Daddy's Little Girl ...

“And you’re daddy’s little girl

You’re the end of the rainbow

My pot of gold

You’re daddy’s little girl to have and hold

A precious gem is what you are

You’re mommy’s bright and shining star

You’re the spirit of Christmas

My star on the tree

You’re the Easter Bunny to mommy and me

You’re sugar

You’re spice

You’re everything nice

And you’re daddy’s little girl.”

            ~ “Daddy’s Little Girl”

         ~ lyrics & music written by
          Robert Burke & Horace Gerlach

                               ~ 1906

         ~ recorded by the wonderful Al Martino

                              ~ 1967

To create this image I photographed the cover of Al Martino’s 1967 album “Daddy’s Little Girl” and blended it with “The Heart of Summer,” a photo I took a half century later in July 2017 of the heart of summer within the heart of summer … a father teaching his little girl to ride a bicycle on a gorgeous afternoon on the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania, such a sweet sight I was lucky to capture and showcase in sepia to enhance the nostalgic feel.

And that Al Martino album cover? I have it and the record itself, it’s something my parents played many times when I was growing up as I listened from my playpen!

Let It Breathe ...

“Awake, my dear. Be kind to your sleeping heart. Take it out into the vast, fields of Light, And let it breathe.”

                              ~ Hafiz

                                   ~1315-1390

Bright wild yellow mustard brushes a sweep of color on a sunny and peaceful May afternoon on a hillside of the Central Range of Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, awakening the landscape from the gray winter to the happiness of spring.

The color yellow is often associated with peace and happiness.

Tears On The Dogwood ...

Legend Of The Dogwood Tree

At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus’ cross.

To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said, “Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross – two long and two short petals.

“In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember.”

Raindrops cascade like teardrops on blossoms of a beautiful pink dogwood tree on a May evening in Allentown, Pennsylvania.