Scavenger Photo Hunt, June 📷

The months seem to blend together and already it's the end of June! Which means it's time for Katie and her I live, I love, I craft, I am me ... scavenger photo hunt.

The words for June are...

Flowers...
These were taken at Butchart Gardens in Canada, seven years ago while we were there. There were way too many beautiful flowers to pick just one photo.

Insects...
I'm not a big insect fan, especially when I find them in the basement! This guy was so big, but I couldn't kill him so he was taken outside and hopefully found another place to live.

Now this kind of spider I can handle in the house.

Sunset/sunrise...
Sunset at Topsail Beach in North Carolina. Always a beautiful sight.

This was taken while leaving my parents house in western Maryland.

This was the sunrise over Baltimore while volunteering at 95.1 SHINE-FM.

Something Wild...
These black bears were enjoying salmon oil from the grill while we were at the Taku Glacier Lodge in Alaska. I guess they don't mind eating it with sand because that's where it drips while being grilled!

My Own Choice...
In honour of the upcoming July 4th in the states, this was flying at Liberty Island in New York.

Dang it, I forgot one! My Garden...
This is our back garden/yard in the fall, I love those colours!

Have fun taking a look at all the other posts and maybe you'll join in next month if you aren't already?

Friday's Stitching Ground 🐈

This afternoon/evening was nice enough to sit outside in the enclosed porch, not too hot and the ceiling fan helped. Chewie was keeping me company while the guys were making pizza for dinner.

Even though I've been stitching on this every day, it's been slow going. Those tiny stitches clustered together take a little bit longer.
Thanks for the suggestions, I think a mummy is definitely called for!

My evening drink was more cider than shandy, but still quite tasty.

This is our neighbour's sweet kitty, Harley. Sadly, he passed away while they were away. You always knew that when you heard a jingle, he was nearby and would come to you when you called him. He will be greatly missed.

He loved to tease visit with Maximus and Ming!

We had this sweet kitty Nathan had outgrown, so we got Harley's collar (it was brand new and he hadn't even worn it yet) for him to wear and gave it to our neighbours. Obviously not as good as the real thing, but at least they can snuggle him and remember him always.

Do you have a favourite stuffed animal? I'm not sure I have only one, I like too many of them!

Scenes from a... 🚶

HIKE!

DH wanted to go for a hike on Father's Day, so off we went and only a few miles away from home.

Years ago when we were there last (and I means years ago) this reservoir was a mucky area, but now filled back up with water. Gman2 got his shoe stuck in it way back when, but luckily didn't lose it!

DH and his boys!

Chewie very interested in the turtle we came across.

Hardly anyone was there except for some people fishing, and the kayaks in the water. You can see the kayaks at the edge of the water.

Beautiful day for a hike.

As usual, I'm behind everyone else. Stopping to take photos doesn't help!

I found some love on the trail.

Fabulous field of ferns and shrooms!

Our clan

And finally, time for a rinse off before heading back home.

A lovely Father's Day, ending with steaks on the grill for the guys and DH's requested iced sugar cookies for dessert!

Friday's Stitching Ground 😴

Today, even without his bed near me, he chose to take his nap next to me. Sweet Chewie is having some issues, and we're going to do our best to make sure all is well.

I'm still working on the boring bits of this piece, and trying to figure out who will be sitting at the table in the lower right room. It's supposed to be two skeletons, but there will already be one at the door so I want something different. Any suggestions?

Last week I ordered from sweet Annette @Mind Your Needle on facebook. This is the lovely pink packaging she sent it in.
Of course I immediately of Vickie, I wonder why?!

These are the needle minders I chose when she was having a sale. And she even included a chap stick, my much needed accessory!

Although it's hard to use these since I stitch in hand, they're nice to have when I do use a Qsnap, and of course I will display in my craft room. 
Do you have a needle minder collection or a favourite one?

Friday's Stitching Ground 🌱

A quiet night tonight, but all my boys are home!
Chewie has still "chased" the kitties away from me, I miss them sitting with me while I'm stitching. But I have stitched in the bedroom so I can be with them, especially Maximus since that's his hideout from the big, overexcited dog.

I added some of the grass and started on the fence, it's just been slow.

There is another piece I'm working on that I'm adding grass to, but I can't show it yet.


This isn't the only piece I'm working on, but it anyone else stitching Halloween treats?

