Summer Storm

Yesterday, a big summer storm blew in early afternoon and never really let up again until this morning.

Right before it hit, I ran outside to take my second cutting of basil of the season for pesto that we will lay up in the freezer for the eatin's this winter. And while I was mid-harvest, I saw this impressive cloud formation.


It had the look of an open spot in the sky that aliens might swoop through. Though, I imagine that Cicero wouldn't be the first target that aliens would want to colonize. . .


And because of the storminess, I stayed in the rest of the day making things out of a rainbow of felt.

It's February. In Chicago, that's traditionally the month when everyone starts to go a little out of their minds with cabin fever. The cold has gone on for too long. Spring is just around the corner. . . but it still feels like it will never arrive.

So, you do what you can to get over the hump. Dan and I tried the direct approach yesterday--going out into the face of winter, hanging out by the lake and walking about. Today, I'm taking the indirect approach--by searching out bright colorful things online that make me happy. . . and maybe by making a few colorful things as well!

Speaking of bright, colorful and cheerful, I found this adorable pillow cover at sukanart's shop



And it would be hard to stay crabby sleeping under this quilt by Ozark Quilters every night:



Or maybe just take a second to remember how excited you were to wear fall clothes and your new coat back in October with Michele Maule's "Little Red Coat" (available as a print in her shop on Etsy!: