My Dad seems to be doing well. Yesterday, he went to an OLLI class about mushrooms--and brought me home a "log" innoculated with shitakes--that we have to keep watered until November! We looked at the seeds we have and made a chart of how many to plant. 36 tomatoes, 12 peppers, 6 eggplants...planning to give away the old seeds. We had lots of rain Tuesday morning and today is supposed to be sunny again.

Monday I zipped home after class. Elisa was still asleep--no school for Presidents' Day. I peeled and cut up the butternut squash--more than 6 pounds of it! We microwaved it while we ate lunch. Then Elisa pureed it with the immersion blender and we added butter and brown sugar. I stuffed the turkey and told her when to put it in the oven.

I headed to my afternoon class. Afterwards, Ray and I rushed home and picked her up for choir rehearsal at 5. He brought her home at 7. Meanwhile, my Dad had peeled the potatoes and we had boiled them. Molli came home and mashed them. I made the gravy. The turkey was done an hour early or so. It was delicious. Molli said, "we forgot the sweet potatoes!" She threw them in the oven to bake and took them out when they were done, scooping out the inside and mushing them up with butter. It was quite a success and we have lots of leftovers. Oh, I made the pumpkin pie in the morning before we left. We ate it with whipped cream after a few hands of (non-cancellation) Hearts.

Yesterday was all day at the Council on Aging. Kate, my boss, is quite sick. She may have pneumonia. She has a terrible cough that hurts. I told her to go home, but she had too much to do, including a training for volunteers. I made copies of handouts and helped proofread a power point presentation. The presenting was done by other Council on Aging staff, since she had no voice.

Again we rushed home to take Elisa to choir. Ray drove her and then came back. He and I ate turkey and potatoes and squash and broccoli and rushed back for the performance at 6:30. Molli met us there. Unfortunately, we were a few minutes late. The doors were locked and we missed more than half of the singing.

Watched an episode of Castle and read some after eating pie.

We got home last night from a weekend in North Carolina, and I can't begin to tell you all about it now. There were five of us in the Prius, but that worked surprisingly well. It snowed, which was wonderful. There were nine million people at the ski area and we stood in three lines, just to get ready to stand in the lift lines. It was over 2 hours just to do that. My Dad hated it and was really nervous. He skiied one run, but did not feel like he was in control, so stayed in the lodge the rest of the day. Fortunately, he skiied for free, but did have to pay $25 to rent his equipment. The house we rented through HomeAway.com was awesome, (if over-decorated). Three bedrooms with giant comfortable beds. the kind with 25 shiny pillows and coverlets that slip off during the night. Two and a half baths with luxurious white towels. TVs in every room (that we rarely turned on), internet and even a Wii (which we also didn't use). $380 for two nights, plus $60 for the dog, Maggie, Amelia's young puppy. I hesitate to say we packed everything we needed and nothing we didn't. That would seem extreme, but I do feel pretty proud of my planning skills! We bought dinner on the way up and on the way home, but ate breakfasts, lunches and one dinner at the house. By the way, the kitchen was over-equipped, as well. Many seasonings, plates, utensils, glassware--even an electric wine opener--and a creme brulee torch! It was fun, even though we didn't use most of it.

Elisa and Ray did the most skiing. I got in three runs. I didn't have a parka or ski pants (that fit) and it was cold late in the day. The snow at the top blew off and was scraped off. My Dad and Kevin and I went "home" in the early car. Elisa got in a run right at 4:30 and seemed to really enjoy the trip.

TGIThursday! I have been pretty much flat out, since at least last Thursday, and I have a lot to do. My left side is achy, including my wrist. I am going to go to pilates with Molli this afternoon and hope that will help. I also need to go by the doctor's and postpone tomorrow's appointment until I can get to the lab before breakfast. Elisa has requested Thanksgiving dinner for her birthday next Monday and I need to buy some groceries, so I can do some of that cooking ahead. Fortunately, but a little sadly, neither Ray nor I was cast in the play. We had fun auditioning though.

