Quilters Thread

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm sorry you have that hot weather, hope it gets a bit cooler soon. I know how bad it can get inside a house without air conditioning. I'm so thankful not to be at my house during this heatwave, it's in the high 90s here!

What a nice surprise that your cousin is in Seattle and wants to see you. Hope you all had a nice visit today

I finished the machine quilting on the table runner and I have the binding made and just ready to sew on. Hopefully I'll have that done today or tomorrow. I have a few new projects I'd like to start so I hope to get some material cut for those.

I think the preparing and cutting material is my least favorite thing about making a quilt. Years ago I would have said it was the quilting or binding, but those aren't as time consuming as cutting the fabric. But I know if I can get the fabrics cut for a few quilts, it will be so nice to just sit and piece them.

Take care

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are enjoying your day and the weather is nice. It's still really hot here.

I finished the table runner. I did the binding all by machine. I doubt I'll do much hand binding unless I'm working on a hand quilted or embroidered piece. I'm happy with the table runner, but it is very BRIGHT I don't mind though because I like working with the bright fabrics.

I meant to tell you that I received the fabric from Michaels, it was really quick - like just in 4 days, and it feels like a pretty nice quality fabric, so I'll have to see how it is to work with it.

Hope you are able to get back to your quilt this coming week. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: The weather cooled down considerably yesterday - so getting ready for my Cousin's arrival was not oppressive at all. I was really thankful for that. Today, it was even cooler - with lots of clouds - but no rain yet - unless it sprinkled while I wasn't looking!

Yesterday's get-together with our Cousin went beautifully. And we enjoyed every moment we had together. I felt just like his mother was visiting us. And today, I had a long text conversation with his mother in Croatia. She felt the same way I did - when she heard that he would be visiting us, she shed tears of joy - just like I did.

He was able to lengthen his visit - DD picked him up in Seattle and they were here by Noon - and then, he stayed until 3:30. And our YDS also came - the two young men had a ball talking about when they were both lots younger on YDS's visit to Croatia with my brother - when he was just starting college - he took off a quarter so he could go on the trip.

And I really didn't work too hard - though I got up a lot earlier and didn't sleep too well - so I was sleep-deprived - and caught up after they left with a nice nap.

Your runner quilt is just gorgeous - you did a splendid job. I love the colors - you put them together so beautifully. Love it. 

I hope to get back to my quilt project tomorrow. Stay cool and be proud of your lovely work. (And so glad that you could do the quilting and binding by machine!)

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm happy to hear your weather has been pretty nice. It's "cooler" here today, only in the high 80s with lower humidity.

I'm glad your visit with your cousin was so enjoyable and it was nice that you all could spend the time together

Now that the table runner is done, instead of working on that 2023 basket quilt, I started a new quilt that I've had the fabrics ready for about a year now. This quilt was a mystery quilt and I saved up the clues so I could make it later. My quilt is going to be in blue, green and a white print with green leaves on it, so it will look a bit like the first quilt at the website:

scrapdash.com/princess-charlotte-mystery-quilt-pics/

I like that second one with the purple star tips too. I have fabrics cut for 2 of the 12 blocks, so I'll put them together and see how I like the fabric combination.

Hope you can get back to your quilt today. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It was pretty nice yesterday, getting warmer toward the end of the day. I opened up doors & windows and the inside cooled off quickly. Today is even nicer with temps in the upper 70s, though we still get a nice breeze too. It's a beautiful day.

We are following the U.S. Olympics Trials for the upcoming Olympics in July. So, everyday, NBC airs a summary of each days activities and it's taking time to watch all those events. They're mostly taking place in Eugene, OR, home of the Univ. of Oregon. However, our family all enjoy following the Olympics events and the time trials - so I needed to catch up with the weekend's events, and now I'm current once more. Of course, I also have to squeeze in our Mariners' baseball games. They've been on the road for a couple of weeks and have not been doing well. They have 2 more games in Tampa, FL, before they finally head home.

No sewing yesterday - laundry and household chores took precedence.

I'm glad you've already got another quilt project that interests you. I'll be getting back to my Magic quilt soon.

Today, we're putting together a big Costco order. And our DD is dropping by after work for a while.

