Dry Spell

(Blog subscribers who view this in e-mail may want to click her to visit the site where photos are also posted.)
It's not as though we've been hangin' out here in the house doing nothing these past (nearly) two months. If we had been, perhaps I would have posted more regularly. In fact, we've seemed mightily busy. The technical difficulties that come with marrying an aging computer with modern external hard drives have led to much more difficult use of digital media. (Ahem...in English, please!) I can no longer download images from my digital camera to my hard drive then transfer to my external hard drive. Nor can I plug that external hard drive into this computer for any reason. Seems Old Windows didn't plan ahead for the behemoth drives of today; they're entirely incompatible. So, without pix, I've been focusing my efforts elsewhere.

Here are the highlights:
* E earned some awards for her first-year 4H efforts. She enjoyed the projects (sewing, cooking, porcelain doll, horse project and a variety of community service projects and committees) and the social aspect, but the paperwork was a bear. THAT paid off, however, with a gold seal in the club-level judging of her record book, and a win at the county level!

* We took Maddie out for her first pack trip. Of course, it was the weekend that SLO County experienced record rainfall, thereby adding to our adventure. Rather than simply test her willingness to carry the scary, neon-orange, nylon pack setup, we also tested her temperament while carrying said gear through mud and water (she hates water). A great time was had by most...

*The girls decided they wanted to have their own money at Live Oak Music Festival, so they planned ahead, made crafts, got a loan (from us) to purchase brownie and lemonade makin's, then had a rockin' lemonade stand. The girls made out like bandits, no small thanks to gracious passers by willing to support young entrepreneurs. The result: lots of savings on MY part at the festival. More responsible spending by the girls. ("I'd like to do the xxx, but it's not worth THAT much," was a common refrain once their own cash was on the line.)

*Live Oak was, again, fantastic. If you haven't attended, put it on your calendar for 2012. It's always Father's Day weekend (a bummer for us since neither my father nor the girls' father are interested), always largely family friendly, always uplifting, social and relaxing. (Upon our return home Monday morning I discovered I could no longer count change under pressure...now THAT is relaxing!)

*We served as docents in the Weaving Room several times during special events at Mission La Purisima. We look forward to upcoming mission days and hope friends, family and blog followers will join us there some time.

*Gave a talk at a SLO County Parent Participation Preschool. Noted a lot more preschoolers' parents are getting out and about, particularly into our natural spaces, than they were when the first book came out in 2006. That's GREAT news for all of the children and families alike!

*Visited the Getty Villa as E's culminating event for hear year-long Latin course. GREAT place to visit, particularly if you're interested in Greek and Roman antiquities. Amazing glass exhibit still has us talking, and the gardens were spectacular.

*Showed our house 42 times in 92 days...and received one (terrible) offer. Still awaiting a buyer and hoping the home we want doesn't get snapped up before we can get it all aligned. And on that note, rearranged furniture...several times...and did our best to keep the house ready to show at the drop of a hat. Don't know if we can begin school in the fall while also maintaining undecorated walls. I have a need to display the girls' work rather than stuff it immediately into a box or drawer. May have to take school on the road in the fall to change things up while we await a buyer. (Know any more ways to spread the word? We've got a real estate agent on it, listed it on MLS, Craigslist and various online real estate pages....more ideas?)

*Attended various performances, from Chinese Acrobats to E's dance recital. (ALL of us are SO glad she changed schools this year - a fantastic learning curve, and much classier recital.) She's still in love with dance, and continues singing with Sweet Adelines. Meanwhile, V does her best to differentiate herself from her sister - doesn't want to be seen on stage, but has a beautiful voice!

What's new with you?