SELFISH SATURDAY

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

They are moving 2 doors down from their current home so packing requirements will be reduced.

When we bought our first home, it was around the corner from our rental house. Dad said "I can help with the move - I'll loan you my wheelbarrow!"

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

It is cold (59) and a heavy-mist/rain here. Miserable day.

So what do I see the other villa guests doing as I arrive?

* There are some children playing in the ocean.
* Another two are playing soccer (but up on their porch out of the wet.)
* A woman is wrapped up in a blanket, reading on her porch.
* and everyone we see is smiling!

We unloaded the car to the covered walkway that runs behind each villa (they are all joined together and we each have a back door onto the walkway and towards the parking lot and a front door that opens onto our porch with the beach 25' away.) From the walkway we carried everything into the villa (actually the cases of soft drinks and my breakfast cereal are still in the car.)

Dh and I selfishly took the nicer of the two bedrooms, although they are almost identical, both having patio doors that open onto a shared balcony. I've also selfishly had one of the chocolates that they left for us, but have left the bottle of wine for the kids (because we don't drink!!!)

Dh has unpacked himself upstairs. I've unpacked the kitchen. Of all the utensils, gadgets and supplies I've brought I'm using only 6 items. The rest are duplicates of what they have supplied (including metal mixing bowls, kettle, paper towels and measuring cups.) In fact, the place is so well kitted out, there was little room for the food we brought with us!

Everything is now stored down here so I will go upstairs after I finish enjoying my cup of tea (there is even a teapot so I selfishly made myself a whole pot.)

We have also been given a beautiful clay tray as a welcome back gift.

I keep remarking how comfortable it is here and dh noted that as grey as the day is, even without lights on, the inside of the villa is bright because of the large windows and the white wainscoting and kitchen cupboards. At Whitepoint, everything is dark because the cabins are built from logs and are very old. So a grey day at Whitepoint is for hibernating. Here, we feel the energy from the light even though it isn't sunlight.

So I am incredibly content at this moment.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

This morning dh and I had a great urban hike around Lake Banook. Then we checked out of the hotel, visited for a bit with my uncle and then went to our breakfast diner. Our favourite server was there so we chatted with her once the lunch rush was over.

The drive to the south shore gets shorter each year. I swear it was a half day to my grandmother's, and at least another hour past there to Whitepoint when I was a child but now with a straight highway that goes straight over the hills rather than along the coastline, it is only 2 hours from Dartmouth to Whitepoint.

We stopped along the way to pick up groceries in Liverpool. Dh had a big breakfast for his lunch (plus a tiny breakfast at the hotel before our hike) so he suggested skipping dinner tonight. I countered with us picking up something simple so we each have a frozen dinner to eat with a salad. Tomorrow will go back into town for lunch and pick up something else to cook for dinner.

[Lilac]

Dd2 told me that at cheer camp, our girls' cheer squad received the "spirit" award, due to the fact that they carried on after learning of the death their friend/classmate. Then their coach gave the individual spirit award to dgd15, daughter of dd2. The coach felt like she deserved it because dgd15 was so attentive to the needs of each girl by comforting or listening as needed, etc. This dgd15 wants to go into the counseling field. This has assured us that she is suited for it. We at times, have wondered.

This afternoon the girls went to the visitation at the funeral home. They then went to the church mud volleyball games to get their minds off of their loss. Dgd15 daughter of dd1 told her cousin that her db was picking her up. Before dd2 arrived to pick dgd15 and her boyfriend up, the other dgd15 had left with a boy. Dd2 called her sister who is out of town to report this. That dgd15 IS still grounded. Dd1 called home and her dh gave dgd15 her phone back and is letting her
hang out with this boy. Just because she lost her friend doesn't mean he needs to just turn her loose. She can really pull the wool over her dads eyes.

Well dd2 called so I better head to their house to watch the girls. She was in a pleasant mood! NOT!

[Twins' Mom]

Kathryn, I'm glad the alternate vacation plans have worked out well. It sounds very restful and soothing.

Dh and I drove to the new house and got supper at Sonic. I'm getting antsy about stuff still undone - I should remember that the only real deadline is next week but somehow it's making me crazy when I come by and there's not much done since I was there yesterday, or even day before yesterday. No progress on light fixtures, no tile around tub yet, front door off being painted - and this is the door that's being replaced because of a crack! Dh thinks it best that I not go by there so often this week and let him worry about it.

