A return to the routine...

This has been a difficult post to write. How do you ask your long-term Followers and friends to forgive you for not stopping in or calling or something for weeks, almost months? Oh, I posted a quickie here and there but that's sort of like leaving a voice mail or text that says "Call you later." Not too friendly.

At the Susquehanna Blues Fest in Havre de Grace, MD

I know true friends realize you're in the midst of a rough time and stand at the ready, waiting to hear from you when you're ready. If you're still hanging around and reading this, I guess you're one of those friends. Thank you. Thanks for being YOU and for still being here.

Family gathering at Boordy Vineyard

There are so many words I could use to describe the last few months but to summarize let's just call them bitter sweet and trying (very, very "trying"). We've had family issues, health issues, a death in the immediate family, a major lifestyle change, weather issues (historical heat, a hurricane and even an earthquake!), and so much more. There have also been good times - soothing music, great food and comforting friends and family get-togethers.

And such is life. Let's just say, life got in the way of my postings.

Ocean City, MD - a few days BEFORE Irene came through!

I know I've said it before but I think, this time, I'm back on track. At least, I hope I am. I've missed my blogs, my shop, my on-line friends and most of all, my painting and creating.

I woke up this morning, one of those few days we haven't had outside commitments, obligations or appointments, and I got right down to business on my household chores. I was hurrying so I might have time to get to my blog this afternoon - finally. That was enough to give me a push and I moved at "the speed of light", so to speak.

The Susquehanna River where it meets Chesapeake Bay only hours after the earthquake hit.

Okay, so maybe I exaggerate (just a bit). I am, after all, a heavy woman on the shady side of 50 (To paraphrase Tamar Myers, one of my favorite authors, "so shady, even mushrooms don't grow there.") with bad knees. I don't really have a turbo speed but I was moving at "full speed ahead" to "get'er done."

2011 Summerfest in New Holland, PA - a KCBS sanctioned BBQ competition

In any case, it's not dark out yet and I'm not yet so tired that I can't keep my eyes open but I have accomplished most of my "To Do" list for today and I'm rewarding myself with some time on the internet. It feels soooo good!!!

I've peppered this post with a few photos from our summer. They don't really have anything to do with this post but they're just a sampling of where we've been and what we've done. (Of course, we only photograph the good times.)

One of our little princesses turned one this month. Isn't she beautiful?

The youngest princess in the family! this was the first time I met this one!

Suffice it to say, I'm alive, relatively well and almost functional. To quote Ah-nold, "I will be back," (hopefully, tomorrow - maybe even later this evening.)

Hello ?

Hello, it's me. Perhaps you don't recognize me. It's been awhile. I've missed y'all.

I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth, though, at times over the last 6 weeks, I felt like I'd slipped into The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits or some such place or time warp.

They say life is what happens while you're making other plans. I'm here to say that is so, so true. I was PLANNING to post. I took pictures, made notes, drafted posts but they never quite got posted. THINGS (life) kept getting in the way.

The first few weeks we were just super busy doing fun things. I took lots of pics to share with y'all but before I could post them, July came along.

The Big Guy officially retired (completely) on July 1st. (No more of that "semi-retired" gig from last year.) We rolled right into a very busy and hectic 4-day holiday weekend, celebrating his new freedom and the the 4th of July with family and friends.

By mid-week, we were unexpectedly driving to Nebraska as The Big Guy's mom is not doing well. (She's in hospice care.) We spent two weeks there before heading home for a short respite. Four days after arriving home, we began packing again as the situation had worsened. A last minute call before hitting the highway convinced us to sit tight for the moment. (Meds were changed and things leveled off a bit.) It's so difficult being 1200 miles away at times like this.

So, here we are, in a holding pattern, living out of a suitcase in our own bedroom just so we can be ready on very short notice. We don't make plans more than 2 days in advance and worry each time the phone rings.

I hope to get back to daily posting but without warning, we may be back on the road with no internet access. (I've GOT to get me a laptop one of these days. Maybe Santa's looking for an early shopping idea.)

Please bear with me. I'll post when I can.