The evening of our second day

I woke up around 8, listened to audio in bed. I fixed and ate breakfast, then read e-mail until the lack of noise told me the kids had gone to the beach. I changed into my suit and went out. I swam with James and Becca. When the kids went to the pool, their parents went also. I stayed in the ocean to swim for awhile longer. Then I visited the pool, too. About 11:30 I went in to dry off and work more on one 16x16 Sudoku puzzle that is giving me fits. I took a break for lunch. I did more puzzle work for awhile. Olivia helped me make a loaf of cranberry bread. Around 2:30 I went out to lay in the hot sand, but then the sun went away. I ended up playing in the sand under the house. I was alone until Olivia found me. The sun came back out, but by then she would have followed me out to the beach if I had gone. After a while I went in. Chris and Michele went to the store for roasted chickens. I sat outside in the sun on the top porch so I could see my puzzle better. Then supper was ready. In addition to chicken, we had cauliflour, wild rice, tomatoes, and salad. For dessert, I had frozen fruit while the others ate ice cream. James and Becca went for a walk on the beach. I stayed behind because I was watching the latest TQS show on the internet. It was about ways to use stripes in a quilt. When I finished e-mail, i went up to see what everyone else was doing. Some had gone to bed, and the rest were watching the Olympics. I used my cell phone to call Charlie. He is going to mow our yard tomorrow and I wanted him to know that his tires dug up some of the grass last time. And he cut the grass near the fence too short with the weedwhacker and it died. After I talked to him, my phone was low so I looked for the recharging card, but I must have left it at home. Now that this post is done, it is time to turn in. Chris and I are getting up early to watch the sun rise over the beach.
* I took this pic of the cloud bank, but it doesn't do it justice. Note the kid with all the balloons on the boardwalk. Some sort of celebration? *

First full day at the beach

We slept in this morning. I thought Olivia would be upset that I didn't wake her at 5 to go to the beach, but she wasn't. After a bit, we all put our suits on and went to the beach. When Cecily and the kids went to the pool, I went inside to dry off and make my breakfast. When I had finished, the others came in for lunch. I spent the afternoon working some Sudoku variations. Chris and Alfred took my car to get the AC fixed, but the repair place said they couldn't find the problem and that we should take it to a dealership. But there isn't one around here. The two of them also went shopping. Cecily and James made ice cream and put it in the freezer to firm up. Chris and Becca grilled pork tenderloins on the outside barbeque grill. They were fabulous. Cecily made sauerkraut, spiced apple rings, peas, mashed potatoes and sliced tomatoes to go with it. Cecily and Al brought a LARGE number of tomatoes from their garden and we need to eat them all. For dessert we had homemade strawberry sorbet and chocolate ice cream. I had a spoonful of each from Chris' bowl. After supper we went back to the beach. It was getting dark so we didn't stay overly long. I was glad I brought a towel to keep warm when out of the water. The water was clear and warm so no problems there. While some of the others watched TV, I read my e-mail and did more puzzle work. I took pics today but you won't see them 'till tomorrow since I am keeping Chris up the longer I take to post this.

Arriving at the beach

I thought we'd get up really early so we could drive while it was cool. But Chris did not want to get to the beach before the check-in time for the house. So we showered, dressed and went to the dining room for breakfast. I brought mine pre-mixed. After breakfast, we loaded the luggage in the car and set off. Again, we drove with the windows down. We had to turn up the book on CD so we could hear it over the wind noise. I thought we arrived at 1:15, but my watch was still on Alabama time. The beds were already made. So all we had to do was put the food away. I got out my bread machine and put in the makings of a honey oatmeal loaf. Cecily gave me a pile of 16 x 16 Sudoku sheets. I started one. Later William brought me a pair of his shorts with the button that had fallen off. As luck would have it, I had grabbed a needle and thread just before we left. AND I had grabbed some scraps to park my needle and two pins in. When the button came off, it took the background fabric with it. So I needed to cover the hole and reinforce the fabric around in before sewing on the button. So it all worked out very well. Around 5:30 Chris, Becca and Cecily started supper. I looked out at the beach and noticed there were people on the beach, but very few in the water. I figured either the water was cold or there were jellyfish. I walked down there to discover that the water was perfectly warm, and there were only a few well-thrashed jelly fish. But, since supper was coming soon, I did not change into my suit. Supper consisted of Panko chicken, cooked spinach, noodles, asparagus, and tomatoes. Cecily brought mung bean noodles for me. The others ate whole wheat spaghetti. After cleaning up the plates, we put on our suits and went to the beach. At first it was just Olivia, Becca, Michele and I. But then Chris came out, too. We had a great time splashing in the surf. But even though the water was warm, the air was cool and windy. So I began to get cold. We came in and washed off the sand, dried off and changed clothes. I finished the giant Sudoku puzzle. I went upstairs with my laptop to get on the internet. There were no audios to listen to, and not that much e-mail to read. So I can go to bed early. Olivia thinks I am waking her up at 5 to go back to the beach.
* I will add a pic tomorrow *

Starting the two-day drive

Chris got up before 7 and took a shower. Then it was my turn while he woke up Michele. Almost everything except food (and our laptops) was packed the night before. When I realized that I would not be able to sew for the next week, I threw some fabric in a bag with pieces I worked on before so I could do some hand-piecing. Phew! Crisis aborted.
We were on the road before 8, I think. We listened to Janet Evanovich books on CD. They were good, but the first reader was the best. I wish she had read all of them. Other readers just did not do the characters nearly so well. We stopped for gas. As I filled out the gas book, I realized that I have had this car for 9 months and am still on the first page. Either it is very good on gas, or I don't drive much. Or both.
We stopped at a Subway for lunch. I got a salad and the lady put lots of avocodo on it. Usually they just give you a small scoop. We ate it there, then got back on the road. Around 4 we arrived in Greensboro NC. We checked into a La Quinta hotel. Since the AC did not work in the car, we were so ready to relax in a cold room. Around 6:30 we walked to a Longhorn Steakhouse for supper. I ordered a bowl of onion soup from the appetizer menu. Michele gave me some of her salad and two of her shrimp. When I got back to the hotel, I ate one of the tomatoes we brought from home. I was afraid they would go bad in the hot car. Then we retired to our laptops for the evening. Chris quit first and read a book for a bit before going to bed. I read e-mail and listened to two audios. Michele played a computer game. There are only two beds in the room and I joked that there was one for me, and one for Chris, but where will Michele sleep?
* No pics from today so here is one from Paducah *

