Thursday, August 4, 2011

Endless Summer


Queen Anne's Lace abounds in upstate New York.
This delicate wildflower, along with beautiful blue chicory
 grows along the roads and in every field.


...another one of August's simple yet glorious gifts.


People are beginning to speak about back to school ...
That troubles me.
I am not ready for summer to end...
...and you know what?


I had a revelation this afternoon.

Summer is not going to end anytime soon for me.

Because...well, I'm not going back to school this fall.
And...finally...my kids are not either!


So...no more talk about the fading away of summer days!
Mr. Flea and I have reached the time of life
 where summer time truly seems endless!
Another gift.


And now, for all you Moms who are getting anxious
 and already a bit frazzled at the prospect of back to school...


...take a breath.
 Your gift is having your children with you...
...at this very moment in time.
Soon enough they will be grown and off on their own.


It happens when you're not looking.
It happens fast.


Hope you are enjoying your summer...
...even if you're already thinking back to school thoughts!

:)
gee, I'm so philosophical today!

48 comments:

Katie @ Wildwood Creek said...

The feathers and blue bottles are beautiful!

Unknown said...

...oh how i miss queen annes lace...
that just doesn't grow in the hot desert!
but such BEAUTIFUL photos! you have captured them perfectly ~ along with your "words of wisdom" soooo very true!!

enjoy the last little popsicle licks of summer:)
xo, Rosemary

poppilinnstudios said...

The Queen Anne's Lace is so pretty and it is everywhere! Your photo's are lovely. Love your close-ups. Oh, I'm ignoring back to school-! have an 11th grader and 12th-it goes by much too fast!
-Lynn

Mary @ Redo 101 said...

I must admit that when August arrives, I order the homeschool material and begin to make plans, organize, hang new Metric Conversion-type posters.

Growing up I thought Queen Anne's Lace was called chiggers because apparently I was warned about them by an adult who mentioned chiggers when pointing to them (we lived in farmland). It was many years later I learned it's actually a beautiful flower with a beautiful name!

Thanks for sharing,
Mary

Kelley said...

Lovely thoughts...I need to use them every day.

xo Kelley

LizlovesVintage said...

Amen Sista!!! But, for me I will return to my classroom of 4 yr. olds. I'm not thinking about that just yet. 1 more wk. of summer session and I will be relaxing.. So, summer better Not end just yet! Great pics by the way;)
xxx Liz

Sea Witch said...

So many of my favorite things...Queen Anne' lace and hydrangas, feahers in aqua inkwells. Love this post. Sea Witch

Wanda @ Just Vintage said...

I remember the first year I didn't have to think about back to school. Summer had no limit! It kept going through September. I loved the time of my life with the kids at home and I love this time where they've started their own homes. It's all good.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I love the color of those bottles. School has already started in some counties here this week and the rest next week. Glad my kids are grown and gone.

savvycityfarmer said...

the QAL is proloific here ...
fifi grabbed it from roadsides for photo shoots last summer ...

how are you my dear?

Cottage and Broome said...

Love the Queen Anne's lace, isn't amazing what nature will provide! Your photo are lovely as always.

SueBee said...

I just said the other day how it was strange to not have back to school shopping anymore. The year just sort of blends all together now.
We just don't have the wild flowers you have up north, it's just too hot.
Enjoy yourself~SueBee

erin's art and gardens said...

even though my kids have been out of school for years now, i still get that nervous feeling when i hear the "back to school" ads on t.v....i guess, i am anxious for all those little kids out there....

queen annes lace is one of my favorite roadside flowers.

erin
xxoo

Amy Kinser said...

The Queen Anne's Lace is beautiful, isn't it? And, what a perfect name.

We just graduated our first this year after 12 years of homeschooling. He will be going to a community college in the fall. We have two more still being homeschooled and yes, I try and enjoy every minute of it. It goes way too fast.

Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns said...

You are so right...they do grow up fast and then we look back and say, where did the time go? I love your photographs, they are stunning.

Also love the black boxes from a few days ago.

Enjoy your weekend.

paige thomas king said...

great post. we're getting close to those "endless summers." bittersweet, at best.
paige

Anonymous said...

I love the feathers in those petite glass jars =) My son started school over a week ago and it breaks my heart, but like you said he is only six and I cherish him with each day because he will grow up one day and that surely will be more heartbreaking than him starting 1st grade...now I have two daughters to do this all over with :) Xoxoxo 1942charm.blogspot.com

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

So true...my children are all grown, but I still start thinking about school clothes shopping this time of year...old habits! Love the first close-up!

Anonymous said...

i love Queen Ann's Lace. It was short lived in my garden, but I enjoyed them while they were blooming. yes, the school years go by so very very fast. i was at the high school today with my son (last one out of 6) picking up class sched and a load of books. enjoy your endless summer.
blessings,
aimee

lilybets said...

I was been very ansious in August to think that time of School was coming....sometimes now I live the same mood and when it happens I taste a sweet sensation of joy!!!!Kiss

It's me said...

Love....xxx..

Andi's English Attic said...

My son is off to uni in September :(

Beautiful photos. Especially the close ups. xx

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

As always, your images are lovely, Laura. We have Queen Anne's lace, chickory, and loads of other wildflowers growing all over our farm - here in NC. I love gathering them to create sweet little vignettes, too.

Those of us who are in the season of life where our children are out on their own, often have "philosophical" reflections. I like to think the old adage, " with age comes wisdom" holds true. I certainly have a deeper understanding of life now, than I did even ten years ago. Don't you? ;)

Congratulations on entering the ranks of those in the "endless summer"!

