The Official Beginning of Summer

June 20, 2023 is the summer solstice. This day in June marks "the official  beginning of summer". 

To each and every reader of this post:

Happy

    Happy

        Happy

            summer solstice. 

                Enjoy!

Sunshine seems to be prevalent most everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere right now. In the summer solstice light here is the sun Dwight created, one of his very first clay pieces he created while we were together.

Sogyal Rinpoche's head was the model 
for one of his very first clay sculptures.

This sculpture has moved with each relocation. In most homes it was featured near or on the front door. Since the front portal shades the living room window, you will have to look extremely closely you can see the sun located on the right side of our Santa Fe home's front door.

Since I wanted to be able to enjoy Dwight's creation during my morning qi gong practice, the sun is now hanging on the back fence. It is directly in my line of vision when I look out the dining room double doors towards the fence.

Calylophus drum mondianus (Sundrops)

which to me is the ultimate symbol of Summer.

On a warm summer’s day Shasta loves to lay in the herbs especially if they are still in the shade. Here she is napping atop a 'Berggarten' sage which for me is the must-have herb for "an out of this world" grilled cheese sandwich.

As we honor the changing of the season on this first day of summer may we each

Beauty

                            Why I Wake Early

Hello, sun in my face.

Hello, you who make the morning

and spread it over the fields

and into the faces of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories,

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and the crotchety ---

best preacher that ever was,

and dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness,

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light ---

good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the dat

in happiness, in kindness.

                             MARY OLIVER

 

Presently as Shasta and I go out our front door for I walk I look to my right and am greeted with the stunning beauty of these two epiphytes blooming. "Good morning, good morning, good morning" these cheerful blooms seem to be communicating to the both of us. We both of us