Busy Days

Seen in the Museum of Science gift shop

Clearly, I have not been doing a good job of documenting our activities. These pictures date back to last week. Ray and Molli and I went to the Museum of Science on Tuesday morning. Molli had to go to class after lunch, but Ray and I stayed until we were worn out. It is an interesting mix. Some exhibits seem very dated, but there are some awesome interactive parts that were lots of fun. I really like the idea that a museum should teach you about things you need to know in your daily life, like nutrition (and solar energy). We had lunch in the cafeteria, pretty mediocre but better than some museum restaurants. There is a view of the river from the cafeteria that almost makes up for it. The museum is built over the river. We got there on the train--yay! Almost no walking, so we could save ourselves for the walking at the museum. Yes, they had dinosaurs...I did not take any pictures of them!

The least pleasant part of the adventure was the trip home. We probably should have left earlier. We had to change trains twice, due, in part, to construction. Government Station is closed for renovations (for two years!). That is where we would normally have switched to the Green Line. Instead, we waited almost half an hour (and let two very full trains go by) for the Orange Line, took it one stop the wrong direction and then got the train going the way we wanted. And that's the recommended way to do it (for the next two years). This turned out to be right about 5:00 p.m. There were a lot of annoyed people and it was pretty darn hot down there. Some people push and shove their way on, in spite of others who have been waiting longer. And some crowd on while others are trying to get off. I was glad we didn't really have to hurry.

The next day, Molli had class, but not too early. Ray and I spent the day exploring on our own, without much agenda. We started by following her to campus (Northeastern University) and enjoying a "pain au chocolat" at Au Bon Pain, one of several restaurants that are actually in the Recreation building, where the gym is. Molli and a friend were "running" on treadmills, while Ray and I were sitting and eating.

Christian Science mother church

I read (on my iPhone, of course) about an interesting attraction nearby that I thought Ray would like: the Mapparium. This is a large stained-glass globe from 1935 that you can walk inside. It was really amazing. The acoustics are cool and they read quotes from world leaders like Ghandi. Interestingly, this is part of the Mary Baker Eddy library. Having paid our $6 to get in, we looked around the rest of the museum after our Mapparium tour. OK, I am not a huge fan of Christian Science. Au contraire. But this woman was really a trailblazer! She also moved 65 times in her life. At a time when women were not expected to speak or write in public, she wrote a book, founded a religion (or sect?), and started a well-regarded newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor--when she was in her 80s!

my traveling companion

Then, we rode the train to the end of the line--Revere Beach! It looks like a movie from the 1930s, too. It was hot and humid, but there was a nice breeze from the ocean. I put my feet in twice, but Ray did not want to be sandy on the ride home. There were amazing sand sculptures there. I don't know what they do to stabilize them and make them last, but I'm glad I saw them.

That night, we had dinner at an Indian restaurant with Molli's employers. She babysits for a little boy, whose parents are both doctors from India. The food was delicious and they treated us. The little boy is very smart, but has a little trouble sitting quietly. He's just turned 5. I enjoyed meeting them very much. We went for yogurt afterward, keeping him up late, I'm afraid.

parked on the street near Molli's (it's where we buy groceries)

Museum of Fine Arts

The only unpleasant thing to happen so far: I lost a contact lens. I think there was sand in my eye from earlier in the day (it was windy at the beach). I took my lens out on the street, overconfidently, having done it many times over the years. I thought I got it back in my eye, but not in the right place, but it was gone. I always travel with a spare pair, even though it's been probably 20 years since I lost one, so it was only a minor crisis.

A Regency room

The next morning, Thursday: the Museum of Fine Arts. Molli again had to leave after lunch, while Ray and I stayed longer. The lunch at this museum was excellent, worth a trip even if you weren't visiting the museum. We were fortunate in that a friend of Molli's lent us her mother's membership passes so we didn't pay to get in. Molli gets in free as a student. It is a great museum and we could happily spend a couple more days there. We did not go to the second or third floors and didn't see everything on the floors we did visit.

Gaugin: Where Do we come from?

