June Finish

There's that adorable bear gazing longingly at the beehive! The June design for Joyful World SAL is one of my favorites of the series so far.

Stitched in the DMC colorway on 32 ct Sugar Cookie Belfast linen.

Gary and I had an absolutely fabulous 4th of July weekend. We actually closed down our offices on the Saturday so we all had a 3-day weekend, and I think that's something we'll need to do for more Monday holidays! Everyone has worked so hard this year after having lost several employees and trying to get some new ones trained, we needed the time away to rejuvenate.

So friends of ours, the Snyders, have a lake house at Diamond Lake near Newport, Washington, and our neighbors three doors down the street have one there as well - and they're friends too. The Snyders invited us up for the weekend, so on Saturday morning we headed out to the lake. This is a lake that is ringed in lake houses, so there's always some action on the water to watch or participate in, but it's still a very relaxing place, especially as the Snyders are casual and low-key like we are. We kayaked, boated, ate, hiked, and ate some more all three days.

On Sunday morning, we met up with our neighbors and some more of their friends for a beautiful hike around Bead Lake. There was more incline on the hike than I was prepared for, but Sandi and I were not the first to turn back, but we were not the last either, lol!

Bead Lake

The hiking gang

The wind did plague us a bit that weekend and that kept the boat activity down quite a bit on the 4th. But by evening, it died down and just before dark the residents started shooting off their fireworks. In this county anything goes so there was quite a show! Just before 10 we went out in the boat to watch the professional show which was very impressive. Then the after show continued. The 4th of July is quite the big deal at Diamond Lake!

Unfortunately, Gary and I had to get up early to get back to the Tri-Cities on Tuesday morning and Gary wasn't too much past the 9:00 office opening. We so much appreciate the Snyders inviting us to their weekend home and we hope to visit again one day!