Nature

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are. ~Osho

Budding Artist

The other evening Chesapeake Bay Daughter and I went to the beach. Normally we don't venture out past three or four o'clock, lest we turn into pumpkins or something, but we were bored. So around five o'clock we sallied forth.

Here is the most wonderful daughter ever invented in search of sea glass, crab shells, oyster shells and driftwood for her art projects. (Also, if you click on the image you'll be able to see Wolf Trap Light way off in the background as well as an osprey's nest at the end of the wall.)

Chesapeake Bay Daughter is slowly but surely turning into a little artist. In addition to making beautiful crafts out of treasures washed ashore, she is beginning to recognize and point out potential photos of objects or scenes, mostly close-ups of things that most people would overlook. She's starting to compose pictures even though she doesn't own a camera.

Chesapeake Bay Mother and CB Baby Sister are very gifted artists who grossly underestimate their abilities. I'm starting to think that CB Daughter is following closely in their footsteps, and I couldn't be happier.

p.s. You should see her on the soccer field and the basketball court. Unstoppable.

(Happy August.)