Rose of Sharon in bloom.

We have had some fabulous rain which has refreshed everything wonderfully. Yesterday there were terrific thunderstorms in the north east. The hospital even switched to emergency generator power as a precaution due to the severe weather in the area.
We heard the ' clunk' in the Operating Room as the generator kicked in but the event was seamless, with not even a flicker from the equipment. Very reassuring.

A nurse friend and I have put together a trip to Iceland for October. Forecasts predict that the Northern lights are going to be particulary good this year and indeed the good displays go in eleven year cycles. So I am off on a mini road trip to New Hampshire, to explore some landscape photography, in readiness for Iceland.
In fact, this week, due to sun storm activity, lights have been visible from atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire and the predictions are currently good for sightings in New England. It will be funny if I see the lights here, before going on a trip to see them. The scenery in Iceland, the land of fire and ice, will be spectacular. We can't wait.

Lights in night sky seen from Mount Washington Observatory.