In the world of summer shade providers, hats are for busy days...the days when you need to perch one on your head and stride out, purposefully, getting things done. Parasols are for the lazy, pottering days...when it takes hours to get from point A to point B and, destination reached, there's a certain lack of clarity as to why you came.

Moving around under (in my case) a turquoise shadow, the world seems to slow down...the view of your surroundings is framed by an undulating wave of paper...a seagull, on a fish-finding reconnaissance mission, flies overhead and is lost from sight...a sailboat, emerging from the harbor, drifts by. You could, by tilting your head or moving your arm, follow them further on their journey...but it's a lazy day...and staring at the sun didn't do Icarus any good...so you sit in the shade and enjoy the view...