Stay well and cool.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are enjoying another beautiful day. It was hot and humid here earlier but a thunderstorm just went through and it's supposed to be cooler and less humid tomorrow.

Hope you continue to enjoy the sporting events you are watching. I need to try to watch some of the Olympics when they come on this year.

I went to my house this morning to check on things and then this afternoon I finished making all the units for the blocks on the quilt I'm working on. So now I just have 10 more blocks to put together. I was thinking about the quilt last night and decided that I'm going to make 6 of the stars with a dark center and 6 of the stars with a light center. I think that will make the quilt nicer, since having all the light center stars seemed kind of washed out.

Hopefully I'll get the blocks made and the borders on the quilt by the end of the weekend - that's my goal anyway

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's much cooler today - with a brisk wind blowing - but no appreciable rain that I'm aware of. It did get up to 70 - but it's steadily going down into the mid 60s - and no sunshine has broken through the cloud cover. But we're fine with this kind of weather. Yesterday turned out to be too hot for us "wimps" - hitting 80! We love this cooler reprieve!

I finally got to working on the Magic quilt again today. I brought out the roll of batting with the blocks that I had spread out on the dining room table previously, and then put away due to having company. I started sewing the blocks that are immediately adjacent to the middle lotus appliqué block - carefully measuring and squaring up. So, I feel like I'm finally in a good groove for continuing to sew together these blocks.

I like the idea of 6 light and 6 dark centers for your stars. It will give the quilt motion and life. 

More Olympics trials tonight; they had a day off yesterday. Our Mariners finally won a game today too. 

Stay cool and enjoy your quilting.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - You really have some big temperature swings out there with it going from 80s to 60s. We get that sometimes too but not usually in the summer.

I'm glad you've found time to work on your quilt, hope you can keep doing that.

I finished making the 12 blocks for the quilt I'm working on and hope to get them sewn together and the borders on soon. I'm really glad I changed the centers in half of the squares, I think the quilt will look much better like this.

Have a good weekend

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Yesterday's temperature was really below normal - we had the furnaces going and the fireplaces too. Today, it's a bit warmer - in the higher 60s. Yes, our weather does have wide variations of temperature - no matter what the season is. And, traditionally, summer does not even "begin" out here until Mid July - lasting "maybe" 6 weeks. That's when we have our dry season. After that, we revert back to temperature fluctuations until we get stuck once again in the cloudy, rainy pattern. Remember that WA State shares a border with Canada and we are subjected to the Pacific Ocean currents which swirl in a wide pattern from the Northern Pacific and the Aleutian Islands/Alaska on down to our coast - sometimes veering far to the North of us and missing our coastline in the summer months - but lately, we've had the cooler currents and winds to deal with. On the other hand, those same currents and winds keep us in a more temperate range throughout most of the year. The East Coast - at least the Northern parts - has a continental type weather pattern - keeping it warm/hot during the summer months. 

I worked on my quilt yesterday - and will do more today. And I had lots of chatter/texting last night re: the debate. I did not watch it - it's too stressful for me. My DH did - partially - it even became stressful for him - and my DDIL, DS, and DD all watched, as did my close political colleagues. We all agree that "a lie is a lie" no matter how it's delivered. 

Today, I have a grocery pickup order and I'll work on the quilt for a while too. My DH's birthday is on Sunday and I'll cook a special dinner for him. He went to Costco yesterday to get lamb chops (his favorite) and the most beautiful organic "fat" asparagus we've ever seen. (We don't like the skinny ones.) Then, our DIL & DS will host a party for my DH on 4th of July. I'll make a berry pie for that and baked beans. DS will smoke a brisket on his backyard smoker.

Glad to hear you're continuing to progress with your quilt projects. You continue to be an inspiration for me. Thank you.

Take care and keep cool.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Your weather is very interesting I'm used to four seasons weather where I am except for the fact that it's gotten so much warmer the last few years, with shorter Spring and Fall seasons.

I can't watch debates either, they make me anxious waiting for someone to make a mistake or say something controversial. I'd rather just read recaps.

