The sun was its own firework over the lake this Independance Day.

High view of a yellow sunset over two houses with green grass between them running down to a large lake

A successful family vacation draws to a close with a trip through the great Smokey Mountains. (Their beauty is frustratingly difficult to capture from a fast moving vehicle.)

Rainy, empty road with trees and mountains in the foggy distance

“Sentinel”
One of the distinguished residents in the North Carolina Arboretum.

Very tall Bonsai plant against grey concrete

Let the winds awake,
let the branches rattle and shake In the light that remakes
all that water has worn away

Sun dapples through the trees onto a rushing brook with stony bottom

Sure, your hotel is famous but is it “contains a scale model of itself” famous? (Grove Park Inn, Asheville)

Model of Grove Park Inn on a table

Enjoying some breathtaking views of the great Smokey Mountains. My phone says we’ve hiked 25 floors in the last hour.

Sunset view of the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina

Southern cities, like Knoxville, look best in the beautiful glow of afternoon sunlight.

Street view of storefronts in Knoxville, Tennessee with sun reflecting off windows and trees lining sidewalk

Discovering new sights in downtown Knoxville, TN. Really a beautiful city.

Winding brick path between two buildings leading to an archway

One of my favorite pieces from this year’s student exhibition at the DIA. I laughed embarrassingly hard when we turned the corner and saw it.

Still-life painting by Dorothy Sidau

My grandmother’s passing continues to reverberate through my days. Namely, spending more time with the human side of art and creating.

Large iron bell with ornate decorations in perspective with a background of stone arches
Graveyard in daytime with family in the distance

The weekend was spent honoring a life lost. A time where we capsized against the part of life we all must face and grieved over what we could not change. In that breaking down, however, we also picked each other up and put ourselves back together into something more joyful, honest, and true.

Our sunrise showed that Canada’s wildfires are still burning.

Red sunrise caused by smoke from Canada’s wildfires

I had to be up early with the kid but I got to see this bearded iris enjoying the morning dew.

bearded iris with water drops on it nestled in green leaves

Appreciating the dahlias our neighbor has been cultivating. Their floral pattern is mesmerizing.

Red dahlia flower

Peonies are blooming on a fine Friday.
(Photo credit: my wife)

Light Pink peonies flower

Having passed the 150 mark, I can definitively say that what’s made the biggest difference is a daily reminder that I can tap and take immediate action on. As much as I prefer pen and paper journaling, it never stuck like this.

The beautiful evening turned a short neighborhood walk into a four mile hike.

Memorial Day weekend was full of much-needed time reconnecting to nature with family and friends. I welcome the soreness from all the hiking and kayaking.

Dock in foreground on a lake with green tree line on the opposite side of the shoreline
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