Goodmorning everyone. I hope you are all well this morning. Its quite an overcast day here this morning but that is supposed to clear up and they are calling for a mostly sunny day today but with some high winds this afternoon.
Last night's full moon was known as the "Strawberry Moon." So called because of the wild strawberries that are ripening at this time of year. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it was supposed to appear closer to the Horizon.
While we have a full moon every year, this one was marked by a special occurrence that only happens every 18 1/2 years. It is called a Lunar Standstill. The moon was supposed to appear as large and low in the sky as any full moon would appear until 2043. I doubt I will be around to see the next one and cloudy skies hampered my viewing of this one. I will have to see if there are any photos of it online.
Were any of you able to see it? What was it like?
I put some black sunflower seed in the birdfeeder earlier this week and had two goldfinches visit it yesterday. A male and a female. They were there feeding for quite a while. The Jays were also visiting. I normally don't get many visitors to the birdfeeder, except for Jays, Mourning Doves and the resident chipmunk.
The cats missed seeing these visitors. They were too busy napping.
Speaking of cats, my friend Connie came over yesterday morning and helped me to put the bookcases together. Cinnamon claimed this one as her own so it was a while before I could get it put into the space I had reserved for it.
She seems to be feeling much better now. Of course there is still a lot of healing to do, but she is eating well and drinking, and I think going to the bathroom. It is hard to tell when you have two cats. I did find a huge pile of vomit (sorry) in the spare bedroom on the carpet this morning, however. I don't know who it came from. I forgot to put the cat treat container back in the cupboard last night and it was laying on the floor this morning emptied out. Thankfully there was not too many treats in it last night and there were still a few left in it this morning so they didn't completely deplete it. I am thinking that Nutmeg must have gotten most of them as he is the little glutton, but I could be wrong.
What am I going to do with myself forgetting things like this. It's not like me to forget stuff like that.
I tried very hard to keep her from jumping up on things yesterday but to no avail. She was not being held back. She did roll over on her back on my bed in the morning for a cuddle and I had a good look at her incision, and it looked okay. I hope and pray that she continues to heal well. I know your happy thoughts continue also.
I must have been really tired when I went to bed last night. I was in bed earlier than usual. I did read for a while, but I fell asleep almost right away when I turned out the light and slept straight through until about 5:30 this morning without waking up even once. Normally I will get at least once during the night to use the loo, but not last night, and the only dreams I remember having were the ones just prior to me waking up.
A good night's sleep like that does not happen very often! I am grateful for it! I must have needed it.
I have seen the most beautiful Emma Bridgewater mugs. I now have mug envy. I love Emma Bridgewater designs. I do have a few of her mugs, but none as pretty as these. You know how much I love flowers, and these are breathtaking.
I have a thing for mugs. Funny that as I only ever very rarely will have a hot drink. I will make a hot drink in a pretty cup or mug to use as a prop often when I am taking pictures of baking/cakes/cookies/etc. But I usually don't get more than a sip from them. They will end up going cold and then being washed down the drain. I am like a crow when it comes to pretty things, however, and these mugs are singing to my heart.
I do not know which one I love more. I love them all equally.
I started that blogging course this week. The first lesson is on creating eye catching blog post titles that will inspire people to want to come and have a look. I had to create five titles for this blog post following their criteria and then pick what I felt was the best one. It couldn't sound like click bait and the content of the post had to deliver on the title. Here are the five I created for this particular post:
- The Best Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe
- The Only Tartar Sauce Recipe You Will Ever Need
- Quick and Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe from Scratch
- The Best Tartar Sauce Recipe Using Simple Ingredients
- Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe Using Simple Ingredients
And above you can see what I settled on which was none of the ones I had written. There is a formula for writing blog post titles apparently. They need to be formulated by so many words, to evoke passion or interest, etc. You have to deliver the promise made in the title. So much to remember and to work on. It was not easy to do. It took me quite a bit of time to come up with these. I don't know how I did on it, but we shall see! It was good to stretch my brain in any case.
It was good to spend the time with Connie yesterday. We have known each other for about 27 years now, but yesterday was the first time we got to spend any appreciable amount of time together since I returned home to Canada. We had a good old catch up. I don't think we stopped talking the whole time she was here. Oh, we talk at church, etc. but those conversations are only ever short ones. She knew of my mother. She used to work in the same section on the base. She loves doing things like putting together furniture. It was really nice of her to come over and help me with these.
Today I will sort out what to put on them. I put one into my bedroom and the other one is in the spare bedroom. Storage space is very limited in these small flats so they will come in very handy for more than just books!
So altogether a lovely project in that I got to spend some precious time with a friend and that I now have a bit more storage space.
"Here's a hymn to welcome in the day
Heralding a summer's early sway
And all the bulbs all comin' in
To begin
The thrushes' bleeding battle with the wrens
Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line
Training jasmine how to vine
Up the arbor to your door
And more
Standing on the landing with the war
You shouldered all the night before
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill"
-June Hymn by the Decemberists -
How can it be that we are already almost into the middle of June and are halfway through the year? Were we not just welcoming both only a few days ago? Ohh, but we have all of summer to look forward to. I think the first official day is in only a few days now. I am so enjoying all the ladies pictures of their gardens on Instagram. Monique's in particular. She posts the loveliest photos. I love seeing them along with her sentiments each day. I know how much work she puts into everything, and it is all so beautifully presented. Each post is like a gift. You can find her IG page
here. It is a beautiful combination of her garden photos, baking photos and her artwork. So multi-talented.
And then there is Tatiana's new blog.
The Written Loom. She writes beautifully about writing and all things to do with letters and correspondence.
I enjoy visiting these pages so much. Every visit is like a gift to me. And don't get me started on
Susan Branch. You all know how much I love her. A love affair I have held for over 45+ years now.
Hearts touching hearts. It is what the written word should be.
I had a company contact me about my YouTube channel. Wanting to send me some product to try and to give a fair and impartial review of. I don't know about that. How impartial can you be when someone is giving you something. I think there always exists a certain element of wanting to please because you have been gifted. I would rather just buy my own things and then speak of them naturally without feeling like I have to say certain things, etc.
I need to do another video. It's been far too long. We shall see.
I am not sure what all I will get up to today. I will be organizing the bookcases for sure. Doing a bit of cooking. Cat-care. House-care. Spiritual-care. Nourishing the spirit is as important to your daily routine as is nourishing your body. Its all a part of self-care.
And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . .
A thought to carry with you . . .
.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★ *.˛.° ˛°When twilight drops
her curtains down and pins it with a star,
Remember that you have a friend,
though she may wander far.
~L.M. Montgomery .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚
I hope your Wednesday is a beautiful one! Be safe. Be happy. Be blessed. Don't forget!
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And I do too!
