A day in the country

Well, summer's here for us teachers and other educators in the school system. Nowadays, I sleep late (7 am!) drink two full cups of coffee before they get cold, and finish reading an entire page in my book without falling asleep. Those are just a few of the changes in lifestyle after the kids are gone and school's out.

The natural beauty around me also deepens and changes. On my way to school this morning, I passed farmers haying, their colorful daisies chopping away behind the tractors. Empty roads greeted me, all buses now stilled. A red, red barn with gated white 'X' sits atop a hill covered with thistles,

And here's the thistle

And went to visit a friend and a fancy showbird showed up, bands and all. She is contacting the local Pigeon Showbird chapter, but meanwhile, we had fun admiring its colors

I guess you never know what the day will bring. Today it was hay, thistles, and a racing pigeon!