The packing is the worst part

I woke up before Chris left for work. I listened to audios while exercising and making breakfast. I wanted to do laundry when Michele woke up. At 10 I could wait no longer, so I woke her up. She sorted the laundry and started the washing process. Then she started packing her suitcase. Because we had found things in boxes here that she wanted to take back with her, she had a hard time fitting it all. I told her we could send a standard priority mail box of stuff over to her. Just when she had fit it all in, the buzzer on the washer sounded and she realized there were more clothes to go in the suitcase. I had to pack, too. But first I swept the kitchen and den. I made a list of things I wanted to bring as they occurred to me. And one of tasks to accomplish. I wanted to print something that was on my laptop. But it gave me a hard time because the cursor stopped working and I had to use the tab key. No wonder mice were invented! My usual packing list was on the desktop so I had no trouble printing that out. The suitcase wasn't that hard to pack once the clothes came out of the wash. Picking pairs of shoes was a little sticky. But the worst part is packing my special foods and supplements. Some come in large containers and I had to find smaller ones to put a 10-day supply in. Also, I know we will be staying overnight on the trip over and the trip back. So I had to mix breakfast for those two days separately. Then I had to make tomorrow's breakfast mix so that I could pack the remainder to take along. I also hardboiled some duck eggs for the trip. They are good protein for the Subway salads I usually get on these trips. I picked the tomatoes and cucumbers that were ripe. It wasn't much and I ate all but one tomato. I told a friend in the quilt guild that she could pick our tomatoes while we are gone. Chris came home around 4. We went to Enterprise to return the truck. We will take my car to the beach. Sadly we discovered the the AC is not cold. I didn't know it 'cause I never use it. He packed his bag and took everything else that was packed and put it in the car. After supper, I ironed the remainder of my pile of damp fabrics. Chris and Michele went down to watch Indiana Jones and the Arc of the Covenant. Then Michele got Chris to show her how to use the scanner. He went to bed. I am still up hoping that anything I forgot to pack will come to mind and soon. My future self is typically not very understanding of what my past self forgot. It's a wonder that the present me turned out so well.
* I didn't take any pics today, so here is one of Michele feeding the chickens *

An hour at the farm

I put out the recyclables before breakfast and watered the potted plants. After breakfast we went to see Alison on her farm. Michele loved seeing the chickens and ducks. We fed them day old bread and they attacked it. Alison has a fig tree. The chickens like the figs and some roost in the tree. She suggested we pick some to take home. I bought 18 duck eggs to take home. It was about noon when we got home. I ate a tomato for lunch and some pickles. I listened to an audio while reading e-mail and folding laundry. I put more old fabric in the washer, then put on my bathing suit to sunbathe. I did not realize how much sun I had gotten while visiting the farm. I wanted to be evenly tan all over, but am now red around my neck and shoulders. After the sun, I read e-mail until the washer was finished. Then I put the fabrics in the dryer and fired up the iron. I ironed until I felt like checking the dryer. The fabrics were slightly damp, just the way I like them. But I left them sit in the dryer while I finished the previous load. Sadly, that was a mistake 'cause one of the red fabrics bled onto the light-colored ones. I shall never know which one. When Chris came home, I went upstairs. He made a casserole for work tomorrow, and then cooked turkey burgers for us for supper. After supper I went down to iron some more. Chris and Michele came down to watch Top Gun. I kept ironing. I need to get through the load before I can do laundry for our trip next week. And Chris wants us fully packed by the time he gets home from work tomorrow.

Surprise lilies

I was up early, but in no mood to exercise. So I read e-mail for awhile until I thought I could face it. Michele was already up. Again, who is this and what has After exercise came breakfast. And more e-mail. I called Barbara and we had a nice chat. I missed seeing her in Pinehurst. I also talked to Hannah. I realized that I had forgotten to send a reminder to the Yongsan quilt group about entering volunteer hours. So I put a reminder in the group calendar. Why hadn't I done that before? Around noon I tried to sunbathe, but the sun went behind a cloud. I washed two loads of fabric and ironed the whole first load, and part of the second. I was sunbathing when Chris came home. He was a little early. Chris got out the leftovers, so I ate some chicken. Then I went out with a bowl to pick dandelion. I also found a cucumber. I washed the greens in my salad spinner. But somehow when I made the salad, I forgot the cucumber. After supper I called Alison to set up at time for Michele to go see her chickens. Then I went outside to cut the grass between the flowers with a pair of scissors. If I don't trim them, I am afraid Charlie will weedeat them while we are gone. Barbara next door told me these flowers are called Surprise Lilies. The foliage comes up in the spring and dies off. Then, usually in August, they bloom almost overnight with no foliage. I also mowed inside the fence. I put all the tools away, then went inside and changed so we could watch TV. We watched another Warehouse 13 DVD. Chris went to bed, and Michele stayed down to watch Men in Black.
* This is a 'before' picture *

New technology (for me)

I was up by 8. I had to read e-mail before I was in the mood to exercise. Then I had breakfast. I folded some laundry. I made a list of things to do. I called the people on the list, but did not reach any of them. I did however get Michele to show me how to use OpenOffice to make a powerpoint presentation. I could not find the right pics, but at least I now know how to load them once I find them. That is what kids are for - to show us older people how to use technology, right?
Around noon I Skyped MaryAnn. It had been a long time since we talked. And we made up for it by talking for 4 hours. Bob, if you are reading this, see what your wife does when you are gone? After the call, I raked up the grass clods in the front yard. The grass was very uneven after being mowed so tall and wet. So I mowed the worst parts again. I saw tire tracks where Charlie's tractor made it's turns. I really need to tell him to mow slower. I quit the front yard when I felt dizzy. I went inside and Michele got me a glass of water. Then I went to mow the back yard. It was too much to finish, but again I did the most uneven parts. And I mowed around the tomato plants and some other places that Charlie couldn't get to with his big tractor. Chris came home late, after shopping for another car. He brought home a pizza to share with Michele. She had been asking for an American pizza. I had chicken and a cucumber from the garden. My feet were so green I didn't think they'd come clean, so I took a shower. My feet needed scrubbing with a scouring pad. I rested for a bit, then practiced my trombone. I went down to wash a load of fabric, but Chris was already cuing up the NCIS DVD. So I watched with him instead. Michele joined us in the second episode. After 4 episodes, he has gone to bed, and I am so tired I shall go, too. Michele must have gone to bed also, but she usually stays up very late. Who is she and what has she done with my daughter?

