I Like Thursday # 512 Summer, flowers, fireworks

 

alfie, July 1 2026, laughing!

Welcome to this week's list of likes, starting with my puppy Alfie, 2 years old, and is developing a real sense of humor! He is greeting human friends now without prompting, and today greeted a schnauzer while out on a walk. 

Speaking of walks, a few pictures

the weather is hot, so when I see gathering clouds, it's a cause for celebration! I love the rays of turquoise and the white tinged clouds in this photo

usually it's blazing hot intense sun of high altitudes here, creating mighty shadows

alfie spotted this baby bunny on a walk, sooooo tiny but since Alfie is a scientist dog, he observes behaviors  of wild life     However, this wasn't normal

the wind was so very harsh and this was bobbing and weaving, scaring the pup so no pic with it... he stayed far back, playing it cool, pretending to sniff a tree no time to dawdle mama

beautiful day lillies

wonderful cloud formation this afternoon!

Fine Dining 

Avgolemono

 

I made chicken, rice, lemon Greek soup this week, and we had it four times ! I love having soup to warm up pre meal....

yep that's feta cheese on top! 

Alfie's like this week: 

Watermelon! 

He is not an adventurous eater, and after the last two weeks of (urping daily, the diarrhea daily) an emergency room visit and flagyl medications he is ready to eat again! 

Heyyyy this tastes good! He just nibbled the tiniest bit of red melon, but it's a testament to bravery for him to try it! 

such a big dog, such tiny bites! 

Oh btw, Mama and Daddy loved this tiny black watermelon, so much sweeter than usual

Reading on audio books

another series by Connolly.... love it.... set in Ireland, mystery, great reader! Waiting for my turn at the next book in series

Reading on E book

Her royal spyness solves another mystery

Watched an old movie on FMC  that brought back memories  1963

surfing brings new meaning to "moon=doggie" of the 60's when this dog surfs

our conversation starter this week: 

Describe a memorable Fourth of July celebration

No one I knew set off dangerous fireworks in their neighborhoods when I was growing up. 

We went to city fireworks, being shown over the Bay in Tampa. 

When I was about 26 I moved to Canada to be with my then boyfriend,,,, I drove, and we spent the fourth of july in Oakley Kansas, at a fairgrounds. 

A truck rode up to the bleachers with an organ on the flatbed, and someone started playing patriotic songs. Those of us in the bleachers were singing along and when the first boom! went off I felt a little hand in mine!!! 

What? 

A little girl about age 4, squeezed next to me and held my hand for the duration! Ahhh  the mom was somewhere and smiled, and it felt cozy! 

While visiting my sister who lived in Salt Lake City Utah at the time, we went to a fairgrounds, sat on a blanket on the ground, and the fireworks were so close they nearly set our blanket on fire! 

I often went to Disney World who sent up fireworks every night... magical parade and all that color

I have a request of others.... stop firing off fireworks right next to my home, til midnight for weeks after the holiday. 

PLEASE stop
PLEASE
if this starts my pup's intestinal upset again, I might scream 

Another cute video to share:

excuse me maam is this yours? 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6D15BmcCino

horse love connections

please visit these folk to read about their holiday memories, and let me know to add in your link if you wrote an "I LIKE" post too

Grammajudyb.blogspot.com

http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com/

http://littlepenguinquilts

princess bubbles creates   

https://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/ 

 https://quiltschmilt.ca/

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/

https://faithtrustandbreastcancer.blogspot.com

https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/

https://brianshomeblog.com/  

http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/   

https://llbinourbackyard.blogspot.com/ 

https://frenchethereal.net/

Sky Watch Friday 

Shadow Shot Sunday 

creativity this week... Spring watercolor quilt

 

whew it will be good to see the back of this week!  Rainbow scrap challenge color is:

pastels

pretty much I worked on putting those tiny 2" squares together, each finishing at around 1 1/2" really making my quilt smaller 

19" X 22" ish. 

too small so I got these out to put on another whole row around this center...

then sew the pieced rows to the center matching edges... and my idea is to border with the larger pieces and prints

see some chosen, on the outside edge on the design wall

maybe some floral appliques after all that is done

close up... colors blend from block to block to create a scene

ridiculously hot and sunny here, our pup is sick, life is a challenge right now

when I'm stressed, I sort, so I looked thru my scrap bins and pulled out pieces that could be cut into 3" squares, 3  1/2" squares and 2 1/2" squares and plan to keep a little box of mixed color same shapes and sized squares for use later. 

it's calming to sort, don't you think? handling fabric is better than nothing

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

patchwork Sunday   

oh Scrap Sundays

 slow stitching Sundays

sewing daily challenge

https://melvalovesscraps.blogspot.com/

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts

https://songbirddesigns.blog/

http://www.sewcando.com/ 

https://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-me-monday-335/ 

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/

finished or not

https://myblog-lunchbreak.blogspot.com/

https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

friday face off  

https://frenchethereal.net/2026/02/18/share-your-style-487/ 

art on sunday DVArtist 

I LIke Thursday # 511 beach stories, skies, pink flowers, and a poodle

 

welcome to this week's list of likes.... starting with Pink roses and a poodle!

