I am home from a week in Virginia with Scott and the kids. It was a nice, relaxing week... I think we all had a great time. It's definitely a rare opportunity for us to have Scott to ourselves for that much time.

Our unit was a three-room deal with a sleeping capacity of ten. Suffice to say, we all had a bed of some sorts to sleep on. Better still, there were three bathrooms and three televisions! I watched HGTV whenever I got the chance (which was often), and have returned home with a renewed sense of urgency to get this place cleaned up and organized. All those home improvement shows are inspiring!

Speaking of inspiration, I took a trip down to the shop this afternoon, trying to find some hope. Last time I was inspired to ask a friend if she wanted to do something there. This time I decided I should open a sort of Maine-Made conglomeration, with all those people who had suggestions from the beginning bringing in their goods to sell. Sort of a full-time flea market and farmer's market, indoors. I'll let you know what I think of next time I head down there.

The reason I went was for our builder friend, Joe, to take a look at it and tell us what it would take to re-convert it to a residential space. He hates the idea of undoing all his other (fairly recent) work, and suggested I at least put a sign in the window FOR RENT... as a retail space, he thinks it may work. I think he (like most of my good friends) just wants me to succeed at whatever it is I wanted to do there originally, and not have to give up so early in the game. I must say, every time I go down, I think how cool it would be to actually do something there. What's stopping me!?

Anyway, vacation is clearly over, and I'm right back into the thick of it now. I've got PTA projects up the wazoo (ouch!), the kids are back at school, Molly's already been to the doctor's office, the laundry is piled sky-high, the car is dirty again, the yard needs attention, the garden needs work... ah yes, did I say it's good to be home!? Well, it's nice to know that all the work that needs to be done is mine! I am so happy to have this place, and even though it comes with such a hefty sense of responsibility, I am grateful to have a home full of happy, healthy kids. Life is good, indeed.