Summer

What a BUSY summer and now its just about over! The kids go back to school in 2 weeks, I still have to school supply shop and I have my first big show of the season next weekend! Panic is trying to set in, but so far I'm keeping it at bay. I probably only have about 2 or 3 studio days before I get everything ready for the show. (I'm not ready)

The season started out at a nice relaxing pace, even with the news that my husband's cancer has come back. He started treatment, and the doctors seem to think the prognosis is good. (Not great, only good. But still, good.)

Then his parents passed away. It was an event filled with mixed feelings. Of course, sadness for the great loss, shock that they both passed on the same day, and then a peaceful (?) feeling in the knowledge that this is what love can do, when one won't live without the other. We all knew his Dad would not live long after his Mom died, but no one thought he would follow later that day!

On the morning that we heard that his Mom had passed, we were on our way to pick out a new puppy. 14 years ago, we got our first dog, Spencer, the weekend Princess Diana died. On our way to pick out the new pup, my husband recalled that event and said it was only fitting that we get a new puppy in honor of the passing of another great person, his mother. No one could have foretold the irony of his statement. When we arrived at the shelter, they showed us the 2 pups left from the litter. Of course, we couldn't make up our minds, so we adopted them both. It was when we got home, a few hours later, that we learned of his father's death...

Since adding these 2 hurricanes of chaos to our home, we've been busy cleaning up puddles, poop and chewed up furniture, baskets and toys! What a great distraction for the kids, though. And my husband, who I think really needed it most of all. Except for the day we got them, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Well, aside from that madness, we've gone and visited Niagara Falls. The kids had never been, and I had never been on the Maid of the Mist boat ride. It was AWESOME! I loved everything about the whole day- the boat ride, the walk up next to the falls and lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe! We ALL had a great time on our vacation in our own backyard!!

August brought the Erie County Fair, the third largest county fair in the US. With the Fair comes my daughter's 4-H Rabbit show and filling my antique mall case in our special fair building. Then there are the countless days of going to the fair to check up on the rabbits, participate in rabbit events, bring more inventory to replace the sold antiques, my antique mall work obligation and then just a day of FUN at the fair!

The fair ends this weekend and then it'll be time for the Elmwood Arts Festival next weekend! I think I'll breathe again after Labor Day...

I can't tell which one of these photos are of MY kids!

Everyone has a great time at the Fair!!

No, I did NOT do this. I don't do rides. Ever.