iandthoureflections

Breezin’ Through Summer on a Cool Dewy Mornin’

Summer Mornings

Like the first dewfall
on the first grass
Morning has Broken by Cat Stevens

Summer mornings.
Shhhh.
Hear the birds?
They whisper it’s time to wake.

The air is cooler.
The dew is wet.
It’s quiet, first thing,
except for the birds,
who are singing their songs.

Mornings.
The coffee brews.
The mind awakes.
The body follows.

Moving slower.
Easing into the day.
No need to rush.
It’s your special time,
to be alone,
to relax,
to reflect,
to restore your soul.

Summer mornings.
They teach us:
to notice,
to linger,
to let the day come to you.

a kitchenette for slow mornings, a patio for unhurried evenings, and a porch where you can finally… just be.

–Nadia Crane, Sweet Dreams in Sacramento, Blog 8/22/25

This summer,

May your mornings be slow.
May you find a quiet corner to soothe your soul
as you breathe in the fresh dew of a new day.

*Image Credit:* *“DayBreak” by ‘Playingwithbrushes’ is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerMornings #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

August Haiku

Silly Flamingos

Shrimp-pink elegance,
Curved and slender in the sun,
Beaks bobbing for fish.

Image Credit: *Created by AI with specific instructions by Author*

Fun fact: Flamingos are surprisingly lightweight. Their hollow bones keep them at 4-8 pounds, which makes them one of the fastest birds, clocking more than 50 miles per hour. And that vibrant pink color? It comes from their diet of shrimp, algae, and other icky slimy things.

#August #Haiku #Flamingos #Birds #Poetry #thepaisleyfrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Eatin’ Sweet Summer Pie

Summer Pies

And my, my, my — my key lime pie.
Not too tart, not too sweet.
Key Lime Pie by Kenny Chesney

Summer Pies.
Warm.
Gooey.
Ice cream on top.
Tastes like summer.

There’s something about them.
The aroma.
The decadence.
Dessert perfection.
Tastes like summer.

Peach Pie.
Soft.
Golden.
Like swinging on a porch swing.
Tastes like summer.

Strawberry Pie.
Bright.
Red.
Bold.
Like running the perfect three-legged race.
Tastes like summer.

Blueberry Pie.
Deep.
Purple.
American.
Like July on a pie plate.
Tastes like summer

Key Lime Pie.
Tart.
Sweet.
Tangy.
Like a walk on the beach in Key West.
Tastes like summer.

Summer Pies.
They remind us:
to savor the zing,
the zang,
the sweet,
the tang,
to capture the joys
that keep us breezin’ along.

Peering through the oven door’s glass.
Waiting patiently for the pies and fruit cake to bake.

– Nadia Crane, A Father’s Day Tribute (Blog, 6/15/25)

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerPies #SummerSongs #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Pickin’ Peaches

Summer Peaches

I’m movin’ to the country,
I’m gonna eat me a lot of peaches.
Presidents of the United States of America

Summer peaches.
Pickin’ paradise
for a century long.
Year after year,
pie after pie.

Peaches.
Fuzzy.
Round.
Hanging low on branches.

Ready to be picked.
Baskets gathered.
Orchard full and ready.

Peach jam.
Peach cobbler.
Peach pie.
Peach tea.
Georgia. Arkansas.
Peaches everywhere.

Peaches remind us
To slow down.
To be patient for the ripening.
Sweetness comes to all who wait.

Peaches teach us to savor nature.
To gather in the fields and orchards.
To enjoy the here and now.

Rural Arkansas taught me to appreciate fresh fruits and vegetables more than I already had…
at the peach festival in July…

–Nadia Crane, I and Thou: The Veggie Box, (Blog 11/15/22)

Image Credit: *“Peach tree” by Ruth and Dave is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

This summer,

May every peach you pick remind you to slow down
and wait for the harvest.
Sometimes the sweetness is worth the wait.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerPicnic #TasteOfSummer #Summer Vibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Munchin’ on Strawberries

Summer Strawberries

Green on the vine,
like strawberry wine.
Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter

Summer strawberries.
Cute.
Sweet.
Bright.
Like a taste of heaven.

Lucious fruit.
In a crystal glass bowl.
Some are large,
and some are small.

Take a wiff.
That fresh strawberry smell.
Takes you to a happy place.

Strawberries remind us:
To be silly.
To be bright.
To be playful.

Strawberries teach us to savor.
To pause.
To let the sweetness linger a little longer.
To notice the small delights that come from nature.
Just for us.

Life is like a bowl of Strawberries.
Nadia Crane, Berry Grateful – Part 1 (Blog 11/14/24)

This summer,

May every sweet bite lead your heart toward gratitude for the simple joys in life.

*“Strawberries” by michaeljohnbutton is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #Strawberries #SummerVibes #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin Through a Summer Picnic

Summer Picnics

Like picnics look on a Sunday
Love looks so well on you
Love Looks So Well on You by Frank Sinatra

Summer picnics.
A blanket.
A tablecloth.
A wicker basket.
A warm summer breeze.
So simple, we forget.

Picnics come in all shapes and sizes —
each one is as unique as the next.
A garden party.
A barbecue.
A clambake.
A wiener roast.
Or simply a picnic in a backyard.

Picnics are get-togethers.
Shared by lovers, families, and communities.
They slow us down.
To take a breath.
To be together.
To enjoy time out in the summer sun.