Hope you are able to work on your quilt and maybe some this weekend too. Hope your DH enjoys the special dinner and that he has a happy birthday

It was a bit cooler here today, but I didn't go outside at all. I was able to finish the quilt top today and it wasn't one of my best efforts. Several of the blocks were a bit smaller than 12.5 inches, but I made them work. I really need to work on my piecing skills or else stop making quilt tops

I'm a bit disappointed how these fabrics look together in the quilt. The fabrics looked really pretty laying next to each other. The white fabric has a really pretty green vine running through it. But I like that I changed out the centers on half the stars and I added the small white inner border which I think helps too.

This weekend I'll be updating my Temperature quilt and I hope to start working on those basket block quilts from last year. I'm going to try to put them in a square in a square block and then join the blocks instead of making the quilt on point, which was the way the quilt designer suggested.

Take care and have a good weekend

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well and having a nice day there. It's hot and humid here.

I updated my Temperature quilt today and I'm ready to finish the month of June on Monday after I get the high temperature for today and tomorrow. There were a few 99 degree days the week of June 17th and I was bummed that I didn't get to use my fabric for 100+ degrees. Then I checked the highs for last week and on Jun 26th we did reach 100 degrees - so I get to use the pink fabric for that high temperature. I'm happy and I'll be fine if that's the only pink HST in my quilt

I also have all the corner units done to sew the square in a square blocks around my 12 basket blocks from that quilt along last year. It's going to make the blocks 15 inches when they are finished, so it will end up a nice size block. I'm not sure what I'll do about borders yet.

Then I saw a YouTube video on a quilt block I wanted to try and I made four blocks using one of the fabrics I bought online from Michael's (it's the blue print). The fabric has a nice feel and was nice to work with. I'm not sure if I'll make more of these or not. I was thinking I could make solid blocks in the colors that are in the blue fabric. If you enlarge the picture you can see the little flecks of color. In this YouTube video you can see how every other block is a solid. I'll think about this for a bit, but the blocks went together very quickly. She has some nice videos on her YouTube channel. I see a few others I'd like to try.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe58K_4VWWY&t=3s

Fabric Cafe is starting a quilt of the month and I might participate in that, it would be a good way to make some of their quilts. I actually have the pattern for the first quilt they are doing in July, I bought it at the quilt show I went to in May. I have some pretty Moda fabrics that I might use to make this quilt.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5TYDajk7PM

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It was a nice warm day yesterday - with sunshine. Today, it's warm but overcast - at 75 right now. Our usual summertime temperatures should be in the 70s. And we, too, have 4 seasons - but we don't often have the extremes that the East Coast has - neither the cold, nor the hot. We like it best when it stays in the 70s. Anything at 80 or above stresses us too much - and these past years have had too many of those hot days. We anticipate that kind of weather in late July and August.

No sewing yesterday for me. I did pick up my groceries and put them away. Our Mariners returned to Seattle after a 9-day road trip. The stadium was packed and they managed a win for us too.

DH and I caught up with the Olympics U.S. team competition in track and field and gymnastics. More of the same today and tomorrow. And then, the final teams will be decided.

I'll work on my quilt today later on.

I like your blocks and the blue fabric - loved all the different-colored spots. And I looked up the videos. She sure had an easy-to-follow video explaining how to make that block. And the 2nd link was full of ideas for quilts and I especially loved the quilt she put together. I like a variety of colors and she did a good job of using the fabrics in her layer cake - or whatever it's called.

Stay cool and enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day It's really hot and humid here today but some storms later are supposed to make it cooler tomorrow.

I'm glad you enjoyed the videos I mentioned, there are so many great tutorials and patterns on the Internet. I got stuck this morning looking through free patterns at this website:

www.quiltedtwins.com/free-patterns.htm

I like a lot of them, but one that I'd like to do is "Rachel's Garden Paths", it looks really easy and if I made it I would maybe leave off the two outer rows to make it smaller. This website is really nice to offer all those free patterns.

I finished a quilt top this morning and I'm really happy to have it done. I had wanted to get it done by the end of June and I did This quilt uses the basket blocks I made last year from a quilt along done by The Quilted Forest. I had always wanted to do a basket quilt, so now I have this top done. I'll put a picture below.  I placed the blocks in the order the pattern was given to us each month.  I can see some that I would have changed, but I didn't have the energy to deal with arranging them. 

