Is it really September 30?

Time is just flying by. It was a year ago this week that my life was taking a turn in a new direction. Things started to unravel, and I don't know if I wasn't seeing it, or I didn't want to see it. Looking back now, I can see how obvious and abrupt the change was.

A year later, I'm over the worst of it, and finding out that although I miss the companionship of a partner, I'm also finding out that life goes on, and I can actually still function.

This was a busy week. I spent the majority of the week going through and editing pictures from a llama show I went to last weekend.

On Monday we went to our last County Fair of the year to enter our photos. We have a new member of our party, so there were three of us delivering pictures. I was the only one of the three who didn't enter some other article that I had sewn, knitted, canned, baked or grown - - and here I thought I was an over achiever! 

Wednesday morning I took the car for its first emissions test - - I thought it was going to be a big deal, but instead, I think it was an easy way for the state of Maryland to make $14.00. For passing its first test I treated the car to a wash and dry.

Wednesday evening we went back to the Fair to see how we did. The newest member of our party won a Best in Show for a flower she had grown in her garden. It made me want to rush home and weed the garden and plant some flowers!! 

We spent two or three hours at the Fair that night, eating, taking pictures, and I got to see a long lost friend. Although there was no Best in Show ribbon on any of my pictures, we had a really nice evening.

For the last couple of months, the oak trees have been dropping acorns like crazy. The Farmers' Almanac says that means we will have a very cold and snowy winter. If acorns are truly an indicator, we may all be snowed in for months. I have filled three wheelbarrows with acorns in the last month, the last load was yesterday. When I got home this afternoon, the driveway was covered again. How can two trees make so many acorns?

I have learned a new photo processing technique, and I'm in love. I naturally had to try it out at my local pond. It didn't work well on the residents of the pond because they move too quickly, but it worked very well on the pond itself.

Today I spent the day with a friend that I have known for several years, but we only recently discovered that we have much more in common than we first thought.

We went on a shopping trip to Trader Joe's - - organic vegetables and shade-grown coffee beans from Ethiopia - - and then we got lunch and took it to a park that was on the Potomac River were we had a view of Mount Vernon. It was a beautiful day that we got to spend in the sun by the water - and of course I got to try my newly learned photo technique.

It's been a good week, and I'm feeling like there are new and exciting things ahead. I will be welcoming October with open arms.

Links to photos of the week:

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Llama-and-Alpaca-Shows/East-Coast-Invitational/25561829_J4fqFh#!i=2108282454&k=HD6zgDt

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Photography/High-Dynamic-Range-HDR/25581147_6fKVhB#!i=2110605172&k=kjMvp5V

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Landscapes/Potomac-across-from-Mt-Vernon/25667649_9F9XnR#!i=2120125375&k=jKrzGJW

The cat isn't happy . . .

but I've really enjoyed having a dog in the house again.

She follows me around, and up and down. We went for a walk, she inspired me to mow the backyard (so I could find the poop). She's happy to see me every time I walk into the room, even if it was just five seconds since she saw me last.

We all need someone who is just beside themselves with happiness to be with us, and although Maggie is very tired from a full day of girl bonding, she has been my "someone" today.

Thank you for coming for a visit, Maggie, and thank you to your mom and dad for letting you come and play.

OMG . . .

When did life get so complicated. I feel like I woke up and I am no longer able to deal with all the numbers, accounts, passwords, links, websites . . .

All of these things are supposed to be simplifying our lives, but when you have to make a spread sheet that's two pages long with account numbers and passwords, simplification doesn't work into the equation.

My husband sent me a text last night (one of those wonderful things that is supposed to simplify our lives) telling me that my electric bill was paid out of his account. Three hours after I replied to that text saying I would take care of it in the morning, I got an e-mail (yup, another thing to simplify our lives) saying that a check had just been sent out of MY account to pay the electric bill. My electric bill was paid twice, once from our joint account and once from my account.

When I tried to get this straightened out with the electric company this morning, I had to try to give them all the numbers necessary to access the account and figure out what was happening. While I was on the phone, I had to try to get information from one financial institution, but from two separate accounts within that institution.  It takes a password, a security code and a security question to get into each of these accounts. If you get any of these passwords, codes or questions incorrect three times, they block you for the account. Well that's what I did. I put MY information into the joint account not realizing what I was doing, and bingo, I was no longer allowed to play their game.

Brian was the kind gentleman who had the pleasure of dealing with me while I sweated, shuffling spread sheets, balanced the phone on my shoulder, swore, typed and tried to keep all the information straight in my head, while trying to access two separate accounts AND look at my electric bill online, all at the same time. He was very patient, but when I finally said that I was going to have to call back, he was just a little too eager to agree with me.