We saw some American art (and furniture), some European art (including Gaugin and Picasso), and a few pieces of Asian and African art. Our favorite exhibit, though, was Jamie Wyeth. Jamie's father and grandfather were also artists (N.C. and Andrew). My grandmother had a piece of Andrew's art, which, hopefully, someone in the family still has. He painted a lot of scenes in Maine, which I love. He also was good friends with Andy Warhol, and other celebrities. Ray and I both really enjoyed his work.

Art on the ceiling, made of styrofoam cups!

Loved the Jamie Wyeth exhibit--he was a friend of Warhol

His wife Phyllis, raced horses and buggies (how'd he get the horses to pose?)

View from Molli's apartment in the big city...love the trees

We had two of Molli's friends to dinner that night. I made the amazing spinach vichyssoise, a couscous salad, and lime pecan bars. We stopped at the grocery store on our way home from the art museum and bought most of the ingredients. It was rather good, if I do say so myself, especially considering the conditions under which I was working (and my fatigue). One of the young men is a vegetarian, and it was a lovely menu for a warm night in the city, imho. Five at the table was a bit crowded, but we enjoyed the company.

 

OMG---yes! lobster with pasta carbonara

I liked this window shade pull in the Olmstead museum

On Friday, we had lunch with my cousin, Ellen. In fact, she treated us at a tiny Italian restaurant in Brookline, Pomodoro. It was wonderful--and great to talk with her. She drove us (we hadn't been in a car in weeks) to the Olmsted National Historic Site. Frederick Law Olmsted was the famous landscape architect who designed so many parks and private landscapes that you have seen or heard of. Central Park in New York was one of the first. The Biltmore is another that I have visited. This was his home and office toward the end of his life. His sons carried on the business and had more than 70 people working for them at times. Of course, they didn't have computers or the internet and had to make copies and blueprints by very laborious processes. Ellen handed us off to her sister, Dinda, who lives in Brookline, but had never been there! It was great to see her too, although we didn't chat as much. Olmsted's yard was a small oasis of manicured wilderness in the city. We lay on the grass and looked at the sky, fringed by tall trees, and thought, "life is good."

hundreds of landscape plans filed in drawers

Me and Abigail Adams, on the Mall

While Molli went to babysit, Ray and I got on the train to the mall (Commonwealth Street) and walked part of the way down it before taking another train back and meeting Molli home for some supper and our nightly ritual of watching "Leverage." It IS a good life.

Summer Arts

Copley Square view

Yesterday, we had our biggest adventure yet. We rode the train from Boston to Portland and walked around there for five or six hours before coming back to Boston. It was somewhat extravagant, but would have cost a lot more to stay overnight.

Yarn shop, Portland

We LOVED Portland. It was a beautiful sunny day, hot for Portland, but with a lovely sea breeze. When the train arrived, we had to wait for the city bus to take us into town. Ray studied the timetables and maps and we got transfers to a second bus and rode to a park where you can walk and look at the bay: sailboats and speedboats and people walking and sitting on the grass. We all got stains on our pants, but it was worth it. I could have sat there for hours, but that would have been something of a waste, perhaps.

We walked down to the harbor and admired the ships and restaurants. We finally succumbed and did some shopping. Ray rested outside most of the stores Molli and I went in. I can always justify shopping by buying Christmas presents! The trick is to buy small light things, since they have to go home on the plane (and then be mailed in some cases). They had some great stores there! Also, lots of other people.

We walked up the hill to the restaurant I had picked, thanks to Urban Spoon and Trip Advisor. It was something of a surprise, because it was really more of a bar, and there was no seafood on the menu. They did have lovely piano jazz on the sound system. It was a small, dark space, but the atmosphere was great, only about 10 tables. We had excellent service and great drinks. I had an excellent old fashioned, Molli had something with vodka and blueberries, and Ray had red wine (Pinotage). We ate chicken on skewers with peanut sauce, salad nicoise, and a Cubano sandwich (for Ray). Then we had crepes with Nutella--and blueberries.

