Back home and back in the rhythm. We hit the ground running and despite our exhaustion, we are about to be very busy! First, we have the eternal remodel. We are having a garage with an upstairs apartment built which we will then move into while they pretty much gut and remodel the house. I am so looking forward to the three of us getting to stretch our legs in a 600 square foot palace with a window unit. How cozy! The garage (well, bar that two cars could fit into) was supposed to be done by the time we got home from France, but I failed to take into account the Construction Relativity Theory, which predicts a distraction of the temporal vector causing anything to do with building to take roughly four times as long as it should in earth time. Anyway, at least we didn’t have to come straight home and move. The other mitigating busy factor is that it is summer in Fredericksburg, which is only slightly less busy than fall in Fredericksburg. Next week is the fourth of July with accompanying festivities such as the hottest parade on earth, the scorching afternoon horse races, and the chigger dodging firework watching party. It is usually a gloriously alcohol infused day. The days, in general, are just busier in the summer. We have the farmers market going on each Thursday until the end of summer, which has live music and the usual produce, but also handmade cheeses, grilled sliders, pizza, pickled quail eggs and all kind of other fun stuff. We usually walk over after work and enjoy it. Oh, and there is wine! Summer also brings the county fair, all the produce stands to hit, the other horse races, and, of course our evening patio sitting is fervent this time of year. We have the toodlers, a mob of our friends who ride around town on bicycles, stopping in for cocktails in the evenings, and the dinner club activity is in full force. Plus, the usual weekly ranch trips to work with the horse, Jacks swimming excursions and an overall heightened pace of merry making. Today, we are taking it kind of easy in preparation for the week to come. Alton is at my office hacking through the waist high weeds I forgot to arrange for while I was gone. He waited until noon to go, thus it should be a pleasant 102 degrees while he is there, so that’s at least nice. Then a quick lunch and onward to Walmart and the ranch to give Rocket a scratch and see if he still remembers me after my three week hiatus.
Welcoming committee!
Four months = 47.2 years construction relativity theory time.
Trip the Globe 
As usual, you bring a smile and hearty laugh to my life. The garage looks FANTASTIC. Your life sounds like fun and Rocket looks very happy!!!! ( Probably because his food and lodging source is back). Fredricksburg in the summer sounds like much fun. Actually very jealous that you live in such a wonderful, fun place.
YEAH! MELTON lives on post trip…let me live vicariouly through your 4th of Jully experiences as I have to be on the road (what are chiggers anyway?) The 600′ space above the garage looks great and isn’t that a large apartment in Paris? So you should be good to go. Is Rocket the horse? It’s beautiful. Margaret and I went on a wine tasting/vineyard equestrian ride two week ago and boy was her but sore (Rob insert joke here). LOVE THEM HORSES. If you need a break from the heat come stay with us…SOON!
I wrote this whole reply and realized I posted it in the wrong spot! Bummer that you have to work the 4th!!
Ha! Thanks! Chiggers are horrible little bugs that live in the grass and climb up your legs and burrow into your skin around the elastic of your socks, underwear etc. and they itch!! I got them watching fireworks by the airport hangar a few years ago. Horrible! Yes, Rocket is my sweet boy! I am jealous of your weather! Fourth of July here is really fun!