Sunday, June 14, 2020

Junuary



Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are living each 
day with faith, clarity and courage as we 
face these challenging times together. 


 xx
 The buttercups are blooming. 
xx
A gentle reminder that despite all of the turmoil 
in this world, nature keeps her promise 
of beauty and grace.


I hope that you've had a few moments to appreciate 
nature's beauty as we all work together to 
lift our hearts and minds towards a more 
compassionate, just and equitable world. 
xx


Wild viburnum under moody skies


We are now in the month of June, or 'Junuary' 
as we like to call it around here. 

It's very cool and wet, as you can see by the 
 happy plant-life! 

Red Huckleberry growing out of 'nurse' stump
The woodland along my driveway 


Thimble-Berry blossoms. They seem to be pollinated 
by these strange, winged insects.


The view from my gate into the neighbor's field. 

Driveway, looking back from gate. 



We rarely see the sun anymore, as we are locked in 
perpetual twilight with successive weather systems 
coming down from Alaska. 

The temperature hovers between the 50's and 60's, 
with 40's at night. The vegetation is thick and 
we are cautious when we are outside. 

There are predators among us, along with abundant new life. 

Grosbeak visiting the maple by the back deck. 

We are content to stay inside, only venturing out 
to mow the lawn or pot up some flowers
 during a rare few hours of sunshine. 


I've done some re-fashioning of some sturdy blouses 
to wear around the house or in the gardens
while waiting for sun.  


They needed a scooch more room :)
to wear comfortably while doing chores. 

It was so easy to draw a paper pattern 
by making a triangle, cutting out the fabric and
 inserting it into a slit in the back. 

I used some iron-on interfacing on this 
old tablecloth lace to reinforce it, 
and finished the seam edges with a zig-zag stitch. 


xx


This sturdy denim tunic only needed a patch. 



I added calico to this heavy cotton, gingham blouse. 


I just traced around the collar and cuffs to make the patterns 
and slipped them over the old ones. 


I added inserts to the sides of this homespun blouse. 


Now I have some wiggle room :)

 
I had some fun and now have a sweet collection of 
comfy and protective work smocks. 



I've been slowly replacing my worn out pansies
on the deck. 





This is the last of them and now I will let them go to seed. 



My 3 yr old grandson decided that this doll chair 
needed to stay here on the stair landing. 

It was once my daughter's when she was a child. 



My poor roses have been deer browsed. 
Only the top has survived.


What is left of some flowers.  


The lush landscape with roses. 
These are rugosa roses with wicked thorns 
even the deer won't bother. 



These are by the house, so haven't been disturbed. 



The Mr. brought home flowers to cheer up the gloom. 
My grandson loves to help bake cookies. 
He especially loves to use sprinkles :)

I think I'll make a pot of tea and help myself to a couple. 
xx

Thank you for your sweet visits, my dear friends. 
Your kind comments remind me that we are 
all kindred spirits as we do our part to 
take care of each other. 

xoxo

18 comments:

  1. Wonderful pictures and post Karen, well finally after the next few days sun. Looking forward to it.

    Hugs Diane

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your temps sound wonderful for someone who lives in a sub-tropical climate. Hot and humid here. It looks like we may get some rain, time will tell.

    Love, hugs and prayers for you and your family ~ FlowerLady

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  3. Looks like Oregon landscape where you live! I love the beauty of nature and how it calms and soothes the soul. Cute tops! Nice home!

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  4. It does sound rather chilly for June when I'd expect you to be enjoying some bright sunny days like us but at least your roses and pansies are providing some bright colours to bring some cheer. What a great idea to perk up your smocks, they look great. Over here we have a tv programme called The Great British Sewing Bee where contestants have to recycle all sorts of things into garments, from sleeping bags into children's fancy dress outfits, tablecloths into dresses, they even used those plastic laundry bags and hi-vis jackets! Take care x

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  5. Hello, nature does sooth my soul. Your photos are lovely, beautiful flowers and I love your sweet dog. We are having a chilly June, temperatures below normal. Your smocks look cute, great makeovers. Enjoy your day, have a happy new week!

