He's Here!

My brother has arrived!

Here are some photos from he sent to me along the way.

We're off for North Carolina tomorrow morning.

(We'll be in your beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, Coco!)

Rushing About

It seems all that I've been doing is rushing about lately.

Just back from the Laundromat and a quick brunch before heading into work.

I have 5 more copies of Farm to bind, 

these were done about a week or so ago.

As you can see, my obsessive cleaning binge has not extended to my drawing table!

And yes, I work in an art supply store so materials abound.

: )

Weekend Cleaning

My brother is coming to visit this Wednesday

so I've spent most of my weekend cleaning in anticipation of his arrival.

Even so, there's dust on the toaster...

I imagine most people have a dusty toaster

so I'm not going to worry about it too much.

Perhaps I should sew up a nifty cover for it sometime.

The roses are in all phases of bloom.

Mid Summer has darkened the green of the leaves

and crickets fill the night with song.

Time to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Think I'll watch "Like Water for Chocolate"again,

blame it on the rose petals... 

Hope you had a great weekend.

Back from Chicago...Finally!

My trip to Chicago was a travel nightmare.

I was delayed over two hours on departure because of a 

severe thunderstorm that caused the electricity to go out in the airport.

My flight wasn't too bad and it was clear coming into Chicago.

I was on the wrong side of the plane to photograph the city

but the flat landscape and predictable suburban grid pattern was lovely.

A mid day snack of chocolate covered strawberries 

and a tiny Eiffel Tower gift helped move the meetings along.

My flight home was cancelled because of bad weather and after

endless phone calls to the travel agent I booked a flight for the next morning.

My boss kindly booked me a hotel room for the layover, no sleeping in the airport!

Thunderstorms roared overnight but then settled by the time of departure.

Beneath those puffy white peaks the storm continued.

It was an exhausting trip both mentally and physically.

I'm so glad to be home again!!!

Off to Chicago

I'm off to Chicago for a few days to attend a business meeting.

The entire time I'll be sequestered in a hotel conference room

and unable to enjoy the beautiful city.

Sophie is not amused.

Have a lovely week!

After Work

I came home tonight and parked under an oak tree.

Branches hung low and I noticed the acorns are beginning to form.

Further up I saw one of my dear Mourning Doves.

She was preening and even managed a yawn,

which I wasn't quick enough to photograph.

Upon checking my mail, I found a note from V!

She has returned from her vacation in Northern Norway

and was thoughtful enough to send me the prettiest postcard.
I must get better at sending postcards, they are such fun to receive.

Her photos and description of the Midnight Sun are magical.

Welcome back, dear friend.

You were well missed.

Peaches and Prints

Isn't that the most beautiful peach!

It was locally grown and even sweeter than it looks.

The bowl I brought back from a visit to Vallauris, France many years ago.

It's the town where Picasso did much of his ceramic work.

The wonderful print was made by Suzanne.

The extraordinary castle, complete with leaping dolphins in the moat,

a gift from a small girl with very big dreams.
Thank you both so much.

I've started reading Rebecca along with the la Porte Rouge book club.

Mrs. Danvers...need I say more.
yikes!

Loose Ends

Yesterday's heat brought on a fierce late day thunderstorm.

Today the sky is almost blue and it's only in the low 90's.

Quite a relief.

This morning I set back to work on the Farm books, half should be bound by this evening.

Other books are waiting to be made...I couldn't ignore them any longer.

Last night I finished up my Rocky Coast Cardigan.

A seamless construction that required only a sewing in of ends and a quick blocking.

It kept slipping off the hanger and falling into pine needles while photographing.

Not the last time it will find itself covered with pine needles, I'm sure.

Cicada shells on the tree.

So now a new knitting project 

and that much closer to another book idea.

100F +

Despite the fact it's the hottest day of the year,

complete with heat advisory warnings,

I decided to take Miss D out for a quick spin.

Kutztown Folk Festival

 

What better way to spend the Fourth of July than at a festival.

This was my first time to the Kutztown Folk Festival and it was blistering hot.

Hex signs and quilts are a staple in PA Dutch tradition.

The quilt barn was amazing and all the pieces were for sale.

Glassblowing, weaving and beekeeping were only some

of the other traditional crafts being demonstrated.

For lunch I had a hotdog with sauerkraut and a huge cup 

of freshly squeezed lemonade, yum.

I love the little goat in the livestock tent and the girl

braiding the horse's forelock would have been me many years ago.

A Wood Thrush print, various herbal concoctions and simple stoneware mug

all came home with me.

Happy Fourth of July!

Driving Miss Daisy

 Mimosa Tree behind the grocery store

Yesterday afternoon I went down to my basement storage unit

and hauled out Miss Daisy.

Her tires were flat so we walked down to the corner convenience

market to pump up those pink rimmed beauties!

For a long time I was an avid mountain biker,

(and I have the scars to prove it!)

but Old Blue is now in storage until a proper tune up can be arranged.

I will admit that the wide handle bars take a lot of getting used to,

and what a seat!  She's built to cruise not for speed.

The basket is begging for a dozen pink roses and this nifty helmet!
Silly romantic me.

Anyway, it was nice to ride to work today.

People smile and wave when they see us plugging along.

A great way to begin and end my day.

Creek Walk

pretty little oakworm moth

Up to the mountains last night.

I took a late evening creek walk in shallow water

with trout and crayfish darting out of my path.

Small creatures were busy everywhere.

A plump brown mouse with bright black eyes

scurried from the woodpile and stopped at my feet.

Later, bats dove after fireflies as they rose from the field.

Grilled turkey dogs, sweet corn and potato salad for dinner.

Very much a summer meal.

Back home and counting the mosquito bites on ankles, knees and shoulders.

Those on the back of my knees are the worst!

Why do they always swell up and itch more in the evening?

A tepid oatmeal bath should help.

Mosquito bites and the first low rattle of Cicadas...it must be July.