In yesterday's class, I got into an argument with a young man a few rows behind me, because he wouldn't stop talking and I couldn't hear the professor. We watched a video about the Harlem Children's Zone that was inspiring and thought-provoking and then we answered a few questions about their vision and core values.

I spent the rest of the day at the Council on Aging, talking to Madeline and addressing envelopes and making calls. Ray and Elisa picked me up and we went home to get the desserts before picking Molli up at 5:30. Then we went to pick up Mason. He is the boy I am mentoring for the Coming of Age group at UUFA. He and I were supposedly helping with dinner, but his parents couldn't get him there until after it started. I brought some of the leftover desserts.

Choir and home--a little Wheel of Fortune and to bed.

Sorry, I tried to get the pictures from my phone this morning and the computer is too full--only 2.5 GB left and they won't download. I remember when...that was more memory than the largest computer had...oh, well. I will have to find time to delete some things I don't need...

Time is what I don't have, but tomorrow is my "free" day. I usually manage to fill it up. This week, there is homework and cooking. If it stops raining, there will also be my Dad  and gardening.

Yesterday, I spent all day at the Council on Aging. I typed a lot of names and addresses into the computer and today I will hand address the invitations for a Mexican night next week. I spoke to one member on the phone who will come meet with us next Tuesday morning. She is interested in end-of-life decisions and also wants some help with driving to concerts on rainy nights. Kate and I also talked about an idea for writing down the members' stories and publishing them as a fund-raiser. I have wanted to do this for a while anyway--not as a fund-raiser for the Village, but interviewing older people to get their stories and record them for family and the community. They are real history and can be very interesting.

Ray and I picked Elisa and Molli up and came home. I made chili, but of course it needed to cook for a few hours. He and I had to go back to the theater, so he could read for this play. I read some more too. It was really fun. It is a dark but very funny play. One scene I read was three adult daughters, drinking whisky and talking about their mother. She got various doctors to write her prescriptions and then, when they refused to write any more, she threatened to sue them for over-prescribing. It doesn't sound very funny, but it was. We had a good time, but they kept us until 10--I had thought we would be leaving quickly, so we could eat our chili. This is a compliment and suggests that we were being seriously considered, but it was really late for us. We ate chili and watched the State of the Union address, which Molli had thoughtfully recorded for us.

Yesterday was even busier than other Mondays. It rained all day. I walked E. out to the mailbox and then she was on her own. We managed to drive Molli to work and then Ray. I spent some time reading for my class. I actually have an assignment I need to turn in Friday, as well as lots of reading to catch up on. Adrian's sweater is almost done and I might need a new project to start.

After class, I went to Porterhouse, getting there about 11:30 as they opened. I parked right in front! They gave me a nice table and I had some hot tea and, after a while, a Caesar salad. Becky arrived, even though she is recovering from a bad cold. I had the beef tips with spaghetti and mushrooms. Delicious! I took half of it to go.

My afternoon class was long and I talked too much. First, they were discussing menopause--the idea that it is more cultural than biological. Being as I was the only one in the room who has been through it, I did feel I needed to speak up. There was some discussion of blogs. And later we were talking a bit about the baby boomers and how aging will be changed. Yes, I am a boomer too. I ran out of yarn.

I picked Ray up and we waited in the car about 15 minutes for Elisa to be through with choir rehearsal. The leftovers called to me and I ate them up, sharing with Ray. Then we drove to Molli's work and waited for her a few minutes.

At home, we whipped up some chicken fried rice (I cooked the rice in the morning) and roasted sliced zucchini. Ray and I changed our clothes and we were off. Allen R. is directing August: Osage County and I wanted to audition. The play is dark humor and I look forward to it. The process was fun, but generated a little adrenaline.

Ray picked up my Dad and came back. Harriet talked him into auditioning too, so he filled out the paperwork, but will need to come back tonight. Then we zipped over to the Performing Arts Center and watched the King's Singers. They were amazing and I didn't fall asleep once. A cappella, 6 men, with some incredibly high voices, singing alone on stage for hours.

