Summer is Here

 Litha blessings on this Summer Solstice

May the sun shine on your life

May the breezes cool your blow

 May the rains water your garden

May the earth let you bloom

As always, thanks for stopping by............*s*

June.....Where'd Ya Go?

  

It's finally feeling a bit more like summer.  I have even switched back to cotton sheets.  I had my doubts that it would ever be warm enough for that.  We would have days of warm weather then a streak of days in the sixties and lower.  Doesn't seem right that we are past the middle of June with the solstice upon us.

Above is my deck umbrella with a new patch.  It got torn  with a good size three corner tear when it was being removed from storage.  I spent days considering how best to fix it, then remembered that many years ago I bought a roll of fusible webbing.  I think I was going to save some old T-shirts.  I dug it out and decided that a cloud patch would look okay.  I put on the patch and went to work with some permanent markers.  I also patched the underside.  I normally would't bother but since this is outside braving the elements, I decided to be cautious. Well. see, grasshopper........Well see.........

With the warmer weather I am finally getting the deck in order.  It's time to buy morning glory seedlings and perhaps fuchsias, if I can find some small ones.

Flag Day was. largely ignored by the world, yet is is good to remember that June fourteenth,  1777 is the day the Continental Congress made Old Glory the official emblem of the USA.  It was also my sister-in-law's birthday.  She died in 1996 at far too young an age. 

I am going to watch the opening of the Obama Center tomorrow.  A fine way to celebrate Juneteenth.  There are many small things to give us hope in these troubled times. This is a joyful big one.

As always,  thanks for stopping by.........*s*

Memories

Memorial Day has passed in clouds and drizzle.  I spent time remembering the loved ones who I consider casualties of war, even though they did not die in battle.  The bitterness I feel over lives wasted  is always with me.  Generally it's deep in the background of my life, but Memorial Day brings......memories.

We are finally enjoying a bit of spring weather....well a few days at least.  I changed the bed to cotton sheets from the winter flannel and put away my duvet........again.  Perhaps third time is the charm.

Well see, grasshopper..........well see...........

Meanwhile I hope to.. finish cleaning the deck so I can get my plants out and umbrella up..........if all goes well. One step at a time.

As always, stay strong and thanks for stopping by..............*s*

Excuse Me While I Obsess!

 For many years I have said about myself that if I don't have any real problems I will inflate minor ones to the size of the Rockies and proceed to obsess until I am in a sea of anxiety.  I have also learned to slow down, make a list of said anxiety, do deep breathing and reflect.

I am currently at list making as I am going to the intake appointment for my long overdue colonoscopy next week.  The intake is easy.  And really, the worst part of a colonoscopy is the prep.

There are times when I feel like my social life is based on doctors' visits.

Just need to figure out transportation, which should not be a huge problem, but still.......!

We'll see, grasshopper.............we'll see.........

Meanwhile spring is finally happening.  I received some money for my birthday so I bought a blower-sweeper thingie that has been terrific for clearing leaves out of unwanted places.  I just have to remember to charge the batteries!  So much easier than hauling around extension cords!  

I bought a white passion flower yesterday.  I used to grow many different varieties and winter them over very successfully.  This is a small start toward rebuilding the collection.  Because if a little is good a whole lot more is better!

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by..................*s*

WELL! This is Fun

 Birthday #83 was last Saturday.  By way of celebration I managed yo do something to my lower back on Friday. night.  I leaned over the pick up stuff off the couch on my way to bed.  Big OUCH!  Slowly getting better, but not how I would prefer to celebrate anything.

On a happier note.  I try to give myself a smallish treat every year for my own celebration.  This year it's one of Kathleen Burke's. IMAGINE mugs.  Love the image of all these people hand in hand.  It's a most pleasant mug to drink from, which I suppose should be a main purpose!

I signed up for Karen Abend's Sketchbook Challenge this year.  I have really enjoyed Sarah Mitchell's pre-challenge video on making the Australian Piano Hinge book.  So far I have made three.  I haven't kept up with the daily challenges due to feeling so lousy.  I may start playing catch-up today.

We are finally having warm weather.  Actually we had several days of what felt more like summer.  After some very noisy thunderstorms late yesterday it's been cooling down to what passes for normal here.  Of course that doesn't mean we couldn't have snow by Wednesday.  Hey!  It happens!

My first impulse was to start moving plants to their outside summer places.  Then I remembered one year, many years ago now, that I did that and the temps promptly dropped to near freezing.  Which then resulted in me frantically covering everything with blankets.  So I will refrain for a few more weeks.  Meanwhile it's a good time to get things clean and neat for the coming summer.

Daffodils are in bloom, late but so appreciated.  Also have vinca and lily of the valley are showing progress. Morning walks around the garden/lawn with a cup of tea are definitely in order.

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Books and stuff

Found yet another bunny whistle when I was sorting a shelf last week.  Not a great shot.  May try for a better one later. These were a lot of fun do but I never considered selling them.  They take so long and are so fussy that the price would have to be outrageous.

I have a new. hobby?.....obsession?  I signed up for The Sketchbook Revival 2026 with Karen Abend.  Last year I did a few of the challenges and found them useful for pottery.  She also offers a make-your-own-sketchbook every year.  This year Sarah Matthews has a very good tutorial on how to make an Australian Piano Hinge book.  The neat thing about this one is that is is no stitching involved, and pages are removable.

 

I made the first one following instructions  for a 6x9 book using 9x12 65lb. paper and a paper bag for the hinges.  The bag was heavy duty; Next time I will use some of my packing paper which is a bit thinner.
 

I made another one yesterday approximately 5x7.  Because I wanted to hinge along the short side I only used one hinge.  Mistake!  I should have used two narrower hinges.  As it is the pages slide around a bit, but are easily held in place with a tie.  

The spine looks a bit wonky due to the print I chose for the back cover.  It's really quite straight.

Now I want to try a 9x12 which is my favorite size for planning pot decoration.  I have to see what I have in the way of papers.  I wish I still had some of my old Hammermill Bond cover stock.  I bought a ream of it way back when I was finishing my degree   Used the last of it a few years ago.  Paper keeps vey well if it's stored properly.  Meanwhile my habit of buying paper goes on.

The covers are reused calendars.  Carl Larsson on the to and Mucha on the bottom.  Again there is a good reason for saving stuff!

We are finally having some slightly warmer, sunnier days,  The daffodils are finally blooming.  Toes crossed we don't have a really hot spell which ends them all too quickly.

We'll see, grasshopper............we'll see..............

Stay strong; stay safe and, as always, thanks for stopping by..............*s*

Follow Up

 Stegosaurus is still my favorite dinosaur.......do you have a favorite?

Doc's appointment went very well.  She's very pleased with all my various problems.  Then we talked about THR exercises, (she had hers shortly after mine.),  trees falling across driveways, snow and so on.

I ordered a new pair of reading glasses, about time!

I dd not go looking for flowers.  The stupid cold, and did I mention Lyme, have taken a lot out of me.  Slowly rebuilding stamina.  We'll see, grasshopper............we'll see............

Stay strong; stay safe, and as always, thanks for stopping by.........*s*