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  6. It's so nice to hear from you Karen. It's so cold in your area for June. The photos of the your property and flowers look so beautiful. I love how you refashion a few tops and they look so nice with the fabric you chose. The flowers are pretty and now is the perfect time for baking. Thanks for the blog visit and take care and be well. Julie xo

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  7. Nature is a very calming thing to be in during these crazy times, listening to the birds and the wind blowing through the tall grasses sure does bring a sense of calm.
    Love all the updates you gave to your tops, I wish I was that talented with my sewing to do that but I would be afraid of wrecking them. Your roses are beautiful.

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  8. i have enjoyed the piece and quiet of confinement, i am not looking forward to all the hubbub now!! your place looks beautiful, too bad the deer have been helping themselves to your beautiful plants and flowers. it is nice to see the deer though!!

    your blouses look wonderful....so good, you do not have to save those for the house. i had this idea also, during the confinement, many of my blouses shrunk...can you believe that. hanging right there in the closet!! hehehehehe

    your place looks so pretty, as always. take care and be well!!!

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  9. Karen, Yes, this world is unpredictable, but nature stays the same, true and pure, and giving us peace when we need it. The Thimble-Berry blossoms are pretty, I like those. You've been sewing a lot, and transforming old blouses giving them a new look. That's wonderful. Your daughter's doll chair when she was little is so cute. That's a keeper for sure. Your Pink roses are lovely, and such a pretty shade of Pink. And how precious of your grandson to bake cookies with you. They look Yummy.

    Not sure if I mentioned to you or not, but your blog here is like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes the world takes us to so many places, and it's nice to visit with you and share all the beautiful things that are happening in your life.

    Stay well, Karen.

    ~Sheri

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  10. Lovely photos, Karen! I love how you are tailoring your clothes...so pretty and creative!

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  11. Oh, this looks wonderful. We were at the lake last weekend and yes, walking in the woods and watching the water is so soothng. I think your weather has been cooler than ours -- we seem to be on the seesaw plan! Now we're in warm/hot.

    I always love seeing your beautiful home and the blooms are terrific. and bravo with the sewing. This is the Home Ec class in which I wish I'd continued. But after doing a hem
    that looked like the Rocky Mountain skyline and not getting a very good grade, I gave it up for other things. Now I'm sorry, a bit! Thanks for stopping by recently. Loved your visit!

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  12. Whau! You have a lovely place to take walks. Vegetation is dense, dark green and gorgeous. It looks so peaceful! I am impressed with your sewing skills! I need to do exactly the same to one of my tunics. I will have to be brave and do it. The roses and all your flowers looks beautiful!! Stay safe and may your week be peaceful!

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  13. I think I would love your Junuary temperatures, Karen! Your remade shirts look so pretty and now you’ll be more comfy. Of course your surroundings are always enchanting to me. Yummy on the tea and cookies with sprinkles! Wish I could join you. 😘

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  14. Thank you for the wonderful post, Karen! What cheerful green colours and lovely flowers!
    Your sewing skills keep impressing me. It's lovely that your grandson has learned the happiness of cooking and baking.
    Big hugs! Stay safe and well! 💚🌺☕

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  15. Hi,dear Karen!How charming those blouses are!You did a great job.Thank you for sharing your beautiful flowers and gorgeous landscapes.Blessings and hugs!

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  16. Karen!!!
    What great ideas for adding a little extra room!! Thanks so much for sharing!! I just may try this with a few shirts and blouses!! Your flowers are beautiful as always!!!As are those amazing landscape photos!!
    Thanks for sharing again!!
    Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  17. So nice to see and read this post here.
    I love what you've done to your blouse tops … enjoy wearing them :)

    I'm finding that although we are living in strange and restrictive times the days, weeks and months are still going by so quickly.
    Enjoy the summer months, stay safe and well.

    All the best Jan

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  18. Your wise words and pretty photos are exactly what I needed with my morning coffee, Karen. The last few days I've been feeling the stress of the situation. It has been going on for so long and our numbers are spiking again, it is not always easy to remain hopeful. I'm taking your advice on going out to walk among the trees. A hug.
    Amalia
    xo

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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