This time of year finds the prairie grasses blooming with the splendor of the season. Children of the prairie, I believe, lead somewhat of a “charmed” life filled with textures beneath their toes, fireflies lighting up the night and the soothing sounds of frogs croaking in the night.
Lens flare added in Photoshop CC 2015
Click, click, click, the sticks
Rhythm of the path while walking
Lost yet found in thought
Click, click, click… walking sticks
The rhythm of the path and breath
Lost yet found in thought
Image by Joyce Meyer along the Camino de Santiago between Roncesvalles and Zuburi, Spain.
Blend of two images: Background was taken in the French Pyrenees while the foreground, including the couple, was taken on the county road in front of my home in Lac Qui Parle County in Minnesota.
Foreground taken with Canon 5D Mark 2 with Canon 70-200 IS L lens. Background taken with a Panasonic Lumix camera. Click on the image for a larger viewing window.
Blend of mother/child with clouds and prairie grasses.
Blend of mother and child with flowers that grow wild in southwestern Minnesota.
Blue tone adjustment. First one was a little too pink for a boy.
Dandelions, like all things in nature are beautiful when you take the time to pay attention to them.
― June Stoyer
Dandelions… What? You call this beautiful aromatic flowering beauty a weed?
Children say it best as they run up to you with a fistful of freshly picked dandelions and say, “For you, Teacher!” Meanwhile the rest of the afternoon may be spent itching the eyes and wiping a runny nose, but how can you refuse a gift.
While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, it’s chock full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make wines.
In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, dandelion has been used to treat stomach problems, appendicitis, and breast problems, such as inflammation or lack of milk flow. In Europe, it was used in remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.
Source: Dandelion | University of Maryland Medical Center
Dandelion wine, believed to be of Celtic origin, is regarded as one of the fine country wines of Europe. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was not proper for ladies to drink alcohol; however, dandelion flower wine was considered so therapeutic to the kidneys and digestive system that it was deemed medicinal even for the ladies. Source and wine recipe: Commonsensehome.com
Image by Joyce Meyer
Even the fluffy seed heads have a majestic, symmetrical pattern as they sway in the breeze, waiting to let loose the next generation. The result? A never ending supply of dandelion wine…
Fleeting Moments…
The history and legacy of the Mayan people also appear to be fleeting as tourism and beaches are the key to survival. It is well worth the time to tour the historic sites of Tulum and Chichen Itza with a knowledgeable guide to learn more about their interesting past. The history of the Mayan people is kept alive through archeological sites such as these.
Click on image for a larger viewing window.
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