After a slew of too hot days, this morning dawns with relief – the temperature has significantly moderated. The AC has been turned off and the windows are opened wide to let in the breezes and the sounds of the birds and the cicadas.
Summer is at its best and that is most joyous!
My garden has been a source of perpetual joy; however, it has had a bit of a learning curve as well. We had hopes that the zucchini would thrive in the bag beds, but they are not. Of course, it does not help that the bunny has helped himself to the blossoms and I think that our zucchini harvest is over for the season. But, the tomatoes are going gangbusters! Last year we got a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes, but only had a “so-so” harvest of ‘regular’ tomatoes. Not so this year, I have dozens of full-sized tomatoes growing as well as oodles of cherry tomatoes.
Knitting has also been a source of joy this month. I finished a sweater and will finish a second before month end. I will also finish Kirsten Kapur’s MKAL – I finished clue 4 yesterday and began clue 5. I am a tiny bit concerned that I will not have enough yarn to finish the bind off, but I will have a better idea once I weigh my yarn after this repeat is done.
Reading is perpetually joyful, but this month it has been decidedly so! I have finished 7 books thus far, and will finish 2 more before month end as I am almost done with Dandelion Wine and Beartown! This will put me one book ahead of my reading challenge for the year. And, that is a very good thing!
What has brought you joy this month?
Seeing all those tomatoes is incredibly joyful for me! String beans and peas are okay, but the real reason I have a garden is for the TOMATOES! I can see that your productive reading and knitting is a great source of joy also. By expressing your joy you’ve brought a little into my world this morning. Thanks!
July has been full of joy for me, too, although not because of productive knitting! 😉 I love being outside — and I’ve had plenty of opportunity this month. Gardening. At the lake. Biking. It’s been a lovely month! (And those tomatoes!!! YUM!)
Our tomatoes are just coming on and squash is coming out of our ears. I love seeing what works in our garden each year. We woke to rain and cooler tempts. It feels SO good to be in the 70s. ahhhh
Your sweater finish was amazing.
Your tomato crop is promising!
What brought me joy in July?
-MY son is home for part of the summer. I get to hug him every day.
-The Barn asked me write for them.
-Finishing a shawl and starting another bringing me joy!
We found our first cucumber in the garden yesterday — kiddo and I both have some of it in our lunches today. And we finally have some tomatoes starting to grow. It’s good to know that I don’t have a complete dud of a garden this year!
It’s cool here today, as it was yesterday, and rainy but it sounds like what you have today is headed here for tomorrow. Hooray! We have lots of green tomatoes and have picked several cukes and some summer squash, as well. My garden can sometimes be a source of frustration but it’s mostly about joy.
We could never grow tomatoes successfully when we lived in Minneapolis because SQUIRRELS! They insisted on taking a couple bites out of every single one about 5 days before they were ripe. How do you keep the squirrels at bay?
I am enjoying quite the (vicarious) harvest of homegrown tomatoes … and I love it! My July has also been full of good books and knitting. Tomorrow I have a playdate with Charlie; with luck I’ll also get some playtime with Sam – all of that spells J-O-Y in my book too!
This post brings lot of joyful memories – especially the taste of homegrown tomatoes – and I love that we get to share your joys including the significant respite from the heat! Cool here too! Clearly, the most joyous of all, considering that I live in Washington DC…
Cheers~