Still Life With Dog and Flowers

It's just another lazy summer morning. Our dog is perched comfortably on our tiled stairs landing -- his usual hangout -- as it overlooks toward our small street (this dog always wants to be in on things). 

Since this dog is family, he gets special attention. Heavy clay vase with dried Statice flowers in the corner vamp up his space.

Silhouette of C

Can you guess what plant this is? It is the only one I have ever seen hereabouts. In one of my quick trips to the grocer's on foot this grabbed my attention. It was towering over me from a vacant lot. Impossible to miss because it was bursting with fluffy white fiber from what looked like capsules where flowers used to be. 

Sorry that the photo is merely a silhouette. It was taken under the harsh afternoon summer sun. But I love it still. I hope to capture a much better image when I pass that way again.

Cotton is it.

Radiant

Up in the hills of San Mateo, Rizal I was so pleased to be feasting my eyes on this tree in full bloom. It stood proud and tall, defiant of the harsh heat, basking in the harsh rays of the sun. The harsher the days became, the more radiant it shown.  It seems to tell me that no matter the circumstances, we can always accommodate, go with the flow, and adapt to what is. 

Life is what we make it.

Summer Tableau

This snapshot is my first summer memento for this year. A perfect juxtaposition of the leafless fire tree and the passionate bougainvillea against the backdrop of sea, sky, and sand.  A vignette that I carefully file in memory for when I need an image to calm me. 

Dream Daisies

photo from cowparsleytheblog

It is hot and humid. Summer is definitely having a heyday this part of the world. How I wish I were in some remote beach paradise with cold drink in hand, lazing away the hours. Another fantasy is being alone in a secret garden where birds are free to alight on the ground to pick up materials for their nests. 

The above photo makes me daydream and as I write, I find the hot atmosphere slowly abating.  See how the daisies are content, left to grow with wild abandon. They look so happy catching the sun's rays and making it its ally to grow some  more.