A Sweet Journey

Hello, Dear Friends - Where does the time go? 

It is racing along and we are enjoying every moment

of these lovely summer days. 

Thank you for coming along with me 

as we take another country drive. 

Today we are going to visit with my two daughters. 

We have important pre-wedding plans

to discuss, (my youngest son is marrying his sweetheart this summer)

and it has been a while since we've been together, 

just 'the girls'. 

It is a beautiful morning for the long drive over
and the scent of fresh cut hay is in the air. 

We've had a long, dry spell,
with record breaking high temperatures.

It's been 'hotter than blue blazes', as my Grandmother Beatrice used to say.

Perfect for haying. 

Half of this newly cut field waits to be baled,
the other half is loaded and ready to go. 

The chain link fence runs along a dirt access road.

As we take a sharp turn,
we see the pumpkin patch neatly growing
at this beautiful farm

This farm hosts a harvest festival each fall,
complete with corn maze, U-pick pumpkins,
hay rides, and farm products and crafts.

A Mother and foal stand belly deep in lush pasture
 behind a sturdy barbed wire fence.
This is part of a large wetland pasture
frequented by elk in the spring and fall
on their annual migrations to and from the highlands. .

The rusty tin on the outbuildings reminds me of the stories
my Mother told of her summers spent
with her Scottish Immigrant Grandmother.

Her Grandmother lived on a farm in Vermont with a rusty tin roof.
Hearing the rain on the roof of her Grandmother's cottage
was my Mother's favorite childhood memory.

Well, maybe next to eating her Grandmother's home-made donuts!

We are alone on this newly blacktopped country road
 as we leave the foothills behind.

A gal could get a lead foot on a road like this....
Sweet hay scented breezes blowing our hair, long straightaway,

Deep blue horizon.......

But I know that 'Dead Man's Corner' is up ahead.
This innocent little farm road
takes a complete left bend.

Around a 10 mph turn, we see the last of the farmlands.

We stop for my youngest daughter, Jennie
 at her home near the lake
and then we continue on together another 15 miles
over busy roads and highways. 

Then back to the country again.
A Mother and her calf find a shady refuge from the summer heat.

We arrive at our destination - daughter Heather's -
to this welcoming oasis!

A beautiful table set for three.

A perfect summer meal of fresh fruit, quiche, and a refreshing citronella.

Served with smiles.
Heather on the left and sister Jennie.
Two sisters that shared a tiny cottage bedroom
growing up,
and still remain on speaking terms :)

xoxo

The time flies by while we enjoy our delicious meal,
 catch up with each other's lives
and synchronize plans for happy events to come.

All too soon it's time to make the journey home,

although, there is never enough time spent together
 to satisfy a Mother's heart.

So with a wistful sigh I say goodbye
 and head towards home in the late afternoon sun,
carrying along lovely new memories,
and an armload of rustling bridesmaid dresses to alter :)

The setting sun paints lavender brushstrokes
across the face of Mt. Rainier,

leaving long shadows behind, as we travel closer to home.

We turn here, across from fields of gold.

Open the gate....

Safely home.

I hope you are enjoying these lovely summer days with family and friends.
Thank you for coming along on this sweet journey.

xoxo
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir -

Linking with The Run*A*Round Ranch Report - Good Fences
xoxo