Last week, I was in a a couple of small towns on or near Lake Erie. One, Bucyrus, Ohio, had a 3-D mural that was painted years ago on the side of a prominent city building. My friends walked up to it; and for a moment, I thought that if they kept going they would walk into the painting!

Last week as I toured a manufacturing company,  I was reminded anew that we truly are precious stones being set in a foundation of infinite love and hope. And and buffing and shaping of our lives is only meant to bring out the true color and depth of our character.

I was here a couple of years ago in the dead of winter and it was an entirely different scene—blustery and snowy. It was absolutely beautiful. The Marblehead Lighthouse is still one of my favorites. It is just plain sweet but I have to admit that I liked it better under the canopy of winter.

This time we were able to walk to the top and view Lake Erie.

They were able to save their Fresnel lens and it’s on display in the lighthouse keeper’s house. An electrical beacon is now used to guide ships away from the shoreline.

The lighthouse keeper would have walked up these steps and pulled a lantern out of this cabinet. A few steps more and he would be on the top of Lake Erie.

Here’s the back of the keeper’s house. Who knows why I took this photo—probably because I thought the fence with the flowers was sweet and simple.

Because I live here, I can mess around half the day and then jump in the car and head north and quickly be in the mountains where I can grill out under the trees with the dogs and friends. Sounds like fun unless it is really hot outside, and you are a little dog that needs lots of water and grilled hot dogs. Did I say “hot dogs?!”

Yep, if you grill out under the tree you had better have “hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and Coca Cola!

And if you are a little dog, you can ‘t help but wonder how “your people” can just hang out reading and sleeping the afternoon away while  other people grilling all around you. In fact, how can anyone relax when your own grill is hot and food is cooking?!

Yesterday was a such a nice day, especially in Greenville, SC. I have never seen a city that has more activities than this one. Every weekend people are out and fully enjoying where they live. While I know this view is not of people, but it is one of relaxation under a set of trees in the downtown area.