. With the mild winter, they haven’t stopped growing! I thought them the perfect backdrop for the newest addition to Hillhaven:

My adorable, purple, 1967 Schwinn Hollywood!

Isn’t she a beauty? (As yet unnamed – suggestions?) I found her online locally and dashed out right away, calling out to D as I headed down the drive “I’m going to buy a bike”! He didn’t ask why, he never does, just asked if I had enough money. My brother, a bike and racing aficionado, inspected her this weekend and said he’d never seen one in better shape – original tires, fenders, seat and grips. The only thing she was missing was a basket so I picked up this cute one for 69 cents at Value Village.

I really wanted a purple one as I’d had this idea all year of photographing a purple bike being ridden through the waist-high lavender fields. So, I had the bike but no rider yet.

Then serendipity arrived in the form of Winnie. Add a few lavender dresses and hats and a ferry ride to the Olympic Peninsula and I saw my vision became a reality.

And you’ll see it, too, tomorrow!

Thank you to each of your for your heartfelt and thoughtful comments on my last post. I’m really pleased if it was helpful in some way. May serendipity arrive to you today with the rising sun.

xo – g