Sunday, June 27, 2021

Sunday Thoughts

 The sunflowers have been such fun.  Throwing bird seed out into the snow during our unusual February freeze has provided the hardy sunflowers a chance to show how determined they are.  I pulled up most of them, when they sprouted--now, I almost wish I'd left more!  Sunflowers really do love the sun and don't seem to mind the heat, and their cheerful faces are good for my attitude.


Incoming Mail



 Outgoing Mail




Nightmare Catchers:  still playing with these little monster dolls.  Finding more "stuff" that never went into projects and trying to see if I can fit them into the Nightmare Catchers.  Aside from finding all sorts of things like prairie points, stray hexies, and embroidered cloth beads that I hope to work into future creatures, the dolls amuse me for hours.  All of them have messages or phrases embroidered on their backs and the lavender "backpacks."  






Books/Reading: 

The Satapur Moonstone, the second book in Suhata Massey's Perveen Mistry series (reviewed here), was my favorite recent read. 
I also enjoyed Martha Wells' Elements of Fire, but not nearly so much as her science fiction Murderbot Diaries series.   

 I've abandoned several books, and some books have been just OK, fine for passing the time, but not great, but I have a bunch more books waiting in my Kindle queue and am hoping there will be some compelling ones to keep my mind engaged when even a little weeding is too hot to contemplate.

 Many of my reading blog friends are participating in the 20 Books of Summer challenge.  I'm not; although I read every day, I don't choose books a bunch of books in advance for a challenge.  What I do, however, is look at my friends' reviews and add books that sound good to me to my list. :)

Have your read some good books lately?  Are there some that you look forward to reading? 

In other reading, this article is something that I've always felt to be true:  IQ Tests Can't Measure It, but Cognitive Flexibility Is Key to Learning and Creativity.  I've known several people who struggled with academics, but over and over again proved to be great problem-solvers.  I also liked this article about fluid and crystallized intelligence.   

Have your read some good books lately?  Are there some that you look forward to reading?  What else is keeping you occupied this summer?

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The heat and humidity continue. As bad as it is here, (the humidity doesn't allow sweat to evaporate) the temperatures in the west and northwest are frightening.  The heat dome is another one of those circumstances that are like dominoes waiting to fall.  Drought and dried up reservoirs, fires, crops that won't survive and will be abandoned in the fields, and each of those leading to other dominoes falling: loss of income, wildfire damage in communities and forests, curtailed electricity, shortages, higher prices, heat exhaustion and heat strokes.

18 comments:

  1. Your garden is so bright and cheerful. I always love seeing your mail. Is that a washi tape on Stacey’s envelope edge? If it is I love how fun it looks. I so adore your nightmare dolls!!! They are so creative and unique and purely delightful.

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    1. Thanks, Annie! Yes, that's washi tape around Staci's postcard. The little nightmare monsters continue to make me happy and keep me occupied. They are so silly, simple, and strange.

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  2. Love you summer garden and the lovely snail mail and dolls.

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    1. :) We are hoping for a little rain today; the garden would appreciate that if it actually happens! The kindergartener in me enjoys playing with paint and fabric, and I love sending and receiving mail.

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  3. Your little monster dolls are so creative and precious! The sunflowers are a bird feeder bonus.
    Tiny deck, I pulled up all but two in planters. One is mini and the others is not.
    Stay cool

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    1. Yes, the sunflowers have been great for cutting, but the rest will be for the birds. :) It's interesting that both mini and maxi seeds were mixed in the birdseed, so I've a mixture of sizes, and I like them both.

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  4. I've been reading a lot of Phryne Fisher, and then for a complete change, some Georgette Heyer. And lots of embroidery and crochet. It has not been hot enough to put me off blankets yet..

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    1. I haven't read any Georgette Heyer in a long while, but my favorites were set in the Regency period. I haven't read any of the Phryne Fisher, but I did enjoy watching a few of the television series--not least because of the costumes!

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  5. Your sunflowers are beautiful! I have planted some this year,but they haven't blossomed yet. The monster dolls are great!

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    1. Thanks, Shasta! Although the sunflowers were not planted deliberately, I've enjoyed them!

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  6. Hey Jen, loving your happy sunflowers. The goffers or squirrels got mine, not sure which. And those adorable Nightmare Catchers belong in an upscale crafts gallery. They are so creative and all have their own little personalities. Love them! And so cool how you are able to use up bits and pieces from your collections.

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    1. The sunflowers are a result of throwing out seed when we got that unusual snow and deep freeze in February. It was too tricky to go out fill the the feeders, so I just threw the seed on the snow to watch the birds flock to it. I've enjoyed the result. :)

      Thanks, Debra, I am having fun with the little monsters and using up all kinds of leftover scraps. They are keeping my hands busy and my mind away from problems that can't be solved!

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  7. I think sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers. I love the color and they just always make me smile too. I have been reading a lot of good books but realize I'm way behind on writing about them. Your little monsters are really so awesome!

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    1. Sunflowers are so cheerful, aren't they? I'm always behind writing about books; reading is much more fun than writing about them. I'm not tired of the little monsters yet. :)

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  8. I love those nightmare catchers. They are great fun, so no wonder why they catch your nightmares. Smile. And thanks fro the review of this book. I've seen this book and wondered. Happy weekend. hugs-Erika

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    1. Blogging friends had loved The Widows of Malabar Hill, but it took me awhile to get around to it. When I did, I was hooked. I went right on to The Satapur Moonstone, and still have The Bombay Prince to look forward to reading. :)

      The nightmare catchers are still keeping me occupied--especially since I've dug out so many bags of scraps and embellishments and spread them all over to "audition for parts." When I think about stopping, I realize cleaning up would be so tedious and just make another one.

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  9. I love those dolls Jen, and your sunflowers are beautiful!

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    1. Thanks! The little monsters are fun to make, and the sunflowers have been an unexpected pleasure this year. :)

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Good to hear from you!