July was art shows and sailing, cornflowers and Queen Anne’s Lace. As I left for the “far Northland” at the end of July to sail with friends, my road was lined with cornflowers and lace. The flowers made me remember when I was young and about to be married. I so wanted those wild blue cornflowers in my bouquet, but the florist said that they close up! Oh, I had a lot to learn about flowers.
The sailing with Canadian friends to our old favorite places was a joy, as were the rocky islands and summer sunsets. So many years of sailing there, many years of good memories, and the islands will always be there waiting.
Sunset pastel by Carol
Then came August, hot and dry but full of wonderful corn and peaches and blackberries. Lulu and I picked black berries and just today I made jam.
August also brings fairs and markets and concerts in the parks. The Grand Traverse Pipe Band played on the lawn of “the Commons” at the old State Hospital—what fun.
And our grandkids played in the band—Amy on the tenor drum with flying sticks and Tony playing the bagpipe. A great evening of blue sky, children rolling and dancing on the soft grass, and Big Burger bag picnic suppers to enjoy.
And our grandkids played in the band—Amy on the tenor drum with flying sticks and Tony playing the bagpipe. A great evening of blue sky, children rolling and dancing on the soft grass, and Big Burger bag picnic suppers to enjoy.
Back in Beulah the valley by the highway if full of dusky purple Joe Pye weed and Golden rod, while up the hill the golden rod makes a wonderful foil for the golden apples in the orchard where Lulu and I walk. 
The apples are thick and beautiful on some of the trees, though not so big as in past years. It is still rather like walking on hills of green and gold.
The apples are thick and beautiful on some of the trees, though not so big as in past years. It is still rather like walking on hills of green and gold.
On a warm August evening last week I got to sit on the bluffs above Lake Michigan to see and hear a lone bagpiper play to the setting sun. How lucky to be there and share that lovely place.
An old song learned in camp long ago, actually a Scottish song, has stayed with me all these years—”It’s the far northland that’s calling me away, where you see the loon and hear it’s plaintive wail”.
I could see the grasses waving on the dunes, see the sparkling lake, and even hear the “plaintive wail”
Carol
Nice pastel!
Thanks Susana!
Carol really caught it!
What beautiful pictures and such poetic words. Thanks for starting my day so well.
Lucky you to have stumbled on the lone piper, lucky us for the glowing photographs and words to carry us north. Thank you.
And it has been a wonderful summer “up north”. September is one of my favorite months, tourists are gone, and the weather is wonderful!
Your apples look very nice. Our apples down here are sparse along with most every other tree fruit. I love your pastel and the ‘lone piper’ photos. Must be an eerie sound echoing off the dunes. You have a piper on the dunes instead of a fiddler on the roof.
I love the reference to Fiddler on the Roof! What a great thought!
I loved this! It made me smile, and love that you stumbled upon the lone bagpiper, how coincidental since we are surrounded by them now!!
Thanks for sharing your view on the north