we walked a lot this week, which I like very much despite the temps being 99 F. at 8 AM

this was the sky on our evening walk this week

flowers in community garden like some I used to grow in Maryland

such a cute pink tricycle being used as a lawn ornament in a neighbor's yard

what is this flower? a ball of flowers seen in another neighbor's yard this week

another sky shot mid day... we live in the high prairie foothills of Colorado

my precious puppy turned 2 last Wednesday  

Alfie: I had some tummy upset this week... I suspect it is emotions.... I know I get to stay with the pawrents now, no going back, but I panic when the Mama leaves for a walk without me.... like she did last week. The Daddy was here but..... no mama, would she return? 

Of course she did, and I kept a VERY close watch of her after she got home, but it scares me. This is the best home, and best pawrents a poodle could have so I worry about losing them, know what I mean? 

Mama: oh my baby.... rest assured as long as I am here, you will have a home with me. I was proud of you this week when you were brave and went right up to people I like here. The man even kissed the top of your little head! And we walked next to a doodle, you overcame your fears,  while his mama and I talked a bit. 

there was a bit of upset when I gave him one of your treats. Have no fear of going without... I will always give you treats.... thank you for sharing with the dog that could become a friend... 

I love Alfie so much....

Fine Dining recipe trial this week

I love fruit and we got so much this week.... bananas peaches, cherries, black seedless grapes, a tiny watermelon, and fresh blueberries... 

I tried scones again this time using the food processor. Well. The processor didn't mix the dough so DH had to roll up his sleeves and hand mix the butter into smaller bits... I made a glaze out of cream/almond extract, and powdered sugar

they are SO good, and now that we know how to do it all, we'll make these again

recipe online

at sprinkles & Sea Salt blog

also tried a banana smoothie in said processor.... bananas go bad quickly in this heat, so in the processor you put banana, yogurt, extract, honey, and a bit of milk.... 

O.M G it was very good

not so much on TV but I am catching up on Love Island, and Murdoch Mysteries is back on ACORN

Painting and sewing a lot, see Sat posts for that

discovered this lovely peach wine... 

our conversation starter this week :

did you go to the beach as a child? did you like to collect shells?
build a sand castle? have a favorite swimsuit or toy?

I grew up in Florida so vacations were often at the beach, with plastic rings to float on the warm gulf water at Clearwater beach. 

This was when my family noticed I tanned very fast, I was adopted and my birth father was Italian. I still got drenched in Coppertone, and still love it's fragrance. 

As a teen I stayed with my friend's family, or drove myself to find the peace feeling the sun, breezes, and hear the surf ruffle cochina shells and palm trees. I wore bikinis then. I always left with shells. 

I fondly remember visiting a work associate friend at her Anna Maria Island house...

"If no beach, did you go to a lake or river?"

as an adult I entered the floating competition on the Hillsborough river, so full of tannins that colored our skin. My sister lived on a lake, and I did try to learn to water ski but that lake had many gators which are a bit scary! 

Videos and tshirts

I always have a large dog, this is a cute song celebrating them

I love a musician who feels music and I LOVE this song

love this ETSY t shirt

please visit these fine folk to read about their weeks, and let me know if you want to join us, I'll add in your link! 

Grammajudyb.blogspot.com

http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com/

http://littlepenguinquilts

princess bubbles creates   

https://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/ 

 https://quiltschmilt.ca/

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/

https://faithtrustandbreastcancer.blogspot.com

https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/

https://brianshomeblog.com/  

http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/   

https://llbinourbackyard.blogspot.com/ 

https://frenchethereal.net/

Sky Watch Friday 

Shadow Shot Sunday 

creativity this week... watching paint dry and fabric grow

 

Every day is an opportunity to create, right?  Right now I am drawing/painting each morning and when my puppy was being funny one morning I painted him

I am using the ICAD prompts this time, but not on individual index cards, in my watercolor notebook... same size image but neatly in a spiral bound format. 

plus I don't need any pressure right now, so like Joy I am using the prompts as I like, skipping around

some pages using (on the top) "trace" and windsor newton watercolor pens with a stamp, "trace of blue"

on the bottom half, "coastline" or "serene" using inktense pan color, brush, a stamp with the watercolor pens , and scratching the end of a pencil to create phantom lines

I love it! For the next two paintings I used "lucky" and painted a 4 leaf clover with inktense color, then did a pentangle of drawings in each petal with pen

the bottom image is crossroads

as to fabric, I pulled out the basket of random scraps and put together some pieces to

 "start my engine" 

I limited these works to just what was in that accumulated scrap pile of all colors

and 

I do not know what these will become but they were fun to make. Can't ask a lot more from fabric

While listening to my audio book, my mind wandered and I thought how am I using the RSC prompt this month to use pastel color? 

