June in Minnesota

June is such a beautiful month here - normally we have some stormy weather, but for the most part we have nice temperatures and beautiful sunshine.  We're having an extreme year so far - we just got through another weekend of hot (90's F) along with some ridiculous humidity.  My hair always reacts to humidity with wild frizziness, while some people just have hair that goes flat.

I posted this HAIR forecast on my office door at work:

Ha!

We've also had some nice days in the 70's (more to my liking) and have gotten in some nice walks around the neighborhood with Ms. Ruby.  She has been having some arthritis issues, so we don't go too far.  A few things are blooming, and with recent rain the grass needs mowing often.  (The weeds are especially healthy as well.)  Gotta love Minnesota weather!

Just an interesting weed :)

I've taken a little break from tatting and sewing the past few weeks, and devoured a few books.  I'm really enjoying audiobooks here and there, because I can tat and listen, or go for a walk and listen.  Makes me feel productive to DO something while enjoying a book!  Other times, I love to curl up in a chair and escape the world with an old-fashioned hard copy.  Either way, I get through about 3 books in a row, and then go back to tatting or sewing or whatever else.  (Most likely not housework - ha ha!) 

These recent reads were ALL fantastic:

• The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah
• The Orphan Train, by Christina Baker Kline
• The Lilac Girls, by Martha Hall Kelly

This one was a bit dark and weird, but twists in the writing kept my interest:

• The Light of the Fireflies, by Paul Pen

I wish I could get a job as an audiobook narrator!  I think I'd enjoy that job :)

Renulek’s Spring Doily 2018 - Round 11

Finally!  Sheesh, I thought I’d never get this round done.

Round 11 of 13

It’s such a beautiful doily though - even though it’s taking me awhile, I’m anxious to get it finished. These final rounds will take some time!

I’m using some old thread, which is really nice most of the time, but once in awhile I hit a spot that doesn’t cooperate very well.  Not sure if it’s really the thread, or if it’s my impatience!  I’m blaming the thread.

The heatwave I mentioned has truly arrived.  This past few days has been incredibly hot - especially today!  We’ve officially reached 100 degrees F, but my thermometer says we’ve hit 102.  Ish.  Got some yard work done before 9 am and have pretty much been inside all afternoon! Laundry is better than yardwork when it’s so hot.

Ruby gets special treats when it’s this hot too! Such a spoiled girl.

Winter Wouldn't Die and Now We're in for a Heatwave!

Wow - I see I haven't documented my creative life since April 8th, but I've done a lot!

The blizzard of the April 14th weekend was the weekend I had extensive training with the snowblower.  While hubby was off plowing for the city he works for, I was cleaning out the driveway so he could get back in the garage.  Several. Times.  That blizzard gave us about 18" of snow - record-setting that isn't particularly appreciated in April when we are all so anxious for Spring to arrive!

There was NO snow prior to this weekend blizzard :(

Since then we've had some nice days - in the 70's (F) and then back into the 60's, and we will go from a high of 80 today to 90 by the weekend.  And humid.  Needless to say, we keep sweatshirts and flip-flops handy around here with these temperature swings!  The A/C is back on today.

A few other things I’ve done this past couple of months:

Prepared a raffle basket for an accounting conference I attended - thought this was a cute idea:

Quilted and got the binding on my Seahorse collage “Garnet” . . .

Donated 10 couch caddies to a local Assisted Living facility . . .

Made some choices for a bathroom remodel . . .

Watched the Kentucky Derby - and am ready to watch the Belmont Stakes to see if we will have a Triple Crown winner this year . . .

Watched the Royal Wedding . . .

And we’ve started the construction season at work - a busy time for us all since winter dragged on forever and now everything is behind!  It’s gonna be a busy summer.

Renulek’s Spring Doily 2018 - Round 10

Round 10 done!  Now it’s getting to be a little slower getting a round complete.  At this point, the doily is about 12” in diameter.

I’m discovering I really like working with size 30 thread. Unfortunately, the Lizbeth threads don’t come in size 30, and I really do love the Lizbeth colors.  In any case, the doily is about all I got done this week - darn job takes up my time and energy!

Renulek’s Spring Doily 2018 - Round 9

Round 9 of 13 - whew!  Keeping up pretty well so far, though I had to cut and re-do about the last 6 inches of this round.  Not paying attention and eager to finish the round, I repeated a single ring - throwing off the trefoil I needed to end with.  Oopsie.  Got that re-done, and I’m ready to start on Round 10 that was released this past Thursday.  Now it’s going to be harder to keep up.

Of course I ‘be been sewing as well, this time making some couch caddies to donate to a local assisted living home.  Another inspiration that hit when someone else posted the idea in a group I follow on Facebook.

Either donating something or volunteering just gives me that good feeling of sharing some of the many blessings I have received in life.  Paying it forward, if you will.  It may not be in large quantities, but I truly believe in doing these things with a happy heart, or it’s only an obligation.  So every so often, I am inspired to do some random small thing.  Fun to put some matching fabrics together and make something useful.  Orders are arriving from the men in my family already - they just want control of the remote, I think!

Today, March 31st (!), we received 5.5 inches of SNOW at our house.  ISH.  More snow to the north of us - some places received over 12 inches!  Enough already.  We want Spring now!  It won’t last long, but most of us are not amused.  

There are some dogs I know that are still enjoying a romp in the new snow, however.  Ruby was as happy as could be playing in the fresh snow this morning - just like a kid. She really knows how to make every day count!