My schedule is a little discombobulated today.

I woke at 6:30, which is latish...and Ray was still asleep. I turned on my computer, and before I could even open the e-mail program, Cameron started barking.

"I know what that means," I said to myself..."Grampa's almost here." He had warned me the day before, even almost asked if it was okay. "Sure," I said, "I'll be up." "The only way I can get in the garden early enough," he said, "is to get up and drive here before breakfast." I reminded him to have some coffee and juice, but said I had ham and eggs and toast for him.

I threw on some clothes and hurried down to greet him and get started on breakfast. It was certainly light enough, and it was even cool enough to open the windows for a bit. I made toast for both of us and he cut up some bits of ham, which I scrambled with an egg for him, in a little butter. I cut up a peach into my yogurt and brought him the butter and jam, as well as plates and utensils. I don't remember what we talked about, but soon we could hear Ray stirring, and he came downstairs.

"You're up early," my Dad said. Things like this annoy Ray inordinately. Me, too, to some extent. "I have to teach in a couple hours," he said. "He slept in today," I said.

I headed out to pick the berries from the bushes farthest from the house. They are the ones in the sun most of the day and I wanted to get them before it got hot. My Dad was out soon after me, and he picked the yellow beans. He dug a couple potatoes, too, and then set up the sprinkler to water that garden. Ray and I headed out with the dog for a brief walk. "You weren't gone long," said my Dad when we came back. "Nope," said Ray. "I have to get going."

In the house, Ray played the answering machine back for me. It was my friend MJ. I was looking forward to a play date with her this morning, going to Watkinsville to look at yarn, and have lunch. She invited me to go to her Jazzercise class first and I agreed, a little nervously. The yarn store is closing. It has beautiful stuff and it is on sale now.  I suppose I do not need yarn; I have quite a lot of it. I have not been to the store often, because I buy cheaper yarn at Joann Fabrics. This is inconsistent with my philosophy. I should buy local, and buy good yarn, even though it costs more. Part of it is having to drive a little farther, so going with MJ and combining several activities makes it better. And being on sale is good too. I am sorry they are closing though.

Anyway, she was surprised I had not checked e-mail this morning. That is my dependable routine and, of course, the one time it really mattered, I had not done it! Her daughter has an infection and needs some blood work, so we will go another day. This made my Dad happy anyway.

Ray got ready for work and I went back outside. Daddy picked some zucchinis, one of a decent size, and several cucumbers. I washed the blueberries, the cucurbits, and put the potatoes to soak. I moved the sprinkler to the other garden and he came inside to check his e-mail and read the online newspapers. He doesn't have internet at home.

It was probably 11 before he left and I read some and puttered in the kitchen, starting work on a salad for tomorrow night. We are having company and I am making the spinach vichyssoise that was so good and a Mexican pasta salad. I soaked some pintos overnight and cooked them this morning, but I think they are falling apart too much to use. I'm sure we will eat them sometime, but I might just use canned beans for the salad. I chopped scallions, tomatoes, and red pepper and put them in a container in the fridge. I juiced a couple limes, too. I will prep the yellow beans for freezing later today.

I spent a really hot hour yesterday letting the Buffs roam around the yard and then trying to get them back in. It took two us--Ray is actually much better at it than I am. They are young and inexperienced and I'm afraid something will get them because they don't know better. They also haven't learned to come when we call them, and don't seem motivated by food. I was horrified to find that their water was dry and filled that up, but it did not entice them either...probably wouldn't know enough to come in out of the rain...