Breezin’ Through Summer: Takin’ a Walk & Writin’ Haikus

Here are a few flower pics from North Carolina. I took them last week while walking through the Vintage Grove community outside of RTP. Aren’t they lovely? They were so beautiful that I just had to write a few haikus to describe them. I hope you like them!

White periwinkles
Dancin’ in the summer breeze
Pop go their petals

Late summer bloomers
Swayin’ in the summer breeze
Black-eyed susans wink

Summer friendship buds
Two pink trumpets playin’ songs
As petunias kiss

White bell-shaped flowers
Chime in time to August sun
Ringin’ into Fall

Garden rose bloomin’
vibrant coral-colored cloth
cozy in green leaves

Pink Rose of Sharon
Blinks its wine-centered flower
Drinkin’ through summer

Writing poetry from images is a brilliant technique Elizabeth Robin introduced to me. I met her a couple of years ago at the Heritage Library Foundation’s Historic Holidays tea at USC Hilton Head. She taught me how to create poetry from everyday images, like postcards and photographs.

If you want to dive into more of my verses, head over to the “Poetry” tab on my main page: Poetry – I and Thou Reflections. If you want to check out Elizabeth’s poetry, go to her “Published Poems” tab at elizabethrobin.com.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerWalks #SummerFlowers #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons #Poetry #Haikus

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Breezin’ Through Summer As It’s Slippin’ Away

Summer’s Slippin’

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
into the future.

Fly Like an Eagle by The Steve Miller Band

Summer’s slippin’ away.
In the August heat.
There’s a change in the air.
Summer’s slippin’ away.

Summer’s slippin’ away.
Time to wipe out the beach bags.
Vacuum sand from the car.
Summer’s slippin’ away.

Crowded stores.
Back-to-school sales.
Getting ready for school.
Summer’s slippin’ away.

Summer slippin’ away reminds us:
To linger a while longer.
To treasure the moments
and tuck them in your heart.

Stay a little bit longer.
Let the days fade slowly.
Let summer have its last slip and slide,
slidin’ us forward to whatever comes next.

Where has the time gone?

Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa by Nadia Crane
Image Credit: “Slip & Slide!” by Shylah is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

This summer,

May you find yourself exactly where you need to be as
summer days slip away.
May you welcome the change with an open heart.
May you trust that endings make space for beginnings.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerSlippin #SummerRomance #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer That’s Driftin’ Away

Summer Driftin’

Summer days drifting away…

Summer Nights, Grease (Songwriters: Sammy Hagar, Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony)

Summer drift.
Summer days driftin’ away.
Going uphill.
Downhill.
Sideways.

Summer drift.
Summer days driftin’ away.
Going somewhere.
Elsewhere.
Anywhere.

Summer drift.
Slowly goes away.
To a different place.
To another space.
Miles away.

Summer drift.
Goes off course.
Wide of the mark.
Off the beaten path.
Shiftin’ from here to there.

Summer drift.
Days become shorter.
Nights get longer.
Breezes feel cooler.
Sweater weather nearer still.

Summer drift.
The season starts slippin’ away.
Like waves that come and go.
Cherishin’ moments
one by one.

Summer driftin’ reminds us:
To pause.
To linger.
To stay awhile longer.
To savor the precious summertime moments.

Sandy answering Jill with:

I plan to move after the summer.
I’m really looking forward to being closer to my family.

Nadia Crane, Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

This summer,

May you seize the day – every day.
May you treasure the season’s moments that glow in your heart.
May you start loosenin’ your grip on the last summer days,
so you can prepare for the harvest to come.

Person walking along a sandy beach beside a small fishing boat
Image Created by AI: A lone beachgoer walks past a small fishing boat along a peaceful sandy coastline.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerDrift #SummerRomance #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Though Summer Laughin’ Out Loud

Summer Laughter

Sounds of laughter, shades of life
Are ringing through my opened ears

Across the Universe by The Beatles
(Written by Paul McCartney & John Lennon)

Summer laughter.
Deep from the belly.
Bubbles up before you even know why.
Out it comes.

Summer laughter.
Happens unexpectedly-
on picnic blankets, on bike rides,
or long walks on the boardwalk.

