Of Commas, Fleas and Fairs

Did you know there were grammar rule changes by Chicago Manual of Style this year? One change made? The possessive apostrophe for words ending in "S". It used to be correct to write:

Those are Jesus' sandals.

Now we are supposed to write:

Those are Jesus's sandals.

Secondly, I saw this on Facebook and conpletely agree. Another change in the works? Making the serial comma (the comma that comes before the "and" in a series of items) obsolete. This picture illustrates the need for that comma to STAY quite nicely:



*sigh*

There are more, but those were the ones that made me saddest.

Yeah, I'm a grammar geek.

Took Dakota to the vet yesterday. Brandy asked: Could the reddish/brown spots on Dakota's skin be blood from where she was bitten? Or like a strange bruise for the same reason?

Brandy! :::ding ding ding::: You're a winner! Yep, the vet said they were bruises from flea bites, which just break my heart. I feel like I've let her be horribly tortured over the last week while I tried to cure them naturally.

Yesterday, I bought some Capstar Tablets. Yes, they're a pesticide and I don't love feeding her what is essentially poison, but it seems as though there was no other certain and complete way to rid her of fleas. I also got Frontline for the cat. AND the vet recommended strongly that my house be cleaned top to bottom (didn't I just do this for cockroaches? I hate pests.) starting with laundering anything that can be and then mopping, scrubbing, etc. everything that can't for flea eggs.

I did all our bedding yesterday -- that took FOREVER. Today I tackle all our rugs and the cloth whoosies I put under our lamps and knick knacks. Plus I'll probably sweep, mop and dust.

It's actually really quite wonderful that we have so much hardwood -- fewer places for flea eggs to hide.

On Monday, I'm going to flea power all our carpets. It has to stay down (and rubbed in vigorously) for at least an hour, so I'll probably apply it and then leave for a bit so the dog doesn't get into it. Then I have to vacuum it back up (and they recommended I put a flea collar in my vacuum canister).

I swear, I think fleas might be worse than cockroaches.

So, those are my big plans for the weekend, especially since it looks like the Deerfield fair might be out -- the weather just keeps getting worse for the weekend. Next year? I think I'm going to try the Hopkinton State Fair.

Anything exciting in the works for you this weekend?

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You Are a Straight A Student

You are highly observant and mindful. You take in a lot of information, and you're very perceptive. You are smart, clever, and perceptive. You know how to synthesize and process information. You have excellent people skills. You can talk to anyone. You are high achieving without being too competitive about it. You simply like to succeed.

The Classroom Test

Yeah... pretty much right. Though I wasn't straight A's (much to my dismay) I did graduate in the top ten of my class. I liked school :-)

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**YAWN**

I'm tired. Yesterday was crazy busy ... and then I opted to go to agility for both classes. OY. Got home at almost 9 pm -- don't think we'll be doing that again any time soon.

Then Dakota was up sick all night. About every 90 mins she needed to go out. It's not her fault, but the last time (at about 3:30 a.m.) I very nearly cried.

She's feeling better now, probably because she's empty, and is sleeping. Wish I had that option.

She's going to the vet today to have her weird spots looked at. DD is sure they're cancer and that the dog is going to die. *sigh*

On another topic, DD has another field trip today and it's also the opening day of our local fair. I've often said that God has a warped sense of humor... because despite the fact we've had weeks of the most beautiful, sunny, warm GORGEOUS weather, today it's pouring rain. POURING.

DD's field trip? They built cardboard boats in science class and today they take them out to sail them and see if they planned right and they'll float (with two passengers on board).

And, I swear there is never good weather for the fair. It rained pretty much all four days LAST year, and it looks like at least three of the four days this year are going to be wet.

So ... see? Warped sense of humor.

In any case, I'm just hoping to get through the day in one piece and not drive off the road or walk into walls because I'm asleep on my feet. I'm also thankful I'm not the one floating a cardboard boat in the rain...

