the week ahead

little wooden adironack chairs from Michaels on the mantel

Another week... another Monday... and this week's happy homemaker monday post

even the trees are stressed from the heat

The weather in Aurora CO
HOT. It went from cold to hot, hot hot. Nearing 100, blistering in the sun, daily rainstorms in late afternoons, much more humid than usual and lots of bugs. Everyone likes to say any negative weather isn't "normal" but we've noticed it's daily.
Some of my flowers wilted despite being watered daily.

Wearing
I admit, even with my flappy upper arms, I've been wearing cute sleeveless shirts. If it's too much for you, don't come over but it's hard to even cool the house when it's so hot outside. Oh and shorts too, lol, I haven't sunk to wearing a swimsuit in public yet.

eating
 easy to cut up foods and soups, with my temporary crowns in place. Nothing special although DH found some flan pudding cups, and it reminds me of childhood (growing up around cuban food)

explanation
I had a panic attack one night and fainted,  damaging three front teeth. Hence the dentist visit last week. Don't ask, it was awful, painful at each step,  and the temporary crowns are misshapen. Since then I've heard so many people who had a fall for whatever reason, one friend tripped over her dog, and also needed root canal and crowns on front teeth. Sports accidents, car accidents, falls of some kind. Who knew?

To Do
the usual suspects in chores.
We MUST put up some black-out curtains in the master BR as I wake at 6 each morning... y'all I'm a night person... I'm bumbling thru life so tired now.
We bought a hedge trimmer and started trimming the bushes... then realized we don't know which ones bloomed already and if those little berry things mean those will be blooming, we need help!
paint little gold stars on the patriotic table runner
call the vet because Milo has another ear issue
call the dentist to discuss the ill fitting temporary, but I may not be able to overcome the fear.
make plans for the weekend of the 4th, and I know there are two big craft shows to attend.
Purchase ear plugs for Milo so he won't freak out with fireworks (that are illegal here but people do them anyway, grrrrrrrrr) except you can't do ear plugs for dogs so figure out how to sooth him.
wash the fabric I got at the quilt expo spree last week.
Use my fabric stash freely instead of acting like it's made of spun gold
chat with some friends by phone to catch up. Can't neglect the relationships I value just because of distance.
Find out if our coffee group has finally found an alternate place to meet. The restaurant has been increasingly nasty to us for no reason and even the sweet tempered among us are now over it. I was over it long ago but like seeing the people.

art
I enjoyed this video on how to make beautiful letters with serifs, some filled in. She details how to change your letters to suit the project or your own desires

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZWc6LC5XTY

I finished this table runner, and kind of love it! I want to put tiny random gold stars on with ink today.

Look at the binding... America the Beautiful

Still painting daily, and drawing. This may not be a phase, I've painted before, sketched before, but this time I am really into it. I will continue to knit, bead, sew and embroider though. Always making something with my hands.

fact: when I found out I was adopted, one thing I was told is my birth mother did a lot of needlework. I wish someone had gotten a piece from her to give me... and I've always from a little girl done crafts.

watching
Amazing Race finished last week, so what am I watching... that I can admit to? I watch TV... I enjoy PBS, Bravo, Master Chef (real people competing for a chance to publish a cook book) but there's not much to choose from on regular channels in the summer. We refer to Prime, ACORN, and netflix.

On the computer, I've been watching...

(https://www.youtube.com/)

the world of stonehenge... all about mesolithic time period, before and after... just listening to this man's accent is soothing to me but I'm fascinated with archeology and how people lived before me.
reading
I'm reading the third book of the librarian series of Victoria Gilbert, and it's as well written as her other two. Keep writing Victoria!
Past due for murder

Writing
As I go through the days, I find I think about how I'd paint an object, or sew an art quilt to represent a color or feeling, and sometimes I write a story in my mind as I walk along. I used a prompt of 12 words to write a story I really liked yesterday and would appreciate any readers and comments on it.
the link is:a bonding experience

Inspiration

this fledgling was sent from the nest. It couldn't fly really, and didn't know what to do. I feel like that a lot. We noticed him as we sat on the front porch having our breakfast. My heart felt sad to see it crying out and alone, with a poodle so close. (we held him back) It hopped and tried to stay hidden in grass or shade but other big birds were flying too close.

it's a big world out there. See the mama in the street watching her baby out in the big world?

Just as I wondered how to care for it, the mama came up with a fat worm, and popped it in the baby's mouth. Oh good, not forsaken or thrown to the "poodles" it was being cared for.
I think too many people think they are the only creatures capable of love and concern, they are the only ones with worries and threats, they can do what they want to the environment with no care to the thousands of other living organisms being affected by our choices. I was inspired Sunday morning to see some of God's small creatures, often overlooked by people, care-taking and sharing our need to protect others.
I hope this baby makes it. I hope some people wake up to realize we are merely part of the world, not the only part. With strength comes responsibility.
Know what I mean?
Sometimes I feel as alone as this little bird, but am grateful for my wee family of three, all of which cares for each other.

Linking to
Esther's blog Wednesdays 

Midweek makers wednesdays