Mid summer's dream

It's been a while but the reasoning is my life went from 7 months of boredom and unease to 2 months of full speed new experiences. As most of you know I'm finally back to work. I made a conscious decision to find work somewhere in the children's industry. Retail continues to keep me and I was given an opportunity to return to a company I had worked for when I first came back to work after being a stay at home mom for ten years, Scholars Choice.
I've been back a little over two months and have just this week taken over as sole manager. The previous manager was training me for the first two weeks, she's having a baby in September. I found out Friday that it has been recommended that she not come back to work for the last month and so here I am. Mostly trained, remembering more and more of how it used to work and looking forward to rebuilding the business at my store. You may be thinking, why does it take thus long to train up? The reason is in the middle of all this I took off for two weeks to run three retail venues for the PanAm games. I had to switch hats and learn new systems, albeit simple ones. That was a whirlwind two weeks of sun, heating , selling and leading a great team.
I feel content for the first time in a long while. Work keeps me busy all the time and the team and I seem to be meshing.
This weekend I had hoped to go away but the gang headed to cottage country instead and left Greg and I to cat sit. Greg is camping out at Jess and Alex's for the weekend and I have the house completely to myself. I can't remember the last time this happened. No one looking for food, except the cats, no one wanting me to do anything. After a month of full tilt activity this is bliss. And with all this free time guess what I'm doing. That's right baking. It's been so hot the past month I've barely felt like putting a meal on the table. Today is cool and cloudy, just the right weather to fire up the oven and feed my soul.
I spent an hour going through one of my old standby recipe books looking for a zucchini loaf recipe. One of my co-workers gave me a yellow zucchini from her garden so I wanted to do it justice. I doubled the batch and whipped up two dozen muffins. They're delicious, I tested them.Next I had some over bananas so I made a double batch of batter that has cherries and chocolate as well. I made mini loaves of this. They've just come out of the oven but the batter tasted good so I have every confidence that they'll be good too.
Tonight will be spent watching chick flicks without the comments, heaven. Glass of wine too I think.
Tomorrow I do some yard work. We still haven't planted the gardens  but the ones that still live here need attention. I've plans for a fairy garden in one corner of the backyard. We're waiting for the cooler weather to tackle all that.
I think not going away this weekend was probably a godsend. I need peace and quiet instead of more hustle and bustle.
On another note my oldest son turned 23 this weekend. I'm constantly surprised that they keep growing up while I'm still trying to figure out who I am. Jeff is a Leo through and through. A charming showman who sometimes forgets that others have feelings. He's still my best bud but I can feel the chaffing of a grown child still living at home. I try to give him space but he's still under my roof so you know how that goes. Too many chiefs and all that.

And so we head into August, I may be imagining it but I can feel fall coming. Probably wishful thinking after a long, hot month.This time of year at the store is as busy as Christmas so the team and I have a lot to do. We're up for it. Once it quiets down again I need to start hiring. I've been thinking a lot about my old team at the Brampton Scholars. Boy, if Isabel lived closer I'd give her a call and say we're getting the old crew back together, let's rock. As it is, I'll get to know some new people in my new neighbourhood, perfect.