Photo Journal July 2018: Day 1 - Summer

I thought I would enjoy doing a daily photo journal here during the month of July.

I know that some people like to follow photo prompts.

They can be helpful, 

but I prefer to have the freedom of creating my own as I go along!

I would love you to accompany me on this summer's journey

and I will enjoy following you on yours!

Although the summer season has already started, 

July and August really feel the most representative of summer to me!

There is the mounting heat

The buzzing of the bees

A quieter city with people going on holiday

Very early morning walks before the heat builds up

Straw hats

Good books and taking the time to read them

Cold and refreshing herb drinks

Relaxation.

This morning got me out of bed before 5 am!

I opened all the windows of my home to freshen the air and cool my apartment down.

Then a lovely morning walk between 6 and 7 am.

Back for breakfast on my balcony

and now a new book to read outside.

All this spells SUMMER to me!

***

Reading in Bed: a short story

She let it happen without any particular plan.

The weather outside was uninviting.

Two pillows against the bedstead

a hot water bottle

a book

a mug of something hot.

She loved the soft colours on the patchwork quilt

it felt so snug

It reminded  her of when she was little

and had one of her bad earaches

She had felt less abandoned when she was ill

Somebody noticed.

She put her book down and leant back

Remembering.

Why now?

Why ask questions she said to herself

Let things be

Let them happen as they will

No one is here to judge me

No one

Through the open window

a ray of sunshine came in and created dancing patterns on her desk.

She drank in the beauty of the instant

and that single moment was all that mattered.

The sunshine beckoned and said:

"Come outside!"

And she did.

She met a beautiful tree

and a shadow

"Who are you?" she said

but the shadow stared back and remained silent

Some days she was a complete mystery to herself...