Sunflowers

I saw a field of sunflowers over by the high school and decided it was a good excuse to get out the real camera, which I use far too infrequently these days! Phone pictures are so good—they're almost always good enough—but whenever I see photos from the real camera, I remember how much I like them. Can you believe, by the way, that fields of sunflowers like this just grow?? Without anyone planting them? I will never stop being amazed by wildflowers.

Of course I took along all who were willing to come be my photo subjects! (Though I don't think Ziggy quite knew what he was agreeing to…but he's always up for going somewhere in the car!) When we got to the field there were a few other cars there and several teenage girls arranging themselves artfully for selfies. They'd hop out, toss their hair a bit, make kissy lips, and then jump back in their cars and drive off. Ha! 

The field had another attraction: this "heffator backhoe," as Ziggy would call it. I let the boys climb all over it so they'd be in a good mood. :) The girls liked climbing in it too!

Ziggy wanted to get into the scoop, but when he got close to it he became very alarmed and tried to change his mind. He had to satisfy himself that it wasn't going to turn on and start scooping him before he was okay.

Teddy climbed up for a picture. He climbs everywhere with his cast, and the doctor didn't say not to, so I just…let him.

It was really fun to wander through the sunflowers—it's like a corn maze, but less sculpted. There were little clearings and paths; places where the sunflowers were taller than our heads and places where they were tiny baby ones as high as our knees. It was dirty and the sunflowers were scratchy (fine for me in my long pants, but not for the shorts-wearers among us) and the ground was uneven, but there was just something…adventurous and brave about it. The kids liked striking off on their own and feeling like they were hidden in their own little secret hideaways when they crouched down. The boys keep asking me if we can go back.

I just wanted to see if I could capture that feeling of golden light.

Should I have named one of them Sunflower?

(Not this one, probably.)

I should note that they all just happened to be wearing yellow on this day—which isn't really as unlikely as it sounds, since I always gravitate toward it when buying their clothes. I have to remind myself to buy other colors too! (Along with reminding myself that I don't have to buy everything with a bunny on it.) :) Well…I mean, Daisy and Junie were matching each other on purpose, of course. But the others were just conveniently sunflower-y!

I didn't make them hug. They're just huggers!

The sky and clouds were really pretty just as the sun was setting.

This little guy thought it was THE FUNNIEST THING to hide among the flowers and then have me come and find him. He couldn't stop laughing.

So beautiful!