I’ve been having a nice July! Yes, it’s too hot, there’s smoke in the air from forest fires all around, and bugs are harassing me, but I’m still having a nice time!
I love the cool and fresh early mornings. We get up at 3:00 a.m., have breakfast, and go outside to work in the dark. I’ve held the flashlight for my husband while he greases the haying equipment and does other ranch chores. Morning is my favorite time to be outside, whether it’s working or playing.
My three kitties love spending mornings outside with me. They seek out my attention and show me all their kitty skills – climbing trees, running fast, meowing profusely, trying to trip me as I’m walking, and bringing me mice. They also enjoy getting involved in my photoshoots!
![The Grandma doll I sewed is sitting on the arm of a plastic lawn chair. Jet the kitty is in the background with his tongue sticking out.](https://www.mgdoodlestudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/grandma-and-jet-1024x1024.png)
I’ve enjoyed riding my tricycle every morning. It invigorates me and lightens my heart. What fun!
![The Grandma and Little Red dolls are sitting in my trike basket waiting to go for a ride!](https://www.mgdoodlestudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/grandma-and-red-in-bike-basket-1024x762.png)
Air conditioning saves me every afternoon. I don’t take hot weather very well, so I love going indoors to sew, draw, and read in the afternoons. I saw a quote somewhere that said, “My favorite type of sunscreen is a house,” and I totally agree with that!
![The Grandma doll is sitting on the little bed in my dollhouse.](https://www.mgdoodlestudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/granny-on-bed-1024x1024.jpg)
I’ve been having fun sewing! I made this Grandma doll using an embroidery pattern from Jennifer Long’s Modern Ragdoll group. I used my fabric design for her funky miniskirt. She’s a Mid-Mod Grandma!
![A grandma doll with grey hair, turquoise eyeglasses, and a mini skirt sitting on a lawn chair.](https://www.mgdoodlestudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/grandma-1024x1024.png)
I hope you’ve been having a nice July! Please tell me what you’ve been enjoying!
Three AM no way… I think my husband went to bed at 4 am last night. I may be awake at three am but hell no will I get up. But I do remember my grandma during summer getting up around 4 or 5 and doing yard work before it got too hot.
That grandma doll is gorgeous. So cute. And how wonderful you get to enjoy your tricycle this much.
Ha! Ha! Tobia, I used to feel the same way, but for now, it works. It is a crazy schedule for sure!
I loved this post so much. I also love hearing about your life. My mom grew up on a cattle farm and knows all too well how much work goes into that. β€οΈπ
I love these dolls so much, Michelle. You are so very talented.
We all have covid, so it’s been a very restful week here. But, it’s been very hot as well, so probably for the best.π€£
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kari, especially when you’re sick with Covid! I’m wishing you all a speedy recovery, and glad to hear that you’re resting.
Hi Michelle! Like all the others I’m shouting Three AM!! But I often wake up then and can’t get back to sleep… π (Old Lady sleep patterns…) I just prefer to sleep until 5AM! π And I agree, working when it is cool in the morning makes all the sense in the world. That’s why they take siesta in the hotter climes…. makes no sense to work in that hot time of day, so nap away! I Love your Grandma rag doll!!!! Why don’t we have more “old people” stuff??? We got’s Character! I was a mini-mod teeny bopper back in the day and I just Love your design for the fabric… it’s Fab!!!! :):) Well done! She looks right at home in your dollhouse… I am SO glad you have a house for her! :):) And I love the saying about the perfect sunscreen…. That’s me right there! I’m in the garden at dawn and maybe in the shady afternoon…. and I’m a House girl the rest of the time. I am very glad you are having a nice July….we’ve been on the too hot and humid side and are not that happy about it… but today it’s beautiful and all is well! :):)
Thank you, Betsy! I agree with you – there should be more old people dolls and stuff! I think the Grandma doll is so cute, and I knew I had to make her when I saw the pattern. I love knowing that you were a mid-mod teeny bopper! So fun!
THREE AM!! THREE AM!! That is a FAKE TIME. What?! I would never make it living your life.
Your ragdoll is gorgeous! I’m so impressed that you made it all by yourself!
It’s been a challenging July with lots of rain and swings from hotter than blazes to so chilly I consider turning on the heat (right now I’m in a sundress and I’m contemplating putting on pants). BUT! It’s hard to complain when the grass is green and I can walk outside without putting on boots and a hat.
Ha! Ha! Engie, you made me laugh! Yes, three a.m. is a fake time! π
Love the mod grandma!! You know, I had a period in my life where I would wake up at 3:30. It was delightful but I was exhausted. Tell, me, what time do you go to bed? Any naps? tea, coffee? How do you maintain the energy throughout the day? Thank you!
Thanks, Daria! I do go to bed very early, around 7:00 p.m.! And sometimes people who are living normal lives interrupt my bedtime with phone calls! I love taking a nap, and I do drink tea and coffee, but not excessively. Ranch life runs on its own schedule, so this fits our needs for the hot part of the summer. π I feel lucky that we can make adjustments as needed.
I enjoy knowing you’re riding your tricycle with your *friend* who is adorable. My July has been hot and humid and less fun than one might hope. I have enjoyed sitting inside in AC which has made it more tolerable. We’re lucky to have refrigerated air, as they used to call it!
Thank you, Ally! Hot and humid isn’t fun, and thank goodness for that wonderful, refrigerated air!
Wow. I’m still hung up on the whole 3 AM THING.
Growing up, my neighbour was a milkman, at a time when he literally still did rounds of some sort and he would get up at 2:30 or 3 am and his wife always got up then too. Can you imagine how much she got done waking up so early?!
Your grandma doll is perfection. Love the trike, and this quote is me: “My favorite type of sunscreen is a house.” I do NOT do well with hot heat. That’s why fall weather is my favourite. Sunshine, but with much cooler temps. It makes my heart sing.
Ahhh, the good old days of milkmen! I do get a lot done getting up so early, but I’m useless in the afternoon/evening! Fall weather is my favorite too!
I love Granny doll, sheβs beautiful π€©
Wowzere, 3am, thatβs so early! But I love the sound of your afternoons & I bet they feel well deserved. I think Iβd find myself nodding off with those early risings, but I bet you see some fantastic sunrises.
Itβs around 65 degrees average here at the moment with much rain so Iβm not having to use a house or any other form of sunscreen at the moment, though like you Michelle I donβt cope too well with the heat so it suits me.
Keep cool π
Your weather sounds perfect to me, Rae! And I do nod off once in a while in the afternoon! π€£
I could meet you outside at 3 because I’m usually up drinking coffee around 4. π I worked hard outside shoveling to for about three hours in the heat. I’ve only been going about two hours in this heat wave, and it wiped me out. I was never so glad to see a shower. I’ve been picking raspberries first thing, but the bushes are about done so Thursday or Friday I’ll start cutting out the spent branches and getting the bed cleared and cleaned out. I always find something to do out there. π Stay well.
You are busy working hard in your yard, Judy! It’s true, there’s always something to do in the yard, and the heat seems to make everything more difficult!
THREE AM!!!! That’s early. But I do get it, because it’s nice to get things done outside before it’s sweltering. I love your grandma doll!!! She is sweet. I enjoy the hot weather but I enjoy it while reading on my shady deck. I get my gardening and walking done earlier in the day. Rex doesn’t do great in the hot weather, so we get our steps in before 8 for sure.
I love the thought of you reading on your shady deck, Nicole! That sounds like a perfect summer activity to me! With a cold beverage and a snack!