The Queen is in her Counting House – June 2014

Dear June –

You flew by so quickly.  You and all your monthly cousins seem to do that, but this time I was prepared.  I had a net ready to capture bits and bobs as you flew through on your whirlwind visit.  I decided it had been far too long since I played in Julie Kirk’s  My Month in Numbers, the invitation to take stock of one’s month using numbers. So I’m in my Counting House now adding things up.  But June, you know I love letters too, and since it’s been so long since I did an abecedarium I thought you’d be happy to play with me in that way as well.  Thanks June – I had the best time.  Don’t forget to come visit next year!   Love, Deborah

A is for apples with nut butter: 14.   Sometime during the month this became my favorite summer go-to breakfast and I managed to gather some delish nut butters to try. Yum!

B is for black cows (aka rootbeer floats): 2.  In case you don’t know it, there is a proper way to enjoy black cows and it requires a tall ice tea spoon, a bendy straw, and the singing of a short ditty before the first sip.  One must sing Moo, Moo, Moo, so ruft der bunte kuh.   (so calls the colorful/spotted cow).  Failing to do this leads to an inferior experience. 

C is for chairs: 34.  Someone doing a count of the chairs in their house appeared in my FB stream, and I thought what a curious thing.  So I counted all the chairs we have, and I was gobsmacked.  It seems like an incredibly huge number.  It’s true I counted everything – including chairs in the garage which are pretty rag tag, but work perfectly for the science club that meets out there weekly.  My favorite chair is in my office and I love it for the fabric I used on the seat – lovely little fashionistas.  Isn’t it a delightful? I love the crow pillow too.

D is for dinners out:  4.  We’re lucky to have a small neighborhood restaurant we love just down the block.  I was delighted to discover they’ve been voted the “best nonironic retro diner” in The Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago 2014.  I totally laugh at the nonironic retro label – I’m pretty sure that covers me as well.

E is for outgoing envelopes: 177 pieces of outgoing mail this month.  I like to do my part in keeping our postal system working.

F is for needle-felted flowers for the wet-felted bag I made: 4.   I’m so delighted with these, but I’m holding off on posting pictures until the bag is complete.

G is for glasses of fruit-infused water I drank:  60.  Two a day.  And I have to thank my husband for this.  I’ve always slipped a lemon or lime slice in my water when I thought about it, but one day Pete threw a whole bunch of sliced fruit in a pitcher as he was cutting things for a fruit salad.  Then topped it with water and set in the fridge.  The next day it was literally like drinking ambrosia.  How could I have not known this?  I feel cheated out of years of wonderful water!

H is for hours spent trying to find handles for my above-mentioned felted bag:  2.5.   I’m not finding anything I really love and given the effort I put into this (my first successful knitting project!) I want handles I at least like.

I is for ICADs – index card a day art:  30.  I’m working with the intention of spontaneous quick (no more than 2 minute) drawings this year, as bit of a quick warmup the minute I sit down in my studio. 

J is for journals made for the Summer of Color weekly challenge:  4.  I’m only showing three as I haven’t blogged about the fourth yet.  But each week I’m creating a small journal which I then fill with bits and bobs of my week.

K is for Kickstarter projects: 2 projects I started supporting this month and 2 projects that were successfully funded and I received the pledge rewards from.

L is for lightning bugs: 7.  They usually don’t show up full force until the beginning of July, but I saw my first one of the season mid-June.  Let the magic of summer evenings begin!

M is for moon walks: 2.  Nope, I don’t mean Michael Jackson-esque or astronaut moonwalking, but neighborhood strolling under the watchful eyes of Mama Moon.  Always does my soul good.

N is for Netflix movies watched:  11.   I’m sorry to say I don’t have any you-must-see-this recommendations from the bunch.

O is for origami-fold journals:  2.  Having fun with this.

P is for peony bouquets:  5.   I did my  best to get maximum enjoyment out of each second of the short season.

R is for rose trees planted:  1.  My old tree sadly wasn’t able to survive our brutal winter and so a new little tree has been called in to carry on.  While it’s starting to leaf profusely I haven’t spotted any buds yet which is a bit discouraging.  I was so hoping for roses this year.

S is for solar return astrological readings: 1.  In preparation for my birthday in July,  I have a friend who reads for me each year.  I always feel like I’m heading into my next circle around the sun with a wonderful map and a beautiful blessing.

T is for trees drawn:  17.  I’ve been wanting to deepen my connection with trees and as part of that intention I’m playing in a Tree of Life art group this summer. 

U is for Uppercase magazines read: 3.  These are always a treat.  Somehow I got backed up on them so I had a delightful marathon catchup.  

V is for vision boards created: 2.  Sometimes there’s nothing like pictures and gluesticks and a nearby journal to start the stream of magic flowing. 

W is for wildlife unexpectedly spotted in neighborhood: 1.  I live in a densely populated urban area, in a neighborhood with houses built right next to each other on small lots.  Not the most welcoming place for coyotes, and yet one found its way to our little block earlier this month.  A neighbor snapped a photo, but since I don’t have permission to post it you’ll have to take my word.

X is for xrays:  1 dental. 

Y is for yousies: 4.  Another new made-up word has made it into the lexicology of my heart.  A friend asked me if I was still doing my practice of daily selfies, but she couldn’t think of the correct word and said yousies instead.  Totally cracked me up and totally charmed me, and I’m  SO adopting this as new favorite expression.  I’ve dialed down my daily practice and instead am taking one yousie a week which I’m adding to the little mini week in summary journals I’m making.

Z is for zines worked on: 1.  I’m doing little magical tree drawings.  I’m having a delightful time and it’s practice for a magical forest I’ve got percolating in my mind.

So there you have it – a numbered abecedarium of my June.  Do play along with My Month in Numbers if you’re so inspired and visit other folks who are playing as well.  But in the meantime, how has your June been?  Something wondrous to celebrate? Been smitten by any fabulous new words?  Ever counted the chairs in your house?  Do tell – you know I love to hear.