We got home about 10:30, ate some cheesecake, and went to bed.

It was great to see my friend Andrea last night. She was the only one who showed up at a dinner to meet Julie from AFS. Molli made an awesome pork roast with gravy and roast potatoes. Andy brought salad--with pears and strawberries. Julie brought veggies and hummus and I made guacamole--and managed to cut my finger peeling carrots. I hope I didn't get blood in the food, which was excellent. AFS has decided that Athens is a good place to expand in Georgia, which makes me happy. I think we have lost some momentum from about five years ago. I know I don't have as much energy for it as I did...

Yesterday morning we took Elisa to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, since we didn't have to sing. Ray still had to go to UUFA to do the sound. There were some things we really liked about the service. The minister is dynamic and funny and personal. The last thing he said was "Help the poor." I think E.  was pleased. She said it was a lot like church at home.

She told Julie last night that she used to want to be a vet (and she loves animals), but someone told her they don't make much money in Germany. Question 1: why not? Question 2: do they make more money in other countries? Question 3: Since when do teenagers worry about making a lot of money? I was kind of sad, not that she has to be a vet, but that making money is important enough to ignore your dreams.

We had chicken in tortillas with cheese for lunch--really good. We all had one and a half. Molli waited on us.

My Dad came while we were still eating. We got laundry out. He and I gardened a good bit. He has planted beets and peas and set out lots of lettuce. We have some spinach left from the fall that is growing slowly and the garlic is doing well. Still much to do.

It rained starting in the late afternoon. Andy and Julie left about 8:30. I did manage to watch Wheel all the way through, but couldn't make it through Castle. Slept about 8 hours with my apnea mask on! So I am not very tired any more, although still sore from pilates and gardening I guess.

Well, another night staying up past midnight, and still getting up at 6:30. This is not a good trend. I'm really tired, but hopefully will catch up tonight.

Apparently, when I wrote my blog yesterday morning, I didn't even notice that I had skipped a couple of days. That's how crazy it's been, mostly because I was cooking.

Wednesday was internship again--not much exciting going on, more file updating and database work. My Dad didn't get to play bridge because he was the thirteenth person and had not RSVP'd. Molli suggested they might not want him because he wins most of the time.

Wednesday is when Elisa rides horses in Oconee County. Ray picked her up after school and drove her there and then came to get me at the Council on Aging. He stayed in town at his office. I went home and Molli met me there. She made me some pureed potato-broccoli-tofu soup with chicken and cheese that was delicious. She went for a run while I went to get Elisa. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the horse barn, they were just coming back from riding and she still had chores to do. We didn't leave until nearly 6:30, so we didn't have time to go back for Molli. She had to drive the truck.

We both parked in the downtown deck, so we had to pay double ($3 each--not much, really) and walk to the Chapel. There was a big crowd--maybe 400--and Ray was speaking on the origins of the earth. We chatted with many people we knew who had come to hear him. He had many gorgeous slides and lots of information to share and people seemed to really like it. We were very proud. There was a reception next door with cookies and more people talking to Ray. Then we headed home in our two cars.

Thursday was the day I stayed home and baked. I really enjoyed it, although the weather was pretty bad--cold and rainy. This is the same storm that has caused a blizzard in the northeast, but no snow here. Carrot cake, rice pudding, meringues...and when Elisa got home, she made ziti for potluck.

Molli and I didn't spend much time at the potluck, though. We drove through the dark and the rain to the Fellowship to talk about a covenant. We brought Dan and Nancy back to Kenney Ridge, so we were very efficient in our Prius. It wasn't bad, just kept me from baking...

Saturday was busy, too. We went to pilates (without Ray, who slept late, and without Elisa, who went to the high school for choir rehearsal), and then breezed through the Green Life Expo at the Classic Center. They have built a beautiful new Grand Hall--it is kind of like a cathedral, a really high large space with an impressive floor. I spoke briefly to Heather about my interest in elder housing and she said she will let me know when she reads about grants that might be helpful.