Friday's Stitching Ground 🧡

This evening DH and I were looking at some photos with Gman from his trip last year in school. He was showing us when he went to Paris and London. What a blessing he went when he did, this spring group had to come home early and I doubt they did much traveling the short time they were there.

Slow and steady, not much longer now. Then I just have to add the words and figure out how I'm finishing it. I think a frame will work the best for it.

Did you know that it was National Donut Day?

Here's Chewie with his favourite toy donut!

Do you have a favourite donut? I must say I like chocolate with the chocolate icing and the jelly filled ones are good too. But I really love my pumpkin in the fall! 

Stay Safe Exchange 📧

Dear Clare thought up a fun exchange @Needlecraft Haven to help us through these crazy times. Those who where interested signed up and had to send an email to their partner with an easy freebie cross stitch chart, an online recipe for a cake or biscuits, and a recommended film or TV series. Easy Peasy!
I have this month to to tackle her suggestions, I'm up for it.

Lucky me, Clare had my name and this is what I received from her.

This is perfect for the times, Grateful, Thankful, Blessed. I will definitely be stitching this one, I try to remember it daily.

The recipe is for a Gingerbread Cake, which apparently I need to bake today since it's National Gingerbread Day!

The movie suggested is The Professor and the Madman.
I can't say I've heard of this, but Sean Penn and Mel Gibson... ok!
"Professor James Murray begins work compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid-19th century, and receives over 10,000 entries from a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Dr. William Minor."

 And I also got a bonus! Clare recommend reading The Ribbon Weaver, whose author lives locally to her. 
"One winter’s night, Molly Ernshaw rescues a baby from the snow and changes two families for ever.
The tiny girl grows into a gifted young woman. Although devoted to Molly, Amy has far-reaching ambitions – encouraged by her neighbour’s son, Toby, she longs to move beyond ribbon-weaving to designing the hats and clothes the ribbons adorn. Her talent is recognised by Samuel Forrester, the owner of famous hat factories and shops. But Samuel and his family are haunted by the past. His son’s wife, Eugenie, is deeply troubled, and when Amy’s flair leads her to London and then Paris, Eugenie is consumed with jealousy.
Amy’s dreams are coming true, but when secrets are revealed she is caught between two worlds, and must choose where her heart truly belongs."
Not sure I'll be reading it in June, but I'll be adding it to my list.

I sent my suggestions to Deb and this is what I sent...
Sandy @ Stitching & Life in a Small Town has this lovely summer freebie, I think I'll be stitching it too!

I normally make this during the Christmas holidays, but some stores have frozen cranberries year round. I'm willing to try blueberries to see how it turns out as a summer cake.
Cranberry Christmas Cake

I couldn't decide on one movie to suggest, but this was my first. I remember watching The Man for Snowy River years ago and I loved it.
"Jim Craig has lived his first 18 years in the mountains of Australia on his father's farm. The death of his father forces him to go to the low lands to earn enough money to get the farm back on its feet. Kirk Douglas plays two roles as twin brothers who haven't spoken for years, one of whom was Jim's father's best friend and the other of whom is the father of the girl he wants to marry. A 20 year old feud re-erupts, catching Jim and Jessica in the middle of it as Jim is accused of letting a prize stallion loose."

I also chose this series, Doc Martin, which is set in the beauty of Cornwall.
"Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes), a London-based surgeon, relocates to the picturesque seaside village of Port Wenn, where he establishes himself as the area's general practitioner. He grew up in the area, having been raised by his now-widowed Aunt Joan Norton (Stephanie Cole). His reasons for leaving London and the high-paid life of a surgeon are not clear initially but related to a phobia he has. He soon meets several of the locals and eccentricity abounds. Martin's situation is made more difficult by what can only be referred as an almost complete lack of an acceptable bedside manner. He is gruff, abrupt, and intolerant, not only in issues related to medicine, but to life in general. He and the headmistress of the local school, Louisa Glasson (Caroline Catz), are clearly attracted to each other and, despite their awkwardness, slowly develop a relationship."

I couldn't resist including Anne with an E, another one I thoroughly enjoyed watching.
The adventures of a young orphan girl living in the late 19th century. Follow Anne as she learns to navigate her new life on Prince Edward Island, in this new take on L.M. Montgomery's classic novels.

I hope that between the two of us, you can find something you'll enjoy!