Photos

I used to have control over photos I published, so I could rearranget them and add captions, but now they just show up as hypertext until they are published and I can't change anything about them. I can't even delete them, because I don't know which one I'm deleting. So, here are some scenes from my recent life. I rediscovered the joys of hanging up laundry on a sunny windy day in early spring (OK, literally late winter). It reminds me of my mother, who never had a dryer and always dried things on the clothesline, in cold and snowy weather. She was frugal, my Mom, and used one clothespin for two items when she could, leaving cold damp corners on the underwear sometimes, where the clothespins had been. I can afford to use as many as I want. And I can use the dryer if it seems like a better idea. It is a pleasure to be outside, listening to the birds and feeling the sun and smelling the dirt. We bought a bedside table with a drawer and a shelf, so there is room for stuff I want to keep handy, and I'm less likely to knock my glasses on the floor during the night. We have a double, or full-sized, bed, not a Queen here. Generally I like it and it's not a problem, but sometimes I am closer to the edge than I would like, or I don't feel I can toss and turn without bothering my partner, so I move to the twin bed in the guest room. Or, if Ray gets up before I do, I might stay in bed, even though I'm awake, and enjoy having it all to myself! I made asparagus quiche--it was delicious. Today is pie day and I have already mixed up the crust to make an apple pie, but I need to go buy the apples. I have tutored a little girl twice and will continue to meet with her at the library at 4:30 twice a week. It is not my favorite time, but that is what works best for them. The first time, she had homework. I watched her do it and she asked me if it was right and I said yes. I asked her questions about it. Yesterday, she had no homework. Her mother asked me to help her with reading comprehension. They speek Spanish at home. The child is fluent in English and I had her read to me. She reads quite well and quickly, so she is not always stopping to ask herself what it means. Of course, there are expressions she does not know, like, "What's in it for you?" It's fun, I'm not sure I'm helping much at this point, but we'll see. I'm sure it's good for her to have more people who care about her schooling. Her mom is clearly very invested in her doing well. We went to a great restaurant for Ray's birthday (also International Women's Day). It was one Amelia and Kevin hadn't been to before either. I ordered ribeye with mushrooms, and it was delicious. There was so much, I ate it for lunch two or three times as well. Everything was delicious. I had a maple-flavored Old Fashioned before dinner. Yum. We are always on the lookout for nice places we can eat outside. The seating can't be picnic tables (some are), but comfortable chairs. In this case, they also had heaters, so we were quite comfortable. I did feel bad for the waitress, although she was very pleasant. One of the photos shows the red cape I am making, so I can wear it to protests, as a Handmaid. It does look more like red riding hood, though. I like working on sewing projects in Amelia's classroom. I only go when nothing else is scheduled. For a break, I might sit in the rocking chair and knit, or walk around and imagine what I will make next. I have some t-shirts my Dad got rid of that I plan to make into a quilt for him. Not that he will really appreciate it, but it might be a conversation starter if he has visitors. It is cold here today and the heat is working hard, but it is much colder in Massachusetts, with wind and snow predicted. One of my children is on her way to Mexico for a few days. She left earlier than planned, to miss the storm, and I know she will be glad to be away. There was a real dry spell for housing inventory, but there are some that I would buy available now. M has been visiting them for me, and calling me on Face Time, so I can see them with her. The published photos are good, but I really appreciate having someone there to ask questions and get a feel for the house and the neighborhood. How do you compare two good options? One is closer to Molli, the other has the all-on-one-floor plan that I want, but only one bathroom. It does have a basement with the potential for expansion, though, and a nice big yard, with an undeveloped area behind the back yard, so it feels less "in-town" than it is. Apparently, I can no longer write in paragraphs either.