Weekly update: celebrations, a few bargains, and happy blocks

 We had a heat wave for precisely two days last week.  It got up to the high 90s with high humidity on Wednesday and Thursday.  Modern meteorology is truly remarkable and just as they predicted, the front came through Thursday evening and the temperature dropped 20 degrees.  

We recalled another hot August 23 -- our wedding in 1980 in Pittsburg, Kansas.  There was a drought as well as excessive heat.  This year we celebrated by going out for dinner.  

Thursday evening the Lake County Women's Coalition observed Women's Equality Day (passage of the 19th Amerndment) with a presentation by Heidi Stevens, whose syndicated column Balancing Act is in the Sunday Chicago Tribune. Stevens was a reporter and columnist with the Trib for 23 years. She now works for a research institute specializing in children's brain development and early learning. She is also on the faculty of the OpEd Project to help underrepresented experts get their ideas and opinions published.

[I'm in two pictures: AAUW and Zion Woman's Club.]

 # # # # #

I helped set up the church rummage sale and then worked two shifts on Friday.   As a worker my purchases were 50% off.  I didn't buy all the fabric but I did get 14 yards for $2.60.  

I bought several loaves of sourdough bread at the bake sale. It's delicious.  

The sale chairs (God bless them!) said the gross income is over $3300.

# # # # #

If there are no photos did it really happen?  I assure you that I did hike the entire 2.4 mile trail at McDonald Woods on Saturday though I left my phone at home.  That was #7 for the Hike Lake County challenge.  I was sure to have the phone on Sunday for #8 at Grassy Lake Trail.

Goldenrod meadow, Canada goldenrod, tall goldenrod "bud," mountain mint, elderberry.  

All parts of pokeberry are very toxic but its colors are astounding! 

# # # # #

Yes, I sewed this week!   I made 160 happy blocks for Cynthia's September block drive. The instructions are novelties and bright-but-not-floral.  I cut a stack of 4.5" squares from novelties and some 2.5" strips, sewed, then cut more strips and sewed some more.  160 blocks at 95.25 square inches = 10 yards.  

Linking up with Design Wall Monday Oh Scrap! Sew and Tell

 

P.S.  Praying mantis on the trail, Sunday. 

P.S. 2   We've still got it!  

It is tricky to take a selfie while kissing.