Kevin got distracted (one boot, one sandal)

Well, the driving home part was very long, even though the weather was great and we started in the daylight. We really hated to leave and didn't start as early as we should have. Ray didn't drive quite as fast this time and we stopped a few times, briefly.

He slept late because he stayed up late watching football games on TV in the motel. I was awake so long before him that I had to go down and eat waffles off of a styrofoam plate with fake syrup and crappy OJ.

We spent a little time hanging out while Amelia finished the soup she was making and then we walked around a complex called Brightleaf (another tobacco reference), in and out of shops. I finally got Nicky's birthday present and bought a few Christmas-y things. They had advent calendars, which my Mom used to give us some years and that made me cry, thinking about celebrating Christmas without her. Will I bother to do the advent angels?

beautiful day at their complex

artist studios

Then we went back to the apartment and ate the delicious, healthful soup, with bread we had bought the day before and cheese and homemade fig jam. It was after 3 before we left. I drove first. There was a traffic jam ahead, which Ray noticed using iPhone, so we got off the highway and went around it. That was a little stressful. I am not sure I ever want to drive that far again. We can meet them somewhere...or take the train.

patio with planter Amelia built

table under the stairs

shiny new appliances and cupboards

looking toward the patio