What a crazy week

Summer has finally arrived in Portland and I am very happy about that, but geez, it is nearly the end of June. I feel like we lost out on June this year. It is usually about the best month of the year, but not this year. The good news is that while it was raining and blowing and raining, and, did I mention that it rained?, well all that time things were growing and now the sun is out and it is gloriously warm and all is green and blooming.

This is the front garden and it is looking so beautiful. When we moved in here less than two years ago this area was lawn. Ray has worked so hard to get rid of most of the grass, plant all those gorgeous plants, get the pathways in and along the way deal with falling trees and branches. I put out my batik lanterns today and I finally got an iron bracket to hang Ray's gong/bell thing and he got it hung. It is hanging on the big Douglas fir at the end of the path. It is quite a wonderful thing. Several years ago when we were selling garden art at one of the garden shows near here Ray spotted these big bells, made from steel tanks that once held—??? I'm not sure. Oxygen? Anyway, they make a wonderful, deep "mmmmmmmunnnnnnggggg" sound when you swing the cord so the clapper hits inside. It is beautifully finished with a purply, coppery patina and the hanging metal sunburst.

I am hoping the coming week is less eventful than the past week. Last night was a full moon, but I don't think that explains last week. It included, on the minus side of the scale: a broken taillight on Ray's pickup, a trip to the emergency room when Ray got a piece of chicken stuck in his esophagus, Ray chasing and finally killing a mouse in Emily's kitchen, a car plowing through the outside wall of Sofia's daycare (don't worry, no one hurt), my first mosquito bite of the season which caused big time allergic reaction including red swollen leg and purple painful lump, burned hot dogs and a broken mug. On the plus side: visit from our niece and two kids, day at the Oregon Zoo with all the kids, Sofia's first dance class (OMG—so cute!), got my teeth cleaned and finished both my Banos quilt and my 12 x 12 quilt. So, nothing terrible, but just enough to keep us on our toes all week. Ray is fine and my leg is looking better every day. I bought a big bottle of insect repellent today. I'd like to lay in the shade with my book (The Girl Who Played with Fire), reeking of Deet and drinking iced tea this week. Probably won't happen, but I can dream.