Saturday morning we went for a 30-minute walk and then to pilates. But even before that, I made a batch of cookies.

Have you heard of a time bank? Years ago, we were in a babysitting coop and "earned" hours for every hour we "worked." At that time, no computers were involved. We kept paper records and exchanged coop dollars. This is like that, only not just babysitting. Any member can post services they are offering or looking for. I have earned one hour consulting on a vegetable garden and yesterday I made a batch of cookies for a little boy's birthday party. In addition to the hour, she gave me $5 for ingredients. Trying to figure out how much I spent for flour, sugar, chocolate chips was an interesting exercise. Here's the link: http://community.timebanks.org/services.php. I am sure there are time banks in other cities too.

baby lettuces and others started in flats

potato hills and onions in foreground; Captain weeding in background

It was another incredibly beautiful day, with highs over 70 and lots of sun. After delivering the cookies, we came home to find my parents here, naturally. I worked with my Dad for a little over an hour, digging up grass around the outside of the fence. We are adding a layer of chicken wire to keep out small animals (the voles--or something--ate our sweet potatoes last year. He has already planted potatoes and onions in that garden and started lots of lettuce and other items, which are coming up beautifully. We all ate lunch--leftovers or a sandwich on homemade bread. After a little more chatting, they headed home. Ray and I did some computer work. I am whittling down the piles by my computer and one day I will be able to see the desk!

We had an invitation to dinner at Karen and Bob's. It is his birthday today. He is turning 66. We have known them a while, but they haven't been very sociable in years. He is a former monk--I can't remember the details. But he cooks wonderfully and we had fun. Cookie and Rick were there too. Her name is really Helen, but years ago there was another Helen at the Fellowship, so she picked Cookie for a nickname. I almost forgot what her real name is, but her husband kept calling her that. One time I called her office and asked for Cookie and they didn't know what I was talking about. Also there were Karen's sister, Lee, and their daughter Emily, whom i hadn't seen in years. she looks about the same as ever and is due to graduate from UGA this summer. I think it has been more than a 6-year plan, but we didn't really go into that. We drank lots of good wine and ate crackers and cheese and then onion soup followed by lamb and vegetables. Ray was not pleased and skipped the meat, but he did a pretty good job of not making a big deal about it. There was a store-bought carrot cake, which was pretty good. But I was kind of horrified. I had offered to bring something and would always be happy to make a cake.

After supper, we watched DVD's of shows they had done at the Fellowship, including one where Karen and Molli did a comedy routine playing cello wearing Groucho Marx glasses and noses. It was pretty cute. They had fun. Karen sold her cello for $800 some years ago--and bought a really nice dining table from someone we knew too. She asked if Molli was still playing and wondered if Molli's cello was for sale when I told her no.

Unfortunately, I quickly started falling asleep. There wasn't really seating for 8 in their living room. Interestingly, the television sits behind a mirror which folds out, kind of a cool idea. But the mirror only comes out about 90 degrees from the wall, so people on the left side of the room can't see past it. We had two in a chair and four on the couch, so there was no inconspicuous dozing. I wonder if I can pass it off as a medical condition? So we came home about 10 and went straight to bed.

I woke up very early, between 4 and 5, perpetuating the cycle. Although the sky was cloudy, the moon (just past full, I think) gave an interesting light in the windows. The weather is so warm that we don't need much in the way of covers. And I had a sense of excitement that I get sometimes, like something good is going to happen today, that kept me from going back to sleep. There was even a train in the distance, a pleasant sound, but when you're awake, anything keeps you awake.