I realized I hadn't taken a picture of my little sailboat table runner and I know I said it didn't turn out how I thought, but it's nice so I took a picture and I'm sharing it here. It was fun to use some beach, water, and sky fabrics.

Hope you get to work on your quilt today. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Love the sailboat runner - so cute! And - yesterday it got pretty warm (for us), into the higher 70s - but somewhat overcast and muggy!

It was DH's BD yesterday - so I cooked a special dinner of lamb chops, asparagus, Yukon gold oven-roasted potatoes and zucchini/onion/tomato/red pepper casserole. We had a strawberry cream cake with fresh strawberries for his birthday dessert. Then, we watched the Olympics final women's gymnastics Trials. It was a good day - though we did have the usual collection of trash and recycle for pickup today.

Today I'll get back to my quilt. I need to square up and measure those geometric blocks to make sure they all fit together.

Thank you for sending the link to more quilt patterns - a never-ending supply!

It's another warm day - into the mid 70s - but once again, slightly overcast.

Stay cool and enjoy your projects!

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well today. We've had a few cooler days here before some heat and humidity again starting tomorrow. The skies yesterday and today were so pretty - blue with white puffy clouds.

Sounds like your DH had a nice birthday, I'm glad you treated him with the special meal

I haven't done any quilting since the weekend, and probably won't until tomorrow or the next day. I've been busy running errands and also going by a family member's house to water their plants while they are away. It's forced me to get out of the house every day, which I don't normally like to do. I could stay in most of the week and not care

I did make up a July calendar of quilt projects, so I hope to work on some of them. Hope you get to work on your quilt too.

Take care

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well. It's warmer here today but still not too humid.

I went out earlier to water the flowers and vegetables at my DB's house and they all looked alright. I think I might not go tomorrow and wait until Friday to go again. I fell while I was there, since I missed seeing where they had a edger around part of the plants and my foot caught it and took me down. I didn't get cut or anything, but I think I'll be sore tomorrow. I thought I was not going to be able to get up, but I finally did.

Before I did that I stopped at the local quilt store and bought some fat quarters in Christmas fabrics so I can make the Star of Wonder quilt that the Fat Quarter Shop is doing this month:

blog.fatquartershop.com/stitch-and-sew-star-of-wonder-with-us/

The new blockheads block came out today, it's pretty but a lot of HSTs:

modafabrics.com/inspiration-resources/bh5-group-2-block-27-brenda-riddle

And the information for the Meadow Mist Designs new quilt along is out today too. I really like the fabric combination for Peachy Pink and might try to match up some of my fabrics to that:

meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com/

Hope you have had time to work on your quilt. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: So sorry to hear that you fell while watering your DB's garden. Sure hope you don't suffer too much soreness - but it's inevitable that you'll have some after effects. Watching where we put our feet is so important - AND - so hard to remember all the time. And you were unfamiliar with their garden.

We're having mild weather - in the low to mid 70s - but sunny otherwise - with a few clouds here and there. Prediction is that tomorrow and each day following will get progressively hotter - until we're into the mid to high 80s next week. We're not looking forward to that.

Yesterday, I took care of several chores - including getting my haircut - outside on the deck with my DH as my hair stylist!

We also made a trip to Whole Foods to buy berries for the pie I'm making today. We also picked up some other fruit while we were there. It's the only grocery store that I venture into. It's an easy in-and-out, the disabled parking is at the curb, and the produce is first rate - though a bit more expensive.

I also put together a casserole for our dinner for 2 days. I don't want to do anymore cooking than I have to - the pie, and the baked beans is enough.

Didn't get to my quilting yesterday - and most likely not today or tomorrow either.

I'll check out all the links you've sent - when I have more time. Right now, I'm getting ready to make a blueberry/raspberry pie.

Take care!

[busybee]

Happy 4th of July, CJ! It's heading toward 80 over here today - if not higher. We're about ready to head up North to our DS's and DIL's home for a combined 4th and birthday get-together.