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

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You Are Open-hearted

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise. You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You are knowledgeable and well-read. If no one can teach you, you'll teach yourself. You are open minded and a visionary. You understand the world and just may change it. You are the master of new ideas, techniques, and ways of looking at things.

The Windowsill Flower Test

Who knew?

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A Day at the Fair -- Yes, Really

The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it. ~Patrick Young

Yesterday, I watched that blasted radar -- checked it every 15 minutes and discovered that the storm had apparently decided to make a C around southern New Hampshire. They predicted the occasional shower, but mostly it would be clear.

So, we packed up the rain gear, some towels and a couple bottles of water, and we WENT!

DD was so thrilled. Beyond thrilled. Utterly unable to contain her excitement.

As soon as we got to the fairgrounds, the skies opened and it POURED. We sat in the car... hoping it would pass. Thankfully, it did, but it sure made a mess of everything. We started the day at the horse show and spent our first hour there watching. One of the vet techs from our office was handling several horses and she won first place with one. It was so cute... she screamed and jumped up and down a few times. Guess she was excited?

Next, we toured the commercial barns where they sell stuff. We bought a few things, some of them pretty heavy, so we went back out to the car and dropped off our wares. Then, of course, it was time to hit the midway. Because it wasn't bracelet day, we had to buy tickets (which are absurdly expensive -- we spent $32 and DD got to ride ten rides).

It was agonizing for her to decide which rides to go on... we ended up spending two hours there and it was the most exhausting part of the day for me because there wasn't anywhere for me to sit down. I have to admit to being surprised at how well my knee held up though.



After the midway, we ate (junk food, of course -- french fries were involved) and then went off to look for a new ring for DD. Finally, my body was all done and we had to call it a day at around 2:30.

DD wants to go back today ... it's bracelet day. And, interestingly, it looks like the storm is going to miss us -- it moved west and is pummeling Vermont.



I just don't know if my knee is up to another day of walking and standing for hours on end.

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In other news ... I'm four days behind on my Google Reader blogs. I'm sorry!! I miss you guys! Yesterday was a total bust -- we left at 8, got home around 3, had agility at 5 ... collapse into bed up our return.

Depending on whether I go to the fair again today, I may be able to get to you. I want to see what's going on with everyone. I feel very disconnected.

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You Are The Homebody

You feel happiest in the comfort of your own home. You have plenty to keep you busy. You love to have friends over and entertain. You're proud of the sanctuary you've created. You are content to spend an afternoon baking or reading. You don't need much to feel content. You think nothing is better and cozier than a night in. What could be better than good food, good company, and comfortable furniture?

What's Your Grown Up Stereotype?

That's about right...

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So Sad I Have To Laugh

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran

You ever have things happen that are so frustrating and upsetting that you have to find time to laugh?

We have this:




Do you see the "flood watch until Friday 4 p.m." on there? Yeah, so not going to the fair on Friday either. Saturday will be nice, but will be an absolute ZOO. Last time I went on a Saturday, I was miserable. Hardly any room to move, or walk; long lines for rides, nowhere to sit.

DD cried herself to sleep last night.

I'm not sure what we'll do at this point. And it makes me terribly sad.

So ... I watched a few Geico commercials, because HA they always make me smile:



Though I have to admit this is one of my favorite commercials EVER:



What can you recommend to make me smile today?

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You Are a Golden Delicious Apple

You have a glow to you, and you are naturally attractive. You know how to highlight your good points. Beneath that shining exterior is a sensitive soul. You are more thin skinned that people realize. You prefer others to be gentle with you. You need to be handled with care. You may be fragile, but you're also tough deep down. You're firm enough to stand up for what you believe in.

What Kind of Apple Are You?

Um .... 50/50 I guess. And I really hate golden delicious apples. They're mushy. Blech.

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Knees and Rain and Grogs... oh my

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change. ~Wilson Mizner

Thanks for all your well-wishes yesterday. Today, I'm going to get a knee brace (thanks, Charity) and I think that should make me well enough to go to the fair (as long as I'm not stupid). Of course, now they're calling for rain on both Thursday and Friday (the days we go because it's not so busy). I swear, if it's not one thing, it's another!