You never know what will happen at the mall

Charlie arrived at 8. The grass was still wet. Clippings flew from the mower like waves from the back of a speed boat. I wrote and delivered a check to him. We talked for a bit, then he resumed his mowing. I picked the hot peppers and put them in a bag for him. I fixed my breakfast and exercised. I read my e-mail. I resent a message I sent yesterday to the yahoo group, but it did not appear. Finally I sent it from the yahoo group site, and it went through, but no one responded to it. I unpacked two boxes of fabric: one was mostly knits so it went fast. The other was smaller quilting pieces so it went very slowly. It was hard to tell what had been washed and what hadn't. I guess I hadn't worked out the cutting corner system early in my collecting.
I checked e-mail again. Then sorted a bag of fabric. I ate lunch, then read more e-mail and took a shower. Michele ate lunch, then agreed to go shopping with me for a swimsuit. I cannot for the life of me figure out why she would stop playing the game on her laptop to go shopping with me. Who is she and what did she do with my daughter? Anyway, we went to the mall. First we went to Dillards. I did not want a bikini, so I started with what I thought were one piece suits. But no, they were long tops that cost between $40 and $100 and the bottoms were sold separately at $30+. I was absolutely amazed. But we did find a suitable suit for $44. We left it on the rack and proceeded down the mall. We enjoyed walking through a few small stores until we got to Belk's. They had suits too, but none that looked better for any less money than at Dillards. We rode the escalator down and both of us stood on the right hand side: a hold-over from living in Korea. On the way back to Dillards, we passed a kiosk selling curling irons. The man said he had never curled hair as long as Michele's and asked if she would permit it. She did, so he did. As he was curling her hair, one small hank at a time, the people walking by stared at the length of her hair. If only I had had my camera! The man took her pic after he finished. Her hair looked like telephone cords initially, but the weight of it pulled out the curls slowly. We bought the suit at Dillards. Aren't you glad I didn't have my camera? Otherwise there might be a pic of me in it. We went home. Michele went back to her game and I went back to e-mail. I noticed that when Charlie mowed the tall, wet grass, he left chunks of grass clippings behind. I put on my old bathing suit and went out to rake them up. Chris came home and got on his laptop. When I finished as much raking as I could stand, and chatted with Barbara next door, I came in for supper. Chris and Michele had already eaten. I changed into my night gown and went downstairs to sort through another bag of fabric. This bag turned out to be scraps. I did not go through them all. I proceeded to a box. But then Chris came down to watch NCIS. So we did that together. Then he went to bed. I might go to bed early myself.

Good bye Scoby

We woke up with plenty of time to get to church, and yet somehow we missed our window of opportunity. That did not sit well with me since we will miss the next two Sundays. Chris went to the grocery store while I listened to audios that I missed over the past two days. Michele and I went through boxes of her stuff downstairs so she could tell me what she didn't want any more. She identified quite a bit. She also found some clothing that she still likes and can still wear. She tried them on and selected an outfit to wear to the movies. She and Chris went to see The Dark Knight at a local theatre. I took the opportunity to sunbathe. Then I picked some tomatoes, but could not find any cucumbers. I poured the last of my kombucha in the blender along with the scobies. With apologies, I blended them up into a bacterial mass. Some of it got poured on the cucumbers in the garden and the remains got diluted with a bucket of water and spread on the compost pile. I followed that with mowing the front yard until the mower quit. I know that Charlie is supposed to come tomorrow, but the grass is really high, and it stays wet all day. I had to keep banging clods of wet grass clippings out of the blade area. I plugged it in, expecting to come back to it. But I found enough to do in the computer that I never quite finished. Nor did I get around to sorting my new/old stash (see pic). Chris and Michele fixed supper: a chicken with onions and chorizo. They watched an old Batman movie while it cooked. I did internet searches on the people renting our house, and started a loaf of bread. After supper we all watched an episode of NCIS. Then Chris went to bed. It is only 10 so I may stay up a while.

The end of our 1100-mile trip

The alarm went off at 6:30 EST. We took a shower and dressed. I took my breakfast and went with Chris to the continental breakfast spread downstairs. He fixed himself a plate of eggs while I ate my usual. Then we went back to the room to brush our teeth and move our stuff to the truck. We used the GPS to find Kay's house. It took longer than we expected. She came out and welcomed us. She took us to the room upstairs where all the boxes and bins of my fabric were pulled out for us. There was a pile of books and magazines as well. We unpacked some of her bins into ones that we brought. I had given her a bag of scraps and she sorted it by length into several smaller bags. She showed me her quilts and quilt tops while Chris carried out the bins of fabric. I gave her some black and white fabrics to keep. When the boxes were out, we helped Chris cover it all with a tarp and he put on the truck net. Then she showed us her water features and fish. We thanked her profusely and started on our journey home. I have been feeling badly for years that I left my fabric there longer than the two years I originally told her we'd be gone. But by the time we left her house, I felt like she enjoyed having it around.
It rained off and on during the trip home. We stopped for gas and I got a salad, too. Chris was not hungry, again. We ran into backed up traffic in several places but still got home by 6. Michele helped us unload the fabric and other stuff. It made quite a pile and I am thinking of inviting my guild friends to help me sort it all. Chris made organic turkey burgers for supper. I picked a tomato and ate it with my burger. Then we watched the third episode of the second season of the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes.

Just a quick note..

We got up earlyto get ready for the trip. I think we were on the road by 7 which was Chris' target time. It rained off and on most of the trip. We stopped for lunch at Subway, and later at a Hardees for a bathroom break. Our first stop in Pinehurst was Hit Point Hobbies, which was in a new place. Then we went to Lowes and Walmart to get a tarp and a cargo net. Then we checked in at the Holiday Express, which we believe is new since we moved away. Finally we drove to our old house to get some stuff from the shed and garage. I met the man who lives there now. The property had at least 5 trucks. The yard was covered in pinestraw. The garage was so full of junk that I could hardly look for what I wanted. Most of what we wanted was in the shed anyway. It took us awhile to get it out since the electricity is not working in there. Then we talked to Max and Hannah who live behind our house. They told us that Barbara and Bill had moved to New Jersey 2 weeks ago. They also said they hoped the people renting our house would move. When we were finished there, we went to visit Joyce and her husband. We had a nice chat to catch up. Then we retired to the hotel. I ate a few pieces of something that came in the Nuts.com order and am now posting to my blog from Chris' computer. I forgot to take pics of the property or of the people we visited. Will post something tomorrow.

God opened a window...

