Hello, August.

I'm truly not sure how it got to be August. But here we are. A little slow out of the starting gate, with all of the big girls away for this first week, but then...we're off and running.

::So far we've been spending our time with an "only child" in the most unstructured way, which is so different than when you have six kids around and you need some sort of plan. Even if the plan is just to follow their lead and then clean up after.

Anna's a little lonely, I think, but pretty happy. She's been doing some of the most incredible artwork lately. Mostly with watercolors, but also with the markers and pencils we set up at her desk. That desk is the center of her activity. I really can't overstate how great it is for her to have a little spot of her own to go to, either when she's bored, or when she needs to get away from her sisters. It's been so wonderful watching her interest in making pictures develop these last few weeks.

::I've been spending some time "researching" things to do and see in Portland, Maine, in anticipation of my stay next week in a house in Gorham. (Research is such a fancy word for reading blogs.) I dug up some wonderful pieces from last year, most notably Jen's piece for Modish, and this blog, and SouleMama's 50 things, and Design*Sponge's city guide.

There's so much information just in those few pieces, my mind gets a little mushy taking it all in. But, if any of you would share a favorite spot or some insider tip, I'd be really grateful. For now, I'm just looking for ideas of things to do in and around Portland, for me plus three. Later on this month we'll be travelling up the coast, and I'll bug you all again for suggestions in that area.

::If you're wondering what the sangria pictures are all about, well...I thought you'd never ask! My friend Stephanie makes some awesome sangria-it involves green tea, so it's really smooth, and not too sweet, although it does pack a wallop. Ahem.

Anyway, you may remember me going on and on about Stephanie's store, Pretty Funny, in the past here, but now I can send you all to her blog. Go check it out. Lots of eye candy, photographed by yours truly.

::Ok, so I've certainly rambled on enough for this morning. Enjoy your day!

More tomorrow. Thanks for reading.
tt