State Fair

Before I get done remembering September you all will probably be sick of hearing about it, but maybe too you will understand just how busy and hectic things have been around here or it could just be an excuse for my laziness in not blogging about it when it happened.  Anyway I have this idea that somehow I must do these posts in chronological order.

And truth be told I have nothing much to say about our trip to the state fair except that we again enjoyed the company of good friends, while we walked "forever" in the hot sun, the boys rode the rides and saw (and smelt) the animals.

So I'll just say it in pictures.

 

A Fun Fair Day

Tomorrow is the official last day of summer.

Bummer.

It has been a really nice, really pleasant summer any way you look at it.  I don't think we got over 100 degrees but once or twice this time around and we have been known to have several days, weeks even, in a row of fried eggs cooking on the sidewalk kind of weather around here.

But not this year and we have been loving it.

To me the State Fair always says fall but there was still plenty of sunshine and things to do, things to see and things to eat in a manner of speaking.  Not that we did any of that mind you.

So when it came, HT and I made a play date with friends and away we went.

We bought a wristband for the rides for the boys and it was totally worth it.  Us moms got to sit on a bench in the shade most of the time and talk about stuff and such while the boys rode every ride they could.

There was a vendor there selling crabs with painted shells, the boys each wanted one for a pet and were busy trying to decide which one to bring home.  We did not however bring one home, that's just the kind of mom I am.

There were even seals putting on a show and for twenty or more dollars you could get your picture taken with them.

Yeah, didn't do that either.

Nor did we bring home a piglet.

Or a fish.

And just in case you were wondering how my entry for the state fair quilt challenge did, I got a second place ribbon.  They said that the challenge fabric got a little lost, because the background fabric was a bit too busy.  I got nailed for what I thought I could get away with and they overlooked what I thought I couldn't.  Go figure.

And no, I did not sign up for next year.

It came, we went and now there is nothing left but empty exhibit halls, vendor booths and food stands, trampled grass and the lingering aroma of cattle gone home.

The boys can't wait to do it again next year!

Fun in the Sun

So how's your summer going?

Swimmingly I hope.

We have been busy, although it doesn't seem like we stray very far from home and we are always exhausted by the time we get back, even if it's just to play in the back yard.  The heat will do that to ya, ya know.

We have had play dates with friends, both old and new.

Found a new park in the middle of suburbia, with a pool and a little bit of wilderness.

Saw some cactus in bloom and identified some wildflowers, had a blast throwing rocks into the raging river and dipped our toes into an ice cold stream.  I had never really noticed how delicate and papery thin the flowers are on a cacti.

Had fun making "dinosaur skeletons" out of rocks and twigs.

Went to the zoo and saw some "real" dinosaurs and bones.

Rescued a gopher from the window well.  I think the time to put covers on the window wells is long past.  We have now rescued no fewer than three critters from its depths, a snake, a gopher and a baby skunk!

Fed some ducks, chased a chicken, "drove" a tractor.

We have even taken the time to stop and smell the roses.

And welcomed the rest that comes at the end of the day.

So, what have you been doing all summer?

It's Never Too Late . . .

to give thanks.

To give thanks, is to give the giver of life His due.  And I have been remiss.

I am thankful for sunlight dancing in the shade of the trees,
for lilac blossoms and for the sweet scent carried on the breeze,
the promise of summer to come,

for slides and swings and play dates with friends,

for sandbox castles,
the sound of children laughing,

for a good book,

for flowers blooming and the scent of freshly mowed grass,

for a husband who loves me and tells me I'm beautiful,
for love notes he leaves me on the kitchen counter after he's gone to work,
arms that hold me tight in the darkness,

for little boy napping,
for cuddles upon waking,

for dinner in the crockpot,
a dish of black raspberry ice cream with chocolate syrup,

a sister to confide in,

and that I am forgiven.