Portland street

Molli held out for ice cream, so we walked to the #1 restaurant in Portland: Gorgeous Gelato. It was pretty awesome. We missed our bus to the train station, but there was another due in half an hour. We spent some time in a great bookstore, Longfellow. Books are not small and light for carrying home in your suitcase, but I still found several I couldn't resist, mostly used! Fortunately, they closed at 6, so we had to leave in plenty of time to catch the bus. We waited around the train station for a while. The train was about 15 or 20 minutes late.

The ride back was so pleasant. We were all tired and had our feet up on the seats and each other, like puppies or kittens, dozing and reading and listening to our music using headphones. Actually, Molli was working on research, since we had internet and electricity. We were back in the apartment in time to watch Leverage (well, it was about 10), and decided to order pizza! How good it tasted, but I think I am ready for some quiet, healthy living today! 

Taking Stock

It is hard to believe we've been here only five days. We have our routines. It is a small apartment for three adults. We are like those puzzles, where you have to move one piece to move another. Ray is at the breakfast table, Molli's in the bathroom, Patty's in the bedroom. Molli's in the bedroom, Patty's in the bathroom, Ray is still at the table. Molli's in the kitchen, Patty's in the bedroom, Ray is in the bathroom...we are all together in the living room or at the table some of the time, but we have to keep excusing ourselves to step over the person to get by.

Part of it is the interesting collection of furniture that Adrian and Molli gathered this fall. It includes a giant sectional couch that Barbara and Doug brought up from Barbara's friend Laurie on the Cape. It is a wonderful thing, great for Molli to sleep on and three of us to watch TV or work on our laptops or read, but it does take up most of the room, which has a lovely bow window and is not exactly square. There is a coffee table, but it is too big for the space between the couch and the TV, so it sits under the windows and accumulates stuff. The table is 5 x 3 ? and can seat 4, but then no one can get by. Usually, it is up against the wall and someone (me) is always in the way of anyone trying to get past.

Anyway, it's great, we are really enjoying it here. I have not been hot since we arrived, although Ray might have been sometimes. There is a very small fan that is sometimes on, but I haven't really needed it. I even use the oven without worrying about heating up the apartment too much. That is about to change, though. Today will be hotter than the other days and tomorrow even moreso. I am not too worried.

Yesterday, we walked Molli to her class at 10:30, so we didn't have to get going very early. I did walk farther than last time, but found a nice bench in the shade just before Northeastern. Walking back was a little rough for me. We finally made it to Stop & Shop, where I wanted to buy a shallot. Alas, it was not to be! I settled for scallions and packing tape. Ray helped me limp on back to the apartment. The four flights of stairs at the end are the coup de grace. 16 stairs each flight. It kind of made it hard for me to do much for a while, but fortunately I don't have much to do.

We had leftovers for lunch: me a hamburger and Ray a sausage. I did some online and phone work for H&R Block and didn't spend any time on my feet for a while. Molli came back about 4 and spent an hour or so before going to work. I made an interesting potato and bean salad and marinated the chicken thighs. I also packed a box of things for Molli's move, my excuse for why we need to be here, "helping." We had a lovely dinner about 8. The time before dinner hangs a little heavy most days. Sometimes I break out the potato chips or crackers and cheese and have a little wine.

Molli's friend Becca S. joined us, although she had eaten dinner. Then we walked to J. P. Lick's, a great ice cream place next to the Stop & Shop. We had Rockier Road and Ray got Meyers rum raisin. After I tasted his, I wanted to trade. Ooo, it was good! My mother used to like rum raisin ice cream. She would sure be interested in this turn of events, where Molli is living not far from where she grew up!

Monday morning in the city

The cars were not as loud early yesterday, but today by 6:15, there is a river of them running by our windows. It is also the coolest it has been, and I almost went back to sleep. I did sleep almost 8 hours though, so no reason not to get up.

I made pancakes with blueberries yesterday, following the recipe in my head. They were cooking when Molli said, "I don't have any real syrup, you know." "Oh, no. We could easily have bought some." She doesn't really care if she has real maple syrup or not, and Ray doesn't use it at all. The irony is I have 4 containers of real maple syrup at my house, somehow. Not that I would have carried it here on the plane. So we had homemade blueberry pancakes with fake syrup and no bacon...and they tasted pretty good to me.