Some families come together each year for a family reunion while others celebrate a holiday unique to them. Some host Hawaiian Luaus, Memorial Day picnics, and others watch fireworks and picnic on the 4th of July.
Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Traditions (Blog 12/13/21)

Picnics remind us of simple joys —
where the gathering is more important than the menu.
It’s a place to be yourself.
To settle down.
To find where you belong.

This summer,

May every picnic — big or small —
remind your heart what matters most of all:
time with the people who matter most.

*“a feudal picnic basket” by langalex is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerPicnics #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Ridin’ a Scooter

Summer Scooters

I got my scooter, got my helmet on
I’m gonna ride it until the day is gone
Scooter by Claudia Robin Gunn with Dean Jones

Scooters.
A child’s twinkle.
A companion.
A mode of transportation.

Scooters.
To a child, it’s a passport of sorts.
A rite of passage.
A taste of freedom.

Scooters.
Helmet on.
Children playing.
Scraped knees.

Scooters.
Side by side.
Mom on rollerblades.
Fun on a summer day.

Scooters.
Humming.
Zig-zagging.
The sound of kerplunk, kerplunk,
over the jagged sidewalks.

Scooters.
They teach us to play.
Play outside.
Play with your kids.
Play in the day.
Into the night.

The opening scene plays.
Anne Hathaway slides down a pole, grabs her lunch,
and scooters to high school.

– Nadia Crane, Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

This summer,

May you take the time to play outside like you did when you were a kid. May you close your eyes and imagine the wind and smile on your face as you feel that whoosh of being on a scooter.

*Image Credit: “scootering in a dress”*
*by woodleywonderworks is licensed*
*under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Scooters #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Holdin’ a Popsicle

Summer Popsicles

Orange, lemon, cherry, and lime
Fudge, tutti frutti, and a grape that’s fine.
Popsicle by Jan & Dean

Popsicles.
Bells in the distance.
Ring, ding, Ring, Ding-
quick, come, the ice cream truck!

Popsicles.
Creamsicles.
Fudgesicles.
And ice cream bars, too.

Popsicles.
Wooden handles.
Dripping down arms,
melting fast.

Popsicles.
Stacked in the freezer,
in ice cube trays,
waiting for a hot summer day.

Popsicles.
Sticky smiles.
Colored tongues.
Coolness that refreshes.

Popsicles.
Beet pops.
Corn pops.
A mystery pop, too-
all for a Science Fair a long time ago.

Popsicles remind us:
to stop,
to take a moment,
to cool and refresh,
to return to our childhoods,
where summer memories wait for a taste.

Sipping reminds me of savoring.
Savoring a piece of pie or the last spoonful of ice cream.
Sipping is slow. It is a way of saying, slow down!

–Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Summertime Part 2, Blog 6/25/21

This summer,

May you feel excited as a child waiting for the ice cream truck.
And may a special summer taste linger just long enough to remind you that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

Image Credit:
*“Organic Watermelon Popsicles” by Growing a Green Family is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerPicnic #SummerSongs #Popsicles #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Catchin’ Fireflies

Summer Fireflies

Small town fireflies lighting up the night we knew,
Dancing in the dark like they were falling just for you.
Summer Fireflies by Morgan Wallen

Fireflies.
Jars on the porch,
Lids with air‑holes.
Children play,
as they patiently wait.

Fireflies.
Sun sets.
Nature sings.
Fireflies wake up,
and rise from the earth.

Fireflies.
Tiny lanterns out at dusk.
Lighting on and lighting off.
Leading children through the fields.

Fireflies.
Hovering in arm’s reach.
Drifting low, drifting slow.
Glowing like a magic star.

Fireflies.
Running all around,
nets swinging high and low,
hoping to catch at least one glow.

Fireflies remind us:
of the amazing wonders of nature.
of childhood glee with smiling faces.
Hearts open to the light.

Summer night air is thick…
Fireflies flicker brightly.
…calling our attention to the night sky.

– Nadia Crane, Breezin’ Through on a Warm Summer’s Night,
(Blog, 7/7/26)

This summer,

May the fireflies remind you to look for tiny sparks
in unexpected places. May their glow warm your heart as you reminisce on summers of yesteryear.
May you feel their light guide you for years to come.

*Image Credit:*
“Fireflies” by *takot is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Fireflies #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Followin’ the Light

Summer Light

See the curtains hangin’ in the window
in the evening on a Friday night,
a little light a‑shinin’ through the window
lets me know that everything’s alright
Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts

Summer light is comforting.
It’s warm.
It’s familiar.
It slips through windows and across floors,
reminding us that goodness still finds its way in.

Somehow it feels different in summer.
Brighter.
More golden.
Shining rays from all directions.

Evening light is comforting, too.
In a different way.
Softer.
Dimmer.
Quieter.
Telling the day to settle into a slower pace.
It reassures us that rest will soon come.

Summer light, whether day or night,
teaches us to notice —
and to be grateful for light itself:
light that opens our eyes,
light that sparks our imagination,
light that shows us where to go next.

A reflection from the patio light catches my eyes.

—Nadia Crane, Wine and Faith – 19 Days in Napa

Summer light does exactly that.

This summer,

May every soft beam of light lead your heart toward the quiet reassurance it’s been longing to feel.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsey #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog