The Last One

This is the last crocheted stone.  Guess I'll have to start walking again so I can look for more.  Problem is the temperature is around 115 during the day and 90 at night so there's never any relief from the heat.

Inspired by the art journaling I see other bloggers doing, I bought a watercolor book awhile back.  I took art in middle school (33+ years ago) and used to draw and doodle all the time.  It served me well as a kindergarten teacher when I wanted to create posters for my students to paint and color.  But since I stopped teaching about 6 years ago, I have found that the doodling does not come to me so easily. 

Only a couple more days of school (I work in administration now) and then my summer vacation will begin.  I have a very long list of things I'd like to do.

Best wishes for a wonderful day!

Manuka Honey and Another Stone

Have you heard of Manuka Honey?  My boss gave me a jar last month.  It comes from New Zealand where bees gather nectar from the flowers of the manuka bush.  It's creamy and has a sort of licorice taste; quite different from regular honey, and apparently has antibacterial and healing properties 100 x's greater than what is found in the ordinary table variety.

I decided to put it on my pancake this morning.  The leftover pancakes from yesterday were placed in Ziplock bags and stored in the freezer.  To reheat, just pop in the toaster (usually needs to heat about 2-3 times depending on thickness).  There's no reason to ever buy boxed pancakes that are filled with all sorts of unnecessary ingredients.

My second crocheted stone is done.  Zack, who is 13 years old, says he just doesn't understand at all why I would want to put crochet on a rock.

I like the idea of taking something ordinary and making into something extraordinary.

Have a great day!

Finally

I finally tried a vegan pancake recipe I had written down awhile back.

2 cups wholewheat flour; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 2 cups almond milk; 2 TBS canola oil.  Stir until just blended then throw in extras.  

I mashed one banana for mine then served them with all-natural peanut butter, chopped pecans and a drizzle of honey.

 Zack had his with chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

 And I finally did something with these rocks that were picked up on walks years ago.

 I thought I would one day paint them, like the kids did with  these small rocks when they were little.

 Instead, I went the crochet route, using what I had on hand, making up a pattern as I went along.

My first crocheted stone makes me very happy.

Hope you are having a fabulous Friday!

Tea and Favorite Things

I'm joining Kimmie again for Tea on Tuesday with a few of my favorite things.

Twinings Organic African Honeybush & Lemon tea which I drink from a Starbucks coffee mug.  The teabag is good for a couple of cups.

The easiest, yummiest sugar cookies served with a lemon glaze (powdered sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice).

The tutorial for this little crocheted gift bag.  When I can't decide what to do, I just whip up a few of these.  Makes gift-giving so much nicer.

If you prefer chocolate, just mix together a pat of butter with powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

Any way you serve them up, these cookies are great.

Sending sweet wishes your way for a wonderful day!

Bright Spots

Today was Zack's last day of middle school.  

And blue skies were back.

Although I  still have to work until the 14th, it's wonderful knowing that there's no more washing of uniforms, making of breakfasts and rushing out the door by 7:00 a.m.

I had to pick Zack up from a friend's this evening and when I rounded the corner, the full moon was just ahead of me, so bright and beautiful.  Unfortunately, even though I tried every single setting on my camera, I just could not get that perfect shot.

It just looks like a dot of light in the sky unless I really zoom in.

This day has been super duper busy and I'm feeling extra tired so off to bed I go.  

Goodnight friends.  Goodnight moon!

Woeful Weather

Worse than yesterday.

Everything is covered in a layer of red sand that is so fine it is like powder.

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see the moon through the haze but it is shining bright in the night sky.  Looks pretty full to me though the Full Strawberry Moon isn't due until tomorrow.

For those of you in western North America, I read that there will be a "skimpy" partial lunar eclipse visible before dawn tomorrow morning.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Whipping Winds and a Little Stitching

When the weather forecast calls for "fresh winds coming from the north", that's code for dust.

 The wind has been whipping around out there all day causing this little dove to hang on for dear life under very blustery conditions.

The little stitching was worked up this afternoon.  Cross-stitching was my favorite hobby for years and years until I got hooked on crochet, but I really want to get back into it, so am  starting small.

Poor Jingles!  She doesn't understand bad weather and has been driving everyone crazy begging to go outside.  The balconies are covered in a layer of fine powdery red dust again so she'll have to wait.

Hope your day is a good one.

A New Month

And since all this loveliness can not be Heaven,I know in my heart it is June.

Abba Woolson

Another month is upon us.

Our temperature yesterday reached 47 C. That's 117 in Fahrenheit.  It's hot when birdies appear to be panting.

With little vegetation around us, no shade, mostly concrete, the heat is even more intense.

So no matter how much tender loving care I give my outdoor plants, some just will not survive the summer heat and dust.

Angeliki at My Hobbies' Place asked how I am able to take photos of the moon.  While most of the time I use my Sony Exmor R digital camera to take pictures, when it comes to long distance shots, I rely on our Canon PowerShot SX 30-IS.

Without a great zoom lens, I would never be able to get pictures of any of the birds that are flitting about every day.

Or the moon that is so very far away.  

The weekend has arrived and since it is too hot to do much else, I shall busy myself with household chores .

And crochet (my collection of jars is growing faster than my hook is flying).

Have a fabulous Friday!

This and That and Tea

Today I'm joining Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons for Tea on Tuesday.   For the occasion, I made a blackberry cobbler and topped it with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream.  I know most folks wouldn't think of baking when temperatures are above 100 degrees, but I was craving a big bowl of something sweet.  The tea I had is one of my favorites - Twinings Organic African Honeybush & Lemon.

 During the week, there is not a whole lot of crocheting going on with school and housework keeping me busy.  The balconies needed sweeping after all the dust storms and imagine my surprise when I looked up to find this guy sitting right on the fence just a foot away from me.  He didn't fly away when I got close.  I talked to him and he would just sit there and listen.  Later on, he moved to the end of the balcony and settled into one of my plants.  I gave him water and bread and banned Jingles from going outside.

 He was gone the next morning.  I don't know what was wrong, but guess he was able to sleep it off.

I took the moon picture above on Saturday night and the one below this evening.  On Monday, June 4th, the Full Strawberry Moon will be visible.  

Hard to believe that yet another month is nearly over.  My oldest son has exams this week and then will be finished with his junior year of high school.  My 8th grader will finish up on the 4th.  Another school year just about over.

It's almost 10 o'clock pm and sleep is sounding pretty good to me right about now.  I'll stop by tomorrow to visit all the other tea party participants.  Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday.

Weekend Wrap-up

As the weekend has progressed, the dust has begun to clear.

 And with each passing day, more and more of my moss roses begin to bloom.

There has been baking and crocheting going on.

And a chance to meet friends for coffee.  We even sat outside today despite the rising temperature.

Seeing a bit of blue sky is so much nicer than all the dust that has been with us for much of the month of May.

I do hope you are having a nice day in your corner of the world.