Of course, Ray and Molli were not ready to go as early as I would have liked. We missed one bus because Ray went out the wrong door, looking for me. No subways (which are aboveground trolleys here) showed up. It was 5 after 11 and we were still on the bus, so I said I really didn't want to walk into church 10 or 15 minutes late. Molli didn't care and Ray didn't care, so we just stayed on the bus to the end of the line. The only thing is, I was all dressed up with no place to go...and I would have liked to sing.

We walked several blocks to the Sunday afternoon farmers market. I switched my shoes about half way. First we walked around the crafts--very nice, but not anything I couldn't live without: pet treats, baby clothes, t-shirts, chopping boards, the usual. There was one stall that was very popular and it caught my attention, too. They had taken vintage brochures and other items and attached them to tiles and finished them in some way, with cork on the back, to turn them into coasters and trivets. There was one from Grossingers I was tempted to get my Dad, but it was $25, the largest size they had. There was a
smaller one, but it was Grossingers day camp. They were sorted geographically...New England, Europe...some were maps. We ended up buying 10 of them. Great idea!

I also bought a tea with raspberry sorbet in it...Yum. Then we wandered around, admiring the vegetables. There were a couple that sold meat, too, and one that had fish...sole or scallops for $20 a pack (a little less than a pound). I just can't bring myself to pay that, even though it is good local fish and I want to support the fishermen and the people selling it. I just don't like it twice as much as meat. We got a "special" from one woman: 1 pound sausage, 1 pound ground beef and 2 "steak-burgers" plus some bacon "ends." I also did not pass up a pain au chocolat. There were several bakeries with delicious-looking breads and other pastries, but I pretty much am always allowed a pain au chocolat when I see it. We bought zucchini and a big tomato and more blueberries and green beans and Macintosh apples! I didn't carry any of it.

We were planning to eat at the food trucks, but there wasn't anywhere to sit and it was getting pretty warm. Ray and I voted to go to a restaurant instead. Molli consulted her smartphone (Urban Spoon) and found a restaurant that was not far away. It was the one Janna and Ron had taken her to not long ago: Union. They had had brunch, as well. She was even able to tell us about the menu and it sounded great. She called and made a reservation, but we were there in a few minutes anyway. Sitting in the window, watching people walk by, enjoying mimosas and coffee (I just had water), life seemed good. They had a prix fixe special: coffee, juice, omelette with home fries and toast for $9.95. Not bad! Molli had eggs, too.

Ray had a caesar salad with grilled shrimp. Yummy looking! The service was excellent. They kept our water glasses filled. Even the rest room was nice. I love good restaurants and fantasized about having a tradition of eating here every Sunday.

Then we shlepped our purchases (and by we, I mean Molli and Ray) to the nearest stop and rode home, back to Molli's apartment. We were tired and sat around for a bit, finalizing our plans for next week. Molli decided she had to go to Northeastern to get her heavy book for Immigration (actually two books. The small one is only two inches thick. I think the big one is close to five). Ray and Osa went with her. Osa had not eaten all her breakfast, but had thrown up on the rug after Molli cleaned it for our visit.

I studied the weather forecast and decided this was the best time to bake bread, if I was going to do it. She had bought me whole wheat flour and yeast, so I started mixing. I have my favorite recipes available on line, so I could look up a good bread recipe. I only made two loaves--those are all the bread pans Molli has. I could make round loaves on a cookie sheet if I needed to. On the other hand, there isn't room in her freezer either. Her biggest bowl didn't look big enough, but I started mixing in there. When I got all the ingredients in, there wasn't really anywhere to knead. I could have cleaned off the table, but it would have made a mess. I managed to knead it in the bowl quite successfully, but I knew it couldn't rise there or it would overflow. We put some oil in her biggest pot and let it rise there for a while. I moved it into the bedroom, where the sun could shine on it, instead of by the breezy window. It was very pleasant in the apartment.

