Ed is up at 6, shoveling dirt for the extended meadow project. It's cooler then.
I'm up just a little later, taking stock, feeding animals. I notice that we are in that period of quiet flowers. It always comes right about Memorial Day -- a time of beauty in the flower fields that's a little bit hidden. Not obvious. And it's not easy to photograph well. The false indigo, the nicotine -- delicate flowers on long stalks. Or the emerging white iris. Photographing truly white flowers on a sunny day? Well, it'll test your strength with the camera, or at least with the tools of photo editing.
Breakfast, on the porch. On the early side.
And then I am off to spend a final day with my daughters, their husbands and the kids.
The plan is to go downtown, start at the Capitol Square, and walk down State Street -- our mile long street that links (intentionally) the Capitol with the University campus -- all the way to the Memorial Union (an iconic campus meeting place by the lake) and then, after lunch, to hike back to the the Capitol Square.
It's an ambitious idea, especially with two kids that are four-ish (the babes at least will be in strollers), but it is additionally challenging because of the weather: it has now decided to be very hot, so you're going to be thirsty, and they're going to be thirsty and we will need bathroom searches and shady moments.
Nevertheless, we do it and it is wonderful.
Energetic!
Comfy
Reminds me of: going on a bear hunt...
Kids love the iconic Terrace chairs and especially this large one, which lends itself to these kinds of photos.
Lovely docks extending onto Lake Mendota. But hot today!
Climbing the Bucky mascot.
Sandpiper is getting to be such a strong walker! But never holding both hands. Ever.
This is where it gets interesting. We're sitting around a bunch of tables.
We're taking brat orders. Who wants what. I want to take a photo of our brat lunch. A guard comes up to me and says -- no professional grade photos on the Union Terrace allowed without a permit. Do you have a permit?
I protest. I'm taking photos of my family and you're telling me I need a permit? I am NOT a professional.
You are using a professional camera.
Am not!
Are too!
How do you get a permit?
Go online, fill out forms, wait for an answer.
You're joking, right? I am a Lifetime Union member and I can't take pictures of my family on the Union Terrace without a permit?
You can use your phone. Or a non-professional camera. That, to me, is a professional camera.
I would have continued this conversation (it is NOT a professional camera by a long shot), but my daughters are not fans of me challenging stupid rules in public, so I put away my camera (which actually doesn't fit in my purse, but that's because I do not have one of those oversize bags women seem to love). But if someone can explain this rule to me, please send me a note. It just makes no sense at all.
In the meantime, here we go -- an iPhone selfie!
And another iPhone special!
The walk back up to the Square.
And now one more must do for this weekend: get a photo of the five cousins together! True, Juniper is due for a feeding and everyone is on the tired side things, but they cooperate. And I am grateful.
Oh, I suppose I could have fussed and adjusted this or that, but I love the implied movement within, the sibs trying to keep the little ones focused and still, even as we seem to have kicked up flocks of young mosquitoes from the Capitol lawns.
Oh kids, all five plus four of you, how I love you!
Thank you for being so so sweet to me, to each other, to all who cross your path.