[lucylee]

I just realized I haven't posted anything today. No news -- re: baby -- and I guess I'm just being selfish myself...

I cannot get the puzzle on Google to do anything. If I click on it, it just takes me to a link about the mathematician.

I walked 3 miles but it is HOT here, too... over 90 degrees, and I didn't get outside until around 2:00 p.m. Saturdays are just extra-lazy days for me. I told dh you'd think I'd treat Saturdays like all other days -- M-F -- during the summer, but I don't.

I managed to strip the bed & wash sheets. They are in the dryer now.
Visited dmil w/dh.
Made back-up hotel reservations for later in the summer, in case doctor does induce labor Tues... fretted about what kind of obstacle might come our way at that point... dh said if I said anything else negative, he was canceling ALL plans and he didn't want to hear another word about it It's already going to cost us about $800, I think, b/c we cannot cancel the hotel after Sunday night, and won't know till Monday afternoon if we need to. Tickets are already bought and paid for, in our possession now, so... it will be tough to even give them away for mid-week games. * sheesh *
I don't mean to be complaining, but as dh keeps saying -- WHY can't anyone be patient & just let nature take its course???
That is still my prayer. Surely doctor won't induce labor before due date simply b/c ddil is tired of being pregnant & it suits doctor's convenience. * sigh *

[Harriet]

Waving to Dove.

I enjoyed dd13's company today and realized I'd missed her while she was away for 2 nights. She is actually a lot of fun, although has the sneaky-get-out-of-work gene her brother fought at this age. We got a few things done here (no animal had to eat any other animal's food) and also the grocery shopping, after a stop at the new Taco Bell, which continues to impress. The music and ambiance (I know, but it's the truth) just keeps customers in their seats and almost everyone was leaned back enjoying conversation long after they'd eaten. Dd13 was busy writing down the lyrics to some pieces she liked so she can try to look them up.

HRH had wanted a steak, and it's been so long since I purchased one it was a puzzlement. I hope I came home with the right thing.

We were shocked to go into some kind of an alternate dimension where no one in the H T supermarket (oldest area grocer) knew what Ruth's Salads are. Hmmm... ... A classic item (in the southeast US) they have stocked for, what... ... a half century or something. (And now, after looking it up online, yes, 50 years.) And the very Ruth's cole slaw item I'd purchased from this store just last week, btw. The guy in deli was skeptical and kept asking me to spell it (how can you work in that section and not know the oldest brand name they carry?) The guy he sent me to in produce, who could not speak English well, may perhaps be forgiven. Person stocking didn't have a clue.

Finally found a lady assistant manager with a brain who took me straight to... ... where it used to be. She called the manager on a little device of some type, and he says he doesn't THINK they carry it anymore. Sigh. She immediately noted something I hadn't yet thought of, which is that without the Ruth's brand in the store they no longer have a pimento cheese available for purchase, either. Dismal decision making. I made a formal request that the brand be brought back right away. But since I wasn't convinced anyone was listening to me, I emailed after I got home, too. I was indignant.

Tonight I got my exercise in after outdoor chores. The girls wanted to go to bed-roost early tonight - I need to remember that if they are to get some insect-hunting in I have to let them out earlier in the evening. When they decide it's too late, it's too late, no matter how I try to show them the sunlight.

I myself was going to be in the bed earlier tonight, too, and here I am. Oh well, nitey-night, village and sweet dreams.

[ellyphant]

Harriet-- I'm also indignant just reading that about Ruth's. My mother buys their pimento cheese when we visit back "home".
I always have to have it on a sandwich like I grew up eating--white bread only. Have not found it ever in any other part of the country. DMIL is the only person I've ever known who made her own pimento cheese. Everyone else just bought Ruth's.

I'm finding lots to love about PA. While the PBS station here is missing many of my favorite shows, the bounty of country and gospel radio stations almost makes up for that. Fields are planted and the corn is more than knee high. When we lived in upper midwest, I learned that a good year was when the corn was "knee high by the 4th of July." That is still how I judge the crops--though here the corn is probably supposed to be "thigh high" or something.

That's enough rambling for now...