IS IT FAIR OR IS IT NOT FAIR?

 Sorry.

I said I was coming back to blogging and then I dropped the ball. Bubbles loves when I throw the ball, but dropping it is lame. Anyway - here I am.

This past week was hot, less hot, then super hot again. Since Thursday was the best day for relief from the heat, hubby and I decided to check out the Greater Cumberland Fair, just like old times. Side Note: Now that I am older, I cannot hack the heat! Fair life is anything but fair. It is downright hot in the valley where the fair is set up. So, rarely do we go there. 

Besides, life is different now. I used to groan inside my soul about my own kids being grown, but now it is my grandkids who are grown. No little ones and that's tough. Bubbles has to fill that void. Sixteen years ago I was on top of the world. Remember the blog post I did about the fair? If not, you can find it RIGHT HERE. Ahhh, the good ol' days.

I'm 71 now. Hubby, 72. 

Our lives no longer follow fun vacations and grandchildren euphoria. Especially since the much older grandkids are not keen on sharing their lives on social media.

We now have a dog who keeps us with purpose and is cute, loves to play ball at the tennis courts, and loves to swim. We (hubby and I) are with aches, pains, and limitations. We go to church, watch tv, and eat good food. So yea, there's that. 

*sigh*

Anyway. Back to the fair. Temps were favorable for a quick once over at the fairgrounds to reminisce about better days. I kissed my dog goodbye, asked her to watch the house while we were gone, and I spread tiny treats over the table where she waits for our return home, and off we went. 

Here Bubbles sits and she will watch
out the window till we are home.

It took us about ten to fifteen minutes to get there, and I found a really great handicap accessible parking spot right by the entrance, limped into the grounds excitedly, only to find out the fair does not come to life until 5 PM. It was 2:30 PM.

We stopped at Livvy's on the way home from our brief, five-minute fair experience and got a gigantic soft serve ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone. This would not help my health, nor my weight. But hey, something had to save the day - right?

~EERIE~

I can't remember a late July/early August that was this dry.

Before dusk, the world seems so yellow.  It's eerie.

And just when you think the earth will burst into flame from the intense heat... 

Raindrops.

Take It Easy

Recap of a Do-Nothing Weekend:

Weekends void of plans do not happen often.  This one I played by ear... left the chips fall where they may... did what I wanted when I wanted to.  Above, my beautiful Marissa stands clutching a handful of flowers to take home to her mommy after spending the night.  Ok.  So I played Barbies and watched Sponge Bob Friday night and Saturday till five.  The good news is I was able to organize all of Barbie's accessories i.e. shoes, purses, earrings, etc. while pretending to be going on a date with Prince Charming :) That's productive.

I did a quick yard sale on Saturday morning just up the street. Bought a Melissa and Doug easel for just $3 JUST LIKE NEW!

Said a quick prayer for rain.  It would be nice to be able to wear a little make-up again...  too Hot! Hot! Hot!

Sunday - first came the winds.  

  Looks like God was listening.  Of course He was.

Down came the rain.

And we had nothing to do. 

 Nothing but sit on the patio and savor the moment.

Not much was accomplished this weekend.  But I feel rested.

Think Lovely Thoughts

So what do you do when the temperature is in the 90's day after day after day and there's no rain in the forecast anytime soon? It's a scorcher. Grass, baked by the sun, has become brittle, brown, and straw-like.

"Pray for rain!"

And while you're waiting on

that prayer to be answered....

Let you're mind wander back in time... like say... six months back.

And grab a cup of hot chocolate. Wait a minute. Scratch that last comment. Better make that an ice cold glass of lemonade. Remember, you're reminiscing. Back to reality!!

Busted!

At 95 degrees it was defiantly pool day. So after church Gary and I hurried home, threw on our bathing suits and headed for relief.

I am a rule follower. Always have been. If a department store sign reads: stand behind this line... by golly my toes are not touching the line! That's just a small example of my desire to be a model human being. If my mother were here (God rest her soul) she'd be the first to admit that I was a perfect child.

So when the Life Guard threatened to take away my Rice Cake Cheddar Cheese snacks after catching me pop one in my mouth while soaking up the sun poolside, I was appalled!

"I promise I won't eat any more, just please don't confiscate my Rice Cakes!" I begged. Doesn't she have something better to do... like clean the bees out of the pool or watch for kids that are being mean to adults?!