In other news, a couple months ago, I was contacted by Marianne Stephens about a group blog (grog?) she was starting that would be populated by authors named Marianne (and every variant thereof). She asked if I'd like to join -- I'd only have to blog once a month.

I decided to go for it. The blog -- called All Day, All Night officially starts on October 1st and we're running a contest starting now through the end of October (it includes Godiva Chocolate, so how can you go wrong?). All you have to do is follow us to get an entry -- though comments on the posts through October give you more. I'll be blogging on the eleventh every month. Wish me luck!

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You Should Stay Away From Brown

You are a worldly and cosmopolitan person. You consider yourself openminded and nonjudgmental. You are very witty, and you're willing to make light of anything. You are proud of your sense of humor. The color brown sometimes represents a lack of sophistication and humor. What a bummer! Brown can also be a heavy color, and you're just too light hearted for its weight.

What Color Should You Stay Away From?

I actually like brown, that rich, chocolate brown ... I have several items of clothing in that color. Uh oh. ;-)

No Walking Today

Health is like munny, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it. ~Josh Billings




More than a month ago, I hurt my knee. I don't know how -- I woke up one morning and I couldn't straighten it. It was locked in place and screaming pain would shoot through it when I tried. It took me more than half an hour, lots of tears and finally just DOING it (like ripping a bandaid off) to get my leg uncrooked. But something happened to it and it hasn't been right since.

It took a couple weeks of wrapping it and babying it until it felt *mostly* healed. I'd still get a twinge if I tried to squat or kneel, but I could walk, run agility and more with no issues.

Until Sunday. Sunday, during a walk, I felt something ... move. It didn't hurt then, but I knew something had happened and sure enough as the day progressed, the pain began. It's not unbearable, but it is uncomfortable.

The worst part is this: The Deerfield Fair is this weekend.

I don't know if you remember, but last year for the fair I was sick.

DD loves the fair more than she loves Christmas. She talks about it all year long, marks off her calendar for it, saves up money to spend at it. It is, without a doubt, her favorite day of the year.

It requires a LOT of walking. And standing. And I hurt my knee.

I swear, I'm cursed. I can't remember the last time we went to the fair when the weather was pretty and I wasn't hurt or sick. It's ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm babying my knee again for the week and if I have to, I'll use crutches to go. Because, I'm not disappointing my DD. But MAN does it make me angry... *sigh*

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You Appreciate All of Life's Moments

You are a great compromiser. You can deal with personalities of every flavor, and you're good at making sure each person has a say. You have a very balanced personality. You know how to moderate yourself when you are feeling extreme. You love everything about life, including the sadder and darker parts. You appreciate every emotion. You are energetic and downright hyper. All sorts of ideas and opportunities excite you.

The Tea Oracle

Not so much....

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Fun at the Fair

Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length. ~Robert Frost

So... We went to the fair yesterday. Probably not the smartest thing I've done, health-wise, but I couldn't stand to disappoint DD as long as I could stand and walk. Unfortunately, when we got there I discovered my camera wasn't working, so the only pictures I got were on my cell phone and they aren't very good.

Anyway...

The day was hers. We walked in and I said, "Where do you want to go?" and off we went. The "in hand" horse shows were first, where I batted about 50% on choosing the winners. Once I realized that the judge preferred the flashier horses, I did much better (for instance, in the horse/colt/filly 1 y.o. there was an amazing palomino quarter horse -- I can't remember the last time I've seen a horse with such perfect breed conformation -- but I knew the judge would prefer both the Freesian AND the Arabian over the Quarter Horse, and I was right. The QH came in third).

Then we did rides -- spent half her tickets before she decided we should check out the vendors. The sky was getting pretty black and we wanted to be indoors in case it rained (it didn't, thankfully). We bought some soap and boo-boo balm from Aunt Jane (my favorite vendor -- I try to find her every year) and then DD tried to spend her $10 that she'd saved up, but couldn't find anything she liked.

