Vacation! I am really looking forward to a few days off, almost as much as having Bonney and her family here.

I work part-time, with no paid leave or other benefits. This means that, in general, I can take off as much time as I want, if my boss agrees. So far, she has always said yes. I feel a little unneeded. I would like her, just once, to say, "can you come in for a few hours in the morning?" or something like that. On the other hand, because I have no paid leave, it is good for the bottom line if I don't work. And maybe she likes to be nice. Anyway, we have Thursday and Friday as holidays, and I threw in today for good measure.

Yesterday, I demonstrated to Meredith, Kerri, and Nora how I do the grant reimbursements. It is tedious and time-consuming, but not really difficult. It went pretty well. Kerri showed us the big notebook with all the information for the night staff. Meredith called it cross-training.

I worked through lunch and left about 1:30, stopping by the bank to make a deposit. I also stopped at Normal Hardware and bought a curtain rod.

Ray put up curtains in the Zen/bamboo room. They are blue and white--I made them for Amelia's room in another house, when she was old enough to want to "decorate" her room. It makes it much more like a bedroom.

We packed things into plastic bins and cardboard boxes and Ray lugged them downstairs. He also vacuumed the bedrooms within an inch or their lives. I made the beds, including opening up the loveseat upstairs (which is a bed). Got out towels for four. Dusted some. Needless to say, this is an endless job--although we did a lot, our room, my study loft, and the downstairs did not get done.

The chickens were out for a while and resisted going back in their coop. It was coming on to get dark and I worried that they would roost in the trees or somewhere in the yard and be vulnerable to predators. 

Vanessa and I made chili and apple crisp. Bonney doesn't eat wheat, Hank and Nicky are allergic to some legumes, the Captain doesn't eat beans and spicy foods much. It was hard to come up with a menu. But apparently kidney beans are okay for the allergic, we put a small amount of chili powder in and the Captain had a small serving. With a dollop of sour cream, it was excellent.

Ray and I headed to the UUFA at 7 for a special one-time choir rehearsal for the complaint choir. Anyone who wanted could send complaints to Amber, which she set to music. Deb H. played guitar, Diana the bongos, and a couple people have solo lines. It's very funny and fun to sing. "Everybody is on their cell phone..." it starts. We will sing this Sunday.

On the way home, we stopped at Publix and bought a few things we knew we needed for our guests, mostly four big cartons of yogurt, and cream cheese so Bonney can make her wheatless pie crusts. Carrots and fruit.

Ray and I were both pretty stiff and sore.

The weather is peculiar, too warm for this time of year, cloudy and humid. But it's not cold.