It’s July and not much going on. The weather continues to be unusual. We’ve already surpassed the average rainfall that we receive in an entire year – and it keeps coming. While I’m glad we finally have rain, the unfortunate by-product is mosquitos. I’ve never seen them this bad; ever. I suffer through, but fully expect to catch malaria one of these days.
I’m traveling a lot this month – next week in Chicago and back-to-back D.C. trips two weeks after that. Probably going to try to build in a couple days vacation into the last D.C. sojourn.
Well, here are some odds-and-ends photos.
Brian’s sister Lisa made these for me. She’s definitely the most creative person I know.

Brian made this Fourth-of-July cake yesterday. Way more patience than I could ever hope to muster.

The Black-Eyed Susan I got yesterday – it wouldn’t be summer without at least one of these.

So I’m trying a mandevilla again because Brian likes ‘showy plants.’ I’ve never had any luck with these. Perhaps eighth time is the charm.

Hope everybody’s having a great summer….
I think that cake almost has as many sprinkles as my backyard has mosquitos. I’ve been tempted time and time again to take a marker to my legs and draw constellations. Last year we had a ton of dragonflies. This year, not so many. Where are all the predators? Already fattened up and happy to laze about in the seasonally mild weather?
I know what you mean; not many dragonflies this year. But unfortunately after all the rain, more scorpions in the house. Uhg.