Lisa making me pesto for lunch

her amazing kitchen

Yesterday was really busy and mostly fun, but I was exhausted when we got home. I didn't sleep that well and woke up feeling vaguely unhappy. I have a lot of cooking to do to get ready for the Board retreat on Saturday and the weather is due to get hotter--in the 90s starting today and for the next week or so at least.

I went to a training to do some volunteer work this summer, delivering lunches to children. There were only 5 of us and I felt a little like I would be able to do this better than the young man who is in charge, not surprisingly. And, I often feel a little jealous--how come you're getting paid and I'm not? But, in general, I look forward to it. It's also a little obnoxious to have to get (and pay for) a background check, but anyone who has contact with children these days has to do it, even to deliver lunches twice a week for a few weeks.

onions drying in the barn

Then I had a visit to my friend Lisa's farm. She made me lunch and I brought cookies. I had to bake them before we left the house at 9:30. Not a problem; we had time for a walk too. I loved Lisa's house and farm and felt like I was able to suggest a couple things to her. I took lots of pictures of her gigantic kitchen for Amelia, because she has black counters and white cupboards and that is what Amelia wants in her new (remodeled) kitchen. She built a lovely square white farmhouse that looks like a classic midwestern prairie house to me, sitting in the middle of the land. It has lots of giant windows on all sides, and a wraparound porch, including a screened-in part. Her husband Geoff was working while we ate lunch. She said he rarely stops in the middle of the day. We agreed we could not do that. He was harvesting onions. I admired everything and asked a million questions. I am really interested in their operation, but the amount of physical labor is overwhelming to me, especially in the heat of summer.

moveable chicken coop

I left a little late and was late to the last writing workshop until fall. I brought cookies for everyone and they were enthusiastic. Cowboy cookies. Everyone was there (sometimes attendance is sparse). I waited through the whole class to read my poem about Ray M.'s death. It was well received.

with moveable electric fence

Then I went to get Ray F. and we picked up my Dad. He and I protested in front of Georgia Power. There was no one else there at first. Then Rick came and the three of us walked up and down on the sidewalk. Eventually there were 7 and then they started to taper off. We left just before 6. It was hot and my ankle started bothering me. Sometimes my Dad and I sat down at the bus stop for a while. Mostly I was discouraged that there were so people willing to come out and publicly oppose nuclear and coal. There were an executive and a security guard standing at the building the whole time we were there.

Georgia Power protest

We took my Dad home and went to UUFA for potluck and choir. I let several people read my poem.

Went to bed about 9:30.