Ready or Not...

We had our last band practice today before our gig at Springfield Hospital tomorrow at 1:45. We figure we're as ready as we're ever going to be.

This is the first time we're carrying over a whole set into the fall, so we really are more prepared than usual!

On the flip side, we'll only have a month to put together our Christmas set this year.

If the audience tomorrow likes us half as much as Rockwell did, it's going to be great!

Shack Burgers

Lenny and Kay took me out to dinner at G.L.Shack's tonight to thank me for watching the horses this month. They told me it was the best burger in Sykesville, and I'd say they didn't steer me wrong! It was delicious and only $5 on Tuesday nights!

Ed and I never tried out this restaurant before because we thought it was just a bar. Turns out it is also a restaurant. It's nice to have more choices here in Eldersburg!

Moon Watch

Ed and I stayed up late to watch the blood moon eclipse last night. We were somewhat encouraged by the break in the clouds about 9 p.m.

Sadly, the clouds continued to diminish our enjoyment of the event. We were, however able to enjoy (?) the steady stream of airplanes landing in Baltimore. The airport is using a different runway for several months, and we're right under their altered flight plan. You can see the streak of plane lights in this moon picture taken with a long shutter. Hopefully, our next event in 18 years will be more spectacular!

Xitomate Gets an A+

Ed and I tried out a new restarurant (for us) this afternoon. It's called Xitomate (tomato) and is just south of I-70 off Marriottsville, Road. It was the freshest, most flavorful Mexican food we've had in Maryland! We loved it, and have to give it an A+. I had enchiladas Suizas and Ed had a burrito. Even the smokey flavored salsa for the chips was something special.

It was so good that we saved some of it for dinner tonight and shared a delicious tres leches cake for dessert! That ought to tide us over for a few months!

Singing With the Cubs

The Cub Scout Pack Meeting was a campfire with hot dogs and s'mores Tuesday night. I was invited to sing a few campfire songs with them. It turned out that Hey Lolly, Lolly was the most fun. It is easy to learn and fun to make up names.

It was fun for me to enjoy the great outdoors and savor a bowl of Lockey's yummy chili and homemade bread!

Heather Joins the presidency

My first counselor in the Primary Presidency got called up by the Stake, and we were sorry to see her leave.

We're happy to welcome Heather to the presidency. She matches Tara and Reagan with their beautiful, long dark hair.Which one of these women does not belong?

Reagan had a cool, new selfie stick and told us to look mad in this picture. It looks like we have Happy, Suspicious, Terrified and Frog! Thanks for the great picture, Reagan! I can see we're going to do great things together!

Big Bush Basement Band

The big Bush Basement band met last night in the Big Bush Basement. We've been on hiatus for the summer, but the kids have come a long way over the past few years. We're putting together 2 numbers for the Eldersburg Ward Fall Festival October 10th: Keep on the Sunny Side and I'll Fly Away. Come for the chili and stay for the entertainment! You won't be sorry!

Last Funnel Cake of the Summer

Yesterday was our last chance to have funnel cake before our favorite Hawaiian Shave Ice place closed down for the winter. It was actually also our first funnel cake of the summer. Yumm...

Can't wait till next April when the choices of flavors for shave ice will be endless again. Orange cream, peaches and cream, grape with ice cream. Oh, and don't forget red velvet: chocolate and cherries! What's your favorite?

Foggy Day at the Barn

Today is the last day we're feeding the horses, as Lenny and Kay are returning from their vacation. Mr. Genes gave Ed a big thank you kiss this morning.

Crazy-eyed Bali has been letting me brush her and clean her hooves with only a modicum of dancing around the stall.

Bamby is the last one out of the barn each day, as she takes the time to savor each bite of her yummy senior feed.

The spiders are out in full force. We watch carefully before we open the fences, just to make sure we don't pick up any hitchhikers!

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

The Pearlies made some beautiful music in the basement today. We're playing with a combination of 4, 5 and 6 players for the month of October, so it was interesting trying to remember who's doing what on which songs!

Reagan and Jen each had a handful of instruments to practice this week. I'm glad I don't have to cart mine out to the car every week! Reagan needs to start offloading a few to Rockwell!

Book Club and the Grand Sophy

The Book It Sisters read the Grand Sophy, by Georgette Heyer this month. I chose Georgette Heyer, as she is my mom's favorite author, and everyone was in the mood for a light read. The  Grand Sophy is one of Heyer's best books, and it was fun to imagine it made into a movie. Sophy is a spunky heroine!

