Summer Update Part Two

Happy Fall! Seeing fall arrive is always bittersweet. It’s my favorite season by far, but I also know
what’s coming next and fall in this area can be much too short. Before we get too deep into the new
season, I need to finish updating you all on my summer. My first look back on summer can be found
HERE in case you missed it.

My summer certainly didn’t turn out as I had planned. I had a long list of projects I wanted to accomplish
as well as some time to really get my health and well being back under control. For the first time in many
years we were able to obtain health insurance which is all well and good except I was sent for all kinds
of tests because I had never had them. Labs were done as well as a colonoscopy. Without going into
too much personal detail my labs weren’t completely clean so I was sent for more tests and specialists.
All this as well as catching up on my dental and eye appointments. Instead of working on what I had
planned I was running the highway to and from the hospital. The good news is after all that, nothing
serious was found but I have to return in six months for some re-checks just to make sure.

In other news our garden was a bust. Very little came up, we think the Father’s Day storm that flooded
our area washed away most of our seed. We did get a few green beans, carrots (enough to fill two
freezer bags full), some lettuce and about eight or so beets that we lost when something or someone
broke into the garden and took every single one, leaving the greens behind. We certainly are not going
into winter at all prepared.

Today I did finish the projects I had to get done before the bad weather set in. I feel accomplished with
that. In the coming weeks in between my teaching and practice schedule I will be focusing on my fall
house cleaning one small project at a time. We've had a lot of gray, rainy days already that just make
me want to curl up next to this guy and forget everything else.

I still have a lot to catch up on, be watching for part 3.

Heart Ache - Summer Update Part One

A big hello to anyone out there who's still out there. I have so much to catch up on as the summer certainly didn't turn out as I had planned. I'll get to all that in the next post but for today I'll share the first of summer's disappointments.

I think I mentioned my friends plans to move. I'm going to miss them so much...here is a little bit of their story. About 15 years ago I was driving through downtown when I noticed a new sign on a storefront and the paper lined windows said something about a scrapbook store. I had picked up a magazine on scrapbooking a year or so earlier and was in the process of teaching myself the art. I was so excited to actually see a store move to town that would have supplies for my new found hobby. I remember walking by everyday and trying to see through the cracks between the big sheets of paper in the windows. I couldn't wait for them to open and it seemed to be taking them forever! Somehow I think I missed opening day, but I was still one of the first customers in the door and I won a door prize at the grand opening that I still have and use.

I met Mary first. I remember her greeting me and asking me if I did scrapbooking. I told her I did but was still learning and she assured me they could help me with that. I had no idea at the time the extent of what that meant.

Mary and Jeanne were a wealth of information and encouragement. They new so much about paper and stocked many different kinds that I didn't even know existed! They taught me new techniques and gave me tips and tricks to make my scrapbooks look their best, they inspired me with projects they were working on and encouraged me to try new things always supporting me in whatever I was working on.  They would offer table space in the shop for us to take our projects and work on them there. I used to love to take in what I was working on and spend the afternoon crafting and talking with Jeanne. Mary was usually working at the bank next door but she would pop in on her breaks and lunch. If one of them couldn't help me with something the other one could. I spent so much time in there we began to become friends and share more that just scrapbooks.

Due to the financial depression of our small town, they were forced to close their store. Gone was not only a great source of information, help and supplies but also the connection to other friends I had made through the crops and workshops I attended. As a result I formed a Facebook group to stay in touch with everyone and from that we formed our bi-monthly craft days where we gather together as we used to at the crops to work on our projects. It's been wonderful until now that our founders have decided to move to be near family.

Their house sold quickly and they found a new house right away. Before I knew what happened I was attending their final yard sale. We had a farewell party with as many of the crafters as we could pull together on short notice...what a bittersweet time. I miss them terribly, but those of us left behind have banded together to make an effort to keep crafting together. So far it's working well.

We're hoping for many opportunities to visit them and they promised they would be up for vacation at least once a year. One of those changes that life brings...takes a little getting used to. 

Stay tuned...I have a lot to catch up on. If you stopped by, please let me know so I can visit your blog as well.