August, 2017

Haven't been here in a bit, it's been so busy lately.  The month of August has come and almost gone and it has been so full of events.  First, on August 12 I sold my wares at the Benicia Peddler's Fair, shared the booth with Tami, and we both did fair at our sales.  It can always be better, but it was worth it.  I have attended this fair for years as a visitor, but this was my first time as a vendor.  And I'd like to go back next year.  The volunteers and organizers made it so easy and stress free to sell there, it was totally worth it.  The weatherman said it would be warm, but being Benicia, we got the winds from the water on us all day, and we were lucky to have set up under a shade tree that took care of us all day.

Then the second fair I sold at was the Martinez Art In The Park.  This was my third year at this event, and with it being Martinez, how could I not do it.  However, I was not there to sell, Tami and Joel did that for me as I was roughing it in Yosemite.  My sales went well, except that I did not sell even one of my books, but the dominoes and cards were the selling items that day.  Who'd a thunk it.  The dominoes have been VERY successful, and the other night my sis-in-law, Jackie, called.  She has bought 6 of them, and wears them often and gets many comments about them.  She said what I did with them was wonderful, making them into eyeglass holders and all.  I said "What?" are you talking about.  She hangs her eyeglasses off the little hangie-downie things I've added to the dominoes, and she said everyone loves them.  I didn't know I did that, but now I do, so I'll have to add more hangie-downie thingies to the dominoes.

I'm getting ready to do my last craft event of the year, and that will be the Pumpkin Fest in Ukiah, CA on October 21-22.  I think Nettie will be doing it with me, not sure yet, but I've got to get much more stuff done before then.  More dominoes, more books, more cards.  And the emphasis is totally on Halloween/Thanksgiving and a little Christmas. So lots to do before that event, I have like 6-7 weeks to get stuff ready.  Busy, but fun stuff!

Then we got to go to Yosemite, camping for a week.  That was fun.  I haven't been there for probably 6-7 years, so when Tresa told me they got a sight and we could share it with them, I was ecstatic.  It certainly was different, being 63 and sleeping on the ground, cooking from a propane stove and sitting on a hard camp table/bench.  I thoroughly enjoyed swimming in the Merced river, cold but invigorating.  Nettie and her family, and baby Zoe just 6 weeks old, went with us. It was a long drive there (8 hours) and a long drive home.  Zoe did so well for being such a little baby, sleeping all night long.  Everyone enjoyed swimming, hiking, smore'ing, and just relaxing.

Then when we got home, I had 80 pounds of Gravenstein apples to make into applesauce.  I was exhausted from camping, then coming home and 3 days of canning were equally exausting.  On the third day, Nettie and Aria came to help me and it went so fast compared to the 2 days I did it on my own.  But it's done now, and so glad it is. I posted on Facebook about it, and Judy posted that she had THREE!!! boxes, OMGosh.  That's way too much for me to do, 2 boxes was enough.  But they are done and ready for consumption over the next year, so I hope they last until next August.

Well, that's it for me.  So much to do, I need to clean and organize all the camping equipment we took, and pack it back into the garage.  It's so totally hot today and the next few days, it may take me longer than I thought.  But it will get done.  Then I need to do some craft organizing, I can't find things when I need them, and the next 6 weeks or so I need to be organized for the next craft event.  So I will definitely be busy...when am I not?

Be back soon.