...a big one!
I got up later than usual. After breakfast and exercise, there were audios to listen to. More than I could handle in a day, so I had to pick and choose. I spent hours looking for a piece of paper. I found Chris' car title, but could not find my own. I laid out in the sun for 20 minutes. Charlie called and said he'd rather come Monday to cut the grass because it might rain today and his trip would be in vain. Around 2 the furniture repair guy came with the leg column for the dining room table. It was fixed and he reattached it. At 3 Chris went to Enterprise to turn in his vehicle and rent a car. But they did not have any cars left so they gave him a Ford F-1500 crew cab. I mentioned to Chris that a truck that big would hold my entire Pinehurst fabric collection. He offered to drive me to Pinehurst in the morning to get it. I was so excited! But I had to make arrangements quickly. I called Kay, who was housing my fabric. She was free Saturday morning. Then I skyped Joyce but could not get her. Joyce had offered to enter a quilt to the quilt show for me. But I did not have one with a label and a hanging sleeve. So I worked on that, and on getting two ready for show-n-tell at the monthly quilt meeting tonight. I showered and dressed, then grabbed my quilts (including the comfort quilt) and headed out. Thankfully they meet very close to my house. I was able to get situated quickly. I was able to talk to someone about hosting a pillowcase-making day. Show-n-tell went well. Then we had a talk by a lady who does leaf-pounding. It was very interesting. And her hand-quilting is amazing. The meeting was a little shorted than usual. I went home to find Chris and Michele watching Wolverine. I watched a little bit, but then did some packing and assembling of breakfast items to make the morning go faster. I tried calling Joyce again, but kept getting a busy signal. I wrote all the addresses on a piece of paper and put it in my purse. I put several plastic tubs out by the truck. I packed some clothes and toiletries. I had already printed out the form, but have not yet filled it in. Then I put on an audio and started attaching a sleeve to the back of a quilt. I should have used headphone 'cause I found out it was keeping Chris awake. I think I can finish it on the trip tomorrow. So now I am off to bed. Things have worked out so well that I can hardly believe my luck. Hope I can sleep.
* Sorry the pic is so bad. I'll have to take another one *

Rain has unexpected consequences

After seeing Chris off on his trip north for gaming, I shut off the airconditioning and opened a window. I read e-mail for over an hour before starting my exercises and fixing breakfast. After Michele ate breakfast, we ran the dishwasher. I nibbled a bit off of a pepper and the juice burned my lips. Even a bag of frozen blueberries was not enough to stop the pain. Then my eye itched... (nothing happened the first time I scratched it.) I got the recyclables together for tomorrow. Chris called to say his car went off the road in the rain, and that he was all right but the car was not. He said he would handle it and come home, canceling the trip. There was nothing I could do from here. I opened the garage doors to dry out the water that came under the doors yesterday. But then it started to rain, so I closed them again. I went out with an umbrella to check on my tomatoes. I pulled out some of the morning glories growing all over them. But I left the ones that were holding the vines to the cages. I also tied up a few vines that were falling too low. I came in to iron the fabrics left from yesterday, then brought my quilt up to finish the binding. I had unplugged my computer when the storm hit. But now the storm was over and the battery was low, so it had to be re-plugged. Michele decided to cook in Chris' absence. I did not argue. She decided to cook the turnips. I could not imagine how they could turn out well having such a sharp taste. But she did well. She boiled them, mashed them, added salt, pepper, chicken stock, and onions. She only ate a little, but I really liked it. We saw the deer again. I watched him carefully to make sure he did not bother my garden. Then Chris arrived. He had rented a vehicle to drive home, said his car was totaled. He was not hungry, but was ready to watch TV. So we saw three episodes of Warehouse 13 and one of NCIS. Sadly the site where we watched the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes was down for maintenance. Benedict Cumberbatch is SO awesome in that role. And American TV has nothing so well written. BTW, tomorrow is his birthday.

Looking for an open window

Before I went to bed last night, the large roach came back, and was not so lucky this time. Bwahahaha!
I got up before 8 the next morning, which was good since my new zeaxanthin regimen starts at 8. I read e-mail for awhile, and played an audio on my laptop. Around 10 I got hungry and did some exercise before making breakfast. I went out around noon to lay in the sun, still listening to the audios. I picked a cucumber and a tomato for lunch.
Deb called to say something had come up and she might not be able to go to Pinehurst in August after all. That really put a damper on my day. I kept hoping she would call back to say she could schedule around it. When God closes a door, he opens a window, right? I wonder where that open window is.
Later I mowed the lawn inside the fence, and under the magnolia tree. I opened both garage doors to dry out the puddles under neath each one. When I came in, I put a bunch of the fabric from Saturday in the washer. Then I went upstairs to greet Chris. We had pork for supper. When I remembered the wet fabric, I came down to put it in the dryer. The fat quarters were kept out. I ironed them dry while waiting for the dryer to mostly dry the larger pieces. I took them out and folded them, then started ironing them one by one. I kept thinking Chris and Michele would come down to watch TV. At 8 I went up to take more zeaxanthin. Michele came down a little later with her laptop. She connected it to the TV, and we watched Sherlock Holmes, the second season. Chris came down halfway through the first episode (which was 90 minutes long). I did some work on the binding while watching. After the second episode it was time for bed.
* This is a pic of a duck from the aquarium *

The day goes swimmingly

All this rain has sparked the rapid growth of flowers that look like day lilies but have a stem like an amarylis. I saw them as I walked outside in the wet grass, grounding to the earth. Breakfast and exercise followed. As I read my e-mail, I found Kay's number from her daughter. I called her and Deb and Joyce. All the details for the trip to Pinehurst are now wrapped up, and I am so excited. I called the realtor, left a message to notify the tenants that I am coming to get some stuff from the garage. I called a furniture repair place. The man came over in less than half an hour. He took the table legs and the part they attach to. He also took a broken diningroom chair in the garage. But he did not take the wingback chair with its broken leg. He said it would cost upwards of $1000 to fix it properly since the leg is part of the whole structure of the chair. It would be cheaper to replace it, but how do I get it to match the couch? I put on my bathing suit and laid in the sun for 20 minutes, then I googled wingback chairs and green striped upholstery fabric, but to no avail. Then the rain came and it rained hard. I danced in the rain, and splashed in the puddle in driveway. When I came in, I heard Michele talking. I asked who she is talking to, she said the voices. Without Dad? They're different voices. I sighed, she's all grown up and talking to her own voices. I went downstairs to cut and sew strips for two bindings. I feel so lucky that Karen had just the right colors at the meeting on Saturday and she gave them to me. Chris came home. While he was eating, I sewed one binding on and started the handsewing. I waited for them to come down to watch NCIS. Michele came down and we started watching Short Circuit. Chris came down later. After the movie, we watched an episode of the second season of Warehouse 13. Chris went to bed. I stayed up to listen to one of the audios so there will be fewer for tomorrow. Michele was threatened by a roach and I went after it with a towel, but it got away.
* Will post a pic later *