Summer laughter.
It catches you off guard.
A silly moment.
A memory.
A funny look.

Summer laughter.
Cute giggles.
Loud laughs.
And everythin’ in between.

Laughter.
Resonates.
Culminates.
Echos through the air.

Summer laughter reminds us:
To live in the moment.
To let it interrupt us.
To welcome the unexpected.
To find humor in ordinary moments that become extraordinary.

Fun creates laughter. Having fun is essential.
It is vital for health and happiness.  

– Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Summertime Part 3 (Blog, 7/31/21)


Image Credit: “Laughter is the best medicine… Western Cape” by South African Tourism is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

This summer,

May laughter find you when you least expect it.
May it rise up and greet you with surprise.
May it remind you that joy is easily shared.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Laughter #Romance #Picnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Lookin’ for Romance

Summer Romance

Know it’s you,
I’ll take a chance,
So don’t let it go-
this summer romance.

Summer Romance by Emma McGann

Romance.
Sweet summer romance.
At camp.
At the beach.
At the lake.

Romance.
Sweeping you off your feet.
Swimming.
Dancing.
Bodies close.

Romance.
Late-night swims.
In the moonlight.
Gazing at stars.
Not a care in the world.

Romance.
Summer fling.
Or something more?
Takes you by surprise.

Romance reminds us:
To be carefree.
To not worry about what others think.
To stay in the present.
To guard your heart.

The rose mirrors our souls like a romance novel.

-Nadia Crane, Sacred Blooms: Roses (Blog, 3/25/26)

This summer,

May romance capture your heart in unexpected ways
as you freely share the love in your heart.
Let the twinkle in your eye make someone feel special today.

Couple sitting on a blanket, holding hands and looking at the Milky Way in the night sky
Image Credit: WordPress AI: A couple enjoys a peaceful night stargazing on a mountain blanket

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerRomance #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Dreamin’ Summer Dreams

Summer Dreams

I’ll think of summer days again, and dream of you.

A Summer Song by Chad & Jeremy

Summer dreams.
Driftin’ in and out.
Sleepin’, dreamin’, and rollin’ over.

Summer dreams.
Capture your heart.
Family, friends, and your dog Spot.

Summer dreams.
A modgepodge of all sorts.
Truth, whimsy, and fantasy.

Summer dreams.
The boy or girl next door.
Your spouse or partner.

Summer dreams remind us:
To let our minds wander.
To let our hearts open.
To let our minds drift through time.
And to honor them when we remember.

Amelia is talkin’ to Jill:

“Sweet dreams to you, dear friend. Nighty night.”

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

Person sleeping in a hammock above clouds with a dream bubble showing a countryside house, trees, and a crescent moon.
Image Credit: AI generated through WordPress. A person peacefully naps in a hammock above clouds, imagining a serene countryside scene.

This summer,

May your dreams soar to new heights.
May they bring you unexpected wonder and joy like a warm breeze blowin’ through your window curtain
on a warm summer night.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerDreams #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Pavin’ a Path

Summer Paths

It’s knowin’ that your door is always open.
And your path is free to walk.

Gentle on My Mind by Glen Campbell (Written by John Hartford)

Summer Paths.
Windin’ trails.
Dusty roads.
Choices all around.

Summer Paths.
Walkin’ slow.
Listenin’ close.
Wanderin’ as the spirit speaks.

Some paths we walk together.
Others we go alone.
Walkin’, hikin’, movin’
wherever it leads.

Along railroad tracks,
baseball fields, rose gardens,
junkyards, backyards,
or a windin’ creek.
We follow for a reason even if we don’t yet know it.

Up hills and down hills.
Turnin’ corners.
Crossin’ bridges.
Findin’ a vista you didn’t expect.

Summer Paths remind us:
To keep movin’.
To stay curious.
To follow the tug in our spirit.
To believe the path will meet us kindly.

