Since our last blog entry, Paxton and I have been quite busy - 3 weeks of vacation in July!  It began June 30th when we packed the car and headed for Illinois where I grew up, and my family still lives.

Paxton's "nest" on the floor of the passenger seat.

My youngest sister, Tracie, had her second child, Brandon Louis, on June 11th and I was off to see my newest nephew, and the rest of my family, of course (but guess who starred in all the pictures taken?!).

While I was there, I took a couple of days to visit the Iroquois County Museum and Genealogical Society as well as some cemeteries, libraries and county office buildings, continuing the ancestry research I've started over the last couple of years.  Paxton joined me and enjoyed a bone or a nap while I was researching.  My nephew Jordan also joined me one day, but he's not so much into napping or chewing bones.  His favorite place was the historical society where he found the gatling gun.

We returned to Rochester late Saturday night, just in time to catch a breath before performing at the Monroe County Fair as the Guiding Eyes Monroe Square Dancing Dogs. This is a GEB group that started getting together to have fun with the obedience exercises we do with the dogs as well as giving them an opportunity to work on their dog distractions.

Then it was time to unpack, do laundry, and catch up on yard work and Kodak work so that by Friday we could attend the Midnight Madness party - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Paxton borrowed buddy Potter's Hogwart's scarf and made quite a splash as "Padfoot." I got the book at midnight, drove home and read for 2 ½ hours before retiring.  On Saturday, I alternated reading chapters with the packing and work that needed to be done before leaving for Reach Workcamp on Sunday immediately after church (I finally finished the book at 10:30 that night).

Since Paxton would have surely been a distraction for the kids at work camp, we decided to have him stay with another GEB raiser for the week. He "vacationed" with Michele and her husband (who will soon be raising "Doc") and more importantly to Paxton, their pet dog, Sugar.  Meanwhile I was shuffling off to Niagara Falls, New York, and learning how to roof a garage, replace a porch deck, and paint the window trim and soffits of a two-story house. I also took lots of pictures and waited (somewhat impatiently) for the half of the campers who had brought their copy of the Deathly Hallows to finish so I could talk about it!

Replacing a garage roof.

Scraping and painting - not for the faint of heart!

Decking needs to be replaced.

A leaking porch roof - source of the problem.

Upon returning to Kodak, I was reminded of my status as merely "the leash holder."  Although I had received an email during my family visit with a work-related question and a P.S. assuring me "it's not just Paxton that we miss," the common refrain back in the office was "Paxton, you're back!!"  Ah, it keeps one humble.

To round out the month, the Tall Club of Rochester was hosting a weekend gathering. Now I'm not sure how tall a dog has to be to join a Tall Club, but since I'm tall enough, he came as my guest.  We didn't dress-up for the Friday night party - I had previous plans to join friends at Geva for "Menopause, the Musical."  However, we arrived before the costume party was finished and Paxton got lots of socialization with several Bond characters:

Do you recognize any of these Bond women and villans?

The rest of the weekend included a ride on the Colonial Belle for a tour of the Erie Canal, a formal dinner on Saturday night, and breakfast buffets at the Crowne Plaza.

Watching the Erie Canal go by from the upper deck of the Colonial Belle.

Paxton was thoroughly entranced by the bagpipes!

In our formal attire - although (my) shoes and (his) "jacket" have been shed by this time of the night. But isn't he dashing in that black tie?

A night owl, he's not!

Phew!!  August and September should be enough time to rest up and catch up, then in October we're off for the GEB "New Leash on Life" walk-a-thon.  Stay tuned for our report on October 16.

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