Monthly Archives: August 2026

Aug30

The Sand, Stones, Shells, and Lighthouses

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The Sand, Stones, Shells, and Lighthouses

Every season asks us to let go of something, and every season asks us to love something new. I think especially during a vacation season. A little book I read a couple of times over the years, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh has come to mind over this summer. The wife of famous Charles Lindbergh wrote this while staying on a small island for several days, a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of her busy public and private life. Mrs. Lindbergh writes what the island and shells taught her. “Island-precepts … signposts toward another way of living … Simplicity…balance …work… space…time…closeness…life of the spirit, creative life and life of human relationships. A few shells. Island living has been a lens … I must remember to see with island eyes. The shells … must be my island eyes.” I hope to capture these precepts in the days to come after the relaxing during lake views a few days away from my hustle and bustle.

Just a few days away to Lake Michigan presented much needed, new scenery. Dean and I visited several sandy beaches from the northern tip of Indiana into southern Michigan. Beautiful stones of varied colors, some marbled or dotted with granite or other minerals were at one of the beaches. The persistent powerful waves of the lake, its ebb and flow over many seasons make these stones smooth. One particular white one is now my stress release stone for my fingers. I also brought back only two shells as they are rare to find on these well walked beaches. These shells are tiny with one having moss or seaweed attached to it. They have made their new home in our bathroom inside a dish with other shells we collected during previous vacations.

“Everybody needs a seashell in her bathroom to remind her the ocean is her home.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

Dean and I visited the old lighthouse museum in Michigan City, Indiana. We learned about a woman by the name of Harriet Colfax who was the lighthouse keeper in that town for 43 years. She was commissioned by Abraham Lincoln to serve there. What adventures and sleepless nights she endured. It was such a rough life for lighthouse keepers. Miss Colfax remained a single woman all your life, gave her whole life to this commissioned position. Admirable, to say the least. The Big Red Lighthouse in Holland Michigan was a photographic beauty to admire. We spent a good part of a day on the beach nearby and captured a gorgeous sunset. A city park in Holland was beckoning us to bring our lunch to one of its benches. The butterflies fluttered about everywhere. Dean and I relished the beauty of the flowers and foliage along the “yellow brick road” sidewalk. This park is dedicated to L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, whose family had a vacation cottage in this area many years ago. Dean and I want to come back to this area when we have more time to explore and discover. What a lovely five days we had together.

Aug9

Awesome Artsy August

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Awesome Artsy August

Thus far August has had a few mild days with temperatures in the 70’s and low 80’s and low humidity following the rainstorms. Very nice. And then other days, shoo wee, while those rainstorms are building up, the heat index climbs above 100. These temperature variations bring back memories of family gatherings at my great-grandfather’s farm in Franklin County, Missouri in the heat with drenching humidity, as well as finding a few days of reprieve during our family vacations to the northern lakeside. The daisies, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers are swaying with a breeze. The butterflies and bees find nectar during their busy activity while I read and eventually nap on a cot in the screened porch. We’ve had both types of summer days in just this first part of August here in Missouri.

“The month of August had turned into a griddle where the days just lay there and sizzled.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, 2001

“August creates as she slumbers, replete and satisfied.” ~ Joseph Wood Krutch, Twelve Seasons, 1949

“I love borders. August is the border between summer and autumn: it is the most beautiful month I know.” ~ Tove Jansson, The Summer Book, 1972

This summer has lent itself to great writing time when the heat is too much for outdoor activities. I have written a few poems and even a fairy tale. The book, The Artist’s Rule by Christine Valters Paintner, I am reading with a book club encourages different creative exercises like walking a labyrinth or putting together an artist’s family tree. This is where you write down the names of 4 or 5 people who have influenced you in the creative field and then connect their names with the 4 or 5 people who have influenced them, and so on. These can be a teacher, musician, artist, photographer, writer, craftsman, or culinary professional. This exercise demonstrates how we all are interconnected and are creative beings. Our God who made each of us is a creative god.

Dean and I will be getting away for a few days very soon. Due to gas prices and time, we are taking the shortest trip possible from our locale to see some sand, shells, lighthouses, and hopefully feel consistent cooler air. This will be the most northwestern section of Indiana and southwestern section of Michigan along Lake Michigan. We have not been in these parts of the United States, so we look forward to the new discoveries and change of pace. Meantime, this week I will prepare a “coastal” dinner of seared scallops and carrots glazed with a citrus sauce over jasmine rice.