I believe each choice will lead to a wide or narrow path…

Nadia Crane, Reflections, Poems & Prayers on Estrangement

Image Source: destinationspoint.com/top-10-worlds-most-scenic-drives/

This summer,

May the paths you choose lead you toward peace and possibility. May each step feel lighter as you walk with courage and grace.
May you discover new perspectives along the way.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerPaths #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Havin’ Hope

Summer Hope

I’ll be your hope, I will be your dream
Like a beacon in the night, I’ll forever sing
I’ll be your hope

Hope by Ayla (Songwriter Tim Carmon & Alevtina Gold Michelson)

Summer is a gift.
A gift of hope.
To seize the day.
To take a chance.

Hope gives us light.
Light to shine a path.
To take the first step.
Then more steps.

Hope gives us a promise.
A promise of peace.
To stay present.
While looking forward.

Hope is sometimes hard to find.
Summer isn’t always light and whimsy.
It can remind us of yesteryear.
The good. And the bad.

But hope is always there.
Through the dark.
Around the bend.
There it is to find.

Hope is found.
In the sunrise.
In the noonday.
In the sunset.

Hope is in the trees.
Through the leaves.
Through the branches.
In the breeze – Just catch it and hold it close.

Hope teaches us:
To look for goodness.
To trust the unfolding.
To let it simmer in the background.
To believe in what we cannot yet see.

Hope reminds us all that: Beauty can rise from deep, dark places.

Nadia Crane, The Gift of Hope (Blog, 12/11/25)


Image Credit: “France-001234 – Beacons at Sunset” by archer10 (Dennis) is licensed under
CC BY-SA 2.0. 

This summer,

May hope find you in unexpected places.
May it lift your heart and steady your steps.
May each warm August day remind you that brighter things are already on their way.

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerHope #SummerPicnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Though Summer Watchin’ a Sunset

Summer Sunsets

Walk down to the beach at sunset
Look as far as you can see
You will find that endless ocean
And that’s how my love will always be

Never Ending by Elvis Presley

Summer sunsets.
Orange and blue,
a watercolor painting
stretched across the sky.

Summer sunsets.
Soft edges, warm light,
brushstrokes of texture,
depth, and movement.

Summer sunsets.
The beginning of the end.
A day turning to night.
An artist’s masterpiece of such.

Summer sunsets.
Shadows fading like the past.
The sun sliding
from the present.

Summer sunsets.
Revealing a future
layered with brilliance
just beyond the horizon.

Summer sunsets remind us:
To notice the beauty
of a day slipping away.
To honor what has been
and welcome what will be.

My eyes are drawn to the sunset. The blue-green ocean competes with vibrant streaks of orange, red, and pink.
Like a blank canvas unveiling a masterpiece.

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

This summer,

May the sunsets wrap you in color.
May they exceed your expectations of nature and beauty
coming together as one.
May they remind you that every sunset leads
to the dawning of a new day.

Image Credit: ©Nadia Crane, 2026 Photo taken in Tampa, FL

#BreezinThroughSummer #Sunsets #Romance #Picnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Pickin’ Up Seashells

Summer Seashells

I’ve been listening to seashells
to hear the stories that they tell

Sand Dollars by 311 (Written by Nick Hexum and Scott Ralston)

Summer seashells.
Searching for seashells
after a long night’s rain,
following footprints left in the sand.

Summer seashells.
Troves of treasure line the beach,
tucked between seaweed,
as the waves gently breathe.

Summer seashells.
Shells spread across the sand
like sprinkles on a cupcake-
small ones, large ones,
smooth ones, rough ones.

Summer seashells.
Conches, scallops, snails,
mussels, oysters, and sand dollars.
Your favorites seem to jump out at you.

Summer seashells.
Placed in pockets or buckets,
each one has a story
waiting to be told.

Summer seashells remind us:
To walk with anticipation.
To notice what’s in front of us.
To bend down and pick up what speaks to us.
To treasure the moments of simple pleasures.

Lata opens the door with a seashell wreath hanging from it and greets me with open arms.

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

Seashells on sandy beach near ocean waves at sunset
Image Credit: Generated by WordPress AI –
A peaceful beach scene with seashells scattered near gentle waves at sunset.

This summer,

May your days be like the sound of the ocean you hear from a seashell- bold, yet gentle, mysterious yet calming.
May each seashell remind you to breathe in the crisp sea air as you move through your day.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Seashells #Rain #Picnic #SummerSun #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons