Summertime July

Yesterday (the Sabbath) after walking to church, cooking a hot breakfast, and taking a little nap, I settled in for some cardi knitting.  I'm making some good progress even though the yarn is a bit splitty.  It's soft anyway.

 July!  The sweet peas smell delicious. 

And within a few years I should have a big crop of rhubarb, thanks to my sweet neighbor Reve. 

 The wild grass growing up in the catmint is pretty, isn't it?

 When I had jury duty they took away my addi turbo circular needle (I guess one could stab someone else with my little workhorse needle) so I had to go back to the yarn store and buy another (and then weave it into the stitches - thankfully this went well).  There is NO PLACE like the yarn store.  I thought you might like to see some of the goodness. 

While browsing around Hobby Lobby, I noticed how lush the fake flowers look when they are displayed well.  I'd buy a BUNCH, but they are expensive. 

Here's a cute line up of happy kids.

I am so thankful for the marigolds.  I did not plant any of them.  God did.

 Christie took this photo of our Jeff.  What a cute daddy!  My heart grows two sizes when I look at this picture. 

A fancy red bug on a sunny shiny sunflower!  

 We have one zucchini already and many more to be had.  Too many, I know. 

 We had houseguests last week.  Tim does not have warm happy feelings toward houseguests.  He wants his people at his beck and call.  

Sometimes he goes up to Bill's office and checks out . . . zzz

 "no bees no honey no work no money"

Our precious friends visited from Washington.  They were in high school when Bill and I worked with Young Life almost forty years ago.  We love them so much. 

After they left us they headed south (destination Texas) and stopped at the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs.  FUN!

And our dear animal hoarder got another puppy.  Winnie.  I know, they are both adorable.  Circus!  Circus! 

This one revels in being the only pet at our house.  He doesn't appear to mind at all that he doesn't have cat friends (or dog friends).  He's been moth hunting in the morning.  He eats them.  Yikes.

We have a busy grandkid week ahead.  Side note: Our Brad and his family will celebrate at a nice hotel because Brad will bagpipe for a small town parade.  Isn't that fun?  They have been doing lovely summer things like going to drive in movies (April packed a wonderful bag of movie snacks to be eaten in the van.  The kids wore their pajamas to the late movie).  They are also swimming and going to the library.  They have finished the church's VBS (April is a master organizer of VBS's).  

Here, the local grands will come over today.  The three puppy girls will sleep over and their parents will come for a picnic lunch tomorrow.  Christie is meeting a friend for coffee this morning so James and Noah will pop by for a short stay.

Thursday Sam and Liz (Plum) will come and then they will sleep over on Saturday while their parents celebrate their anniversary.

So, there are many doings around here. 

I am looking forward to a trip to Washington later this month.  My sister's oldest daughter is getting married in the woods around their seaside home.  I'll spend time with sibs and my precious mama.  I'll visit Guemes Island.  Oh, to see the sea again!  Yay!

Happy 4th of July to American friends!

Happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends!

Happy summer to my friends abroad and  happy winter to my sweet buddies in Australia and New Zealand. 

Sending heaps of love your way.

Thank you for checking in to say hello!