A Year of Blogging: August 1, 2011

We've flipped the calendar up to August. August begins the end of the year special days unbalance in our family. It used to be just Mom's birthday, now it is also Drew's. From August to January, I feel like most of my budget goes to gifts. I know that's an exaggeration, but that's what it feels like. Summer is winding down. For children, school is right around the corner. Maybe that's why August is National Family Fun month. It's time for one last hurrah as a family before the stress and routines of school. It's a good time to take a vacation: hit the beach, go to an amusement park, or take that greatest of family adventures- a road trip. August is also National Picnic month. Picnics were always a nice chance to get away for our family, and something special we could do that didn't cost a lot. We frequently packed a picnic lunch and went some place nearby. Our favorite location was to drive to Bennington, Vermont (which is about 30 minutes away) and go to the Veteran's Home. The Vermont Veteran's Home has a beautiful park on the grounds known as the Deer Park. At any time of year, you can see whitetail deer in that park. While we picnicked, we watched the deer frolic nearby. It was always so incredibly peaceful. It's in the middle of a small city, but it is so easy to forget where you are. Picnics were always special because Mom puts as much thought into a picnic as she does a party. She took one of her older tablecloths from the buffet in the dining room. A cooler was filled with drinks, fruits and veggies, and maybe some pudding for dessert. Sandwiches and chips were piled into the picnic basket with plates and utensils, and of course, napkins. It was a wonderful treat. Our ordinary sandwiches tasted so much better when we took them out of a picnic basket! For my golfing friends, August is National Golf Month. Go out and play all day! Well, as long as it's ok with your spouse- I don't want to cause any marital problems. If your game isn't the best, you might want to take the time to get your eyes checked during National Eye Exam Month. We started off the month with National Raspberry Cream Pie day on August 1. I've never had Raspberry Cream Pie- in fact, I've never heard of it. I suppose it is like other cream pies, only with raspberries. I'm not very fond of cream pies (not even chocolate ones). I like fruit pies, and raspberry pies are good. Whether you choose to celebrate August by golfing, going on a picnic, having fun with the family, or eating a raspberry cream pie, be sure to take time to admit you are happy, after all, August is also 'Admit You're Happy' month!