In honor of the English setting, I made Toads-in-a-hole for dinner. It was sausage in Yorkshire pudding (popovers). I also made strawberry spinach salad, fruit salad, asparagus and cookies.

It was a nice end to a very busy day for me!

For our review, see
http://bookitsisters.com/the-grand-sophy/

Horse Time

Lenny and Kay are in Missouri for 10 days, and I'm on horse duty. It rained on Friday, and I got to wear my new rain boots! Mr. Genes must have liked them, as he gave me a nice lick.

Ed had Friday off work, and I was very grateful for his help, as I came down with a bad cold last week. Ed is so good with the horses. He could have been a farmer! Coda was also my helper. She is on lookout for any deer that might encroach on the property!

Back to School

I enjoyed Dr. Esa's Business German class so much last year that I enrolled in his German Writing course this semester at McDaniel's college. Our class met outside yesterday to talk about the biographies we had written. I wrote mine on Matthias Hohner, who mass manufactured the harmonica starting in the mid 19th century. It was interesting hearing the other students' stories as well. I took a harmonica to class just in case we had time for a little music. I played Du, Du, Liegst Mir im Hertzen, and handed out sing-a-long copies. It turns out only Dr. Esa and I were the only ones who knew the song!

Renaissance Festival in Crownsville

Ed took me to the Renaissance Festival in Crownsville today. We hadn't been to a Renaissance Festival in years, but Amanda and Nolan's trip to one in Minneapolis inspired us to get out and yell Huzzah!

My favorite part was having my hair braided. I also learned how to do a French twist.

The braiding was free with the purchase of a pair of pokey sticks. I got pretty red beaded ones to match my shirt.

We enjoyed the music and plays, as well as some very unhealthy food. We stopped at almost every vendor. We got stuck having to root for the dark Knight at the jousting tournament, but it was okay because he spoke German.

It was a hot day, but very fun. Ed was able to talk me out of buying full costumes for ourselves, so we got out without too much damage. But now I wonder what we'll wear if we come back next year!

Piddle, Paddle, Pedal

Saturday was the second annual Piddle, Paddle, Pedal Mini-Triathlon. Team Bush was in much better shape this year, so we increased the mileage for each leg of the trip just a little.

We placed the kayak on the left side of our peninsula, so as to make us have to go around the tip on our way back to the boat dock.

Instead of walking down Oakland road, we popped into the fire road through our neighbors' yards across the street. That added about half a mile.

It was a hot day, and we were plenty glad we had stashed some water bottles in the kayak.

Our new route added about 15 minutes to our kayaking, which was just enough to make me a little sea sick!

We stowed the kayak at the boat dock, and picked up our bikes there.

Last year I had to walk my bike up the steep road from the boat dock, but this year it was much easier. Who knew loosing a few pounds could make such a difference?

We added a loop along Melville Road on our bikes to extend the time a little. It made our time about 1/2 hour longer than last year, which was just right.

Here are our stats from MapMyWalk. We did a total of 5.43 miles in 1:46. About half that time was spent setting up my camera to take our pictures. It was all part of the fun!

We let Coda come along to retrieve the kayak. She was quite annoyed to be left out of the fun. We told her if she can learn to ride a bike by next summer, we'll let her come along on our next triathlon!

Grass, Good and Bad

Ed got a new lawn mower while I was in Utah. The Cub Cadet finally gave up the ghost. The good news is, that there is room in the shed for two riding mowers!

Ed took the day off yesterday to try out his new mower, but also had time to go for a walk with Coda and me. The Baltimore water department could use a mower on the fire path, as the grass is over Coda's head!

It was a warm day, and Coda laid down in the water to cool off.

Ed and I were had to buck up and wait till we got home to cool off!

We cleaned up and rewarded ourselves with dinner at Tao Asian Cuisine, a brand new restaurant in Eldersburg. We give it an A for atmosphere, service and good food. It was so good we all but licked our plates clean!

Back to Real Life

Crystal left early yesterday to drive back to Colorado. The party is over.

Grandma dropped me off at Brittany's, and Brittany gave me a ride to the Salt Lake City airport.

I had time for a quick lunch with Brittany, John and Mabel. This has been a big month for them. New baby, new job and new house, all at once!

I got one last Mabel cuddle...We'll be back next month to see her again for her blessing in church.

I had to trade in my Mabel cuddles for some happy dog wiggles. It was great to have Ed and Coda both meet me at the airport at 11:30 p.m. last night! They must really love me!