Last day of the month

Here goes.....


This is a reason for planting those expired date seeds.  They grow (sometimes) and even bloom!

This is the lovely parcel I received from Judith in the Christmas in July swap.  Delays in our mutual postal services resulted in an Awesome August.

And look at the beautiful stitched gifts, along with the floss and 2016 bookmark calendar.

Also in delayed mail (sent the end of July and arrived the end of August)  I received a beautiful hand made card from Nadine.

And stitching done on the Santa globe.  The chart is  freebie from Gazette 94.  I've stitched the pattern a few times (with color variations).  It's always fun.  Somehow I don't think there will be time for finishing today.

And while Sully sleeps ....   there is quiet  and then  .....

He's awake!

Blooming in my garden

Last weekend of August

The storm that hit yesterday did bring the rain along with gusty winds.  We had done our grocery shopping in the morning and safely back home.  The earlier morning rain had stopped and again blue skies, white clouds and sunshine to the south and west ...along with the grey skies that covered everywhere else.  By noon the power was off and the winds howled.  Luckily in our complex no major damage, just a lot of plants and patio items moved about.

I had already heated up soup and boiled the kettle and filled two thermal jugs just in case.  There is always something to eat but nothing beats a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate.  DH took over one jug for my Dad along with a battery radio (theirs was awol).

Our power came back on some four hours later.  We are among the lucky as many folks continued long in to the evening without power.  Local tv news covered results of the weather, tress down everywhere....so it our corner we did just fine.

As 'regular' Saturday plans were out the window, what is there to do, stitch of course!  I've made progress on a Santa ornament, now on the back stitching.   As much as I've tried to streamline paper copies of my charts and just keep them on the computer, it only takes the power being out to realize that there is still good reason to keep my binder of paper copies to work from.  DH worked on his laptop with battery power.  Sully was not a fan of the weather.  He pulled his bed near my chair and slept.

This week I received a Christmas in July parcel from Judith in Germany.  The gifts received are beautiful!  Judith does lovely stitching.  Hand made gifts are truly treasured.  Photos to come.  And in true snail mail form, a card sent from Nadine in France that was mailed the end of July finally arrived the end of August.  The handmade card is beautiful.  And there is no explaining the postal services ....

There is a breeze blowing and the rain falling, so long as it stays at this level it's all good.

Last evening just as the last rays of sun shone through there was a rainbow to the south  ..... and  it made me think of  my Mom, beautiful and always with us, just beyond the rainbow.

it's Monday...again

Today feels like we are drifting towards fall.  There is a light breeze coming through the windows and even with sunshine streaming in, there is a coolness.  Ya for fall!!  I've not been a fan of the extreme heat this summer so I really am looking forward to fall this year.  The downside is that our days are getting shorter but it means time for knitting and crochet work., along with cross stitch of course.

There are still close to 200 forest fires burning in this province.  Smoke from fires in Washington State is heading north causing air quality advisories yet again.  I know we're not alone in this problem as so many places are having a tough fire season.

Sully had his vet visit last week and another round of puppy shots.  The only one that has caused him any notice has been the kennel cough one and now the resulting dough hack.  I've checked with the vet and so long as everything else is ok (eating, drinking, sleeping) then there is no concern and we weather it through.  Otherwise it will be a road trip to the vet again.

It is tough being a puppy!

Mondays are for  chores  and home time.  Currently the laundry is chugging away and a batch of bread has been started.  We much prefer home made bread but during the hot spells it hasn't been an option to put the oven on.   Yesterday I finally tried making tortillas.  I found a very easy recipe and was please with the results.  I will be making these again.

Recently is what I sent for a Christmas in July exchange.  It was fun stitching/making items for this exchange.   I checked the tracking and it shows as being received.

The item sent to me is somewhere in the post.   There is no explaining why some things are delivered/received promptly and others go on a scenic route!  It is a mystery.

The Halloween mailart project is coming along nicely.  Likewise items for the Santa Sack Swap.  I've even managed a bit of stitching while holding a sleeping puppy, definitely not my favorite way to stitch.

Looks like the bread is ready for the next step.

Have a good week!

Happy August

Another lovely day and it's hot again, still.....our portable ac unit has been going full tilt but it's not managing to get lower that 26 C indoors during the day and down to 23 overnight.   So after morning grocery shopping with my Dad, I headed off to Home Depot to see if there was any chance the had anything left in stock.  Low and behold two portable units were available and one came home with me.  An added bonus,  as the product code had to be entered manually it came up less than the known price but they honored what the computer said.  It all helps.  The new unit is up and running and along with the old one should be a vast improvement to our home.   Who knows, maybe I will get to stitch today!  Mind you that depends on how long the puppy naps.