Then it was lunch (a Philly cheese steak sandwich, sans steak, lol) and a HUGE bowl of fries. After we ate, she took a look at the program and we saw that the Flying Wallendas were going to be onstage in just a few minutes, so off we went. We got there just in time! The act was a little cheesy and amateur (which I suspect was in part due to the location) -- but DD has never seen anything like it and she LOVED it.

Then back to the rides, where she bumped into another little girl who was riding alone. She opted to spend most of her souvenir money on more tickets and had loads of fun!

About that time, though, I hit the wall. All of a sudden, I was massively congested and so exhausted I could barely stand. She wanted more tickets to keep riding, but I told her we had to leave... which broke her heart. It was about 3:00 pm. First, though, I had to sit down because I honestly don't think I could have walked to the car without resting first.

Her tummy hurt on the way home (hmmm... maybe the donuts, cotton candy and french fries PLUS loads of rides that spin you around had something to do with that?) and she was sad. She kept saying, "I can't believe it's over."

We picked up the dog at day care (where I saw another dog who looked JUST like her, only he was a boy ... another Golden/Irish -- who would have thunk it?) and went home. She curled up on the couch and read and watched "The Universe" on the Science channel until bed.

I worked until I couldn't keep my eyes open, and we all crashed. I slept pretty well, but this morning the congestion has settled in my chest. UGH.

Even so, it was worth it.

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Despite being busy yesterday, I took the time to join a cause near and dear to my heart:



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And, I also broke down and turned on the heat. It was 40 degrees out at dinnertime last night, and about 60 in my house. I couldn't stand it. So, thermostat is at 65 and all the windows are closed.

Wah. Summer really IS over.

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Too Pooped to Play

“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.” - George F. Burns

I'm too tired to write much this morning. Yesterday was massively stressful for more reasons than I care to list, and then when I finally collapsed in bed I could NOT get to sleep. ARGH.

So, I'm pooped this morning. The good news is I'm still not sick. The bad news is, the weather may not cooperate with our fair attendance plans. Fingers crossed for nice weather on Thursday!!

DD starts her art lessons tomorrow. And, BTW, she bounced out of bed yesterday, still had a little cough and some sniffles, but was all but healed. Kids really do seem to get better faster!

In any case, we should be back to normal routine today and I should be more functional tomorrow.

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

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Your Primary Mood Color is Red

You are a very passionate and fiery person. You have strong emotions, and you don't hold back. You are bold and quick acting. You aren't afraid to take the first step or make the first move. You are an attention seeker, and you love to be the center of things. You've learned how to entertain people well. You are the type of person who the subject of speculation and gossip, and that's fine with you. You like to be talked about.

What's Your Primary Mood Color?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Yes on the first, not so much on the last...

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Surrounded but not Surrendering

Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot. ~Dutch Proverb, sometimes attributed to William C. Hazlitt

So... DD is sick with whatever DH had. Blech.

There are a few reasons why this is so much worse than when DH got sick. When he was sick, he stayed away from us -- worked in the basement, etc., and we hardly even saw him. Even so, I followed behind with my can of Lysol and anti-bacterial wipes, lol.

DD, though, is a very needy child even on a good day. She's touchy-feely, constantly needing hugs and kisses and to be in contact with me. She's also not as cognizant of touching things (for instance, last night she leaned over the breakfast bar and wiped her hands back and forth across it like windshield wiper blades). She won't just go into her room to read or even up to the schoolroom to watch TV. She wants to be near people.

So, even though I have my handy can of Lysol and the wipes, and I've washed my hands so many times I think the skin is peeling off; even though I'm bombing my body with my "cold bomb" (zinc, vitamin C, oregano oil and echinacea) three times a day I'm a little worried I may still get the bug.

