The Perfect Summer Day

Wow, stunningly beautiful weather this last little while--sunny, warm (but not hot), and no humidity!  Today was lovely.  I drove to a friend's house for a rug hooking event, and we were able to work outside in her gorgeous backyard.  Perfect weather and no bugs!  We hooked on her patio while viewing her colorful garden and listening to the din from hungry baby birds and their parents in a birdhouse not more than 4 feet over our heads.  The birdy-parents came and went ceaselessly, trying to stuff food into the mouths of the kids.  And were those kids noisy and demanding!  Parenthood is never easy no matter who the parents are...

Here are some of the rugs I saw (of course I got permission for these pictures--thank you all!):

Kathy is almost finished with this beautiful rug--I believe she said it's an Emma Lou Lais pattern. Or was it Edyth McNeil?

This is a beautiful old McGown pattern being hooked by Marge. Rumor has it that she hasn't been hooking that long, but you'd never know it by the looks of this lovely piece.

Lynda is making excellent progress on her very large rug of her own design, dedicated to/portraying the Peace Pagoda, with its prayer flags flying everywhere. This is going to be a stunner. I love what she has done with the whites on the Pagoda.

Joanne is working on her own design of a cemetery at sunset. The border will create the illusion of looking through woods into the scene. There is something so peaceful about this.

Diana is working on this rug to commemorate a 25th anniversary of a marriage (of one of her kids, perhaps?). Such an elegant design and I'm loving the colors. I remember her saying she'll be doing the same pattern (one of her originals, I believe) in different colors for a sibling as well.

And now for something completely different...

Diana had just gotten back from babysitting for four days while family members took a short vacation to Aruba (something they had won!  What luck!).  They brought back this amazing object for her.  Even more amazing is the description of the artistic process that was used to create it--it may look painted, but it isn't.  See the photograph right underneath it describing how it was done.  I have never heard of this art before, but I love this little critter.  Isn't he (or she) a beauty?

Truly impressive.  I will have to google "mopa mopa," which I've never heard of before now.

I capped off the day by 1) treating myself to a wonderful documentary on David Hockney's 2012 and 2016 exhibitions of landscapes and portraits.  More visual delight! 

And then came home and finished a tense and good WWII-themed novel. 

All in all, a delightful summer day.  I am feeling fortunate indeed.