I had some lunch and headed to UUFA to set up for a memorial service reception. There was a Scottish dance event scheduled for the same time, somehow! I left as the service started; everything seemed to be under control.

When I got home and asked where Elisa was, no one knew. She was supposed to get a ride home with a friend, but wasn't there and hadn't called. I called her cell and got no answer, but she called back in a few minutes. She was at the mall. Needless to say, I was furious. I scolded her and went and picked her up and told her to help with the yard work. She hadn't had lunch--except yogurt. She ate something and changed her clothes and trimmed the grass around the garden. Ray and I replaced the second half of the fence.

After supper, we went to see A Few Good Men. Elisa went to the basketball game and another friend brought her to the theater, so she saw the second half. Molli stayed home. She cleaned and worked on her financial aid application. 

As happens so often, I am a little let down after dessert night. I enjoyed the preparation, but the actual event had some kinks. I was quietly baking cookies for a couple hours and then people started coming. They kept coming through the kitchen and talking to me, or looking at the desserts...I didn't bake the molten chocolate cakes ahead of time; they're best right from the freezer to the oven, but it takes about 20 minutes. I don't know if people were really annoyed, but if your friends ordered cookies, they were done by the time you got yours. I went ahead and baked the last 4, but the rush had died down. We made about $200, not enough to cover the cost of the ingredients, although I do have lots of leftover goodies. One "friend" asked for samples of about 10 desserts--she wanted to try everything, including pieces of cookies! Honestly. It wasn't really that much of a problem because there weren't that many customers. My friend Janna didn't like the meringues because they had chocolate in them. And so on...

Of course, today I am sore and tired and probably don't feel great partly from eating too much sugar. I stayed up until midnight after we got home. I was tired, but a little keyed up still.

Yesterday morning I went to class. Then I bought some strawberries at Earth Fare--and heavy cream and a few other things. Ray and I ate our lunch together, sandwiches he had made for us. I went to a talk on aging in Finland. It wasn't that helpful, unless I wanted to learn about Finland. In fact, I dozed a little, not very good if I wanted to make an impression on the people there.

We went home and I gathered everything I needed (except a couple things I forgot) and went to the Fellowship. Ray helped me by cutting things into neat servings. I called my Dad and he came and cut up fruit for me. We put cognac on it and it was good. The minister bought the leftovers for a brunch she is having. I hope it is not too boozy! I warned her...

Ray picked up Elisa and Molli and the ice cream and a lemon. Elisa invited her friend China and they seemed to have fun. They weren't that helpful, but looked cute. We ate some supper about 6:30. Molli and Mudge left for the dog ventriloquist act at 7:30. They had a ball. We were cleaned up and out of there by 9:30 and met them at UGA.

Well, yesterday was really an eye-opener for me. Kate, my "boss," has had trouble getting members to attend events. The marketing person at the Council on Aging advised her to see how many of her members were on Facebook and "friend" them. "Ridiculous," I scoffed. "Most of these people will not be on FB." Well, I was wrong. I spent most of the day looking for members and inviting them to be friends, then looking at their friends for anyone I knew who might be interested in the Village for one reason or another. Lots of people sit at their computers, and many of them instantly agreed to be friends with Kate...I am not even sure most of them knew who she was. Fascinating lesson in digital media. We have yet to see if it will translate to better attendance at events, but I bet it will!

Other than that...it was a pretty crazy day getting everyone out the door and back in again. Elisa wasn't done until 6 with her rehearsal. In the meantime, Ray is working on his big presentation (tonight!) and I went out to Molli's place of work to pick her up. Elisa texted to say that it was free pancake day at IHOP and could we go...I hate to say no to her, at least for something like that. We took her friend China too...but the line was out the door, so we did not stop. Instead, they made chocolate chip pancakes at home, with buttermilk. I resisted. Molli made butter chicken (a kind of curry), with cauliflower and couscous. I prepared an apple-peach pie for the freezer and dough for nut slice-and-bake cookies. The kitchen was a madhouse, while Ray continued to work on his power point slides.

