Monday Mischief: No Pets, No Problem!

In the spirit of Mischief Monday, this weekend we found a way to both get INTO mischief and stay OUT of mischief at the same time! ... And all while getting a little exercise AND enjoying some nice artwork.

Here's how we did it. Lot of our festivals in Atlanta don't allow pets. While we hate that rule, we also don't want to see pets getting stepped on or getting overheated, so if it's for the safety of our pets, we can live with that.

So this weekend, Rocco and I headed out on a walk to Virginia-Highland Summerfest, a yearly art and music festival located near our neighborhood.

The trick is to get there early, about an hour before the festival officially starts. That way, you can bring your dog, avoid the crowds and the heat, and still see plenty of artwork. I think that's a great strategy for any festival, even if they allow pets!

Coming early also means you might get more time to chat with some of the exhibitors.  Linda Ingle and Jean Stephens, with their sweet 17-year-old poodle, are the creators of Song Dog studios,  a lovely line of jewelry made with a variety of natural stones.

We also loved these cat and dog wine bottle holders made from horseshoes from Metal Creations. So cute!

Funny how so many booths either had a pet theme or a "pet" name. Below,  Rocco checks out the Dirty Dog Pottery booth, filled with unique works of functional art and beautiful bowls that Rocco was certain contained treats of some sort.

Another favorite we've seen at many shows is Anita Edwards and her adorable handcrafted sterling, copper and brass animal shaped jewelry.

One more of our favorites are the amazing handbags from Add Libb Designs.  I think we need a few of these!

Getting to the show early turned out to be a great strategy. We avoided the crazy crowds and the heat of the day and still enjoyed the show.

We also put in a four-mile walk, with a few rest stops along the way!

Remember as the summer heats up, be careful to avoid overheating your pup. We like to walk early or late to take advantage of cooler temperatures. 

Now let's see what mischief everyone else is up to!