I generally use light/pastel in the one color of the month to set off saturated color...

I thought, what if I focused on green, purple, pink, and yellow?

I got out my box of 2" squares, and found pastels to use for a background  

arranged them into colors

My "plan" was to applique spring flowers over this background...

so I started putting them up on the wall... it will change since I move squares each time I enter the studio, LOL

I see tulips in pink and purples, yellow pansies or little white flowers dotted over it. 

then I thought about neighborhood photos I took, and how to include them? 

I printed 4 of them onto fabric (in my home printer) 

but since I have so many little squares left, maybe they will become a second art work. I love the photos (click on an image to enlarge) 

I could see them surrounded with squares from my "watercolor" box... there are always more scraps aren't there? 

for this one, I will be adding a sort of border, then stitching them together this week, I hope... then applique some pastel flowers, some thread work, maybe a bead or two? 

 

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

patchwork Sunday   

oh Scrap Sundays

 slow stitching Sundays

sewing daily challenge

https://melvalovesscraps.blogspot.com/

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts

https://songbirddesigns.blog/

http://www.sewcando.com/ 

https://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-me-monday-335/ 

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/

finished or not

https://myblog-lunchbreak.blogspot.com/

https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

friday face off  

https://frenchethereal.net/2026/02/18/share-your-style-487/ 

art on sunday DVArtist 

https://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2025/09/its-time-to-dare-to-share_0372312595.html 

I Like Thursday # 509 birthdays, hanging flower baskets, fun videos

welcome to this weeks list of likes.... how about the blue of our skies in Colorado? 

I'll start with our beautiful pup Alfie... who... turned age 2 years old on Wednesday. Here he is in 

"lazy puppy sit"  

Oh my heart is so full of love for him! 

we had a tummy upset the day after he had a "sprinkler spree" 

we had to give him yogurt and rice for a day and now he is better 

here he is chewing on a dental toy in the shade of his toy box. 

yep every time we throw a toy, he fetches it immediately to drop it with his collection 

he keeps them all together under this tree

Heyyyyy who's that across the street? 

better get ready to guard our yard

He has also been with us for 4 months now and it's like he's always been here! 

 now a few pics fron our walk this week 

These three birds sitting in a row made me think of how much I like plays  

there was some kind of golf competition, look at these guys all in blue shirts... pretty drab compared to the usual golf attire we see walking by, LOL!  

a song for you....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUNqsfFUwhY&list=PLzb1XSMnhyHhxoiTw1_h5nIfX7cyB06oD

The weather is horribly hot here for June, but I still planted some cucumber seeds to see if they can handle it... they are still hiding from the sun. I put more seeds in a wet paper towel to see if they germinate there before planting them. 

whew! it's so hot I was glad my pawrents did a grooming on me and cut some hair shorter

we played a quiet game new to me. The mama rolls one of my play toy balls under the table at me, I grab it, and run put it under the "tree toy box" HAHA safe and sound! None of those yard bunnies better take a toy...BOL 

Haha this post is about me me me! I love it here, and love sprinklers, and following mama around, and taking walks. 

I don't get it, my name is Alfie but mama keeps calling me " COME ON STOP SNIFFING" 

listening to the next book in the series... 

reading on E-books this next in Her Royal Spyness mysteries

can't wait to read (or listen to) them each day

We finally changed out our winter clothes for our stored summer duds.... just in nick of time 

I like the closet to be spacious, and only see clothes for that season, are you like that? 

conversation starter this week, what are your favorite flowers for hanging baskets??? 

For me. Fuchias in any colors... back east you saw these in every little village downtown....  

 

 I have not had real success with them, got tips for lush growth for me? Now in Colorado it seems too hot and dry for nearly any hanging baskets... wah!!! 

In Maryland, I had window boxes for porch railings and built lovely displays yearly... love sweet potato vine, tall flowers, hanging down flowers, mixed. 

I am considering fake flower baskets now... neighbors have them and they have color without the failures

 

dogs and their beds.... Alfie will collect toys, bones. etc but needs help unloading the bed or he squeezes into the available space...

like watermelon in summer? wow! 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xl8KDQ_rNN8

don't like broccoli?  this is how to just say no

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5-RB2AZg73M

that's it for this week, did you make note of the small things that you liked this week? Let me know if you wrote a post to include here! Please tell me what flowers you like in hanging baskets too! 

visit these folk to see their answers too

Grammajudyb.blogspot.com

http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com/

http://littlepenguinquilts

princess bubbles creates   

https://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/ 

 https://quiltschmilt.ca/

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/

https://faithtrustandbreastcancer.blogspot.com

https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/

https://brianshomeblog.com/  

http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/   

https://llbinourbackyard.blogspot.com/ 

https://frenchethereal.net/

Sky Watch Friday 

Shadow Shot Sunday