Looking for the Bright Side

July. Seems like it has to happen every year. And we do our best to make the most of it. I'm sure it's no secret that July (and let's face it, August too,) are just not my favorite times of the year. I get very grumpy and feel claustrophobic in the heat. I just do not love it. 

I have been trying to remind myself that there are things about July that I actually love. These things occur mostly in the early mornings and the late evenings, but here are some things I love about July.

Fresh tomatoes.

Birds singing early in the morning. 

Flowers on our porch. 

Breathing in the warm summer air late in the evening.

Lying in a hammock. 

Crickets.

Watermelon.

Flip Flops. (Actually I get sick of those and long for my socks and shoes, but it's great at first.)

See, there are good things about summer. I just have to really focus on them and even then I sometimes lose my mind from being too hot and sweaty. 

Some July highlights:

Independence Day. It started out the way we like it - up Millcreek Canyon, with a fire in the pit, biscuits in the dutch oven, and gravy on the stove. We were missing one very important element, and that was our Romney. She had to be at work instead of with us! She spent the day slaving over sandwiches at Great Harvest Bakery. She's a hard worker, that Romney Ann. Weirdly, none of us had the slightest desire to watch fireworks. We went for an evening swim with the Moores and then retreated indoors. Well, Romney didn't. She went to see fireworks. 

Oh! We had a visitor! This little guy came to hang out in our yard all day on the 4th. We think it's a Western Screech Owl. He let us get so close! He did give me a couple of warning clacks with his beak when I got within about 10 feet, but he stuck around for quite some time. I sure hope he was interested in mice and not our chickens. He was quite small, and our chickens weren't nervous at all with him around. So I vote mice. 

Other July events - 

We celebrated the International Day of Play at the hospital. Here I am at one of the play tables with two of my officemates. Actually, former officemates. But that's a different story. 

We had some fun projects get finished up - Emma took an old satchel bag, removed a patch that was on the front of the pocket, and created her own design to embroider on it. This is the Place really got under her skin, I guess! Cute bag.

And I finished her gardenia quilt! Don't look too closely at it - it has a lot of flaws. But I love the design and it's so fun to have it on Emma's bed.

The last Saturday in July was an absolute marathon for me. It involved a 30 year reunion for my mission in South Korea, with events in the morning and evening, and in between Troy and I went to Hale Center Theater to see the son of our dear friends the Tates star as Ren McCormack in Footloose. He was absolutely fantastic. We had such a good time seeing him in the show then going out to lunch with this incredible group of friends.