June 2023 Recap

June 2023:

Have I mentioned I got to do a test-knit for Reywa Fibers with their lovely 100% yak-down yarn? This sweater design by Meli Alness puts all the detail into the sleeves, starting with bobbles wherever the knitter feels like adding them!

Meanwhile, Dad and I got out sailing for the first time in 2 years! I made a video of that day (and the books that helped inspire it) here:

https://youtu.be/GnaqelBQU7g

Father's Day (in a previous post) also included this little one's first try on her mamma's old tricycle!

Our long, northern days make great sun-tea! (When the wildfire smoke isn't too thick for the sun to shine through...) Get my "recipe" on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/G4T0iNKdAJ0

Flowers and vegetables are in season!

June also begins herb-harvest season for tea year-round. 

Short video of chamomile harvest here: https://youtube.com/shorts/2oFLM68UmdI?feature=share

It was fun to pull out the old Etch-a-Sketch for a long day in the car with Maren and kids...



...and great to see my youngest foster-brother again (at his daughter's graduation, mentioned in the previous post). Ninh was 10 when I was born and loved carrying me around!

Don't forget our June birthday!

And... the test-knit of Reywa Fibers' Chiaki Sweater is complete! The last step of embroidering the sleeves at will was so fun!

Find the pattern and yarn here (both on sale through the end of July!): 
https://www.reywafibers.com/shop-patterns/chiaki-sweater

Time for another page in the nature-journal to help me focus in on God's beautiful creation!

And our carpenters came back to get more siding on!



Dad is currently painting more siding since the lumberyard did not order enough to finish our garage, and the manufacturer meanwhile quite making our smooth version of this product. Thankfully they had a double-wide product that could be ripped in half and painted. But it is a huge project for Dad who was already in the middle of many others...

Celebrations!

These have been weeks of celebrations!





Through Father's Day, birthday, graduation, and Independence Day... FAMILY has been the common thread.







One thing nearly a decade of chronic illness has taught me is that FOOD is not as important to a celebration as we usually think. When all the traditional foods are stripped away by food sensitivities, there is still FAMILY!



Though my sister and I have not been able to eat many of the foods our family is enjoying in these pics, we have learned to be creative to replace a few of the traditions. But even that was unavailable when I celebrated Independence Day with little bits of the most bland foods to try get digestion back on track after a short flu. I was just grateful to recover in time to spend the day with extended family!



But even when family is not available, the AUTHOR of the family and of life itself is always with His children.

"All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." • Psalm 25:10

That love brings meaning to all our celebrations!

"But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress." • Psalm 59:16

"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." • Psalm 63:3

What celebrations have you enjoyed lately?!