Blue Ribbons

The El Dorado County fair was cancelled this year because of the virus.  They still let folks submit items for judging.  For the first time in my life I submitted to the fair.  It was quite exciting.  Especially when I came home with two blue ribbons.  One was for the Photography: Selfie category and the other was Holiday crochet: Non-clothing for my snowflakes.

Now I'm trying to decide what my next project will be for the next fair.  It's a bit addicting.

Oh, and I QUIT!!  

As of yesterday afternoon, I am now officially a full time mom to my little man.  I will miss my coworkers, who were among the best I've ever worked with before, but not the work, the stress, the public, or the politics.  Will I go back?  Taking into account my years as a seasonal, I am only six months shy of 10 years of government service and two and a half months short of three full years at my pay grade (which determines my retirement income).  I don't see it happening any time soon, but they don't give "Five Years of Service" certificates to seasonals which really made me upset when I hit that milestone.

Independence Day 2020

I love Independence Day.  It is my second favorite holiday after Thanksgiving.  

Wesley looking very patriotic and mugging for the camera.

With the absolute craziness in the woods (I know, I work in recreation), I wondered if we would find a place without a ton of people.  We pulled into the XP Corral trailhead and were the only car there.  We hiked the historic Pony Express Trail east for about two miles, then hiked it back.  We saw only one other person and the trailhead was still empty when we got back to the car.  It was awesome!

Last year, Wesley was about the same height as sugar pine cone. (Independence Day 2019) 

This year he was picking them up and hauling them around.  Still, no small cone.

We've been trying to get Wesley to drink more water.  If we give him a sippy cup of water he will get a big mouthful and then open his mouth and let it spill out.  He loved (!!) Gil's Camelbak though.  Hmmm... I think I might be hanging it up in the kitchen and letting him drink out of it like a gerbil to keep him hydrated.

It was a beautiful day and a perfect hike.