July already?

I'd say welcome July, but since it has been beastly hot the last few days and I don't tolerate the heat well, I'm not sure I'm happy to see July arrive.
I got the July calendar quilt finished early since we were going on vacation.  That's where I've been the last few weeks- first getting things done ahead of the trip, then gone and now getting caught up...  Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it.







But of course, it was!

A wall of gorgeous color at the Dulles airport!

 I am happy to say I had no major trouble flying.  I like taking off and looking out the window.  I don't like it when the plane is hot and I feel like I can't breathe or when I am so bored I think I'll go out of my mind, but I can't sleep because there's no way I can get that comfortable!









Portland, OR is a wonderful city!  If I didn't think my son would promptly move if I did it, I'd move there myself.

The view from the Portland aerial tram at OHSU

The Japanese Garden in Washington Park

The International Rose Test Garden, and Mt Hood in the background

My husband likes to get me in all the pictures.

Of course, we enjoyed getting out of town , too....

Crater Lake looked so different when there wasn't 8 feet of snow on the ground!

The Pacific Ocean- at Bob Creek lookout I think.

Multnomah Falls along the Columbia River Gorge.

The only sewing I've done since I got back was the thread painting class project.  I decided just to do something and call it done to get it off the table.  I added some stems to hint at Lily of the Valley, and used some variegated threads to make a sort of a bow on my bouquet.  I also tried the binding with tulle technique Mary Diamond told us about.  I still don't love this piece, but I don't hate it anymore, either.