The Universe Answers

I am finding ways to love Summer.

I have begun a journal. I have begun my list.

I want 95 different whys I love summer, one for each day
from Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox.
I have written 60 just this morning.

I want to take a photograph of my loves.

I want to take action so my loves are more than just a number
 on a list, more than a photograph.
I want to look forward to Summer.
I want to love Summertime.

I wasn't sure if I should start this project this year, after all Summer is half over.  I already have so many irons in the fire I wasn't sure I would have time. I wasn't sure I could sustain a love. It has been too hot and too dry for too long this year. The misery factor must be taken into account.
So this morning, when I greeted the Dawn, I asked for guidance.
I was writing in my Leo journal while sitting at the kitchen table.
It was already hot and humid. I had come in from the deck.
 I just couldn't stay outside.
I couldn't sit with the birds this morning.
I looked out the  window and the female Tiger Swallowtail in her black form came to the bird seed Sunflowers that are growing in the front flowerbed.
I grabbed the camera. Through my tears I took a series of photographs. The light was not wonderful. I used daylight fill in.
I wanted to document my answer. I had told my husband I would fall in love with Summer for sure if I saw a female Tiger Swallowtail in her black dress at the Sunflowers.
Looks like I have a new project.

But like this Cicada I could get stuck.

I love hearing the Cicadas sing.

 They are one of the sounds of Summer that reminds me of when I was a child. I would play outside until the street lights came on.
My sister and I would collect Cicada shells and give them to our  Grandmother when we went to see her.

As I finish up Summer I know there will be days
 I am just hanging on waiting for the cooler days of Autumn.

It is hot.

The bugs seem to thrive in the heat.
Watching them is so wonderful.
The Harvesters enjoy the ivy.

The Black swallowtail caterpillars are growing.
I found three in the Queen Anne's Lace.
It is their native host plant.

I love Queen Anne's Lace.

It is a native Prairie wildflower.

I love every stage of the blooms.

I have a nice mix of native and cultivated.
The Orange Sulphurs seem to enjoy the Bright Eye Cosmos.

Marigolds are one of my most cherished flowers. I always gather seed for next year.
My seed to seed has been on going for 39 years...
Marigolds were the first flower I ever grew at age 4.
I still remember sowing the seeds in the cracks of my Father's driveway.

The Cardinals are nesting for the second time this year. I saw her on her nest in the hops. I try to keep fresh water near by the hops and seeds on the deck. Second nesting is risky but with our support she should be successful.

The Gold Finches have found the white cone flower garden.
These flowers are setting seeds early too.

I found a strange looking cocoon in the rose bush.
I have never seen this before.
I will keep an eye.

Everyday I will find another why
I love Summer.

I just might start another blog to keep track of my 95 whys...
just maybe. I will ask the universe if this is a good idea.
I love the way the universe answers my inquiries.

On the cusp

It continues to be hot.

We need rain.

The Queen of the Praire is beginning to bloom.

It will provide food for the bees.

Eastern Tailed Blues are enjoying the mint.

Me too.

We are on the cusp of Leo the Lion.

I am collecting Lions.

Lions are coming to me in lots of
different ways.

I have added Lion

to my yoga practice complete with roar!

My archetype in Leo is my Homemaker.

I turn to my hearth and my home when the temperatures rise
 in July and August.

I turn to the myths of Hestia.

I think of her and the hearth.

I think of how she was considered the beginning and the end.

Hestia was the essence of all.

I love my home.

I love my homemaking.

I have Crickets on my hearth.

Relationships

I am always looking for the relationship
 between bird and bloom.

The Gold Finches are fun to watch.

The Snowberry Clearwing has a yellow band.
Often this Clearwing seems to mimic a bumblebee.

The Hummingbird Clearwing is dark red.
It hovers at  blossoms.

The wild bee balm attracts many bugs.

I was so pleased to see a Red Admiral this afternoon.
I have a relationship with the butterflies.
I simply love them.

When the Indigo Bunting flew in I was  thrilled.
I have a relationship with the birds too.
I simply love them too.

The Sunflower garden enchants me.
I have a relationship with them.

    
  I am a Tall Grass Prairie girl.

I shall salute the moon tonight.

It is the Full Buck Moon.

I have a relationship with the Moon.

I simply love her.

It is hot and humid.
I may wait until moon rise to walk.

Archetypes

The Cowgirl is an archetype for me.
She represents the "can do" spirit.

In Gemini I study my saboteur archetype.
From what I have read every one has a saboteur.

Mine is named Sunshine and she is my peaceful hero.
She is my non-violent warrior.

It was raining when I woke this morning.
We needed the rain and the cool down.

Once the skies began to clear the butterflies came out.

The birds came for seed

and raisins.

The Hummingbirds have their own feeding station.

It is a very quiet life I lead.

Every July I read "Nonviolent Communication".
This year I am highlighting as I read.

I have begun my daily home yoga practice.

It is nice to have my yoga time.

It is nice living with the mantra,

"harm no thing."
I can live this way.