Summer Weather

This past week has been a busy week, but nothing spectacular happened or was accomplished. After a few rainy days, we’ve had some sweltering weather with temperatures in the 90s. I took my sewing machine in for repair. It started skipping stitches when zig-zagging and then didn’t even sew a regular straight stitch. I hope it’s a simple fix.

I signed up for a free craft session at the library and on Tuesday made a pair of patriotic, star-shaped earrings. They are made from red, white, and blue colored clay that is rolled out very thin. After using a tiny star-shaped cookie cutter, the cut-outs were baked in a small oven. We then attached O-rings and the earring loop. I still need to adjust one of them before I can say they are ready to wear.

After a year’s absence because of the pandemic, I’ll be helping at VBS three mornings this week. On Thursday, we’re heading to Hillsboro, TX, for a memorial for Tom Fowler. Then we’re heading directly to Lexington, KY, for the LWML national convention. Until the end of March, it was uncertain if it would be held or canceled. Since then, certain restrictions have loosened. Since we are one of the host Districts, I’ll be volunteering, helping in several areas, which I’m looking forward to.

Here’s a photo of the entrance to our community. The flowers adorning the sign are peaking now.

We enter our community from Stone’s Crossing Road,
which explains the name “Stone Village.”

Enjoying Nature

Weather is always a fascinating subject. A week ago, as I write this on a Saturday, I wore gloves and a vest when I went for a run. Today, a week later, the temps are in the mid-80s! We just returned from a trip to the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, where we hiked one of their shorter trails, about 1 mile. We could hear the cicadas in the trees but only saw one.

One lonely cicada

Turn up the volume to hear the cicadas.

 We also traversed one of the worst washboard roads we’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, the usual entrance to the Forest isn’t accessible because of the construction of a leg of I-69, causing us to take another road which I hope never to travel again.

Earlier this week, on Memorial Day, I planted some hostas, primroses, and coral bells. I hope they survive as the soil was muddy and digging was hard. Also, there were roots from former bushes that made it hard to dig

New Plants

.A few days ago, on Thursday, we visited Newfields, home of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The first Thursday of the month is a community day with free admission. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the museum’s cafe, strolled through some of the gardens, and visited the Lilly House.

The Lilly House

 Alliums near the front entrance of the Lilly House

We also had time to see two galleries, including the special exhibition “Private Eye: The Imagist Impulse in Chicago Art.” As we left, we stopped for a closer look at “Five Brushstrokes.”

Five Brushstrokes by Roy Lichenstein

Did you watch the live broadcast of the Indy 500 race? Since we don't often get to watch it live, I was planning to tune in, but a change of plans prevented that. Instead, we headed south to Brown County State Park to hike around Ogle Lake. As we did today, we heard cicadas all around us but didn't see any.

Notice the exit holes.
This is where the cicadas emerged from their 17-year slumber.

As we headed home, we turned on the car radio and listened to the exciting conclusion of the 500 race as Helio Castroneves won for the 4th time.

Sending wishes for a beautiful weekend and good weather wherever you are and whatever you are doing!