I am sitting in the Sawdust Sisters' living room, with the last coals of a dying fire, watching the first bit of light brighten the deck outside the big glass windows. Any minute, John and Deb and the dogs will come out and we will head for the beach. Every morning, they walk there for an hour or more.

Yesterday, there were dark, heavy clouds. The dogs run freely on the beach this time of year, with no one to bother. Their friend Renata and her dog usually meet them. Sometimes there is a dramatic red sunrise. Always there are birds.

We went back to the beach later in the morning with Ray and played bocce. Quite entertaining, but a little cold. Deb went back to the house after one game and I watched most of another before walking back. We had leftover soup for lunch and other good things.

In the afternoon, we played a game called Wise and Otherwise, involving proverbs from around the world. It works like Dictionary. Each person finishes the proverb and then we all vote on which is the real one. My favorite: Never bolt your door...with a boiled carrot. Supposedly a real Irish saying.

Another long walk around the neighborhood with the dogs. Then dinner preparations. Renata came over and joined us for medieval lentils, roast squash and salad. Sitting on the couch by the fire, after a little wine, knitting, I dozed off several times and finally hit the hay about 9:30. Then I slept until nearly 6.