Summer returned to the north country today!  It's been beautiful, in the 70s (YES!) with a nice south wind.  The lady bugs are gathering - no matter where outside we went today, we saw them flying and had to be careful not to bring them into the house.  They landed on us repeatedly, and if you've had experience with these cute little red creatures, they don't seem to have much of a navigation system and will land willy-nilly in your hair, on your clothes or on your skin.  Trouble is, they emit a strong odor if they are disturbed too roughly. They are actually a beetle - and very much like the potato bugs we kids used to have to pick off the potato plants, but I don't think these smaller ones we're seeing today damage crops.  I've read that they prey on aphids so are considered beneficial.

I had a note and some pictures this afternoon from Peace Baxter.  Here's what she wrote: 
   Dear Jane,
I couldn't resist sending this to you! When we left Sunday morning at 7am this is what we saw at the lookout in Danville..14 photographers lined up to catch the sunrise..most of them were Asian! How did they know to be there?!  There were no tourist buses, only a few cars so somehow they got the word that it was a great spot to take pictures..our lookout is famous!!  

I have an idea they may have been with a photography club - they all seem to have pretty sophisticated equipment.  Perhaps they had a guide who was familiar with our area.  Thanks to Peace for sending these pictures to us.  Those photographers were treated to a lovely sunrise, for sure, but these that Peach took are beautiful, too.
 
The middle picture was taken a few minutes before the bottom one, I believe.  It is amazing how quickly scenery like this changes, but these are very nice shots.  Click on them to get a larger view.