Greetings dearest Unravelers and welcome to July!
Whew, summer is just moving right along isn’t it? I blinked and June was done! So perhaps less blinking in July… lol. Once we exited spring, summer came roaring in with heat and humidity… I don’t even want to think about how much the electricity bill will be because the AC is running all the time!
The bee balm that almost dwarves my tri-color birch!
Not everything is unhappy with this weather… the July blooming alliums are stunning and my bee balm!! Yeah… this is the same bee balm that never got very tall, had few or no blooms… the same bee balm that I contemplated ripping out last fall! I as so glad that I didn’t!! Say hello to my over 5′ tall absolutely loaded with buds and blossoms bee balm! It must love long slow springs… because it is absolutely amazing!
Even on a very rainy morning, the blooms go on and on!
The other thing that really worked in June was my stitching!!
All my June days stitched out so beautifully!
As you can see above the green vest is finished and I am so happy with it! It needs a good soak (but I decided not to do that yesterday… it was so rainy and I’d like it to dry outside) There is no rush as I will be tucking it away for the fall! This pattern is the best pattern I have ever knit. I love Noriko Ichikawa’s attention to details and the one piece construction is so smart and it fits so well! Will there be another one? Probably, yes! (I need to swatch with some yarn I have in my stash!) But in the mean time… I am back to knitting my Shakerag Top and I hope to have it finished quickly!
This week was summer reading at its best. I finished Robert Bryndza’s latest Detective Erika Foster book and I loved it! It is the perfect summery mystery… really! Yes, it is part of a series, but you can read it as a stand alone. I was totally engrossed with all the twists and turns! And how Bryndza pulled all the threads together at the end was just brilliant! If you like a good procedural mystery, this one gets high marks! I highly recommend.
I listened to The Stone Yard Devotional… and I have mixed thoughts on it. I enjoyed it, but I did not love it. The story is revolved around the idea of “can you run away or escape something you don’t want to face” but my thoughts could not stop thinking why would a person who is not at all religious escape to a monastery!? The writing is good but Wood is no Elizabeth Strout despite what the Guardian says! I gave it 3-stars but ymmv.
Currently, I just started a re-read of The Friend and I am reading Robert P. Baird’s debut novel… The Nimbus (which I am loving so far!)
What about you? What is bringing joy to your life this week?
A bit of housekeeping here… I have some tests next week so I am taking a bit of a blogging break so there won’t be an unraveled post next week.
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
Hello Kat
Your stitching feature is so simple (well it looks simple but I bet it wasn’t) – yet it is so effective.
We know Bee Balm as Bergamot down here
Good luck sorting out your ‘problems’ next week
Today I learned that bee balm does not always have red blossoms and it’s known as bergamot in Australia! I have only ever had red bee balm but I like your lavender blossoms much better. Congratulations on your wonderful vest and stitching. Now I’m off to check the library for some of those books. Thanks for the recommendations, Kat!
I love your green vest! Looks like Friday the humidity is going to go down, so that might be a good day to dry it outside. I haven’t been a fan of all the rain, the heat, or the humidity, but like you I’m finding that a lot of the plants are enjoying it. My tomato plants have gotten enormous!
Hope all goes well with the testing next week.
I have that same variety of bee balm — and it has never done well . . . but is prolific this year. (My blooms are a bit later than yours, but the buds are very promising.) I also have a tri-color beech in my front yard . . . but not in the same vicinity as the bee balm. What a stunning combination you’ve got in your garden! The stitching is delightful — and the vest is perfection. I’m sending all my best juju your way for next week, Kat. XO
So glad stitching is being a balm for you. Your garden looks gorgeous. Love your vest. Good luck with your tests next week.
As to me and my long silence. I am fine I have just hit a bit of a writers block, in that I can’t think what to say. Maybe it is the lovely weather we had in the Spring followed by the hot Summer weather. Take care, xx
love love love that vest!! gorgeous! Also the stitching is pretty too. My electric bill will be high as well and I’m worth every single penny.
The vest is stunning! I’ve bookmarked the patten, that’s a great recommendation you’ve given it!
The vest is stupendous!! Love the color and your knitting is so neat. (Envy over here). Like Bonny, I ever only knew of red bee balm, but your lavender is gorgeous. Colin’s garden (corn, beans, sweet potatoes) is doing so much better than Fletcher’s. Sigh… I’m glad you mentioned The Friend – I need to remember to read (and watch) that.
The vest came out so well. I added that pattern to my favorites. The stitching looks wonderful – I imagine that practice brings peace to your days. I tried some bee balm but it didn’t make it through a winter. You are inspiring me to try it again. I hope the tests go well next week and provide you with some information.
The vest is fabulous and your garden looks wonderful!