Hurray! Your July 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar is here! 

So. I began the search for this month’s wallpaper image knowing exactly what I was looking for: something summery in red, white, and blue, but without particularly screaming flags, fireworks, hotdogs, and that kind of stuff. But alas, options seemed slim in that department. While I found a few images by that definition, the composition and photography wasn’t really that great… and therefore nothing was the “right” thing with respect to what I was looking for. 

But eventually, eyes crossed and nearly falling asleep, I stumbled upon this red bicycle with its basket of red geraniums. In general, the picture enchanted me immediately, but it still needed (what turned out to be) several hours of Photoshopping. (Side note: I am NOT a Photoshop expert, by any stretch of the imagination!)

But I’m certainly familiar with searching the ‘net for things I need to know or understand. So the final result, while not at all professional nor even exactly what I envisioned, is this. “Good enough”, I figure, for something destined for only a short-term life span. I hope you enjoy this quaint summertime wallpaper, too!

Hurray! Your June 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar is here! 

It’s almost strawberry time in the Northwest! And I check on the progress of my 4 planters full of strawberries nearly every day. This year I added a 4th variety to the three I started last year; giving me 2 varieties of June-bearing and 2 of Ever-bearing. All 3 sets of year-old plants have bloomed heavily this year, and my earliest berry harvest should be ready for sampling within the next couple of weeks. I prefer to pick them in the afternoon when they’re nicely warmed by the sun, and at their juiciest and most flavorful. And of course I eat them immediately while they’re still warm.