my michigan

so i'm back home in cali and reflecting on the last three weeks in the midwest. wish i would have come across the 'my travel journal' flickr group before my trip, but it is inspiring me to document my future travels in a more personal and artistic manner.

here's a list of my michigan summer:
*crisp blueberries and tangy raspberries eaten straight off the bush from my dad's garden
*bare, dirty feet
*cool, fresh breezes blowing across lake michigan
*black cherries bought from a stand on the side of a country road in rural west michigan
*the greenest of grass, bluest of skies
*mosquito bites
*sleeping with windows open covered only by a sheet and a fan set on low blowing gently
* fresh eggs from my sister's chickens expertly cooked for me by my dad with love
*birds of all sizes and colors singing splendid summer serenades
*driving my dad's pick-up truck with the windows rolled down
*warm, golden evenings
*no cell reception or access to internet for days at a time
*exploring the forests and fields of my childhood with my camera and memories
*petting, brushing, loving, wrestling, jogging with buddy the blue heeler, a true friend
*the sun being swallowed slowly by lake michigan
*digging through old photos and memorabilia... remembering a younger me
*impromptu visits from old friends and chats under the shade of maple trees
*cheap, cold light beer sipped from a can
*trying to remember to say pop instead of soda
*the smell of freshly cut hay
*hiding from the sun in a comfy chair with a book
*crickets chirping at night
*meals centered around fresh veggies picked that day from the garden
*cucumber and tomato sandwiches
*sharing secrets with my sisters
*snuggling nieces and nephews
*water straight from the tap guzzled from a mason jar
*laughter, family, love