Tennessee Aquarium

It was after midnight when we got to sleep last night. So we were late getting up in the morning. The plan had been to go to the early service, but we missed it. After eating, showering and dressing, the three of us climbed into Chris' car and headed for Tennessee. We found a parking lot next to the aquarium and paid $9 to get in. But we could not find a space, so we wanted our money back. But the attendant told us to park in the handicap space and that it was ok since it was a private lot. So we did. Chris bought three tickets for the aquarium. We elected not to see a movie at their Imax which would have been an extra $6 per person. So it only cost us $75. There were two buildings, one for ocean creatures and one for river animals. We saw otters, and snakes, and butterflies, and ducks, and turtles. We also saw fish and rays and jellyfish and penguins. I think it took us about 3 hours to see it all. On the way home, Michele stretched out on the back seat. It took longer to get home due to construction. On the way home we went to Icheban, a Japanese steak house with Chinese watiresses. Michele and Chris got the full meal with soup, salad, rice and veggies. I got something called a Huntsville roll. It was fish and other stuff wrapped in rice, topped with avocado and fish eggs. While Michele and I went to the car, Chris went to Publix next door for a Boston butt. When we got home, he put it in the oven to bake. We watched 4 episodes of NCIS. Then he took the meat out of the oven. It is for future meals, but smells really good right now.

Sewing and Trading Saturday

Even though our sewing Saturdays begin around 9, it was later than that when I woke up, but not by much. I followed my usual breakfast routine. Then I took a shower, and dressed for the overactive AC in Morton Hall. I gathered food for lunch, the quilt I almost finished yesterday, and the yellow pieces cut out several days before. And fabric to sell or trade. I arrived in the vicinity of 11. There were 6 other ladies there. They had their stuff set out, but they were all busy working on their projects. I looked at their unwanted fabrics. I bought a few pieces and traded for others. Karen was particularly generous. She gave me some solids that will make great bindings. I spent my hours hand-stitching y-seams on a circular border. Deb was paper-piecing, Cass was working on her 900 piece top, Jen was making Christmas blocks, Lisa was doing stack-n-whack, Karen was sewing scraps, and I'm not sure what Lael was working on. They all ordered from Steak-out for lunch. I ate my seaweed and cashews. Lisa and I talked about our scobys. Since hers are doing so well, she agreed to give me one when I get back from vacation. I will give her some kimchi and ph strips. It was so cold in that room that when each one left, I helped them carry their stuff outside where it was warmer. The last of us were out before 5. I went to Earthfare for raw almonds and green coconuts. But the coconuts were $4 each, more than I wanted to pay. I bought some kombucha, just to see what it is supposed to taste like. When I got home, Chris and Michele were watching Godzilla. I sat with them and drank a bottle of the tea. I did not care for the ginger taste. Maybe that is why it was on sale.
Chris put sauerkraut and sausages in the oven for supper. We spent the pre-supper and post-supper time on our laptops. Deb e-mailed me that she could drive to Pinehurst with me the second weekend in August. I was really excited to hear that since I just couldn't face the trip alone. But...then I couldn't find the phone number of the lady who is keeping my stash. Gotta make sure she will be home that weekend. I did multiple searches on my computers, and for any scrap of paper where it might be written. It WAS in a message on my answering machine, but when I plugged it in, all the messages had been deleted. Finally I sent an e-mail to her daughter, hoping to make contact that way. I was pretty tired then, so I laid down in bed. It was stripped of the sheets for washing. But I didn't care. Later I got back up to post to this blog and tell Chris it is past our bedtime.

Almost done

I slept later than I intended to, again. But this time I could not blame it on the rain. It was a sunny day. Watering seemed unnecessary after 4 days of rain, so I started my day with the first audio and e-mail. I worked in some exercise and breakfast. When Michele got up, she proclaimed herself hungry. Well, it is about time! But rather than breakfast, she ate pickles, and potatoes. She expressed interest in a tomato so I went outside to look at the garden. I was able to pick a tomato. She made herself a bst: a bacon, spinach and tomato sandwich.
E-mail kept me busy most of the day. I did take a break to lay in the sun. The bugs which were dormant in the heat and drought, were back to bother me. I took yesterday's quilt into the garage to trim it on the pingpong table. I left an inch of backing all the way around to use as a binding. I rolled it over and pinned it to the front. Chris came home from work while I was pinning. When I finished, I sat on the edge of the driveway with my laptop to watch a short video. Then I went back to the sewing room. There were two places on the backing where it was blue instead of red. The blue did not go with the top, so I didn't like it where it folded over to the front. I sewed a trimmed-off strip over one of them, and stitched all the binding down except for the second blue part. I pinned a strip of red over that, but then got called to supper. Chris was talking to the voices, but it seems that not enough of them showed up to make a game possible. So after supper we watched episodes of NCIS.

Free motion for the first time

I wanted to get up early, but it was raining again and the sound kept me blissfully asleep long after I meant to arise. Watering was unnecessary, so I could go straight to exercise and breakfast. Most of the audios were new ones, so I started the first one, and went on to the second. I stopped it halfway through, to get ready. I carried an umbrella outside to pick tomatoes and walk in the water pooling beside the carport. It felt wonderful! But there wasn't time to fully enjoy it. I had to wash up, and put my quilt top, batting, and backing in a bag. I grabbed my car keys and headed out. I went south on Memorial, through Morgan City (which wasn't much of a city), past Oleander church to Pleasant Valley road. When I arrived at Jen's house, she and her new puppy were waiting. She has a longarm and was letting me use it. I loved the two quilts-to-be on her design wall. She helped me put my quilt on the frame, then went into her livingroom to bind one of her quilts while I did the free motion thing. Since it wasn't one of my best quilts, I used it as practice to try out eyeballing a few designs. It wasn't that great, but I learned what goes well, and what doesn't. I finished up around 3:30. The rain had stopped. I thanked her a lot because I could never have done that on my home machine. Then I drove home. It rained faintly. I showed my quilt to Michele, then had a bite to eat. Chris came home and heated up leftovers and asparagus for supper. I finished my audio from this morning, and listened to two more. Chris and Michele started watching Warehouse 13 and I came down for the last two episodes. After the warehouse blew up, we went to bed.

