Summer Heat

  Opening today with my hydrangea bush. I don't know what variety it is but I am thrilled with the number of blooms this year! I've been having to water twice a day though because we are in the midst of a very hot (upper 90's feeling like about 100 in the sun!) heat wave. But along with that there are chances of some heavy thunderstorms throughout the week. I hope so because our grass is starting to get brown:(

 Especially on these super hot days I like to make  light dinners - lots of salads and veggies - and so I will share Saturday's meal with the gang over at T Stands For Tuesday:

 I wish I would have gotten a proper photo with the platter of veggies(in the upper left corner) but hubby was hungry and wanted to eat-lol!  Grilled salmon with lemon, rosemary, and capers. Along with that I made a Niçoise salad with lettuce, red beets, green beans, black olives, artichoke hearts, cucumbers and tomatoes. I even made a homemade tarragon dressing which goes so well with this. And a glass of Pinot Noir :)  Cheers!

 It's my Mom's 78th birthday on Thursday so I made this card for her:

 The sentiment is old and I don't know who made it. Pearls are from Michaels. Other: Neenah Solar White Classic  card stock; Altenew Antique Roses stamp and die set. Foam mounting tape. Inks: Archival - Jet Black, Maroon,Pink Peony, Rose Madder, Leaf Green, Chartreuse. Staz On- Forest Green, Adirondak- Red Pepper.Seashell Pink- Ranger.
 Sharing this card with the Simon Wednesday Blog Challenge (Bright and Cheerful).

There is a new challenge for this month over at Art Journal Journey and hosted by Erika who chose the theme of "When it's Hot", and a new theme for the Simon Says Monday Blog Challenge "Play with Paint" featuring Dina Wakley products so I am IN:)

  Journal page in the Dina Wakley Blue Edition Media Journal. This is one of the heavy 100% cotton rag watercolor pages and I love the texture of it! Products: Dina Wakley paint - Ocean; Dina Wakley Scribble Stick- Cheddar; Craft Smart paint- Foliage; Artists Loft Paint- Deep Red; vintage clip art; Black Stabilo All pencil; scrap of mesh, burlap; circle, bubble stencils (unknown); Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions Stickers. Boy would I love to be at the beach right now...

 And here are my latest index cards for the ICAD (Index Card a Day) Challenge I am participating in on Instagram:

 For July it will be one word affirmations. Dina Wakley paints or Gloss Sprays, Collage Collective, clear stamp(You are). Versafine Onyx Black ink; Posca pens; colored tissue paper scraps; Tim Holtz mini stapler. Creating variations using the same style and products for the month of July:

       ICAD 30/61. This one was the last in June for this series and style.

                                                            ICAD 31

                                                            ICAD 32

                                                            ICAD 33

                                                           ICAD 34

                                                             ICAD 35

                                                             ICAD 36

 Ha- it just dawned on me that these cards would work for the Simon Says Monday Challenge too;)

 Joining Paint Party Friday with this post as well. Happy week everyone!

" Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."   John Lubbock