Judy had always, ALWAYS, wanted to see the Grand Canyon. So we went on an extended trip (through 10 states, including Tennessee) in February to visit dear friends in Colorado, and then on to the Grand Canyon. It was awesome. We spent parts of four days and one night in the Park; the other nights we stayed in Williams, Arizona (a picturesque Route 66 town). The weather was mostly warm with fewer tourists. We loved it!

When we first moved here, we brought with us a dozen or so varieties of daylilies. I thought that there was a perfect spot near the pool and deck. The garden grew. I added a section north of the first one and brought it up to the level of the pool deck by adding lots of soil and 122 concrete blocks. And then I expanded the first bed. And I'm thinking about making it a little larger. We now have over fifty varieties. Some are already finishing for the season. Everything started to bloom about two weeks early. And each new bloom bring so much joy. It's not peak yet.

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Would you believe, dinosaur tracks?

After we spent the night in Yuba City, we saw a sign that advertised "Dinosaur Tracks".  Judy had read about this location in the guidebooks and wanted to stop. It was already sunny and warm, even if it was February, and the Navajo couple welcomed us to their rustic display shelter. She had jewelry of various kinds and explained that her husband would guide us. And just as we were about to set out across the dusty red rock landscape, she called him back and handed him a bottle of water. I wondered if we were in for a long walk and whether we ought to get our water as well. But, no, he used the water to spray in the depressions that were left centuries millennia ago in the mud by creatures that must have been larger than us. We were fascinated and awestruck at the footprints that were everywhere.

Utah. Moab. This past February. On our way to the Grand Canyon.

A morning ritual at our house during the summer is to stroll though the daylilies, to see which new ones are blooming that day. Sometimes, there are surprises, like the visitor on the petal of Joan Senior. I only noticed a few minutes ago that just above the snail there are areas missing from the petal. Families members report that daylily petals taste sweet, like sweet pea pods. The snail appears to agree. And I thought it was just looking.

Warm water and cool air, morning fog. Two canoeists, paddling in the mist. They've brought along hot water and tea bags, to sit and sip. Greeting the day with quiet contemplation. Sacred moment.

I'd like a few more days of autumn please. And then could we just skip to spring?

I love the colors of autumn and when some of the leaves fall, there becomes a transparency to the forest. You can see further. Details are exposed. And here is this grape vine wrapped through the limb of the tree. This scene is not too far off the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, just out of Gatlinburg.

I like the feeling in this photo. I have a framed print of this image hanging in my dining room. Just a few more days of autumn, please.

This another photo from Door County, Wisconsin, along the Mink River. I thought the sky that evening was quite unusual, and a reminder to take my camera with me all the time. Photos like this are an encouragement to me to go looking for an opportunity to take a picture.