This is bad on two levels. One: I hate being sick, of course. But the biggie? Our equivalent of a state fair is next weekend. The fair is something DD says she looks forward to as much as Christmas. She's been talking about going all year long, pretty much ever since we walked out the gates last year.

This creeping crud seems to linger. DH has been down with it for nearly a week and is still not feeling 100% (or even 75%). I figure DD will be well enough next week to go to the fair, but if I catch this bug in a day or two ... I'm not.

So, I'm going to fight the good fight. I don't want my DD to miss the fair because I'm sick. And I keep reminding her of that when she comes over for kisses and hugs. "It's not that I don't love you, but don't you want to go to the fair?"

Wish me luck.

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Our library book sale is today. YAY! Mom -- I'll look for stuff for you. The cool thing is this: today I'll go for the stuff I REALLY want and pay the regular price for it. But on Monday, I can go back and fill up a box for only a few dollars with the stuff I wanted to read, but maybe not keep.

I love books.

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My neighbors had their landscaping people come by a couple of days ago, and one of the things they did was walk all over the entire yard with this spray, and individually spray herbicide on weeds as they found them.

Here's what makes me scratch my head. If you're going to hunt them down one at a time anyway, isn't it just as easy to pull them up as it is to spray poison on them? If you pull them up, you don't have dead weeds all over your lawn AND you're not adding toxic chemicals into your environment. Seems like a no-brainer.

:::scratches head:::

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I think we've made a decision on DD's store name -- but until I'm certain, I'm not going to announce it. Hopefully tomorrow. And, hopefully tomorrow I'll have the website graphic done (thanks to Judy and her Goddess Fish mad Photoshop skills) and the store opened.

My friend, Chris (whose fault this whole beading thing is) says to beware: beads are like crack ... addictive and a hard habit to kick. She's right. I can't stop going to the craft stores and looking (and buying, of course). Yesterday we went to a nearby bead store (WOW! High prices!!) and then to AC Moore. We got two strands of the prettiest twisty beads and a pile of silver separators, plus more crimp tubes (you can never have too many, lol).

We're going to work on either bracelets or earring next -- which require all new supplies, of course. LOL... Thank heaves AC Moore and Michaels both have coupons in the Sunday paper!!

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This and That

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley

DD has to make a potpourri pie for her art lesson this week. It's different smelly things in a dish covered with strips of felt to look like a pie. She went outside with our harvesting basket (the one we use to pick veggies) and came back in with stuff I wouldn't have thought of putting together. Her "pie" ended up being chives, rosemary and cinnamon (which she grated from cinnamon sticks). Surprisingly, it smelled AWESOME. In fact, I think I'm going to put it in my bathroom :-)

Tomorrow our 4Runner goes to its new home and I won't be able to avoid learning how my new-to-me car works anymore. How sad is it that I'm overwhelmed by The Pea? Mary mentioned yesterday that she had family members who recently bought brand new cars and had to attend a class to find out how everything works!! A CLASS.

Dear heavens.

Our local fair is coming up in two weekends. DD is bouncing off the walls about it -- says it's almost as good as Christmas. She asked me what I liked best about it (I said "the food" ... lol) and she said, "I like the horse shows and the exhibits and the rides and the cows and the food... I like EVERYTHING."

She's thinking about going on the big Ferris wheel this year, but isn't sure because I won't go on with her (yeah, I'll do roller coasters, but Ferris wheels terrify me). We're torn between going on "bracelet day" when you buy a bracelet for $20 and can ride rides until you vomit, or going on a different day when the fairway won't be so crowded, but you use tickets -- and she'd only get to go on 5-6 rides. Tough decisions to make at ten.

We're not sure what to do with Dakota on fair day, either. We'd either have to crate her for 6 - 7 hours or take her to day care. Every time we've taken her to day care, she's gotten sick, but I don't love the idea of crating the little bundle of energy for that long either. Days like these, I really miss my last dog. She was so easy.