I think I got everything sorted out, but I also think I'm mostly crossing my fingers and hoping the account fairy is going to make everything okay!

I bought myself a present!

I wanted to go for a bike ride the other night. When I got on the bike I discovered that the seat was too low. I was going to raise it, but I couldn't find a wrench - - the only tools I was left with were a hammer, an assortment of screwdrivers, a needle nose plier, and a tape measure. Needless to say, none of those tools were going to help me raise the seat.

I took my ride, and told myself that I needed to expand on my tool collection. 

Aren't they pretty!!!

This morning I headed out to make a recycle run, and thought I would go to one of the local Farmers Markets after visiting the dump. My trip took several detours. One of those detours was a stop at the Calvert Fairgrounds where they were having a huge Flea Market. I parked the car, grabbed my camera and set out to see what treasures I could find.

It's amazing how much "stuff" is out there that you don't need, but if you need tools, it seems that a local Flea Market is the place to go. I could have gotten electric drills, sanders, saws and every kind of hand tool imaginable, but I decided to start out slowly. I bought two wrenches from a sweet old man who had recently cleaned out his work shop because he's downsizing. I got my two new tools for a grand total of three dollars - - I was happy!! He seemed happy, too!

They need your vote . . .

There are so many rescue groups, and so many animals that need help, food, love and a home

I have mixed feelings about the soldiers bringing stray animals back to the United States after their deployment. I love that they are helping these poor animals, and I'm happy that they now have a new, loving home, but on the other hand, I can't help but think about all the animals in the United States who are euthanized everyday because they don't have a forever home.

I want all animals to be treated with love and kindness, and we need to start at home. 

The citizens of the United States need to learn to be responsible. They need to learn how very important it is to spay and neuter their animals. They need to keep their pets off the streets. They need to microchip them in case they get lost. They need to stop tying them to a post in the hot sun and freezing snow without food or water. They need to stop breeding them when there are so many animals that need a loving home. If people what a pure breed, there is a rescue group for every breed imaginable, they just need to do a little research.

I admire this group, Puppy Rescue Mission aka: The Puppy Rescue Mission, and praise them for the work that they do, but we all need to step-up and help our own homeless citizens.

https://fb.chasegiving.com/charity/view/ein/27-4295476?ref=9c067b6ea7&sr=1

Sunday . . .

I don't know how one day of the week can feel so lonely and empty.

Even as a child, I really disliked Sundays. It was the day that friends had to stay home with family, stores were closed, and television went on vacation - - but only having five channels didn't help.

Today I've done a little bit of everything, but still feel that terrible sick, sinking feeling of loneliness.

After a trip to Target, I went to the pond to visit Nanny and her friends. When I get there I had three white muscovy ducks come running to meet me. They followed me half way around the pond hoping I would produce something wonderful to eat.

At one point I squatted down to get closer and they got right in my face, but in a companionable way, not a pushy, obnoxious way. They have beautiful green eyes, and they were looking right into my eyes.

I would have stayed longer, but there were women screaming, yelling, chasing the ducks, and running away. I don't understand these people who take bread for the ducks, but are afraid of them when they come to get fed.

Now I'm waiting to go pick up my Fair pictures, and then I want to come home and put Sunday to bed.

It's official . . .

Summer has given way to the beginning of Fall activities.

Students have returned to school. 

I remember going shopping for new clothes for that first day of school. When I was in school, we went back after Labor Day, and we really felt like summer was over and there were cooler, new beginnings ahead. Now, students go back to school at the end of August and it still feels like summer and cooler weather isn't in the air. 

There are changes happening all the time, all around us. Sometimes it's a good change, sometimes it's an unpleasant or very bad change (climate change). 

For the last four years, September has meant county fairs. 

My best friend and I have entered our photographs in the Southern Maryland county fairs. The first year we did it, we only entered our local fair. We had so much fun, we have added one or two more fairs to our schedule each year. This year will be entering four of them!!! I think the only thing left for us to conquer is the State Fair.

My two day project of wiring picture frames.

We take pictures all year, going on day trips to find new and different things to photograph. Those day trips have been so much fun, and have left me with great memories that can be rekindled each time we collect and share our pictures.

For now, all my selections are ready for all the fairs.

In a year of major change and emotional upheaval, I still have my best friend and our tradition of picture taking, fair preparation, and joys of sharing a special time. Thank you, my dear friend!!!!

My website with 98% of my pictures - - including Fair pictures.