Yesterday, it was so hot so early that we never took a walk. We went to pilates, though. Fortunately, we were about 5 minutes early, because she turned away 3 people. I would have been shocked to get there and find there was not a spot for me! We stopped by the Farmers' Market and bought some onions and a loaf of bread for my Dad. There is a kind of baguette (epi) that he likes, with salt and rosemary.

My parents were at the house when we got there, and stayed for an extra hour or so while we tried to practice for this morning's service. Some things are virtually impossible to rehearse, and we have known from the first that there is way more material that we want to cover than we can get to in 30 minutes or so. I'm not willing to give up the hymns and other trappings...

I loved hearing the stories, most famliar, but some new. There was the time my Dad's housekeeper (?), Stella, was going out on a date. His parents were not home and she was getting herself ready and made him get in the tub. He was cross and got a bucket of water ready and threw it on her when she came in, in her nice clothes. She yanked him out of the tub, naked and wet, and spanked his bare bottom. He said, "I'll tell my Dad what you did and he'll fire you." She said, "if your Dad finds out what you did and what I did, he'll give me a raise." This from a young woman of about 20, whose parents were Lithuanian immigrants. She was right, my Dad pointed out.

Ray's salad

In the afternoon, I spent some time reading a novel. I didn't have to cook and it was too hot and I was too tired anyway. It was very pleasant. Mary Stewart is as close as I get to reading romance novels, and it had been maybe 30 years since I last read one. I am enjoying it very much. I also submitted another review: Heirloom. They are wanting a name for my column. What do you think? Eating like a local? Eating with the Natives? Food for the soul..

Late in the afternoon, it was cloudy and thundering. We were very hopeful it would rain, and happy when it started to. But it was just a tease, enough to wet the porch steps, but not do much good. It did cool off quite a bit, but it was very humid, even this morning. Maybe there is still hope.

molten chocolate cake

At 7, we headed to Hotel Indigo, to meet Deb and John and Dani (Janna's sister), who was in town. It was her birthday, so we didn't want her to be home alone. Her Mom seems to be doing well, no improvement, but very aware most of the time. We had a lovely dinner there. It is such a nice hotel. I asked if we could see a room. There was only one vacant and they showed it to us. Very classy!

We watched TV when we got home and stayed up a little late for us, 11:30 ish.