There wasn't time for much of a walk yesterday. We had sliced strawberries with balsamic vinegar in our yogurt, having used up the fruit compote. Ray went to work and I picked up Deb and took her to our small group meeting at Barbara T's house in Bishop. We were about 10 minutes late, which is pretty good, considering how far it is.

They have about 30 acres way out in the country, wtih pine woods and rolling hills. They built a house themselves from a plan they ordered, using the internet to research the things they needed to know how to do. It is an octagon and very cool, with a screened porch and a woodstove and a delightful little room upstairs under the center. Lots of built-in bookcases and window seats and space. The discussion was about gratitude and compassion and very good. But I would trade it for a job. I am ready to stop talking and analyzing and start doing! something, anything. Although I may regret it if it ever happens.

Then I met Andy for lunch and we had a lovely time. I was there before her and ordered an antipasto plate. Some salad with an awesome dressing, tasty but not overpowering; olives and peppers, which she ate. Two slices of toast with pesto something on them, salami and cheese rolls in profusion. Then she ordered some goat cheese, two good-sized patties coated in flavorful crumbs, with more bread and salad. So we made a delicious meal of it for about $15 and not too many carbs.

I picked up Adah at Oglethorpe Elementary school and took her home. She likes to be the boss and I like to let her decide exactly what she wants to do. She wants me to give her homework to do sitting at the table. My Dad was there too, but we couldn't really talk much. It was a good day for gardening and he was planting more. Adah wanted to take lots of things outside to set up the school. We did in a limited way until I suggested we could get out more stuff if we moved inside. She wanted all the blankets she could find spread on the floor for "centers." I took a lot of stuff out of the cupboards and let her arrange it on the blankets. She wanted to go on a field trip, to the playground, after something to eat. I said we just have to clean everything up first and she did, eventually, with a little complaining. We played on the playground for about half an hour. It was sunny, but got colder as it got close to sundown. Ray came home (my Dad picked him up) and pushed her until she shrieked and they both laughed and laughed in the way only kids can do. Cori (the Mom) arrived with Soli and he played a few minutes too. Cori thanked me several times and I said "my pleasure" and I meant it. But I was tired and glad to leave them with her and go home to our quiet house for a while.

I made sweet potato and black bean burritos--they were yummy. We watched TV and ate carrot cake with whipped cream. And I fell asleep several times and slept 8 or 9 hours last night. I guess Adah wore me out!