More glorious rain

Before I went to bed last night, I set up my trombone so it would be easily accessible. I woke up when Chris was in the shower. I wanted to ask him to take my car to work. He consented. Rather than go back to sleep, I started in on the audios for the day. It was raining so I did not have to water the garden. I got the usual exercise, and fixed breakfast. I also read e-mail. I kept the audios going while I went into the sewing room to piece a backing for a quilt top that I made two months ago. It isn't a great quilt or made of great fabric, so I will be using it to learn free-motion quilting. It also doesn't need a great backing. I picked out some cheap fabric and pieced a backing to fit the measurements of the top. I learned in Korea to ALWAYS lay the top on the backing to see if it fits. This one did not. Apparently I did not measure the top correctly. It was annoying, but not embarrassing like finding it only after loading it on the longarm and quilting 90 percent of it. Ask me how I know. Never mind.
I added strips to the top and bottom. Then I found a folded roll of batting to use. Something had chewed a hole in it. So when I unrolled it, there were holes in columns on the edges and down the center. I cut out the holes, and did a running stitch down the center. I got just enough useable batting out of what was probably a queen size piece. I left it all lying on the ping pong table. As the rain continued, the audios ended, my laptop battery needed recharging, and I turned to Kurt's mp3 player. I got an e-mail from the lady who wants Lisa and I to teach classes at her quilt retreat next year. She wants a class description. I sat on my bed, looking at the quilt, thinking it needs a better name, and wondering what I could write about it. Chris came home to find me staring at it. He was in a good mood. He made potatoes, squash and chicken for supper. I watched the Precision Piecing video by Sally Collins on the TQS website. Then we all went down to watch NCIS. A good time was had by all. Chris has now gone to bed, and who knows how late Michele will be up. It is too late to practice. Now, where is my photo?

Rain, glorious rain!

I started the day by watering the garden. Then I jumped and fixed breakfast. I sat to read my e-mail while playing the only audio interview with someone I hadn't heard yet. I had forgotten to post to my blog last night so I started recreating the day. So hard to remember, but it was only 24 hours ago. It took longer than it should have and I kept jumping up to do other things that I was afraid I would forget if I didn't do them right away. But I did get it done, and more e-mail had come in in the mean time. One had a link to a Youtube video and as you know, one video leads to another. So many interesting ones, and so little time. I took 20 minutes to lay out in the sun in my bathing suit. Then I took my trowel out to the end of the driveway to dig up some more of the grass threatening to take over. While I was digging, it started to rain. It was marvelous! Oh, how I have prayed for rain. And wearing bathing suit was the perfect thing, good for sun or rain. I stayed out longer than I would have just enjoying it. Then I washed the dirt off of me by the rain spout. I went in to take a shower. I sat wrapped in a towel to read the latest e-mail. Chris came home around 5. He made leftovers for himself and Michele. I dressed for the quilt meeting and took out two quilts for show and tell (the small Paula print, and the one from 20 years ago). I had a few minutes to cut some of the pieces for the star block before I had to leave. When I got to the meeting, I saw piles of fabric that Diane had brought. She was selling it for $3 a yard. I needed more yellow, so I got a piece. We had show and tell, and I was sorry I had forgotten my camera. We also talked about what to do for future sew-saturdays, including jellyroll races. Deb did a demonstration showing how the 4 half square triangle method would work with a 4-patch, or a 9-patch on one side. The meeting was over early. Lisa and I talked about our scoby's. Deb and I helped Diane take her pile of fabrics out to her van. She and I usually talk standing by our cars, but since it was still raining (yea!), we just went home. I found Chris and Michele about to watch Chicken Run when I got home. It hasn't been that long since I saw it, so I wasn't going to watch, but when I thought Chris was leaving tomorrow, I decided to sit with them. But I got the date wrong, he is leaving next Wednesday. After the movie, he went to bed. Michele went back to her laptop. And here I sit, about to finish up this post.
* I didn't take any pics today, so here is one of my scoby from two days ago *

Nixed the audition

I don't remmber when I got up, but then I watered the garden, made bread for Chris, exercised, ate breakfast, read e-mail, posted to my blog, and changed my time zone in Yahoo because now they show the calendar in the time zone they think you are in. Over the weekend I noticed the Yongsan quilt group calendar was messed up and not sending notices. So I fixed it, putting in the usual 9:30 start time and setting it up to repeat every week. But since CST 9:30 is not Seoul 9:30, it changed it to the time it is over there when it is 9:30 here - a new 'feature'. But that was wrong too, since Yahoo thinks I am in EST, not CST. So I changed my address in Yahoo, but it didn't budge. I found a time zone change to make to my profile, but still did not affect the calendar. Then I found one associated with the calendar and changed it. But the change is still not reflected in the calendar. Grrr.
When I finished reading e-mail, I called about the auditions for the Huntsville Community Chorus. I was told all the slots were full, but given an e-mail address to find out if there would be any more auditions. So I e-mailed her. She sent back a form to fill out and two info sheets. The first one talked about the $125 yearly fee and $80 to buy the concert dress! Yeah, right. I told 'em thanks but no thanks. I felt like I had wasted all that time looking for just the right song. Couldn't it be posted on their website to avoid the embarrassment of having to decline? I had to do some tapping on that issue.
I laid in the sun for 20 minutes in my bathing suit. Then I washed off and re-dressed. Two packages came today, both were supplements. I'll start taking them tomorrow. I cut pieces to go around the yellow star in yesterday's photo. I also re-drafted one of the pieces so that it will end up as a dodecagon rather than a circle. When Chris came home, he fixed burritoes for himself and Michele. I wasn't hungry after snacking on the veggies and pickles from our next door neighbor. I watched a Youtube video by a female Buddhist monk called "Be your own therapist". It was good. Then we watched a second Warehouse 13 DVD from Netflix. Chris went straight to bed. I figured I'd go with him, then get up and post to my blog, but apparently I fell asleep.
* These are the plants I waited so long to see bloom. Because of the heat and the drought, they look terrible. Next year I will pull most of them out while they are small. *

The game they couldn't quit

I got up early Sunday morning to post for Saturday. I watered the garden and read e-mail, fixed breakfast, all the usual things. Then I took a shower and dressed for church. Michele did not get out of bed. Chris left her his cell phone since we do not have a home phone. Before church, I gave some music to the organist. After church we went to Publix. We called Michele to find out if she needed more cereal or bread. We brought the food home. Michele helped put it away. She and Chris prepared a pork roast and put it in the oven. They also stripped the beds and started the washing machine. Then they were playing Michele's game on her computer: the game she has been playing every day since she downloaded it the new computer. That was less than 24 hours after she arrived in the states. Since they weren't paying me any attention, I went downstairs to sew. I finished two yellow blocks and the binding for the kaleidoscope. But they were still playing. I hung up some laundry from yesterday and finished the washing and drying of the sheets. I ate some of the pork and a big salad for supper. I posted pics of my latest kombucha batch to the KombuchaKamp yahoo group for people to comment on. They were still playing. So I watched a movie called Paul. It was ok, but because of the language I can't recommend it. They were still playing. I left hints that I was not happy with so little attention. Still they played. They were having a blast and I couldn't really fault them for not wanting to stop. I went back to the sewing room. I figured out what the next step should be (to make one of the blocks bigger) and chose fabrics for that. Then they came down with a bowl of popcorn to watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I wasn't going to join them, but I was tired from so much standing at my sewing table. After the movie, Chris and Michele went to bed, but I was too tired to go up the stairs. So I dozed until I could muster up the energy, then went to bed.