DH wants to get a log-splitter for our three cords of wood this year. The past couple of times we've taken down our own trees for firewood, we've split it all by hand. It's great exercise, but very time-consuming, and we're running out of time this year. Guess we'll find out...

I'm going to pick all the apples off of our trees today. I think I might make applesauce, though the idea of it exhausts me. But, we got enough this year we can't just eat them all, so I have to do something with them.

Got any fun ideas of what to do with a bunch of apples?

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You Are North

Like a Viking, you are assertive, decisive, and dominant. You seek power and destroy those in your way. People admire that you are so confident and independent. You seem to have the world figured out. Sometimes you come across as pushy and aggressive... not that you mind! You like being seen as tough. You make a fairly good leader, especially in times that require grit and ruthlessness. You are a warrior.

Are You North, South, East, or West?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Next stop: World Domination! ........ muhahahahahaha.......

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Fair Photos

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

It rained all day yesterday. It's supposed to rain today and Sunday, too. My DH is bored silly and is threatening to remodel the basement. I wish I could loan him out to people who need work done, lol. He doesn't sit still well.

In any case, it's sad because it looks like the fair is going to be a big washout this year. Stinks for the vendors, especially. (Note to Tori: I'm going to make funnel cake here... figured it was easier than making real fudge).

In any case, a few photos:

DD enjoying her cotton candy


Llama with a 'tude (I swear, they look perpetually annoyed)


DD's new hat!


And feeding the pigs...I mean goats!


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My bread flopped yesterday, darn it. I think my yeast is old. I proofed it, and it passed, but the bread still didn't rise enough. Oh well...

Today -- funnel cake! LOL...

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You Should Live in Alabama

If you don't want to live in Alabama, you might also consider: Indiana South Carolina Texas Arizona Georgia

What State Should You Live In?

I think the quiz is calling me a redneck... lol... And, Judy is voting for Georgia.

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Pooped Out and Another Review

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne

Don't you just love Pooh? About a million years ago, I read the book, "The Tao of Pooh" and it was so interesting! Who knew the bear with very little brain could be so deep?

No photos of the fair yet. I was just too pooped last night to download, and this a.m. DH is still sleeping and my camera and camera dock are in the bedroom. I should have them this weekend.

DD and I had a good time. She, of course, wanted to go on more rides -- and she wanted me to go with her, but fact is... the cost is absurd. We got 25 tickets for $20 -- and then 3 more at $1 each (because the rides take 4 tickets... think they do that on purpose?). So, that's only 7 rides! The penny-pincher in me just can't stand the thought of spending nearly $4 a ride. Oy.

We went to an open, in-hand horse show where I managed to pick the winner more often than not. Guess my horse knowledge isn't as rusty as I thought. DD moaned about wanting to get a horse and how she can't wait until she's grown up and can buy one. Yep... good luck with that.

I had more comments on my sweatshirt than I've ever had (and I've owned it for... well, many years). It's a St. Cloud State University shirt I got from my old roomie. Her dad was the dean there briefly, and got us all shirts. Apparently, there are more people from Minnesota here than I realized. I kept hearing, "I'm from Alexandra!" ... um, okay. I got this shirt when I lived in California, and I don't even know where Alexandra is. But I nodded and smiled.

We ate a ton of junk food (I'm pretty sure I'm at least 15 pounds heavier today) and the evil woman at the cute little shop near the exit of the fair grabbed me and forced me to buy two pounds of fudge to take home (it was buy one pound, get one free ... how could I resist??).

We looked through the exhibits, where DD announced that she could do better than most of those kids who had projects there, but fact is -- I can't get her to get off her hiney and DO something. Maybe next year.

I bought some amazing goats milk soap, and we patted a llama and various other critters.

All-in-all a good day.

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Found another review for "Kitchen Matches" in my inbox this morning. Always a nice way to wake up!

From The Romance Studio (5 hearts!):

This Marianne Arkins manuscript was my first by her but I definitely do not intend for it to be my last. She used humor and an abundance of comedic relief to show the tendencies of her characters. There was a myriad of minor characters who all worked to make the story its best.

