Lake Delton ... After the Rains Came

PICT0034, originally uploaded by Meridith

We spent a few days up in the Wisconsin Dells last week and were able to see what's left of Lake Delton. As you may have heard, the Midwest has endured some intense rains and flooding recently. On June 9th, after days of torrential rains, the lake began to overflow its banks, washing away homes and emptying its contents into the Wisconsin River. Here is a link to the photos in my album: http://flickr.com/photos/9968241@N04/sets/72157605799647180/

40

Today is my husband's 40th birthday. Earlier in the day, we spent a few hours at Montrose Beach playing volleyball with the girls and then we had dinner over at his parent's house this evening. This has been a birthday that he has somewhat dreaded because the number sounds so much larger than it actually is. He said to me last night that he doesn't feel like 40, but who can really say what 40 or any age does feel like? Oh sure, your body does shoot off its own warning signs of its impending loss of youth: achy knees, gray hair, slower metabolism, etc.; but, each birthday also gives you an opportunity to look back and look forward ... to see just how blessed you really are. To rise up from your bed after a night of sleep in a safe and secure home, the opportunity to fill your lungs with air, to walk, to see, to smell, to taste, to hear your children laugh, to run on the sand, the ability to live another day ... we will rejoice and be glad in it. Happy Birthday, Darrin!

Clematis

Clematis, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

I have two clematis vines in my yard. It has taken four years for the white-flowering one to produce enough flowers to cover the trellis it now covers. Unfortuantely, the blooms only lasted about three weeks. I was able to snap a few pictures earlier this week before they were all gone.