Macro Monday | 7.29.19

Macro Monday | 7.29.19

I was lucky to have this lovely visitor yesterday morning! The butterflies have been abundant on the butterfly bush this year, but I have not been outside with the “big camera” and the tripod when they have visited!

This Red Admiral butterfly was most photogenic, and it is the winner of the week!

Now, on to the weekend… which just flew by, didn’t it?!

I sewed another pair of Rose Pants which I had hoped to wear with my newly finished Early Bloomer. But, when I tried it on with them – it just looked frumpy! Curiously, I think it is too long! I am not quite sure what to do about it – or rather, what exactly it needs to improve the fit. Perhaps the pants just aren’t right so I am going to try it with a tunic today to see what I think. My fear is that the fix means ripping it back and removing some length. Grrr!

The Neville House (aka Woodville Plantation) was so much fun on Sunday afternoon! I loved having a little local history lesson along with the opportunity to see a house that was built in 1755!

But, what about you? Did you all have a good weekend?

Macro Monday | 7.22.19

Macro Monday | 7.22.19

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!

Macro Weekending | 7.8.19

Macro Weekending | 7.8.19

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?

See you all back here for Unraveled Wednesday!

Weekending | 5.20.19

Weekending | 5.20.19

A normal weekend – that is what I wished for and I’d say that was exactly what I got!

FriYAY Happy Hour made me very happy – we sat outside, and it was so lovely! And, can I just say that my new favorite drink might be a gin martini… that Bombay Sapphire is amazing stuff!

Saturday was full – so full! A trip to Costco, some yard work, and I then I decided to reorganized my “craft room” to accommodate sewing machines being out all.the.time! It took all afternoon and a good chunk of the evening. It just needs a few odds and ends put away, which I hope to finish up today. Fortunately,  dinner was super simple! Fresh asparagus and some amazing shrimp we picked up from our Costco trip – Steve grilled all of it and it was just so delicious.

My son sent a picture of the dog he is fostering – Sam (the feet, in case you did not know, lol) and Bowser (on the left) feel completely at home with Shakespeare (who Sam is calling Shake) – or maybe it is Shake that feels completely at home with them. I have my fingers crossed that I will soon have a new grand-dog to love!

Sunday morning, Steve did some more yard work – and really – all the heaving lifting yard work! He moved our fire pit to its new home…which allowed for the patio heater to move to its new place. We just have a few final things to finish up and the summer living areas will be all set. The temps got a bit warm and muggy on Sunday, so we cranked on the AC – which thankfully is now fully operational!

We closed out the weekend with a simple Sunday Happy Hour (inside this time and with AC!) in preparation for the GoT finale… no spoilers here, so I can’t tell you if those eight questions were answered! Sorry!! However, I will say that I was very happy with how the series ended.

My weekend hope that remains unfulfilled was to finish that blasted shawl, but I barely knit a stitch all weekend! However, I am working at the PA election tomorrow, which is a local primary election so sadly, it should not be too busy so I am hopeful to finish it then!

How was your weekend? I hope it was awesome!

Sometimes Monday | 5.13.19

Sometimes Monday | 5.13.19

…mean taking a few minutes to sit quietly listening to the birdsong and rainfall while knitting a few rows before Monday Reality takes over.

My thoughts linger on the weekend – especially Saturday, which was spent working outside all day. Thankfully it was sunny but not too warm almost all day. We expanded a garden bed. We washed all the outdoor furniture and put it back in new places! We put the canopy on the pergola and rearranged the new lights a bit. And we discussed expanding another garden bed. It was along but very productive day.

I love this simple change of furniture on the porch – I think it will get lots of use in the coming months!

How was your weekend? Are there moments that are lingering for you this morning?

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