July was a tough month for me but in looking back, I am happy to see some very good things despite it being such a challenge! July 3rd might be my favorite picture of the whole month though! That single pierced ear has brought lots of laughter! (although a freshly washed and fluffy Sherman on the 13th is not bad either!) Though there was lots of rain (as you can see in the video below) the skies were so amazing in July – so many clouds!
Now for the video – my plan was to get 31 days of walking, but you all know that did not happen. I had hoped to maybe be back walking in August, but today that seems very unlikely…and yes, my frustration is growing! I got video all but one day – but I did take a photo of my new Birks so I inserted that in place of the missing video! I also managed to capture the elusive Hummingbird Moth along with so many bees and butterflies!
Today, I have no words so it is a very good thing that I managed to take some photos last week.
This is a deer-resistant native PA plant (I think it’s a Cardinal Plant). It was not happy where it was and had not bloomed in several years. I am glad it seems to have settled in to its new spot well!
The coleus this year is amazing – but this species is really spectacular.
But, the zinnia’s are the gift that just keeps on giving… prolifically! Which is a very good thing because shortly after this picture was taken the deer came and ate them…in broad daylight!!
I am going to find comfort in the tasks of Monday and I hope you can find some solace today also.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. – Robert Burns
Note to self, 95+ degree heat and humidity at a gajillion percent means that your camera lens will instantly fog up…
Add to all of that, this morning it is raining, and the humidity is still off the charts making big camera photography impossible. So, I am phoning in my “homework” this week… literally. These photos are from my iPhone Xs Max, and Steve has already weighed in on how pitiful they are. No, they are not actually macro photos. Yes, they are a bit blurry. But I hope they convey the obvious joy of the subject.
Bee, complete with a full pollen basket
Sunflowers are the bee version of a hamster wheel… they go round and round and round!
Bee Joy might just be the most wonderful thing ever! And, these bees are fearless – no flinching, or flying away from my phone all up in their business! You can see that these 99 cent sunflower plants are a HUGE hit! And can I just say – holy cow on the number of blooms? Each plant has easily 2 dozen flowers and buds!
As for my weekend, with a glimpse of “hell on earth” temps this weekend – I spent much of the weekend indoors with the perpetually running AC.
I discovered a new to me mystery series – Maigret. The mysteries are based on the novels written between 1919 and 1922 by Georges Simenon. I binged a bit on them and got “close” on my Early Bloomer. I am having a bit of a “do I have enough yarn” panic, so I put the body on waste yarn, and I will finish the neck and sleeves, and then finish the body and lower ribbing.
I also sewed up another Uniform Tunic Dress – it is almost done, and I just need to ease in the sleeves, which I plan on doing this morning. I have finally mastered sleeve placement with no puckers, but it means taking my time and methodically pinning – with LOTS of pins!
And, that was my weekend complete with my photos.
I hope you had a great weekend. Happy Monday, stay cool and dry!
I waited until Sunday again and rushed to get some photos. My rushing did not serve me well this week – there was a light breeze, so all my shots were just a bit blurry.
I love that the Butterfly Bush is blooming in stages on each panicle! You can see the little square buds that will open into the fragrant little blossoms!
My Lamb’s Ear may look storm battered, but that does not deter the bees! And, this bee is gilded with pollen!
The weekend was sort of a blur as well, and it seems Monday wins the race every time! I managed to squeeze in some knitting, I cut out a pattern, and pondered sleeves.
We had several visits from a Hummingbird Moth, but I was not quick enough to capture either video or a photo! What sweet little moths they are – I love watching them flit around the butterfly bush!
Also, the sunflowers I got from the farmers market have started to bloom – at least the ones I planted in the back yard! Sadly, the ones I planted in the front yard have all been eaten by the darned deer.
I hope your weekend was not at a blur! Happy Monday all!
Greetings from an uber-soggy Pittsburgh. This song has been on replay in my brain and, like CCR, I am wondering who’ll stop the rain. Hilariously, when I searched for the YouTube link to the song – I was reminded that CCR not only has torrential downpours covered, but droughts as well! No matter what end of the rainfall spectrum you are on, there is a CCR song for that! And what Monday is not made better by a little CCR?
Today, I am all about making my weekend look larger than it really was which feels very appropriate given we did absolutely nothing the entire holiday weekend except eat and drink (and try to stay cool and dry!) The eating was so good though! Along with the regular “happy hour eats” Steve grilled some amazing ribs and I made these stuffed squash blossoms! We had sushi one night, and there was even a ratatouille sans eggplant! And so.many.happy.hours!!
We did not go to see any fireworks for the holiday and the rains kept the neighborhood fairly quiet as well.
I did manage to walk every day but Sunday because walking in a thunderstorm is a no-go for me. But can I just say that there should be bonus points given for walking in 4000% humidity? There should be – and those bonus points should be visible, so everyone knows what you did!
All this rain means the weeds look like they are on steroids so it is good that it also makes their removal much easier! Weeding in 4000% humidity and 90 degree temps is not for the faint of heart, but weed I did while Steve cut the grass for what seemed like the umpteenth time this week because the grass is growing like it’s on steroids too!
I spent some time knitting – not much time, but there was some knitting and early Sunday morning I managed to get outside with the camera for few seconds between rainstorms. Honestly, I am stunned I managed to get these images! I was so rushed and it was so cloudy and grey – and that combination does not for great macro photographs! However, this photo is proof that even a mediocre photographer can take a good picture sometimes!
For me, this is the winner… I love everything about this image.
And, there you have my delicious, lazy, long, but incredibly rainy weekend! How about you? Was your weekend all you’d hoped for?