They were back at 7:15, with more groceries. I don't know how everything fit in the refrigerator and cupboard, but it did. I shucked the corn, but had to move the bread from the pot to the bread pans before we could cook it. Molli did her reading, we ate dinner and drank some great wine (except Molli) and Ray and I watched some TV, while Molli read in her room. About 10, she was done and we watched an episode of Leverage. She has Chromecast on her TV, which allows her to project anything from her computer (if it's on Netflix or in Chrome) on the TV, a giant set she got on Craigslist for under $100. I was able to download Chromecast onto my phone and control her TV from my Netflix list...pretty fun.

Of course, I forgot about the bread and it had risen over the tops of the pans. Molli baked it for me, so I didn't burn it. It looks very good. I was pretty tired after that and went right to sleep.

Worn out, but happy

We got going a little earlier yesterday. Ray walked with Osa to the Arboretum, while Molli and I took a bus. It is a little odd to feel like I am being babysat...someone has to go with me on the bus because I cannot walk all day like other people can. I could probably take the bus without help. As it turns out, Ray got quite lost. I played dumb and let them figure out our route and talk about where we would meet, etc. Ray and Molli studied the map and she even offered him her phone. "No, I don't need it. I'll see you there..." Famous last words.

we walked from the upper right corner to the upper left corner, down, and up

We had an easy ride. As Molli said, "when public transit works, it's awesome. You get where you're going fast and comfortably. Of course, some days, I am waiting in the rain and late for class...and where's the bus?" We stood around for a while, called Ray and started wandering toward the Visitors' Center at the Arboretum. We walked through quiet fields and clumps of trees and wildlife, as if there weren't a giant city a stone's throw away. There are, of course, little signs, so you can find out just what that tree or bush is, if you want to. Or you can just enjoy a peaceful, yet civilized walk. No blocked paths, lots of benches, plenty of other people of all ages, some with dogs. We talked to Ray every so often, but somehow he had gone by the visitors' center, he had come in the arboretum by another gate and gone south instead of north, etc...Apparently cell phones don't solve all problems. Fortunately, he and Osa had a pleasant time too..and we did find each other eventually.

We ate our sandwiches, walked to the top of a hill, admiring oaks and nut trees. Then we switched off. Molli took the dog and ran back to the apartment, while Ray and I rode the bus. I love city buses. I think it is the way to see and get to know a place inexpensively, like the locals do. We rode through Jamaica Plain both ways, which is a funky part of Boston, where the "hippies and students live," according to Molli. It reminded me a little of Little Five Points in Atlanta.

Up four flights, Osa was exhausted and we all rested for a while, before getting supper together...pork chops and a salad and some leftover green beans.

2 medium Cokes and a large popcorn

We decided it was a good time to go to the movies, another walk, but less than a mile... turns out the theater is pretty close to Fenway Park and streams of people were headed to a ball game. We saw Begin Again and enjoyed it very much...movies cost more here, plus we spent $23 on popcorn, drinks, and snowcaps. The "medium" drinks were huge and I did not even drink it all. We had a great time. The walk back did not even seem strenuous as we were engaged in discussing the merits of the movie.

Then came the crazy part, watching two episodes of Leverage before we went to bed about midnight. Crazy for me...I broke two of my own rules: after watching a movie, I have used up my passive watching allotment for the day and rarely watch any TV. I also rarely watch more than one episode of anything in one day. I have watched back-to-back episodes when one was a cliffhanger with the dreaded words, "TO BE CONTINUED." So, guess what? It didn't kill me. I did eventually get to sleep and didn't get up until 7:30...maybe not enough sleep, but what do I have to do today anyway?

Even cooler this morning...Lovin' it!

It's Nice and Cool Here

Yes! Clam chowder!

I had a really great time yesterday.

