Beside the Still Water Notebook

A peaceful summer afternoon beside a still lake, looking out from beneath the shade of a red maple tree with its branches and green leaves overshadowing the water's edge. Water lilies float on the shining surface, and a stork stands motionless in the water, while dragonflies and butterflies dance among the irises and cattails lining the bank. Sunlight glints and sparkles off the little ripples out in the lake.