Emergency sewing day

Chris did not make it home before I went to bed last night. It was after 9 when I awoke. So I had to hurry to water the garden, eat breakfast, scan my e-mail and pack something for lunch. Ashley and Irv were getting ready to leave, too. I put a bunch of yellow fabrics in a box and took the sewing machine William got at Goodwill. I think I arrived at UAH around 11. We weren't scheduled for a sewing day until next week, but Deb said she really needed to sew so she sent out an e-mail to see who wanted to sew with her. The door was locked, so I called Deb, but she didn't answer. I checked the basement door and it was unlocked, but I had never taken that route before so I had trouble finding my way up to the room. There were three people already there and sewing. Deb was working on a sample quilt for a book she is writing. Cass was working on a quilt for her husband's grandmother, and Heather was working on a layer cake quilt. Soon they ordered lunch from Steak-Out, who actually delivered. My lunch was seaweed and a can of pineapple in unsweetened juice. That turned out to be a bad plan because around 4 I felt dizzy and tired. Too much fructose in the pineapple. So I packed up and went toward home. I stopped at WalMart because Deb said they marked fabrics down to $1. But I did not find any of those. When I got home, Chris and Michele were getting ready to game with the voices. I ate some chicken, then went outside to pull grass from the driveway. The kid next door came over to talk to me. Then his father came over with a bag of tomatoes and cucumbers. He told me if I had a jar he would gave me some dill pickles he made. So I got one and he filled it. The two of them went home and I came in. I ate one of the tomatoes and one of the cucumbers, then put them in the fridge. I laid down because I had a headache, but the gaming was too loud so I had to request that they game quietly. Then I guess I fell asleep. At some point Chris came to bed. I got up in the middle of the night to pee and went back to bed, noticing that the nightwasn't so dark any more. Then I remembered that I hadn't posted to my blog. So here I am, 7 am, posting for yesterday.

Michele goes out with her friends

It rained a little last night, but I don't know how much, so I watered my garden this morning just in case. I noticed that the cherry tomatoes are cooking on the vines. I had to throw the soft ones away. I did my exercises and fixed breakfast. While I was reading e-mail, the young adults decided to go bowling after lunch. Michele spent the morning on her computer while the others watched TV downstairs. I got an e-mail from Deb about the best way to sew a square in a triangle. I thought of something I had seen long ago, then went down to the sewing room to test it out. I took pics and mailed them to Deb. Then I took a shower. Michele made herself a peanutbutter and Nutella sandwich. It was contagious because then everyone wanted one. Then they went to the bowling alley. I stayed behind to sing songs, looking for the perfect audition piece. I was still singing when they got back. Michele sang with me for a while. Then we quit out of consideration for our guests. Later they went out for slurpees. I stayed here. But this time I ate a package of frozen fruit which made me cold. So I went out to the driveway to pull grass in the sun. Soon after they came back, I put the tools away, and washed off from a bucket. I kept thinking that there is too much sun and not enough water. If only there was a way to turn sunlight into water... sounds like a job for Google! But the closest thing I found was a machine powered by sunlight that desalinates water. I spent a little time in the basement working on the binding of the kaleidoscope quilt. Ashley and Irv wanted to take Michele out to a bar/restaurant. So Ashley was dressing up Michele. Of course I wanted in on that. It was fun, and she looked very nice. I think it was after 6 when they left. I was not invited, but that is ok. I had more singing to do. I went through lots of stuff on Youtube and all my music books. In fact now I am hoarse. The 'kids' came back about 10:30. Michele laid on my bed and told me about her evening. Then she and Ashley went to bed. I guess Irv is in bed, too. Chris is out gaming. But will he return before I finish this blog post and go to bed? Tune in tomorrow.

Animals!

I started my day by watering the garden. Then I exercised while preparing breakfast. I read e-mail as I ate. Michele and friends were wondering what to do so I suggested going to Harmony Park Safari. It seemed farther out than I remembered from the map. But it was worth it. The animals put their noses in the car windows as we drove through, looking for food. Ashley bought a tub of food and we were instructed to through it out the window, but keep our hands inside. Some had horns, and all were hungry and curious. We also saw tortoises, lemurs, snakes, ostrichs, peacocks, a pig, alligators (fenced). Tip: don't take your 3-week old new car. Might get scratched, dented and graced with goat slobber. We went home and ate twice-baked potatoes for lunch. I picked a salad. While we were eating, the dining table legs broke. Michele grabbed some books to prop it up. My math books:(
Irv plugged his computer into the TV downstairs and we watched Tin Man through his Netflix account. Chris came home a little early. It looked like it was going to rain, and in fact it did rain on me a little while I was digging up a garlic for supper, but then it stopped. Chris made cheese burgers and asparagus and snow peas. I went to church with my trombone. I was meeting the organist, but she was late. It was almost 6:30. We played the one thing I brought and several things she had. Two guys showed up to practice some songs for Sunday. Then I left. When I got home, everyone was downstairs watching Warehouse 13. I had never heard of it, but it was interesting. And we all went to bed.