The pie was made yesterday, the beans were started last night, the watermelon is cut up - and DH is starting to pack the car.

Hope you are not hurting too much today. If you're really sore - maybe a trip to the doctor or urgent care might be in order to make sure you didn't break any bones.

Take care - rest - and enjoy the day.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Happy 4th of July to you I hope you and your family have a wonderful time together, I'm sure the food will be enjoyed by all.

I'm not feeling very sore at all. The only sore spot is the upper outside part of my right arm. I think I landed on the plastic jug I had in my hand right on that spot since it was pretty crushed. My hip feels fine and I don't see any bruises. I think having fat along my hips and thighs helped me cushion the fall Thanks for your support and caring

It's hot here today, in the 90s and supposed to be humid. I'm not going out anywhere, just staying in where it's cool. I'm so thankful to have the central air conditioning this year.

was able to get several quilting things done today. I updated my Temperature quilt and I'm showing a picture of the month of June by itself (see the pink triangle that was the 100 degree day?) and also a picture of it updated as of the end of June, can't believe half the year is over. The colors for June are Yellow - 70s, Orange - 80s, Red - 90s, Pink 100+.

I also made my latest Moda Blockheads block and it was fun to make a red, white and blue block today. And I tried out some blocks from that Fabric Cafe quilt pattern that they are doing for June. I like the blocks but when I put the other fabric beside them it didn't look good. I've tried out a few other fabrics I have and might use one of them. I'm not sure I'll make a whole quilt, maybe I'll just make a table runner.

I'm tired out from quilting now, so I hope to get back to it tomorrow and the weekend and work on that Christmas Star of Wonder quilt making the first block. Hopefully I'll like the fabric combination in that pattern.

Take care

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and some good weather. It's hot and humid here.

I went out this morning to water the plants at my DB's house. The plants are looking pretty good, so I'm happy I haven't killed them

After I sewed that Temperature quilt together yesterday I looked at it and thought it didn't look right. Sure enough, I forgot to put the small 1.5 inch white fabric strip between the first and second row! I'm really bad about not reading a pattern. So I ripped that whole row out today and I hope to get it sewn together with the white strip today too. Maybe then this weekend I can work on the Star of Wonder Christmas mystery quilt.

Hope you get to work on your quilt this weekend. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: After a perfectly lovely day yesterday both here in the Seattle area and further north where our DS lives (in the high 70s), today it's TOO HOT. It's 88 degrees here now - and DH has just installed both A/C units - thank goodness for those. So, the predicted heat wave (and our summer) has begun - on schedule - "after" the 4th of July.

When I got up about 11am - the open window in the bathroom was blasting hot air - just like a furnace. So, we proceeded to close everything down and get out the A/C units. So, it's pretty much "survival mode" for us now. If I went into my sewing room, now after the sun has moved from the east side of our house to the west, I could probably do quite well with the little Arctic Air cooler I use in the sewing room.

We had a very nice afternoon at our DS's - coming home about 9:30 pm. The brisket he cooked in his smoker was perfectly delectable, and the beans I fixed were a perfect complement. Lots of other sides were fixed by our DDIL and her Aunt and our DD brought a Costco salad. The blueberry/raspberry pie was gobbled up - I couldn't even eat pie until much later - but I finally did as a bedtime snack.

I'm so glad to hear that you didn't suffer anymore aches and pains after your fall. And you're a real trouper to go back and keep up the watering - and your quilt projects. Ripping out and starting over again - is part of the whole process. (Ask me, how "I" know!)

Stay well and keep cool.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well today. It's very hot and humid here today. I hope you can get your house cooler and tolerable with your heat wave.

I'm happy to hear you had a wonderful time with your family and all the food sounds like it was delicious.

I'm glad I can water my DB and DSIL's plants while they are away. They have done so much for me, I could never do enough to repay them. They came to the hospital all 4 days to sit with me. I would have been alone if they hadn't. And they are always there for me to support and help me. I'm very thankful to have them.

