June Progress Report

We are ready to enter into Summer full swing out here on the hill.

The Kid Wash is open for business.

The flowers new


and old are in bloom.


The fledgling robins will soon leave the nest.


The tadpoles will soon be ready to find a new home in the creek.

Unfortunately, the house on Poplar Ridge won't begin until late August!


Hooray for the sunshine!

T

SEND POSITIVITY, STOP

GOOD CHANCE AT EDGE OF INSANITY STOP SEND POSITIVE ENERGY IMMEDIATELY STOP MEETING SOON STOP SALLY SEND PATIENCE STOP TONYA SEND INEXAUSTIBLE ENERGY STOP NANCY SEND INGENUITY STOP

THANKS FROM PORTER STREET STOP

Mammograms and Mechanics

I need to take a break from pancreatic carcinoma, achalasia and peptic ulcer disease for a few minutes...studying GI this afternoon!

I had my first mammogram this morning for evaluation of a breast lump. Despite the awkwardness of exposing my bosom to 3 strangers in the past 2 weeks, this went well. Preliminary report from the radiologist reveals that all is ok!

Much more painful, in fact, was the visit to the auto mechanic which followed. I went for a simple oil change and tire rotation, and came away with anticipated repairs of over $1000. Most vexing of these is the need for new tires, coming 10,100 miles and 11 months after the last tire change. Our Toyota Sienna, is AWD, which is a necessity to navigate our driveway during the winter. As much as I love this vehicle (can't believe I actually said that I love my mini van!), I detest the run-flat tires that came standard. The last tire replacement was actually covered by an extended warranty on the original vehicle purchase. This time, I'm told that there is NO WARRANTY unless the wear is even over all the tires. Of course, these lovely tires not only wear out early, they cost more than your average tire, and take longer to change. The only benefit is that we don't have a spare tire in our trunk.

While I was stewing about this on the way home, we stopped at Giant Eagle to return our Redbox DVD rental. I also picked up a bottle of children's Tylenol to replace what Jenna reluctantly drank down over the past 48 hours with her fever (gone today, thank goodness.) Lauren insisted on carrying this and dropped it in the parking lot. Before I put it away at home, I discovered it sitting on the table in a pink, sticky puddle. At that point, I was ready to lick it off the table in the attempt to alleviate my pounding headache! However, all is cleaned up, children are quiet, and the fine print of medical texts are making me dizzy.

All this to say: mammograms really aren't that terrible!

T

Points

Man, it's cold tonight! Brrr! I just left Merry snuggled under flannel and out of that little nest, I'm rather chilly!

Are we meeting this week? T and I are free tomorrow night, though I must admit I am so cold and rather tired I don't feel like leaving my house. Tomorrow, despite Elspeth's being sick, I must leave in the morning to collect some groceries, but then we're back in quarantine again. Merry, who is not sick, and who missed a lovely tea at her friend J's house today and who does not have any formal school at Aunt N's house this week, and who wants to go visit Aunt S and her boys, is sad about being quarantined with us, but then that's life.

I did watch "Jane Austen Book Club" and despite his intentions to get some work done, Martin got sucked in--and it was a really fun watch. Would anyone be interested in vegging at my place--I don't mind watching it over again. Otherwise, unless anyone says "Hey, wait a minute!" and wants to borrow it, I'll return it tomorrow in the mail.

Anything else of practicality to share? Baked a simple-super but simply-great vanilla cake today. . .Kashi is on sale on Amazon, and Celestial Seasonings is on an-order-get-an-instant-rebate on Amazon. . .as T was good enough to alert me, Lands End is running their blow-out sale. . .grapes (nonorganic) are a pretty good price at Giant Eagle starting tomorrow. . .and that may be it.

Since I have been steeping myself and Merry in English children's books lately, I feel like ordering British chocolate bars and going out for walks with my baby in a pram and having a muffin and a milk and a window-washing man drop by every day and walking to shop at market with my big basket, and knowing all my neighbors and of course having sunshine or at least having a good sturdy pair of Wellingtons in cheerful yellow. And having a delightful, wonderful bakery just down my road stocked with currant buns and fresh biscuits and crusty loaves. Anyone else fantasizing about English/European public transportation and food right about now? Or is it just me?

Oh, postscript: go visit 4obsessions . .I always enjoy that blog, as well as thistledown.


K

A Giant Clear-Out

Hello, my good women, from Baltimore. I am in the midst of a giant clear-out with my mother. Highlights of today, so far, include a complete cocktail set made out of giant (and smaller) shells from Phillipines, misc. wine/juice/Christmas glasses and a gorgeous carved platter from India with mango shapes in the wood. All on their way to Goodwill. I'm having a wonderful time working with my Mom--just like old times. . .wrapping dishes in newspaper feels as familiar and comfortable to us as jam-making or quilting or knitting feels to other mothers-n-daughters.

I thought I should update you, too, on the orignial Elaine, now in her 80s, who got a word from one of my male relative's (Grandpa somebody) photographs (he's dead) that she should begin work on a new book. She also has plans to sell her paintings at a museum and she just rode across the country and back in a Greyhound bus. So if you needed the gumption to get-up-and-go today, there it is.

Must put Merry down for a nap. Elspeth, despite licking coffee grounds off her fingers from the floor this morning, seems to be sleeping.

And if you are in the market, say, for a white soup tureen missing the spoon, let me know fast-fast before the next squeal-of-tires to the local Goodwill.

Miss you all--and even miss Waynesburg--

K

Bits of Trifling Trifles

Hello, all members--

Had a hard time finding inner motivation this morning--something to do with awakening with a middling headache, after Elspeth slept on my chest at five a.m., and then cranked up the radio (country station, "It's All Right to be Little Bitty!" a song Martin describes as "discouraging.") Realized I had not showered since Saturday night. ICKY.

(I showered.)

My mother left this morning, and I found inner motivation hard to locate (where WAS it hiding?), especially with ice caking the front stairs. Luckily Sally called and invited me to find she and Ben at the library, which I had not patronized in eons. I had a lovely time (there's a funky little dog in the kid's section who will bite if tantalized) and brought home fresh Shirley Hughes books. So thanks, Sally, for giving my inner guts a kick in the ribs.

Mom and I watched "Northanger Abbey" last night--fun--what did you women think? I have a copy, Nancy, to pass on to you, thanks to Sal the gal. Looking forward to Sunday. Any news on what sort of cake we should eat? Is chocolate it?

Does anyone want to go to the mall Thursday/Friday morning? I have to hit Children's Place, which, by all reports, [was]/is full of sales--found we were squeezing poor Merry into itty-bitty underoos and must do the right thing and buy more. I'm not a mall walker by habit but it might be a rather nice outing given company. Does Motown have C's P? They have a play place. . .anyone up for it?