Summah...

oh, there you are...

We made a short and sweet visit to Virginia, to visit our dear ones there, joining them for a camping weekend on the Rappahannock River.  It was a weekend of excesses - beauty, sun, water, good food, stars, drink - and just the thing to ring in this new season.  Early, of course, as it's only just turning June tomorrow, but how can you not sing Summer! in the face of fireflies? Swallows building nests?  Sweat that forms the minute you, well, breathe?? 

Marshlands along the Rappahannock River

Willa running for the water

Eliza, the fierce water nymph

Finder of stones

Chris, the personal water taxi

The Parents, by Ani

Dan aglow

The not-so-little Littles: Willa, Anwen and Ani

Rescuing a cicada from the water

It was an intense weekend, perhaps most eloquently represented by the male mockingbird who sang his spring song nearly the entire time we were gathered, perched in the tree just over our tent.  We heard blue jay, warbler, robin, cardinal, hawk, seagull, and possibly car alarm sometime in the wee hours of the night, coming from his talented throat.  Miraculous and a bit crazy-making - kind of like having the opportunity to be with people we love in a beautiful place plus the reality of over-tired sun-drenched children not quite making it to their sleeping bags before the crashing begins....all made better by the presence of good friends and a glass of wine! Lovely start of summer.