I took China home and Molli started on tonight's supper. She and I listened to Ray's 50-minute talk and gave him feedback (too much detail, but mostly very interesting). He was up until 12:30 or so and has to get going again soon. I went to bed at 10 and slept pretty well until 6!

I was awake for a while before I remembered I had a cold, so it can't be too bad. Darn that moon! It's only a crescent, but it's really bright. Must be the time of year, but I have noticed it a lot this week. Anyway, I woke up at 4:30, which is not helpful.

Yesterday was Monday. We managed to all get where we were going, with lunches. I enjoyed class. Then I went downtown to Ted's and waited for Becky, playing with my phone and having some soup and chai. It's nice to enjoy cold weather food. Then it was time for my afternoon class, which also went pretty well. At a break, Dr. Glass (my advisor) told me how pleased they were with me at the Council on Aging. I have mixed feelings. Of course, I am very glad they like me. But I also felt like, doh, of course I'm an awesome intern. Just look at my previous work experience. Anyone would be lucky to have me! I haven't really done anything amazing yet...

Picked up Ray, E went home on the bus. Made supper, made apple cake to freeze for Friday. Watched a little TV. To bed about 10.

Now we're in trouble! Elisa has a cold and I am getting it too. The five of us spent a lot of time together this weekend, so it's likely to spread. But, it's just a cold.

We started the day with a short walk--out to the mailbox where the paper is usually. Now, they seem to have stopped delivering it. It's been almost a week now. I don't really care if we get the paper, but I don't want to pay for it if they are not going to deliver it. Ray is the one who cares. My Dad has brought over his old papers a couple times. I expect Ray will call and complain at some point, but he is pretty intensely engaged, working on his public lecture on the Origins of Earth when he is not preparing for his classes.

The four of us went and sang a song we like a lot, "The Awakening," as part of a service I enjoyed more than most, including lots of great hymns like "For the Beauty of the Earth." My Dad came and then drove Elisa and Ray home. Molli and I heated up some leftovers and went to a training for FaceTime February. It was crowded and we had to sit on the floor and eat our lunch, but it went well. I asked them to include my father when they are contacting people.

Then Molli and I went to Trader Joe's (a first) and got some groceries. It was smaller than I expected and a little unpredictable in what they sell. Lots of packaged prepared foods, but no whole wheat flour, for instance. Ray and Elisa and my Dad ate at the Royal Peasant.

Mudge was in the garden, planting beets when we got home. I changed my clothes and went out, pulled a couple leeks and a cabbage. He was about done for the day so we went in. Molli put away the groceries and I got started on the soup for supper. We convinced Elisa to come down and play cards with us and kept my Dad from leaving. I won; we all laughed a lot and had fun.

After Mudge left, Molli went for a run and Elisa, Ray, and I played Carcassonne. He won, but it was a good game. Molli came back and we ate our Sausage and Potato Soup. Molli and I talked some about the meals for the rest of the week. Elisa asked what channel the super bowl was on, so she and Ray watched that. We all watched most of the Beyonce half-time show. Pretty impressive, but a little repetitive, with the obscene costumes and hair-tossing. It's interesting what a difference it makes having other people around. Molli and Elisa are fans and said things about her that made me enjoy it more. I made Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes and put them in the freezer, while Molli worked on her financial aid.

I went to bed a little after 10; the game was still on. I woke up about 5 and took my mask off. Happily, I went back to sleep.

We had a slight disappointment yesterday. We were looking forward to driving to Hochston to visit John and Gini, who have donkeys on their several-hundred-acre farm. It was very cold, but sunny, and we like them. But Gini came down with the flu and cancelled. Poor Gini! We will do it in the spring, when it will be warmer.

Ray went to kill privet on the property next to Kenney Ridge. I made oatmeal and cookies. Molli shredded the chicken for chicken pot pie. My Dad came and Elisa got up and the four of us played Oh Hell as the sun warmed the house slowly. Elisa and I are ahead. When Ray got home, we ate chicken pot pie. It was awfully good. Homemade crust is the best.

