Celebrating summer

First we made a mandala with flowers from Sue's garden, then we assembled a small but elegant arrangement for a special dinner. Summer food: fresh corn, cold potato salad, a cake Sue made, topped with fresh blackberry compote. To drink: fresh raspberries and mint leaves in soda water. Nectar of the gods.

Fresh

To move
Cleanly.
Needing to be
Nowhere else.
Wanting nothing
From any store.
To lift something
You already had
And set it down in
A new place.
Awakened eye
Seeing freshly,
What does that do to
The old blood moving through
Its channels?
--Naomi Shihab Nye.