With a clean yard and a beautiful morning, time to take Sunday breakfast outside. I made apple cinnamon pancakes – including two little ones for two certain canines. Yum.

Fall cleanup mostly done – crabgrass cleaned out, new grass seed down, garden cleaned up, decision made about what to with the rock side. Just a couple of more projects and we’ll be set for winter. Of course, they’re BIG projects – replacing a section of siding, a new grill cover, and a new back door. But, in the meantime, the yard is doggie tested and approved.

It’s SO much work and we are SO bad at it, but every year, when I think we should just rip it out and be done with it, I stand and look down at it with the fountain on and just go “AHHHH.”

Saved for another season.

Shh! Don’t tell! It’s not done yet! I sat down to put the binding on (THERE’s a story for you – it will have BLUE binding. BLUE.) and realized I don’t have any thread that color. So, we’re on hold, yet again….but….

….it’s my mother’s lap quilt, my first Log Cabin, in all the wild colors she wanted….

Landing in Boston – ahhh….good to be home…

One of my cousins got married over the holiday weekend, so we added on some extra time for a little relaxation for ourselves and stayed at a sweet, little B&B with a vineyard. OK, aside from the B&B, there is no such thing as a relaxing vacation where family is involved – at least not my family. “The Family,” as we were described – like The Mafia-  at the reception. Frankly, it’s fitting. Running here, running there, eating, drinking, drama. And since we were in CT, there were a few people I wanted to see….and J was along for the ride, patient as he was.

I wish we could have spent some actual time in Boston.

We just about need a vacation from our vacation.

Maybe next year.

Shoes? Testing…

The beautiful bride and her cutie husband. Welcome to The Family, Will. Fortunately, you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The vineyard at the Fitch Claremont House , as taken when we checked in. Terribly cute B&B, fantastic breakfast, yummy wine, wonderful owners.

Dinner with my boy on the water in Mystic at the S&P Oyster Company. None of The Family attended. Ah. Quiet. (And if you’re ever in the neighborhood, I recommend this place highly)

Really – can’t I just stay here?

I know I’m behind a few days now, picture-wise, but it’s been a crazy week and we’re off on another little adventure this weekend…more on that soon...

Seriously, what girl in her right mind doesn’t love having her hair done? Someone else shampooing it, and cutting/dyeing/styling it so that you walk out of there looking better than you ever could at home on your own.

If you don’t love it, you need to find a new hairdresser.

I’ve been blonde for going on 2 years now. In Amanda-Hair time, that is an eternity. I’ve kept myself entertained with various cuts and growing it out and such, but simply, it’s time.

This is the “Before.” See that slightly smug look and the twinkle of devilish glee? Stay tuned…

11 Sept 09, edited to add:

After – via iPhone at Pilates (mmm, workout clothes…)

Finally, a spot on the Big Bed. It’s only taken me 8 years to train Mommy.

After a bout with some serious hotspots this summer, J finally took Albert to be shaved down.  He gets his long coat from his Golden Retriever half, and we usually keep him shorn all summer – but this year, we didn’t get it done until the end of the summer. We’re sorry we took so long, because he is SO much happier with less hair!

Bert will be 13 in November, and between his hotspots, arthritis, and some new recurring eye issues, while he seems to be totally healthy and energetic otherwise, I’m more and more cognizant that our time with him is limited. Saturday night, I finally gave in and asked him to come on up on the bed to sleep – like he did with his Dad before Mom entered the picture. Clean, non-shedding, and shorn? Fine. As long as he’s kept this way – and it doesn’t disrupt our sleep – he  can probably come up.

Sunday night, he went to his own bed, but I encouraged him again.

Monday – didn’t even have to ask. The second we went upstairs after work to change, he ran up and hopped up.

I’ve created a “monster.”

Oh well.  He’s a content one.