Summer Recap

Someone recently told me the sad truth - that I hadn't posted since April. Has it been that long? 

Sadly, yes.

As always, I hope for unlimited time for numerous projects and plans but there are only 24 hours in a day. There have been little things here and there when I have a few minutes, but those precious few minutes are few and far between and with Fall nearly here I'm taking a couple of those minutes to give a quick summer run-down of where life has taken me the past few months.

In June, we added, a 3-year-old Snowshoe cat named Delilah to our family. It's been 4 years since our beloved dog Sally went to the Rainbow Bridge and my heartbreak had healed enough to consider another pet, but not a dog. With 2 active little girls keeping me busy, a dog seemed like too much to take on, so now we have Delilah and she's the sweetest critter we could have asked for.

In June, we also went on a family trip and rented an old country house in Vermont on a long winding dirt road with beautiful views of the mountains. The slow pace was the perfect start to the summer with our girls out of school and the warm weather just starting to heat up in Virginia. I don't think I'll ever stop dreaming of moving there, but I think experiencing the vicious bugs will keep me from actually doing it.

Along with homemade jam in the kitchen, the owners left us wildflowers picked from the property to welcome us.

For my anniversary in May, my husband got me a mom-daugther getaway to Montreal to use while he stayed behind with the kids in Vermont.  The hotel was an old historic building with a little bistro on the first floor.  I loved Paris when I visited so this was a sweet little reminder.

The beautiful room Mom and I shared.

So many beautiful gardens ...

... churches ...

and food!  But, oh, so little time.  A day later, it was back to Vermont, then home-bound a few days after that.

On July 10th, I ran (and walked) a 5k.  I ran my first one in April but an injury held me back from running this one completely.  I hope to run another in September.

My girls had plenty of summer fun ...

I have spent time with friends and done quite a bit of dancing as well ...

And, now summer is coming to an end ... or is it a new beginning?  My oldest daughter starts kindergarten in a matter of days.  She was diagnosed with ADHD this summer and while it's not a surprise to us and we have done as much planning for her as we can, my first priority is helping her adjust. 

I still love my house.

I still hope for those precious minutes when I can play with a project.

Will I blog more?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Both girls will be in school this fall.  I will actually have a little time without children.  What I will do with that time remains to be seen.  As for now, we are alive and well and living life to the fullest. 

I can hear my girls squealing with delight outside playing with their dad.  I think I'll join them.