It took us a while to get going. It was almost noon by the time we were all up and dressed. We bought weekly MTA passes, so we can ride as many trains and buses as we want. We went to the harbor and walked and walked and walked. There was a lovely breeze and I enjoyed looking at the boats and the people and the tall buildings. I love the smell of the ocean, too. We had lunch at a great small restaurant, the Sail Loft, with a view of the water. I ate lobster roll and chowder and Molli had fish and chips and Ray had baked haddock (I think).

watching people and boats and enjoying the breeze

We walked some more, all along the docks, admiring the apartment buildings and fantasizing about living there. We stopped at another restaurant about 3 and had coffee (for them) and iced tea (for me). It was very posh, but it only cost us about $12 including tip. We sat outside. After that, I suddenly realized I couldn't walk much more. So then we walked at least a mile to get to the subway! We saw the building where Molli will be working in the fall, in a downtown busy neighborhood.

I wonder how much it costs to live here, with a view?

When we got back, of course, we had to walk up four fights to the apartment! Molli did some reading and then headed to her babysitting job. She will miss the little guy and his family starting at the end of August, but it will be nice not to have to do it anymore. She will make a little more money as a law intern, but she will be working 9 to 6. It is less than minimum wage, more like an honorarium.

Ray bought a few groceries (I was still recovering on the couch and couldn't bear the thought of going down and up the four flights). He and Molli pretty much made dinner, broccoli and hamburgers. He also bought us some Ben and Jerry's. We watched a little TV and went to bed.

This morning, I am still sore, back, legs, feet, arms, shoulders, and I have a mosquito bite on my waist that is driving me crazy. We were planning to go hiking today...not sure how much walking I am up for. We'll see. It is cool and sunny again, wonderful weather to be out in. The cars stream by below the apartment, and I look forward to what the day brings.

travels with Ray

Oh, my gosh! It is so nice and cool here. I have on jeans and socks and am contemplating a sweater! Molli and Ray are asleep, it's good sleeping weather, I guess, but I would love to be out and about, plus I am going to have to eat something soon.

I really like their funny little old apartment with high ceilings. They have art on the walls, that Adrian put up. I miss him a lot, but with just three of us, it's not too crowded here. I am very happy and relaxed. I can sit around in my nightgown and not be uncomfortable. We all know each other really well and enjoy each other's company. Poor Molli has been lonely here, especially this summer, and we are glad to spend time with her, too.

Yesterday, I made dinner: chicken, corn on the cob from a street/farmer's market, and green beans. It was all good and there is just room for three at the small table. We took our wine up to the roof to watch the sunset and admire the view.

The only thing is, there is constantly traffic in the highway below the windows. Sometimes sirens or beeping or machinery, but mostly always cars going by, at least until after I was asleep and as soon as I woke up. It's great that the weather is cool and we have the windows open all the time, but the noise is wearing to this country girl.

The flight from Durham yesterday was very quick. We had breakfast from Monuts and got some donuts and bagels to take to Molli. We were on the ground in Boston about 10:30. We met Molli at the subway and had lunch in her apartment. We walked about 3 miles, with the dog, Osa, who is also very glad of our company. She has been alone in the apartment a lot, with Molli working and going to school. Molli has cleaned everything in preparation for our arrival and is letting us use her bedroom, sleeping on the couch herself. Fortunately, it is a very comfy large couch.

Molli and Adrian's apartment

Molli and Adrian's apartment in Boston is somewhat like Amelia's apartments in NY. It is in an old building, up four flights of stairs. It has a lovely bay window and view of the four lane highway with trees beyond. In the bathroom, there are four pipes running from floor to ceiling. They are painted, but peeling.

thank you, Mr. Toad

home-grown

harvest

Virginia Carver dancing at UUFA

Making sandwiches at UUFA

thursday already

time to put out the trash and the empty produce bins.

Monday I don't think we went anywhere all day.

Tuesday Ray went to his office for a few hours in the afternoon and came home about 6. I didn't go anywhere.

Yesterday I volunteered at Sandy Creek Nature Center. It was good, but man, was I tired and hungry when I left there a little after 12:30. There were 22 children, ages 4-6, more boys than girls. I have a theory that children who are more difficult, or just active, are more likely to be sent to camp by their caretakers. I think there were more boys than girls, for instance. The three staff members were a little overwhelmed at times. The activities were perhaps not active enough for some of the kids some of the time. Some kids didn't want their Moms to go...or Grandmas. It was really hot out for hiking and games. But it was fun, too. The kids were affectionate and curious. Some were really knowledgeable about animals.

