Goodness! Can you believe that June is almost over already? We've had such a slow start to summer here in Merryville, that I was a bit taken by surprise when I looked at the calendar yesterday to see that we'll be flippin' our pages here in just a few days. In less than a week, as a matter of fact. I'm beginning to think that it may not be a very good year for tomatoes in our neck of the woods if we don't get a long stretch of warmer weather soon. It was a wonderful springtime for rhododendrons though. Everywhere I looked, all around Merryville, the rhodies were blooming to beat the band, and very lovely they were too. These lavender ones of mine have finally started to fade away, but I sure did enjoy them while they were here. Especially of a morning, when I could see them from the window while drinking my morning coffee. Now, if only I could convince a fairy or two to deadhead them for me, I'd be a happy camper indeed. My oh my, what a big job that is! This particular rhody is so tall that I'll have to use a ladder to reach all the faded blooms, and I still won't get to them all. Oh well, I suppose it's a fair price to pay for so many beautiful blossoms, and I'll be happy that I took the time, when springtime comes 'round again next year.
Look at what I managed to do from inside the house yesterday afternoon! I've been trying to capture a hummingbird in a photo for awhile now, and I finally did it. They aren't the best photos; taken from behind the living room window, with the telephoto from clear across the yard, but at least they are a start. I can't believe how many opportunities I've missed.
These little guys move so fast, that usually by the time I get to my camera, they've already gone. I'm going to keep trying though. I'd love to get a photo of the ruby throated one that drops by from time to time. He's a real beauty, but then, they all are really, and they sure do love the honeysuckle that is blooming on the front arbor. I'm so happy to have them visiting. Pretty soon, they'll be visiting the fuschias in the window boxes too. Then I'll have a better chance for a good closeup, perhaps.
Well, that's about all the news from here today. I'm going to leave you with a look at these wonderful fabric beads that my friend Liisa was making in her studio last Friday evening. Aren't they interesting? She's made them out of bits and pieces of fabric scraps that she's washed and dried, 'til they've become a little stringy and have started to clump together.
She's gathered clumps together into balls and then using a needle and black thread, wrapped and sewn them until they form these pretty beads. I love them, and can think of all sorts of interesting uses for them. I especially like the idea of using them for closures on bags and other things. They'd make interesting buttons too, wouldn't they?
Photograph by Liisa Mannery
Liisa is always up to something interesting in her studio, and she's been encouraging me to craft more. Recently I worked with her on a fun collaborative project to help celebrate the Tacoma Art Museum's 5th Anniversary. We and others made birthday cakes out of recycled materials, and a few other interesting things, and they were displayed at the museum for a special community event. Our cake recieved a lot of interest and positive comments from all sorts of folks, and the museum staff seemed to especially appreciate the way we incorporated the museum itself into our concept. If you'd like to learn more about our cake and some of the others that were on display, you can do so by clicking on this link, and paying a visit to Liisa's blog. She wrote a wonderful post with close up photographs and details about our cake that explains what we were thinking as we created it, and she put together a wonderful slide show of all the cakes as well. Thank you Liisa!
She's posted a photograph of a few other beads she's been working on too. Drop by and say hello. She's an interesting and very nice person. I think you'll enjoy the things she has to share.
I hope you all enjoy a lovely day....'til next time in Merryville!
