Sum-ah, Sum-ah, Sum-ah Time (aka the longest-not-related-to-gardening-post-ever)

Well, here it is, the end of August, and I have not posted in almost 2 months.  Why are you still reading my blog?  I'm guessing it's because you'd like to see/hear about my crazy summer and have a chance to accept my crazy explanation for not posting... I decided to recap my summer for you in pictures where at all possible.  (I had a great goal to take a daily picture, but that didn't happen, because I never have my camera. Heh.)

It started like this...

Which, honestly, if there is a better way to start your summer, I don't know of one.

Then I went fishing for the first time:

And actually caught a catfish!  (Not to mention, had pizza and beer and many laughs with two good friends. If this isn't what fishing is, then I don't wanna know.)

I worked a little the next week, and got ready because I was headed to CANADA! Here are a few (read: the smallest amount I could make myself put up) pics from that wonderful trip:

Banff. I die.

 Lake Louise. I die again.

I'm a giant cheeseball.

 Is this place even real?

 *Sigh. Beautiful, gorgeous.

 Wish you were here.

Heck, wish I was here.

 Glacier-fed water.  SO BLUE.

 A little hiking. A lot of cheese.

Seriously, I need to change my name to cheese.

 I want to go back right now.

 This dog killed me. I don't really know why, but it looked like he was driving.

 Oh, did I mention I stayed with amazing friends?  I enjoyed seeing their children play.

And get a little dirty. :)

 I almost took out a parent and child while taking this cutie down the slide when a burlap bag was thrown into the mix the next time down.  It was awful, but makes me laugh. (And no children were harmed in the making of that laugh.)

Did I mention the nakey baby snuggles?  This cutie kept giving me an adorable shy head tilt. I have this effect on babies.  

That gets us to the third week of June, when unfortunately, I had to work.  Not to worry, though.  The next week I was here.  All blissfully alone for a few days:

 The view to the water from the deck.  (Photo credit: Jess H.)

(Photo credit: Jess H)  Did I mention my friend Jess H came out for the last few days there?  It was heaven. Pure heaven, except for the sunburn.  Long talks, good friend, good food: we made memories that will last a lifetime.  Or until we do it again next summer. =)

On the way back from the beach house, I picked up my niece and nephew for the second annual Camp Auntie.  Oh boy folks, hold on to your hats.

Every good camp has rules.  These are my life rules. =)  

 Space crafts. (Punny, no?)

 Catching their first fireflies!

 Ha! The t-rex moves!

 The king and queen of my world.

 We had absolutely no fun.

 Not even a little.

 They made their own pizzas. =) 

Still not having fun.  Here, they were getting ready to enter a neighborhood parade.

That weekend, my house was full of people. My single friend from Nebraska brought herself and her daughter; my married friend brought herself and her husband, as well as their two kids; my sister, her husband, of course my niece and nephew; my DH and myself packed this house to its gills. It was the best birthday weekend in at least a year. =)  Unfortunately, even though 2 of these adults are photographers and three have nice, fancy cameras... No pictures were taken.  

The next week, sadly, more work.  Again, don't feel too badly for me, because then came Florida.  =) A week plus spent in Longboat Key and Orlando rounded out my summer nicely.  Here are a few pics from that trip:

 There were a lot of these on our beach.

 The water was about a 1 minute walk away from the cottage.

Paradise. I swear.

See?

 We visited the Ringling circus museum.  This was John Ringling's house. I was partial to the colored glass.

 I was clearly meant to join the circus.

Seriously, if you had watched me nail the tightrope challenge just before I struck this pose, you would know I missed out on my circus calling. =)  

We also went to Universal Studios to see Harry Potter World for my MIL, and I got one magical day at Disney World. I love that place.  

Finally, I had 2 days off, where I actually worked 10 hours each day.  Then, I went back to work officially.  Ever since then I have been working like mad.  WHEW.  It was an amazing summer, so I hope you'll forgive my lack of blogging.  I'll be posting more soon that might actually have to do with gardening! =)