Hugs,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Susan Freeman said...

Gee your pics are lovely!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Ranae said...

Your Queen's Ace Lace post reminds me when I was a kid. My mom would take us down the road to pick it. We then would come home and fill vases with different food coloring dye and in a couple of hours the pretty whites were beautiful colors. I then followed the tradition with my kids. Now I have small grandkids, whats the bet, they will do the same thing with me or their mom
I love all your lovely photo's

Ranae said...

I should add that the food coloring was mixed with water

Blue said...

I love these photos. The ones with the blue flowers and the white Queen Anne's lace. And the feathers and the bottles.
You're right, I hate everyone talking about fall just because it's August. Doesnt Fall officially start September 21st or something like that?
Even though I am going back to school (which I am excited about!), I don't think that synonymous with fall...

Anonymous said...

Hello dear Laura! I'm following your blog since January! I love when you get philosophical, and I agree with you about your idea and feelings when school starts again.
I love your beautyful pictures ever since I started reading your blog!
Looking forward for your next post!
Kindest regards from Switzerland! Verene

JunkStuffTreasures said...

Your pictures and words are lovely!

Anne Marie said...

I like hearing the philosophical Laura....and you are so right...I homeschool, but there are still stresses with that....

beautiful images - especially the feathers in the ink wells? glass jars

enjoy your perpetual summer Laura...you deserve it

xo+blessings,
Anne Marie

Libby said...

Yes, we too are past the "going back to school" stage in life...and enjoying every minute of it! Nice to have a new rhythm to the year!

Mary Anne said...

Laura:

So true! One day they are babies and all too soon, they leave the nest. I often tell my younger friends to enjoy every last minute and take advantage of NOTHING! Time waits for no one . . . time is a gift. . . time costs us nothing and time is to be treated with love and respect. Enjoy every minute with those you love, both family and friends............philosophical phriday!!! Beautiful post Laura!

time worn interiors said...

Ah summer! Great photos!
tot

Beadboard UpCountry said...

Loved how you paired all of this together, the bottles and gads the hydrange is so Blue!!!!!Glad you are enjoying your summer,it is hot as hades here.....Lucky you!Maryanne xo

Renee said...

These photos are incredible...I absolutely love the first one...it truly looks like lace.

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

*love* this post Laura!
Beautiful photos, beautiful thoughts!

a Bohemian Market said...

Hi Laura:
Your blog is a very restful lovely place to come and relax.
I am the person who told you about the number 52 vintage brass findings you bought. Did you like them when you received them?
I hope so.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Peace
Carole

Egretta Wells blog said...

I love the Queen Anne's Lace...the first photo made me think of snow flake designs...how beautiful are close ups of the Lace! Then those ink bottles are just great, but wait! With feathers, they are even greater. As always your displays and photos are surperbly artistic. A great post in message, too. Love it! Egretta

Ella said...

What a beautiful sentiment; I so love Queen Anne's lace. I remember picking as a child and adding food color to the water. Wild Carrot is another name, but I prefer the Queen name. Actually anything with lace is preferred~ I still treasure school days; one in college and one in high school~ The days are growing shorter; I love back to school supplies and the thought of Indian summer's arrival~

Melissa/Piney Rose said...

such pretty photos! Yes, our children grow up way to fast - I still have my 16-year-old son at home, but my daughter is grown and lives on her own. How I wish I could have them both little for just one more day.....

janice15 said...

The Queen Anne's lace is pretty..You know I hadn't realize it was back to school time..we didn't even have a summer really. My youngest daughter is 17 last out of five...humm time goes so fast and I'm with you the heck with school and let continue on with summer. o and the little turquoise glass bottles are adorable... love them..good evening.

Jeanne said...

I'm enjoying summer with my children - sleeping in, not having to nag about homework...

COULDN'T they just keep the children at school an extra hour or 2 (especially in High School) instead of sending home homework?

Enjoy not being bound by the school's calender!

June said...

Hi Laura,
I love every one of your pictures today. (every day really).
I tell my daughters this all the time. Their children will be gone before they know it. Mine grew up in the blink of an eye too. I love this stage of my life though, and don't think I'd go back even if I had the chance, but I love the remembering.
hugs from here...

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Laura...your words are so beautiful...and so true! Your photos are pretty darn nice too! Hope you enjoy every minute of every day...xoxox

Linda McMullan said...

I can hardly believe it is back to school time...but it is. A little cool breeze wafted through here yesterday - just one - but it was enough to remind us of Fall. Kids out of the nest here, but your post reminds me of the smell of pencils and papers and backpacks...love that!

Evi said...

love the Queen Anne's Lace. Reminds me a little of the Cows Parsley, which blooms here in the spring. With all the woods, etc, around me, you would think its easy to find Queen Anne's Lace, but I have to drive to where there is more of an open area. Wonder if deer eat it?
I am not ready for summer to end yet either, but I can do without this awful humidity we have today.
Laura, the blankets came out perfect -washing them-, thanks again. Gosh, now I have to make Santa's in August......
Talk to you tomorrow.
Hugs, Evi

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Beautiful post and so wise... thanks. vicky

My Sparrows Nest said...

I was just in upstate New York~where I grew up! I adore the Queen Anne's Lace! I really miss it in Iowa and to think it is just a weed! Thanks for the photographs. My camera is acting up and I was unable to photograph and of the wildflowers!