Back at the end of August, Jonathan's farm we emerging from steady weeks of rain, like much of New England:

Finally the weather system changed and we had more than two sunny days in a row, and the puddles along the cow lane that had been home to the booming frog population were starting to dry up. The haying was done, and it was time to enjoy the beautiful morning.

Ben's friend, Anna, had stayed overnight before heading home to Massachussets, and she was interested in riding Maple. Noah saddled and had a ride on Maple, and then it was Anna's turn. Ben led Maple down the road, and Noah, Karen, and Yukon joined the entourage. I wasn't behind the camera this morning, it was my son, Justin. Anna had a great time riding, and Maple ended with a lovely Queen Anne's Lace blossom adorning her bridle.

Justin was very busy with his camera, and caught some great images of the late summer flowers that are in bloom along with a couple of the winged residents in the area. I don't know if it was a fly or a bee on the wild chicory blossom, but the blue color of that flower always catches my eye. I sometimes curse the town road crew when they get out and mow the roadsides just as the chicory is in full bloom and making a wall of blue along the country roads. The dragon fly was warming itself in the sun, or maybe resting from last evenings busy flight. I swear there were 40 or 50 hovering over the swimming pool while we ate dinner on the deck.

It's amazing how a few sunny days can make you soon forget about the cool, damp, grey weeks in the recent past.