work day

Just as we finished our work today, the winds picked up. We tucked the garden plants in under sheets and towels and settled in to watch the first Horatio Hornblower story.

What a fantastic hero he is.

The boys and I worked ourselves to near exhaustion on Saturday. By the time Wren and Allen showed up to pick up the dogs for our carpool to D&D, we were weary beyond belief. But there are several dozen new bulbs planted and the laundry is all clean and upstairs, mostly put away, even. Many thanks to Wren and Allen for not letting us become slugs in the den.

We sallied forth to Jax & Mags, and by the time we arrived, our attitudes had already started to improve. The dinner was wonderful and restorative as much as was the company. The dogs had a wonderful time, and we all enjoyed the campaign. After the boys were tucked in, we adults played Chez Geek, a game that had us in stitches until four a.m., which turned out actually to be five.

This morning dawned even more beautiful than yesterday, and breakfast was a calm, restful and delicious affair. After clean-up, I read and fell asleep on the sofa with Tiger and Cordelia while everyone else played outside. I hear a bubble wand sword was involved. I am so glad I went. I feel like a new person, ready to tackle the coming week. What a blessing to have such a great community.

wow.

what a day. i'm beat. i can't believe the boys aren't falling over with exhaustion; i certainly am. many thanks to Wren and Aldemere for coming over and spending a project day with us. Not only did we get stuff done in the house, we also have a garden. We planted potatoes, tomatoes, basil, carrots, nasturtiums, lettuces, onions, beans and peas. There are two hydrangea bushes yet to plant out front, and the pumpkin seeds didn't make it into the ground yet, but the bed is prepared. Dragon chose two blueberry bushes and Tiger planted two raspberry bushes.

After washing up, I made Paradise Burgers for dinner, complete with a fantastic salad and mashed potatoes. We were all too pooped to play games and I barely remember bathing the boys, but i know that i did. I have no idea how, but it seems that the house is actually coming together. It feels wonderful.

I never thought I'd say it, but I think I'm too tired to read.

some days

some days i remember why i work so hard at such seemingly mundane tasks as getting the laundry and dishes done. today was one of those days. i hope you have one of your own soon.

it's a good day to be alive.

wednesday

We've been working on the house. It seems the downstairs, after eighteen months of water damage-induced upheaval, might actually be a reasonable downstairs once again. Many thanks to Wren for helping out and laughing when i said insane things, usually on behlaf of the clutter, usually after we had worked until we were weary. [That's nice, ma'am, but where do the games go?]

There is still a bit to be done, not the least of which involves replacing my it-was-on-its-last-leg-when-i-got-it-at-a-yard-sale-three-years-ago microwave. i'm thinking of getting one of those under the counter deals. Now that I can see the kitchen, I might as well make use of it.

Anyone who wants to help with the last few big tasks, please let me know. There is still painting to be done in the den, the tiles need to be made and put up at the sink, and sometime in the coming week i hope to buy the flooring for the kitchen. I'd like to put up molding in the dining room to cover up the plaster that got on the wall, and there's a bunch of furniture from the downstairs office to be taken upstairs.

and shelves to build, of course.

as if

as if i needed any more books, i received my shipment from powells that i placed ever so long ago. it was a nice surprise, but it does seem as though i'm going to have to make a section dedicated to murder mysteries.

Weekend Respite

After turning in my thesis stuff, i went out to visit Rob. That should be it's own post, i'm certain, but for now i'll just say "Show 'em to Charlie Murphy."

I met with my professor and all seems well. I have a direction, a couple new books to consult, and still feel as though i'm floating around in uncharted waters, but that's because i am.

After that, I settled in to some serious A-V catch-up. I'm now halfway through the second season of Farscape (loved the princess episodes!) and have seen Walk the Line, Crash, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Hopefully sometime tonight i'll get to see Good Night and Good luck, and i'm due for another dose of Love Me If You Dare before i get to The Squid and the Whale, which i simply can't wait to see come in its little Netflix envelope.

o, and i have a score in the mid 8K range for 8 letters in search of a word. i'd be playing it more, but Tiger is officially hooked, too.