I picked Ray up and it was one by the time we left UGA. I was really hungry by then and we stopped at Mardie's for lunch. It was hot walking from the car to the restaurant--and there was a sign on the door, "closed for the summer, see you 7/21." Really? We were annoyed. I guess regular customers would have known. We saw two other cars come and go, as well. There is always a wait, so I guess they don't have to worry about driving people away. So we went to Agua Linda instead and had delicious Mexican food. We also bought a new hose at the hardware store nearby. As we were driving home, it started raining! We hoped it would be raining at our house too, for the garden. It stopped before we got there, but I checked the rain gauge and we had about 1/4 of an inch. More would have been good, but even that much makes a big difference. It's hard for me to water evenly with the hose long enough to do 1/4 of inch.

I rested up for awhile. Now I was too full. It was after 2, so no cooking or air conditioning or TV. I had cleverly cooked some potatoes that morning before we left, so I spent most of the afternoon peeling them. They were ones we grew, so some were very small and some had bad or wormy parts to cut out. I added oil and vinegar, onion, salt and pepper, and celery and celery salt. No mayo.

Late in the day, when it starts to get pretty hot inside (81) and we can't run the air, I usually go out. It's hot out, too, 86 I think yesterday, and humid, but there was a breeze. I let the chickens out, which is always entertaining. I was planning to pick blueberries, but got about 6. Those days are gone. Then I looked in the garden and there were green beans that needed to be picked! Also a few tomatoes. The beans are funny. They hide, somehow, because some were really big and fat (not so good to eat). There are still flowers, so there are still more coming. We have a couple cantaloupes and three watermelons that I hope make it to the eating stage!

Ray came out and said, "we need to go." Oh, no. I had to put the chickens up and I didn't have time to change out of my jeans and t-shirt, dirty from the garden. I wasn't wearing my watch and didn't realize what time it was. Ray bought some corn the other day and the young chickens (and old ones too) are much easier to get in the coop now. They come when I call and know they will get a treat in the coop. We got to the Fellowship at 6:29, not late, but not by much. Ange, Clarissa, Elizabeth and Ed, Stu and Kay and their granddaughter, who is about 8. The food was good, especially some cold cucumber soup. Yum.There were deviled eggs for protein.

Post-Holiday Blues

Ray making pancakes

Friday was a holiday and then we had the weekend. We did not have to worry about our electricity fast during those days. Yesterday was relatively cool and we kept the house below 78 without running the air. This morning the windows are open again, but I don't think it is as cool.

The service yesterday involved members of the congregation sharing their thoughts on independence, interdependence, and patriotism. Some of the speakers were moving or inspirational. I think particularly of Mary, who spoke about growing up here, subject to discrimination and segregation. They even had a separate window at Dairy Queen! She couldn't go to college at UGA and went to a small historically black college. She went to Beirut as part of their Junior Year Abroad program. Someone there referred to her as American, not Negro or worse. It was the first time she thought of herself that way.

We talked to people and then took ourselves to the "new" Transmet on Tallassee for lunch. We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, so salads seemed right...but we split one piece of pizza to go with. The woman who greeted us, Jen, was super friendly and enthusiastic. When we came in, she said hello to us like we were old friends. I was trying to think who she was, and then looking behind me to make sure she was really talking to us. She was very high energy and said "Fantastic" after each item we ordered. It made us laugh. She liked Ray's t-shirt, too, of course, and he talked to her quite a bit...kind of like my Dad.

