Time Flies

OK, I know retailers need to think ahead, but seriously folks -- it's just too soon for the Halloween theme, isn't it? This is the display that greeted me at the supermarket entrance today.

Are we really ready for this? What about the whole month of September?

Actually, these were pottery pumpkins, and meant to be planters (I think). So I guess they're not just for Halloween. But still....

Blue Monday: Here Comes August

Blue Monday is hosted weekly by Smiling Sally.
To see more offerings, or to participate yourself, please head on over to her blog.

So....First Monday in August! How can that be? Where are those long, lazy days of summer that I look forward to all year? Somehow they managed to whiz right by while I was still coming out of my winter/springtime doldrums. I just looked at a newspaper this morning (remember those?) and one of the article headings was something like "Say Goodbye to Summer and Get Back to School" !!!!???? Come on -- it's just now August, folks! We still have at least another month of summer, and I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet.

Oops -- sorry about that. Didn't really mean to get so carried away. But I'm one of those people who would be perfectly happy to skip all those other seasons and just have perpetual summer. A year without coats, sweaters, boots or blankets -- that would be my ideal year. No snow, no ice. Just 365 days of sunshine -- is that really too much to ask?

OK. Enough bellyaching. I was going to say.... First Monday in August, and first Blue Monday of the month. Today's photo is one I snapped last week during a shopping trip at a local HEB store. It's one of those huge Texas-sized supermarkets, with hundreds of aisles to meander along. All right -- maybe not hundreds, but lots and lots of aisles. And also lots of little kiosks and counters with free samples. Actually, on a Saturday you could probably eat a pretty good lunch there, just from all the samples. They also tend to put up some interesting promotional displays. This is one I loved -- a golfer built from beer cartons!

It was a little hard to get a good shot -- they had him sort of hidden away between the cheese counters and the wine aisle. I thought it was pretty nifty (nifty? just how old are you, lady?), and wished they'd put it out where it was a little more visible. Apparently the Michelob company puts their name on golf bags and other golfing paraphernalia, so I guess it makes sense. And it had some lovely shades of blue.

And since I know you're wondering -- no, they weren't giving away free samples of Michelob.

Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the people who make or sell Michelob -- although I have drunk their beer now and then. I am also not connected with the HEB stores, I just shop there. I was not compensated monetarily for posting this photo. But I did get a bit of a giggle from it. 

National Coloring Book Day!

So, after National Hot Dog Day, now we've got National Coloring Book Day.

August 2nd is one of those "who knew?" holidays. But apparently this has been going on for several years now. I'm pretty sure it's mostly promoted by Dover Publications, since they produce so many wonderful coloring books -- including the "Creative Haven" line intended specifically for adults who like to color.

I've always loved to color. When I was a child, it was one of my favorite pastimes. And I continued to love it after I got to be old enough to be embarrassed about buying those enormous boxes of crayons ("Are those for your grandchildren, ma'am?" No -- they're for me.)  And long before it became a national craze. Over the years I've amassed a huge collection of coloring books. Unfortunately, they're all in a box stored somewhere in our garage -- so, no photos! (Bummer.) But these are some of the books I've acquired more recently:

I've noticed that all the current hoopla promoting coloring books for adults seems to play up the "relaxation" and "creativity" aspects of the hobby -- and I think that's a valid claim. Coloring can be almost like meditation, and I suppose it does inspire creativity, in a way. But I've always liked it just because it's FUN!

Please note: I have absolutely NO connection with Dover or any of the other publishers of coloring books shown here. Also no affiliation with any of the promoters of National Coloring Book Day. I just love the hobby.