An unexpected pleasure

I got up about 8 when I realized that I was more awake than asleep. I watered the plants and pulled grass at the edge of the driveway. I came in for exercise and breakfast. Chris said I missed a call, so I checked my phone and there was a message from Ashley. I wondered aloud why she would call me, and Michele said Ashley was coming for a visit. After breakfast, I was listening to audios, and playing solitaire. Michele tried on a dress she found in the guest room closet. She really liked it, so I took her picture. It is the dress I was supposed to wear as maid of honor at my sister's wedding. Ashley called to ask if she could visit and I said yes. So Chris and I cleaned up in the kitchen. Chris went to the store to buy food. I went out to do some yardwork. I picked a tomato and a cucumber for lunch. At some point Ashley called to say they couldn't make it after all. I was kind of disappointed even though it was a last minute thing. But around 4:30 she called to say she could come after all. It is a 5.5 - 6 hour trip
so they would arrive in time to go to bed. I was trying to pick a song for an audition and Michele joined in the singing. I tried it on Youtube and with the piano. I have discovered that if the chords are playing without the melody, I can't find the pitches. So perplexing. I wonder what it means. Chris made twice-baked potatoes for supper. He has made them before but not as good at today. They were so good I had to step away from my computer to give them my undivided attention. They were outstanding! Even Michele thought so, though she stayed with her computer. After supper I went outside again. I was worried that the man next door was away and that his garden might suffer in the heat and drought. But when I went over there, it looked fine. I laid on the ground and looked up at the sky, watching the clouds drift by. I could see faint ripples in my visual field that followed my eye wherever I looked. I tested each eye separately. There were more ripples with my right eye than with my left. Then I went out front to pull more grass along the driveway. It was tough stuff and I used a knife to cut through it. It got dark on me, so I went in. Chris was playing a computer game and did not want to watch TV with me. So I took a shower. Then I made sure there were clean towels in the basement. I stayed down there to fold up the blankets and quilts nicely. Then I put binding on the donation quilt. I finished just after Chris came down to kiss me and tell me he was going to bed. Ashley and Irv had not arrived yet. When I finished, I came up to write my blog. That is when they arrived. Michele and I went out to greet them. We put Irv in the basement on the couch, and Ashley in the guest room with Michele. I guess I'll be in the master bedroom with Chris.

Hot raw veggies

I woke up early because my hands hurt so much. I could not bend my fingers into a fist. I read some e-mail, then dressed and went out to water the plants. While it was still early, I used a trowel to dig grass out of the cracks in the driveway. Then Charlie came by. I was expecting him to mow the grass tomorrow, forgetting that it was July 4th. He could see the grass did not need mowing, so I offered to let him do other work, but he said he had plenty of lawns to do today. He did chat for a bit before going across the street to mow their lawn. They must water it. I went inside then to exercise and fix breakfast. I had audios to listen to. I heard one down in my sewing room as I drew two more hexagon blocks and drafted pattern pieces for them. I sewed the purple binding onto the kaleidoscope quilt, but discovered it was too short. Astounding! Must have measured wrong. I also trimmed the donation quilt. I picked some cherry tomatoes and a cucumber for lunch. I like my veggies fresh, but these were hot off the vine, literally. I put on my bathing suit for a short stretch in the sun. Then I took a shower and wrapped in a towel. That is how I was dressed while reading e-mail when Chris came home from work early. It was a good thing Michele had earbuds on because we...never mind. Chris sat at his computer to wait for the voices to start the game. I went down to add the requisite amount to the purple binding, and then start the handsewing part. I came up for supper. Then spent some time outside watering (again) and communing with nature. When nature started biting, I came in. The game was over so we watched episodes of NCIS. Michele watched one or two, then returned to her computer game. Now its midnight and Chris has gone to bed.
* This is a set of placemats that my mother made. Luckily she gave me the pattern so I can make my own set. Sadly, I do not know where it is. *

Michele takes a break

I got up before Michele did. I watered the garden while it was still cool. I also pulled some grass growing into the driveway. When I came in for breakfast, Michele was in the dining room on her laptop. I alternated fixing breakfast with jumping on the rebounder. I ate my breakfast while reading e-mail. There were no audios because they start on Monday night. I had hoped it would rain since it was a little windy and did not get over 90. But no rain came. I poured the tea I made into the scoby home and added the previously-made tea. I put the large jar in the dining room to ferment. I scanned Keith's picture and sent it to his wife. I spent hours putting together a Swanson's order and ordering the thing they didn't sell from another company. I searched the internet for a better deal, but did not find one. Then, because Swanson will probably come out with some kind of 4th of July deal, I went looking through past e-mails to guess at what the passcode will be. Sounds like a waste of time, but when I found last July's code and typed it in, it worked. I got 10% off of my order. I put on my bathing suit and did 10 minutes front and back in the sun. The bugs hardly bothered me today. Then I picked some greens from the yard and made a salad for a late lunch. Michele took a break from her game to play DDR. I stood beside her mimicking the moves. When she tired out and quit, I mended her nightgown and asked if she had anything else. She brought me a pair of jeans that looked like a map of the great lakes that she wanted patched. I thought it was an opportunity to get a new pair of jeans, but she really likes them and insists they are not too tight. Then why are they splitting vertically in the butt? Anyway, I did patch them, and their previous patches, too. Chris came home and made supper. After supper we watched Mulan and Zorro: the Gay Blade which we had on VHS. We retired to our laptops for the evening. I played an audio that just got posted while folding laundry, then handsewed some more of my yellow star block 'till the audio finished. Chris went to bed, and soon I shall also.

Getting back into the groove after vacation

We got up early this morning, not sure why. Michele was already up and on her computer when we came out of the bedroom. They ate breakfast while I watered my garden. I read the latest e-mail, then got dressed for church. I put on my new earrings which seem a little large to me now. Still, it was too early to leave, so I did a few other small errands which I can't remember right at this moment. The three of us went to church. We saw Doris and I introduced her to Michele. When we got in the sanctuary, I introduced her to the organist who had previously asked to meet Michele. We sat on the other side of the church, which meant that we were first in line for communion. After church, I took a pic of the quilted altar cloth. It was lovely. I talked to the choir director about a piece of choral music that I forgot to bring. I picked up our July newsletter, and got the organists e-mail address. Then we went to Publix for groceries. There are three of us now so we got a lot. Especially coconut milk since I ran completely out. When we got home and carried the food in, both Michele and I had to take our shoes off before we could put the stuff away. Chris did laundry and then he and Michele made dark chocolate brownies. He also put chicken and chorizo in the oven. No one thought to eat lunch. By the time I thought of it, it was 4:30 so I made myself a cucumber salad. During the afternoon, I looked for the piece of music I promised to play, but couldn't find it. So I went on-line, and printed it out, but when I tried to play it, it wasn't the same. Michele and I sat at the piano and sang songs together for awhile. I found out Friday that a good friend of mine died and his wife asked if I had any pictures. So I looked everywhere I could think of, but mostly what I found were pictures of Michele. What a cute and photogenic child! I found one picture of Keith, but it is grainy and out of focus. When the chicken was done, we ate supper. I boiled water to make more kombucha tea. Then I went outside to 'commune with nature'. Chris alerted me when he was ready to watch TV. I quickly sprayed the weeds in the driveway, and planted new marigold seed (to replace those that died while we were away). Then I went inside where Chris was making the bed. Then we went downstairs to watch a Netflix movie called "Bed and Breakfast" with Dean Caine. He's still cute, but he's not Superman any more. After the movie, we fixed the scoby house. It has water in it now and we will see in the morning if it leaked overnight.