The Crickets Are Singing

It is not summer until the crickets sing.

~ Proverb

Summer Solstice is today.

It is the day when the light shines the longest.
The Crickets are singing so it must be summer!

It's also time for iced tea.

This was in the June Texas Market subscription box.
Mango Black is from a company I wasn't familiar with.
A little research and I found out that Hello!
 is from a subscription tea box company
called My Story Tea.
(Just what I need -- another subscription box!)
I'm really enjoying the Mango Black tea iced.
There are four 1 quart pouches in the pack.
It arrived just in time for June - the official iced tea month.

It's raining and will probably rain for several days.
While it isn't a tropical storm, after Hurricane Harvey last year,
everyone is a bit nervous to have it rain and rain and rain.

Mina is keeping me company.
She is making biscuits and chewing on her favorite blanket. 

I think she is completely bored with the rain!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.



Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

It's Not UGHust yet!

Boy, it is HOT.
It's not UGHust yet!
Yes, I hibernate because of the heat.
I get up very early, feed the kitties, take my walk.
Errands must be done early in the morning.

Fun breakfast with one my soul sisters at the Avalon Diner.
Now in a strip shopping area, but once a stand alone.

Mina in one of her favorite places.

Birthday Bouquet

The perfect tea cosy for an Owl lover!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

Fair On September First

Fair on September first,
Fair for the month.
~Proverb

September 1, 2017

I certainly hope that is true.

As most of you know,
Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast causing massive damage.
The rains from Harvey inundated Houston -- my home.

I'm pleased to report that I am fine.
I remained high and dry.

Yikes!

Kids really should not be in the flood water.
Nasty stuff. 
Kids will be kids, I guess.
Stir crazy, too.

Things are getting back to the new normal in my area.
People are going to work.
Grocery stores and restaurants are opening.
Schools will be opening in two weeks.

Friends invited me out to lunch and grocery shopping yesterday.
What a treat!

I'm so very lucky.
So many have lost everything.

If you wish to donate, I recommend donating locally.
The Houston Food Bank is excellent.
Friends For Life is helping pets.
There is link at the top of their page for donations for Hurricane Harvey.

Meanwhile, back at home, Mina keeps me smiling. 
She loves her tunnel!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Willy Nilly Friday

A Whole Lot of Something

It is too hot and humid here.

Not fit for man or beast or the garden.

So, when the latest email from Pier One arrived,

I thought it might help cool me down.

Christmas in July! 

Pier One Email

So far, the cooling down hasn't worked!


2. Last week I was opening my first box from My Texas Market.
This week the kitties are opening their Kit Nip Box.

No surprise that Mina was the first to check it out.
She went directly for the cat-nip elephant.





It didn't take long for Cassie and Teddy to join in the fun.


3. A whole of something has been going on in the water garden.




I wonder if the fish will eat the eggs???


4. In the atrium, an anole was knocking at the door.

"It's hot out here! Let me in!"


5. I finished another lovie. 
This time a panda.




His eyes are a little wonky and his grin is lopsided,
but not bad for the first try. 

So far, I've made three owls -- all delivered far and wide.
Have another owl to make and then I think I might try a puppy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Saturday Critters

This and That

It is pumpkin time at Trader Joe's. 

You name it they have it.

Pumpkin Bread Mix

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Organic Pumpkin Toaster Pastries

Pumpkin Bagels

*Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Granola

*Pumpkin Yogurt

Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal

Pumpkin Cranberry Scone Mix

Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix

*Pumpkin Bar Baking Mix 

*Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Waffles

Pumpkin Cheesecake

*Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

Pumpkin Panettone

Iced Pumpkin Scone Cookies

and on and on.

* These are the "pumpkins" I've tried and I think are very good.

I went in to get the pumpkin yogurt and cream cheese.

I'll enjoy them while I can!

**

I have a new flag for the balcony.
I change them up with each holiday or when I get the urge!

He makes me smile.

***

This is latest look at the afghan.
I've added the tulip, waves and puff rows.




I am trying to follow their suggested colors by using my stash yarn.
I'm delighted to see my stash dwindling.
The more it dwindles ... the more yarn may be in my future!

Mina has to give her seal of approval.
I think each kitty would like an afghan of their own.

****

While I wait for the next section of the afghan to be posted,
I'm working on more cowls for gifts for the coming holidays.
There are a number of birthdays to think about, too.
This is the Papillon Cowl and it does resemble a butterfly.
Fun!





Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday 



and Hookin' On Hump Day.
 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I'm joining Scavenger Hunt Sunday

at Ramblings and Photos by Ashley Sisk.

1. Birds

Flamingos at the Houston Zoo.
It is baby time and this little grey fluff is the first one of the season.
He was determined to keep his "back side" as his good side! 




2. Beach

This was the closest I could come to one of my favorite places ... the beach! 
I'll just have to dream on.....


3. Bridge

Bridge in the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park, Houston
I love the reflections.



4. Bottom

This is Mina when she first came to live with me (and Teddy and Cassie).
I think her little "bottom" is cute -- with her manx tail!




5. Butterfly

This is from 2009.
Cosmos in Musashi's Garden.
It was a good year for the Monarch butterfly.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mina

Mina has been feeling picked on lately.

She always seems to be in the middle of things.

Even her kitty siblings have given her a piece of their mind.

Hiss Hiss and More Hiss!

So I decided she should have a post all to herself.

Poor little tyke!

Ha!

Careful there!

There is no catnip in that tea!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thanks to the hosts of:

and Mosaic Monday.

Tea With Mina

Spring showers bring May flowers.
And we have had the April showers -- big time!
Along with the showers, that means humidity and when the sun comes out
It gets pretty steamy.

So, it's time to make ice tea!
I made a pot of tea using regular old Lipton teabags.
I sometimes will toss in a flavored tea of some kind just to make it a little bit different.
I don't sugar my tea.

I had a nice cup of hot tea before I put the tea into the icebox.
I used my new to me teacup I found at The Guild Shop.
I was with my good friend and one of my sister's by choice, Marilyn.
When I found this cup I knew it was meant to be -- it is called Marilyn!

I often get help when I get ready for tea.

Mina decided to help today.

She was interested in the Lipton tea

but not the sugar cookies!

My new teacup is quickly becoming a favorite.

It is the "Marilyn" pattern by Queen Anne.

I love the wide, lacey looking, aqua band.

The gold trim is perfect.

Footed cup and a tabbed handle.

And who wouldn't love the snowdrops?!

A perfect teacup to celebrate spring.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

I'm joining several tea parties.

A big thank you to the hosts.

Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

This and That

It's been cold
and then it's been like spring.

Today it's cold, but the sun is shining.
Mina is always good at finding a sun puddle.

The college baseball season is off to a fast start.

The Rice Owl baseball team started off with four games against the

University of Texas.

There's nothing like the sound of the bat hitting the ball

Or eating a hotdog at a ball game. 

Photo From Rice Sports Information

Meanwhile,

back at home in the garden

the camellias are blooming.

Last, but not least,

the Burpee catalog arrived.

I'm making a list.

Burpee is a Non-GMO company.

Something I really appreciate.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thanks, Kim.

Thanks to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.

The Sun Has Not Disappeared Forever

The sun came for a visit.
It brought spring time temperatures
And pink mornings.

Pink Sky in the Morning

Mina in her sun puddle.

The sun is only visiting for a few days.

Cold, wind and rain come back this weekend.

We'll have to remember the words of Arnoud Desjardins:

"On days when the sky is grey, the sun has not disappeared forever."

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a sunny day!

Thank you, Kim.

Thank you to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.