And the flowers grew.

When spring came, there was a brownness left over from the winter that wouldn't disappear. It wanted its last say. When it turned to May and the frost stopped coming, there was rich green leaves and grass that grew with renewed vigor. Now, as the heat waves roll over us and we lay out in the sun, there are flowers abounding. Yellow and red and purple. Tiny hummingbirds and bumblebees all around them. 

Can't believe it's August already, and I can't believe that school and college will be starting again so soon. Tori will head back to Louisiana to be a Southern girl while she studies for her BSN. I will stay here and work, then embark on a three week vacation.

I feel as if summer has gone so fast! I am already thinking about autumn, my favorite time of year, and about all my wonderful clothes packed away ready to be taken out. While the peaches are canned and the apples picked, I'll be thinking about this:

Autumn Trees

depth of autumn
a few leaves on the tree
dancing

autumn leaves
the girls talk about
christmas

autumn
from the gnarled trees
fluttering birds 

- John Tiong Chunghoo