Update on the quilting business and shows: I've received my first acceptance, for the Arts in the Park show in Belfast the last weekend in June. This is a great show, wonderful location. I did it 2 years ago but had to forego the second day when my canopy got trashed by a monster thunderstorm late Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, within 5 minutes of receiving my acceptance this year I was on the Internet ordering my new canopy. And this one will be tied down six ways from Sunday when i leave for the night on Saturday, even if there's no chance of a storm! 

 In the meantime, I've started ramping up production for this year. I had to break to create a special order for a good customer but that will be finished today and in the mail tomorrow. And I'm still gathering fabrics for a baby quilt for a friend's grandchild. But between the vaccine and just general good feelings, I'm hopeful for this year's show season. I added a show in Bangor, but the venue is still TBD as the Cross Center apparently booked another event for "our" weekend. (That's one of the difficulties when dealing with a large venue that has had their management outsourced...there's little carry-over or institutional memory to be found.) But I'm certain it will work out. And the Holiday show appears to be headed for a venue change as well since USM hasn't lifted their restrictions on outside groups' activities (and they have broken ground on their huge construction project that will eliminate pretty much all parking for the gym). But Linda has worked with the people at the Portland Expo and we think that will be a lovely replacement venue and the change might even become permanent.

 Second vaccine will be in my arm on Thursday morning. And 14 days later I will be fully vaccinated. I have to say that the experience for the first one was so very positive. MGMC really stepped up to the plate after their shaky start and the process could not have been easier. 45 minutes tops and that was only because for some reason they did not have all my information in their system. I anticipate it being even faster on Thursday.

 D. has had his job at the Arts Academy change yet again. He's back to driving only, 5 days a week, 2 runs each day to Lewiston. At least he gets to drive the van and not a bus and they let him bring it home so he can leave from here in a warm car each day. (It's a real trade off as he cleans it at least once a week.)  He's said this will be his last semester and I don't blame him. Leaving at 6 am each day and making that round trip 2 times a day is a grind. They will surely miss him when he's gone.

 While I've been so happy to see people flocking to Saddleback and all reports are that the crowds have continued to come, I also see some posts on FB that make me glad I won't be there as much. I think they have attracted some unfortunate attention that has resulted in some less than desirable behavior...i.e. someone hiked the uphill access trail and "postholed" it up pretty good last week. Reports of a fight at the top of the South Branch Quad yesterday. Lots of self-promoting posts of bad behavior in general. Maybe I'm just too old to live that life now but I just don't have the patience for those who don't respect the hard work and time and money that has gone into bringing that area back. I see lots of posts from first-timers whose ski history includes areas where some of that bad behavior has been excused. I hope that management takes a firm stand against the ones who decide the rules are not meant for them.

 Horse racing seems to have returned to their previous Triple Crown schedule so Derby preps are in full swing. Baffert is loaded like never before which is good because the attrition in his barn has already started with yesterday's announcement that Life Is Good is out with some sort of hind end injury. Other than that, the rest of the contenders are spread out over a wide variety of trainers. Neither Matz nor Motion have a horse in the hunt, but there are several Union Rags offspring to root for. I have to think Phyllis is up there smiling down at the success he's had as a sire.