Good Morning! I hope everyone who is reading this is having a good Summer. I hope you got to enjoy some beautiful weather, spent time with family and friends, sat outside in the evenings or even got to the shore. 

 Honestly, its been a strange Summer for us. It had a combination of good things (Sweet 16 party, vacation, new patio) and then sadness with the loss of another close family member. Whereas I hate dwelling on sadness, this loss really hit us hard. I keep my spirits up by immersing myself in my hobbies and family. I have to value all that I have. I am blessed. Life is beautiful. Life is hard. Loss is devastating. Losing relationships is devastating. Ultimately, life is still beautiful. 

I'm really excited for Fall! I promised my husband I wont start decorating till September 1st but I have started some crafts. I'm currently working on some new Fall arrangements and I sewed some fabric pumpkins that I am stuffing. I'm making a Fall sunflower wreath but I need some more supplies. Keeping busy keeps me calm and happy. Its also a way for me to process the loss of both my Mom and this other family member. I bought a few signs from dollar tree that are elongated. Rather than hang them, I'm mounting them on stakes to make signs. As long as they don't get wet,  they will be fine so I will probably add them into outside displays that are under my covered porches.  I had cleaned and organized my craft room which had been a mess since Caitlin's Sweet 16 party so now I am committed to keeping it neat!

My garden is another story. Peppers did great. Zucchini...everyone gets ton of zucchini but not us. I got only one! And I have ten plants with lots of zucchini flowers but no zucchini to pick! Tomatoes were slow coming and rotting on the vine. My husband is currently investigating WHY. Herbs, celery and cabbage did okay. I think next year we need to change up our gardens. New plans. Disappointing but still fun to work on. Now that my husband finished our patio in June, he is currently making an outdoor kitchen area with a counter/stools. An area for our smoker and BBQ and an outdoor fridge. He is always filled with awesome ideas. I wish he had more time to enjoy all the great things he does for us. But it's Fall I'm waiting for!

Fall fills me with inspiration and excitement. I want to bake! I want to get cozy! I want fluffy blankets out and Fall scented candles burning! I like to plan ahead for my trick or treaters and make my pumpkin people and dressed crows! We have two trails in mind for our bike rides. Hopefully we will get in apple picking. We will do our pumpkin picking and we have a trip to PA planned again.  All good things and I am grateful  I know God is in charge.