I did go over to their house this morning and watered the plants again. Most of them are looking pretty good, but the leaves on the tomato plant don't look great. I'm not sure if I'm over watering or under watering, or if that's just how it looks. I noticed the leaves were pretty much like this before I took over the watering. My father would have put some liquid Miracle Gro on it. He was so great with vegetables and flowers. I didn't get his green thumb

I have the fabrics out for the Star of Wonder first block and just need to starch and cut them, but I'm not feeling a lot of quilting energy today, so I'll see what happens later on.

I did get the seam all ripped out and the white strip sewn to the bottom of the top row. Then I figured I'd go ahead and sew the second row onto the white strip. I was being lazy and didn't pin the row to the white strip and just sewed it and when I got to the end the second row was shorter than the top row by about 1 inch If it had been 1/2 inch or less I would just leave it, but now I'm going to have to rip the second row back off and pin. I guess I need to remember this lesson

Hope you get back to your quilt soon. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: We're in the midst of our hot spell - the earliest in the season for these temperatures, and for this long - lasting into all next week. Right now, it's 91 degrees, but the humidity is low at 25%. 

I went to pick up my medium sized grocery order and have put it away. I didn't spend much time outside, as I pulled the car right into the garage and DH came out to bring in the bags. I'm happy that I picked up a rotisserie chicken and some cold salads. So, I won't be doing much cooking at all. Our kitchen has a skylight and it's sort of in an out-of-the-way location so that the A/C unit's air stream doesn't reach it directly. So, it's gets warmer than other areas in the family room area. Of course, we have a fan right on the counter - and it's bearable - but not my favorite place to be at these temperatures.

I'm so glad that your DB and SIL have been so good to you. Thank goodness for them - so that you aren't totally alone - when you need support.

I'm just hanging in - the a/c unit is loud - I feel like I'm on a long plane trip - which isn't always so pleasant - especially the noise.

No sewing - but I might get into that room now that the sun has passed over to the west. Sometimes it's best to just wait a while before tackling an unpleasant chore in a quilting project. 

Stay well and cool.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - It sounds hot there, but I'm glad your humidity is low. Hope you can stay comfortable in your house. It's hot and sunny here today.

It's nice that you could get some foods that don't require cooking since the kitchen isn't that cool. I remember the loud AC units, the one in this rental house is much quieter.

I went to water the plants this morning and they were looking alright. The vegetables (which are all in containers) didn't seem to need as much water, so I watered them lightly. Tomorrow should be the last day of watering for me, I just want to finish without killing any of their plants

I have the fabric cut for the Christmas project but haven't really felt like sewing, maybe I will later today.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Our heat wave continues - it got up to 93 yesterday and may be hotter today. None of us "old-timers" like this weather. It's not the weather we are used to from our growing up and early adulthood (and beyond) years. So, we are not acclimated to this type of extreme heat. However, strangely, it's a "dry heat," so we don't have the humidity issue to deal with too. But living with these a/c units blasting away - and being limited in which rooms can be used (or not) and figuring out what to cook when I'm curtailed as to my choices. All of it is a big "pain in the b--t!" And because one of these portable a/c units is vented to an open door - we have to shut it down at nighttime. The other is vented to a window in my DH's BR and it's way too loud for him to be able to sleep. So, that one has to be shut down at night too.

However, our nighttime temperatures do go down into the 60s by 1am - and I'm always still up until then and later. So, we have a system of fans that we set up drawing the cooler air from an open kitchen window down the bedroom hallway (with other windows open too) - but we have to fence off Molly because we don't let her sleep with us in our bedrooms. It's a pain to set up and then dismantle the next day. But, along with a small fan in my bedroom (and DH has one too), we manage to get some sleep.

So, I had text messages from my Cousin and DH's niece yesterday - asking about how we're doing - etc... which is very nice of them. As do our DD and DS/DDIL too. They're all just as miserable though. Our niece has one portable unit she sets up in her downstairs and she sleeps on the couch all summer long, as the upper floor is where her BR is but she has no way of venting up there. And she has gas-fueled radiator heating so no ducts for conversion to central air. She's absolutely miserable most of the summer and, at age 68, she has the same memories that I do of much more temperate summers - the envy of the country. No longer true! (Though, I suppose that many areas in the U.S. would still envy our temperatures even in the high 90s!)

Glad you're comfy. Stay well and cool. (Sorry for my rant.)