My favorite season - summer - went out like a lion with 6 inches of snow on the last day. I'm not quite ready for winter, but here we go!

After a challenging summer of medical emergencies, happily our family is back "in the pink", except for my horse, Jet. He has a tendon injury that could possibly (oh, no!) prevent him from having any exercise for months. So far, most of our advisors, including our Vet, have said that rest and confinement will probably help the most. There is a possibility of surgery with less than 100% results.

His situation reminds me of so many things in life that we want fixed NOW, and yet we are faced with the reality of a slow, steady, unexciting, consistent solution. Issues such as health, relationships or changing a habit more often than not take time, something that we all have so little of and such impatience about. I can still suffer from this, but am reminded by my twelve-step program that it's one day at a time.

So, we'll try to get Jet well, most probably slowly, surely, consistently. Maybe that same method could be a solution for you and your impatience, too.

TallGrass hair stylist, Jen Schapiro (pictured here), had a vision of a fashion show where trendsetting hair designs and edgy clothes bring people and local businesses together for an evening of high style, fun and fundraising. "I just knew how I wanted it to feel with lighting, music, hair," she says "and I was flying by the seat of my pants."

Her instincts were good. She went online to do the research, she rounded up the participants and she put it all together in Transitions 09, scheduled for Thursday, October 1, at the Evergreen Country Day School.

Hair designs created by the stylists at TallGrass, complemented by fashions from Evergreen area merchants - DARE Boutique, Le Boudoir Lingerie and Boone Mountain Sports - worn by professional and amateur models, plus refreshments, expert music and lighting will give the evening a sensational vibe.

Transitions 09 is presented by TallGrass Aveda Spa and Salon and the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce, both of which are selling the $45 premier seating and $30 general admission tickets. A raffle benefits the Evergreen Animal Protective League. Please click on TallGrass Events for more information.

Recently, when TallGrass polled guests and staff about their favorite non-profit organizations, the Evergreen Animal Protective League (EAPL) was mentioned over-and-over-again. That's how it was selected to be a beneficiary of the raffle at the Transitions 09 fashion show.

Jackie Bell is the President of the Board of the EAPL, a 28-year-old organization, totally operated by volunteers, that finds foster homes for cats and dogs waiting to be adopted into permanent homes.

"The animals come from everywhere," says Jackie, "from Denver and out of state, from military people being deployed to Iraq and from folks who are moving and can't take their pets with them. People find our web site and the word spreads."

If you are interested in adopting a pet, would like to become a foster home, or want to volunteer, please visit www.EAPL.com for more information.