Monday-10am

It's been just gorgeous weather since last Sunday!  A week of windows open, chilly nights, and warm breezes during the day...ahhh!  Perfect weather.  :) 

 We got a bit of rain one day.

The temperate weather has brought out all the teenage boys, as you may remember the influx from last year.  They have sporty cars that must rev before moving, scooters that can accelerate nicely while leaving the parking lot and flying up the new road, and motorized dirt bikes that race so well up and down the field behind the garages like a swarm of deafening mosquitoes.  Boys and their toys.    

When the boys are not making a lot of noise outside Karma has been enjoying watching the swallows on her TV tray on the porch... 

...or catching a few winks in the morning sun. 

Me, I spent several days catching up online again...and have been puttering.  I moved Serena's daisy painting over by the pen and ink cabinet... 

...and took my watercolor out of the hallway (where the bookcase will go that is due to arrive today via UPS!) and hung it kind of by the TV.  Notice how dark it is in my hallway on a sunny day with no flash.  I do so love having my art table closer to the big windows!  

My August Ink Drop (Goulet Pens) arrived. 

All of these inks are supposed to be shaders, but it is harder to tell when you like fine point nibs. 

Another part of the Amazon order arrived!

The plastic colored pencil boxes... 

...and the sturdy clear plastic tub. 

I only bought one of the tubs because I wanted to see how strong they were before I order any more.  They come in different sizes and this one wasn't wide enough to hold my ten bottles of liquid watercolors, so I will definitely get the wider one.  

When they say five inches wide, that is at the top--the sides were angled a little more than I thought.  They have a six inch wide version, too, that will be perfect.  I do love these because they are sturdy enough that I can get them down with my good arm and see what is in them before I do, too.

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I checked and the pencil boxes stack nicely sideways in one shelf. 

I added some pen cases from a bookcase; filled the pencil cases with paint markers and such; and tried out the tub for some small acrylic bottles (second from bottom on left side).  Just puttering about for fun. 

The backordered little white baskets have come in and are in transit!!  When they arrive I will probably empty this whole shelf unit and start over rearranging the shelves a bit as I go.  Tweak!  Tweak!  ;)

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Dagan and Leah's house has kind of been on hold.  The construction company is waiting on parts--like the pre-assembled trusses and such.  D&L are renting on a month to month basis now so it will be okay for them on that end, anyways.  

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We had the second warmest spring up here since 1893 and the second warmest July on record.  This break from the heat is heavenly!!  I hope those of you who have been suffering in the heat are getting this delightful break in the temperature, too.  :)

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I decided to change up my routine and go back to doing some reading and journaling in the mornings; using most of my day for chores, painting, letter writing, crafts, etc; and only doing my online catching up later on in the day and in the evening--a couple of computer sessions (which means more fast reading and less comments).  But I want to try to limit my computer time so that I have more time to create and play and do other things.  (And I have a huge art & craft supplies reorganization coming up, too--yippee!)  I've gotten in the habit of starting my day with catching up online and that has this tendency to grow and stretch out until it envelopes my whole day.  With my limited good hours scattered throughout the day, it's much too easy to do that.  I just enjoy all my blog friends so much...but maybe a little too much--LOL!  Computer time has been kind of taking over my life lately.

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 I guess I'll have to shift and tweak here, too, eh?  LOL!  I hope to find a good balance.  I am pretty much caught up again for now, though, all you interesting people!  ;)  I just need to take more time each day to live my ordinary life.  You all enrich my days and I am still thrilled that you take the time to visit me and Karma.  And please remember that I do check in, even when I don't always comment.

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Wish me luck!

  Have a glorious week!!

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"The best things in life are the nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.  Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life."

Robert Lewis Stevenson