Molli and I walked on Three Oaks Drive with the dogs. I headed back and she ran a bit. We all showered and dressed and eventually went to the gym meet. It was really fun, but the time of day is a tad inconvenient. We got home about 6:30 and thrashed around making frittata.

Ray prepared the broccoli, Elisa the peppers, and I cut up onion and garlic and cooked it. Also a sauce. Asian Frittata. yum. A little TV, a little dessert and to bed around 10.

We had a REALLY nice dinner last night, lots of fun, but now I am filled with remorse, because it cost too much and I ate too much. Becky's 60th birthday was this week, and Deb had a birthday earlier in the month. I had called to invite them for Saturday night, but Deb and John are going to the wine tasting today, so they wanted to go last night. They had a coupon for Etienne. I was a little extravagant, ordering two appetizers for the table--hummus and a charcuterie board---both excellent, with almost-right French bread: duck rillettes, smoked duck, salami, Brie, gouda, other cheeses, olives, cornichons...Several people had the excellent Butternut squash soup. Ray had a lovely salad. We had to wait quite a while for our entrees--there were 8 of us and the restaurant was full. Duck confit for Molli and Elisa, shrimp and homemade pasta for me, coq au vin for Kent, sausage for Ray, and trout for three others. Two bottles of wine--Viognier white and Merlot. And I had a whiskey sour to start with. I like having Elisa, but it does make an evening like that more expensive. We would hardly tell her she couldn't come.

Yesterday was a busy one. Before class at 10, I met a young woman with discount tickets for today's gymnastics meet. It was a cold walk on campus. After class, I met with Madeline V. and talked about the Village and where she thinks it will go. I think she is president of the Advisory Board. She is very enthusiastic and has a long history in Athens. Between us, we must know everyone.

I met BEcky for lunch--I was pretty restrained then, but we did go for forzen yogurt aferwards. I spent some time at the credit union with the new treasurer for Kenney Ridge, and then gave him a ride to his car, which was being repaired. By then, the Friday afternoon traffic was getting pretty bad. I picked up some more food at EarthFAre (the four of us go through it!) and then Ray and then Elisa

We had a nice couple of hours at home, still sunny and very cold. I got an egg...

Molli came home and we all went to dinner. By the time we came home, I could only manage to watch Wheel and Jeopardy before I went to bed. Woke up too early. The heat is running. It's supposed to be 25 out.

Yesterday was windy and cold, but sunny. Pretty nice in the house.

I walked E. all the way to Skipper's house. Molli was getting ready to head to work. Ray got up. We had fried eggs, fresh from our chickens.

Ray and I did some work on our computers. My Dad arrived. We had lunch, leftover pot roast. My Dad planted some more onions. I finished an assignment for Monday. Mudge left. Ray took a walk/jog. We bathed and dressed. He dropped me at the cocktail party for the Village.

It was at a really nice house in Five Points, an older house that had been expanded and remodeled. Lots of windows, lots of fireplaces, a beautiful kitchen, a bar and comfortable places to sit. I mostly opened the door and welcomed people in. They thought it was my house! Although billed as a cocktail party (I wore a sweater, skirt, and boots--Liz said I looked like a college student--good, I gues), they only had wine--chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot. Lots of lovely snacks courtesy of Lee Epting--three kinds of dip, little sandwiches, crackers and cheese. My Dad was there and a few other people I know, but mostly ones I don't. I would say it was a succss. My Dad is thinking of joining, mostly so he can volunteer to drive other people places. He spent time talking to a woman whose husband is in a locked ward in the final stages of Alzheimer's. Her name is Ann.

Ray came back to get me and we went to pick Elisa up at 6. Molli was home and went for a run. We grabbed the food I made yesterday and went to the Kenney Ridge Community potluck.

Then TV and bed. I slept until 5, with my mask on.