I believe that anybody would enjoy this manuscript. It is a quick-read, fast-paced and so romantic and funny that it has something for everyone. I highly recommend it.

Yay!
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Okay, time to play catch up -- I didn't get diddly squat done yesterday. DD and I are going to spend a good deal of today's rainy day baking bread, so I need to get a move on now! Have a great weekend.

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Fairs and Reviews, or Fair Reviews

"It is a happy talent to know how to play." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Originally, DD and I were going to attend the Deerfield Fair on Friday because it's "bracelet day" -- which means I can buy her a bracelet for $16 and she can ride rides on the midway until she pukes.

Sadly, it's going to rain on Friday (I've checked six different weather sites, and they all agree -- a very unusual happening, which leads me to believe that it is, indeed, going to rain on Friday!), so we'll be going today. This means I can buy $20 worth of tickets for DD and she can ride about 6 rides. Stinks, but there you are.

She's happy -- she'll still get cotton candy (she gets it once a year and looks forward to it all year long!) and curly fries and will be able to watch horse shows until she doesn't want to see another horse. We'll walk until I'll feel like crying and then we'll come home and I'll collapse.

Dakota will be in doggy day care, since DH won't be home (he would have been home on Friday -- but he doesn't like the fair, so would have stuck around to dogsit). In any case, I'll most likely be a vegetable for the rest of the day, so planned ahead and already have dinner done. I just have to pop it into the oven for an hour.

Here are some pix of the fair last year (most have the front of DD in them, so I can't post):

DD the crazy girl:


DD and SIL patting a baby cow:


If I'm incoherant on tomorrow's blog, you'll know why.

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Two new reviews for "Kitchen Matches" -- again, they like my voice and Cori, but the hero, Micah? Not so much. **sigh** Here are excerpts of the reviews --

From CK2S Kwips and Kritiques (3 1/2 clovers):

While an enjoyable read overall, I see potential for improvement with Kitchen Matches work had it been expanded to a longer format, thus allowing for more depth of character development and more chances to experience some of the earlier kitchen encounters that offer the promise of some great slapstick humor. Marianne Arkins is a new author worth watching for.

Aside from the fact that I don't really feel like a new author (I feel like I've been doing this for fifty years...lol), at least she liked my writing.

And from Book Utopia (37/50):

When I read the excerpt for this short novella prior to buying it, I laughed. In a good way. So when I bought it, I had high hopes. Not every story can maintain a level of charm and wit from start to finish, but happily, this one does. Cori is sharp and intelligent, and if she’s a klutz in the kitchen, that just gives her an imperfection that’s relatable. The events of the class are played for laughs, but it’s not over the top, not unbelievable. Add in the fact that the dialogue sparkles when Cori and Micah are going at each other, or when Cori is with her family, and reading this was fast, fun, and furious.

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The Day After

The things that one most wants to do are the things that are probably most worth doing. - Winifred Holtby

The fair absolutely wiped me out yesterday. My DD said it was too bad that old people got tired so fast.

Yeah. Uh, thanks.

The weather held, though strangely, just a mile or two up the road, the thunderstorms were so bad that thousands of people lost power. Wasn't it nice that God put an umbrella over the fairgrounds :-)

We watched the horse shows, we patted some of the draft horse and cows. We talked at GREAT LENGTH to a teenager with two calves she was raising to pull things. One of them, Hank, thought I was yummy. I was rubbing his head and he was leaning heavily into me, but if I got close to his nose -- **SLURP** -- out came the tongue. Their tongues are STRONG. It's amazing my hand didn't end up as his lunch.

DD rode a few rides. We prefer to go on "bracelet day" when you pay $20 for unlimited rides, but that's today and it's supposed to rain all day (unless that old umbrella theory holds). So, I paid $20 for a sheet of tickets instead and it ended up only being seven rides. Unbelievable. Still, she had fun despite agonizing over which rides to ride.

