A Balance

                                                                                                Summer Babies

Peering through the glass pane from inside, I just stared.  Six deer grazed in our field. A typical sight, yet for some reason I kept watching.  Three of them began to run this way and that chasing each other much like dogs would.  The rest had moved further from our house intent on feeding.  Looking up from play the trio raced toward the others munching.  Playfulness aside, the six did what you expect deer to do-they ate.  I had no notion that deer play since their very survival depends upon food, yet they wisely balanced work and play. A lesson for all.

Smiling Lessons 102

I have all I can do to contain my laughter.  My 13 year old caught a glimpse of the above self-portrait (Day 15) and without prompting demonstrated various techniques to enhance my photo with a smile.  "Look Ma, do it like this," she said demonstrating the preferred smile while explaining the "how not to smile" techniques.  Apparently one should never smile with  the teeth  together nor should  the top teeth ever overlap the bottom, which is my usual strategy.  I guess I've got it all wrong. The following photo is post smiling lessons.  I have my daughter Eddaejia to thank for today's selfie!

My mother must be so very happy. See the post about my mother's failed attempts at smiling lessons here:  http://travelinma.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-black-box.html

Taming

Construction delays are commonplace in these parts sometimes causing delays of an hour or more.  As I passed the 'Caution Construction Ahead' sign today on the Crooked Road, an audible sigh escaped, I tightened my grip on the wheel in preparation for what may become a long, long line of built-up traffic.  What I did find as I inched my way toward the dual stop and slow sign was a playful flagger.  Passing slowly, I yelled out the open window, "Nice moustache!" I smiled.  My son chuckled, "I was thinkin' the same thing." A little unexpected lightness to what must be a trying job at times, taming the tigress behind the wheel.