One of the many advantages of an early service (10:30 in the summer) is that there's more afternoon left, even after lunch. We were home before 2. I lay around inside, reading e-mails and recipes. About 5, Ray went out and started working on getting rid of the boxes in the garage. He is breaking them down and using them for mulch around the blueberries. Not very pretty, but effective. I came along and let the chickens out. I started to clean out the nesting boxes and got chased by some wasps that had built a nest in the old coop. I only got stung once, on my hand, but I was terrified. I screamed and screamed for Ray to come help me. He came, of course, but the crisis was over. Cameron came too. My sting hurt (I put baking soda toothpaste on it, which helps a surprising amount), but I also felt a little queasy. I think I had a megadose of adrenaline that affected me for several hours. I felt shaky and just not right. The chickens were fine. I guess they don't eat wasps and are not bothered by them. Ray knocked down the nest and killed at least one wasp. I was a little nervous for a few hours whenever anything buzzed near me, which is often, when I'm outside.

Some of the chickens had trouble figuring out how to get out of the coop.

I watered the main garden for about an hour, concentrating on the cucumbers, which are wilting from the heat and lack of rain. Most of the zucchini have died, probably from borers, but I think they are more likely to attack the plants during a dry spell. I picked a few cherry tomatoes and kept working on pruning the suckers off, and one banana pepper. Ray got about a cup of blueberries.

We ate leftover potato salad with hard-boiled egg and pie with raspberry sorbet. That pie is delicious!

I discovered that Ancestry.com was allowing access to the census records through the Fourth of July weekend, so spent the rest of the day looking up as many of our relatives as I could. We watched a pretty intense episode of Leverage, ending with Nate getting shot and turning himself in. This did not help with the excess adrenaline problem and I thought I would never get to sleep, but Ray read to me for a long time and eventually I relaxed.

We had so much fun Friday at Gini and John's. There was a croquet game that lasted more than two hours and everyone got poison. I was in the pool twice, and in my bathing suit for most of the day (my new rule for Fourth of July). I had a lot of fun, didn't eat much, and drank no alcohol. We were home by 8:30 or so. I was exhausted and sore.

Amaryllis blooming

Saturday morning Ray slept late. I was eating breakfast. It was nice and cool and I had the windows open. Cameron started barking and I said, "there's my Dad." Ray woke up and came downstairs. Dad was tired, too, but he did some gardening and watered. Things are really suffering from the heat and dryness. He did find some green beans to pick and Ray and I picked about two cups of blueberries. They are smaller now, harder and less tasty, but still good. We took a walk, but I wimped out and came home early. I spent an hour or so on the couch, on the computer, feeling tired and dispirited. "I know," I said. "Let's invite John and Deb over to play cards." It had been a while. Ray agreed that was a good idea. We had a couple pounds of chicken to grill and I had been in the process of making some potato salad. They were happy to join us.

I studied recipes on the NY Times Cooking site. I'm a beta tester and I love it. There are so many choices. Ray mowed the lawn some and vacuumed the house. I cut up the beans and marinated the chicken. I made a blueberry strawberry pie and watermelon daiquiris. About 5 or so, I went outside. It was hot, but not too humid. I let the chickens out while I grilled the chicken.

When they arrived, I added some more ice and buzzed the blender again. I poured out some daiquiri for our friends, who were definitely game for watermelon daiquiris. They were delicious and pretty. Big chunks of watermelon, some lime juice and rum and ice. The one thing I would do if I were serious is chill the glasses. I got out a few crackers and bits of cheese, and turned the green beans on. Ray finished cooking the chicken and I got out the
potatoes. The food was good, but not great--healthy, though.

We dealt the cards and played half the game before eating dessert. Ray was way ahead and John couldn't win for losing, as my Dad says. Deb and I just had fun. I was even ahead briefly. When we had played down to one, we went out and got the chickens in. Deb and John helped. It was pretty fun. Then we ate pie, still slightly warm. Sadly, we had no vanilla ice cream, but offered raspberry sorbet to those who wanted. The pie didn't really hold together and I served it up with a giant spoon. We ate it in bowls, with spoons. Oh, man, was it good. The strawberries came in our box on Thursday and they were starting to go, even though they had been in the fridge. What a great use for them!

We finished the game by 10...Ray beat us badly, with a score well over 200. He was in a good mood, naturally.

So, now we have a pretty clean house and nothing we have to do today. It's cool again this morning and I probably need to water the garden thoroughly, even this morning or tonight.