We had french fries and cotton candy for lunch. Of course.

And we spent a lot of time looking at the art -- both drawings and paintings. The DD is sure she wants to be an artist. All-in-all we spent about six hours there and my dogs were barking. I was never so glad to get home.

It's too bad old people get tired so fast.

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Pillar Place: Monarch P2 is having an event today. All but two chrysalis' will become butterflies. Of course. Because, you see, it's RAINING ALL DAY TODAY. Do you think they can read the weather forecast? I mean, it hasn't rained in a week, and it's not going to rain the whole next week. Today is literally the only day during their butterbaby period where any precipitation is expected. So, of course, today is the day.

I arranged all their little lids around the lip of a box so they can hang to dry their wings, and locked them up in our spare bedroom. In a few hours, we'll have our own "Butterfly Place". I should charge entry, LOL.

Tomorrow, when it's sunny and warm, I figure I'll just open the windows wide and take out the screens... and they'll fly right out. Right?

I'll let you know.

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Did you happen to swing by and read the free short story by Ceri Hebert up at LASR yesterday? You should... it's a winner!

And it's the last day to win an autographed copy of your choice of Janet Mullany's backlist AND a free eBook by Elaine Cantrell.

AND... we'll be sending out our first LASR newsletter on Monday (or so). There's a special "subscribers only" contest that we'll be offering AND you'll be entered to win an Amazon gift certificate. Have you signed up yet?

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You Are a Carnation

You are down to earth and grounded. You tend to be more traditional than trendy. Your confidence gets you through anything. People trust you and are very loyal to you.

What Flower Are You?

Trust me... Muh-ha-ha....

Actually, though, this is pretty right on. And, the thrify person inside me loves carnations beause they last forever!

All's Fair...and Booking It

“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” - Dale Carnegie

The DD and I are going to the Deerfield Fair today. This is the largest fair in New Hampshire, but for someone who grew up in California and regularly attended the California State Fair (NH doesn't have a "state" fair... how weird is that?), I still laugh when I see how worked up folks are about this little gathering.

Regardless, my DD loves it and waits ALL YEAR to go. I was originally afraid it would be a wash-out because rain is expected, but now they've changed it to "afternoon thunderstorms". I hope that's true and it holds off. Cross your fingers for us, please.

So, except for what I get done this morning, I won't be working on the LASR website or my own site or edits.

I am probably going to have the shakes by noon. Withdrawal is an ugly thing.

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I almost forgot to Book It! Yikes! How is that possible?

Buy a Friend a Book Week is October 1-7 (as well as the first weeks of January, April, and July). During this week, you’re encouraged to buy a friend a book for no good reason. Not for their birthday, not because it’s a holiday, not to cheer them up–just because it’s a book.

What book would you choose to give to a friend and why?

And, if you’re feeling generous enough–head on over to Amazon and actually send one on its way!

I can't believe it's almost that time again! I try to participate in BAFABW every year... and will do so again (If I remember -- it is, after all, an ENTIRE week away!).

Many of my friends have Amazon wish lists, so that's easy. In the past, I've bought two people books during BAFABW AND have given away gift certificates here. It's fun, and a reason to shop... what more could you ask for?

As far as WHICH book? That really depends on who I'm giving to, doesn't it? I'm not going to by a sweet romance for my friend who prefers Stephen King -- I might buy her a romantic suspense (ala Holly Lisle or Linda Howard), but certainly not a Jenny Crusie book. We all like different stuff -- so I'd have to take that into account.

And, yes, come back on Oct 1st to see what I'll be giving away then. I'll have to give it some thought.

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You Are A Fir Tree

You love anything beautiful, and you have extraordinary taste. And while it's hard for you to trust, you care deeply for those close to you. You are a social butterfly, and you have many friends. You handle stress well - and you are a master at relaxing after a hard day. Overall, you are modest, talented, unselfish, and very reliable.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

Social butterfly....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Master at relaxing??...... HAHAHAHAHAHA*snort*HAHA