A Little Morning Rain

It was kind of drizzling when I got up this morning. The rain washed some of the smoke out of the air for a while today. It was still smoky but not as smoky as it has been the last few days. I realized after I took this rainy birdbath picture that the birdbath had turned into a bird-swamp so I went out this afternoon, dumped out the disgusting water, sprayed the daylights out of it with a strong jet from the hose, and then refilled it with nice clean water. Much better,

 

The squirrel juvenile delinquents were active this afternoon. I walked out into the kitchen to find this: the orange half relocated to the grape jelly and a juvenile squirrel have a big snack. I chased it off before taking the picture. It knew what it was doing was wrong because as soon as I stopped by the table, it looked up and braced, ready to have me open the patio door and chase it away.

 

Last night when I took off my sandals, I got a big whiff of eau du feet which meant it was time to wash my sandals. Fortunately Keen sandals are meant to be washed. I could have put them in the washer with a couple towels but decided to just fill the kitchen sink with hot water and Dawn and let them float around for an hour or so, before taking a scrubbie to the inner soles and scrubbing out all the dirt and toe jam. Now they get to sit in the dish drainer and dry, hopefully overnight. It was suggested to put them outside to dry but I didn't want birds to poop on them or squirrels to drag them away, so they're drying inside. It might take longer but it's safer.

 

Today's watercolor is a Swallowtail Butterfly on a Gerbera Daisy. I might have drawn it a little too big for the paper so the flower is kind of crammed at the bottom, but it turned out well, I think.

 

Before coming back here for Friday Night Knitting, I took time to draw my first July gratitude journal page. The basket of markers, pens, and book sits right there by my chair so it's hard for me to ignore it but most days I manage just fine. I don't know what made today special but I'm glad I drew it.

 

 At Friday Night Knitting, first I finished the Antipasto Chemo Hat. I've got more of this kind of yarn in different colors so I think I'll cast on another hat using the same pattern. It's easy to knit and I think it'll make good chemo hats because the yarn is soft and not woolly.

 

Then I got to work on Teddy Bear #2. I embroidered on the face using black yarn, then I sewed the ears across the corners of the head, and finally started sewing it together. I got one side done and will work on the other side before stuffing it, cinching in the neck, and knitting a scarf for the neck to add a jaunty look. I won't know until I stuff it whether dropping down another needle size made an appreciable difference in the size and stitch definition over the first one I knitted. I hope so because I sure like the look of them.

 

I got kicked off the knitting Zoom again tonight. I had to reboot the router and modem so I got on my phone's hotspot and got back into the knitting Zoom. So frustrating.

I have to keep reminding myself what day it is because I'm nervous that I'll forget that I've got a writing Zoom on Sunday afternoon this weekend instead of Monday morning. Tonight's Friday and tomorrow's Saturday. I'll remember. Just keep telling yourself, Barbara, and don't forget to send the Zoom link tomorrow instead of on Sunday.

--Barbara