just 10 more

Hot and humid.  I swore I wouldn’t complain about Va. summers after the 3 years spent in South Carolina but we’re in the dog days and it’s wearing…..so humid, it’s juicy.

Tomorrow is orchestra camp concert; then that’s done.  Cross country practice will start up in earnest soon—-speaking of which, A. had the foot MRI on Monday and we get to see the ortho this Friday.  Will tell all when I know, suffice to say I’m NOT letting myself get upset over the medical gobbledygook.  At riding lesson tonight, the instructor took me aside and advised me to contact what sounds like a pretty expensive show barn so A. can “advance and work on what her goals are”.  HUH????  GOD, this kid talks a good story!!!!  I CAN’T believe she’s beyond this instructor already; it’s only been maybe three months and a week of camp with her.  What in the world is A. telling her????  (Probably that she wants to train to ride in the Olympics!!)  I see money flyng out the window on this one—-I KNEW this horse stuff would be a slippery slope!!!!!!!   Hmmmmmmm.

Slept out one night—2 person tent, on the ground—practice: we are thinking of doing a short camping trip.  Surprised myself by sleeping really well; need to do it a couple more times in the yard to make sure the good rest wasn’t a fluke.

Picked my first ripe big tomato; have had lots of little ones but this is the first Better Boy.  The Park’s Whopper is about a foot taller than me and getting wrapped by the moon flower vine.

Anyone looking for a great book:  The Book Thief    It’s just staying with me; crosses my mind every day yet….unforgettable!!!!  Read it; you won’t be sorry!!!!!  Another goodie:   The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls;  True story and excellent.

Up a pound today—had to be water, pizza last night and my lips felt puffy this am.

Phone still unreliable; ATT worker here again, says we need new line dug; we’re jury rigged for now but it’s working pretty well but who knows for how long.

Ready for my hot milk and bed.  G’nite chickadees!

Hey!  Hi, y’all!  Phone (and computer) restored sometime Monday but I haven’t been here much; mainly just to sleep.  Knew it was not working right for WEEKS but good old dh didn’t see anything the matter until it finally completely and totally DIED.  Will get caught up on blogs but not right now as I have to leave to move A. from orchestra camp to volunteering at one of the historic homes, then to cello lesson, followed by riding lesson.  Doesn’t make sense to come home inbetween so I’ll go to the library or just browse stores.  She’s added a new job—pony ride walker for a company that does children’s parties; not bad pay for a kid, either; more than she’s ever made before.  Not quite what she had in mind when she said she wanted to work with horses but it will have to do and I’m happy with her doing this.  Plus it’s a bit more in the college fund.  Yesterday was her 16th b-day.  The running club had one of it’s summer races so we turned it into a bit of a celebration for her—they all sang Happy Birthday and I supplied brownies for 200.  Not the semi-formal dinner cruise her friend had last month but A. was happy with it.  She’s having an MRI on a foot Monday; ordered by ortho doc; I’m a bit concerned but will write more when we know something definate.

Weight stable—-no time for gym, just madly running around…..gotta say food hasn’t been too bad.

Thanks for the emails, etc. when the stupid thing was acting up and afterward.   Missed this place something awful!!!!!  G’day, chickadees!

Later: got off on the riding lesson thanks to some big thunderstorms and actually got caught up on a few blogs.

Just finished a book A. MADE me read–a young adult—not something I’d usually pick…….The Book Thief….and she was right: very, very good–moving, powerful.  Now started The Glass Castle.  Have looked twice at the library for Ellabella’s  pick:  Gone to Soldiers, really shouldn’t as I have easily over a hundred around here needing to be read.   Finally saw dvd of Babel—loved it, can see why it got all the awards it did.  Both dh and neighbor thought it was too slow; I thought it was paced perfectly.

The young chins need to be adopted and A.’s friend offered them to us.  I loved them but think they should go to a household w/ kids who will adore them for years and years—I was more fascinated w/ them than A.  We’ll see.  Plus I’ll forever have to worry about the dog getting into their room.

G’nite, chickadees; time for my hot milk and bed!

Official sounding, huh?  Sunday night, I’m beat.  Quick note, then off to bed.  We had a local friend on vacation all week and have been constantly going and doing.  Tonight A. has a girlfriend over; I spent most of the day trying to clean this place up a bit after not being here except to sleep for most of the week and then running them around.  They are upstairs now watching movies.

 Anyway……..going to D.C. on the 3rd was quite nice!!!  On the 3rd it was not busy at all, with most who work there already on a long week-end.  We were up before 5am and got there by 10:00am—did 2 galleries first:  Freer Gallery of Art and The Sackler Gallery–beautiful paintings by Whistler and Oriental, African, and Indian Art.  I could have stayed in just these two places for days.  Then off to a small garden and the Smithsonian Castle and a ride on the carousel on the Mall.  Next, a late lunch at L’Enfant Plaza.  Must say the weather was good—quite warm but a good breeze all day and not humid.   Then we braved The Natural History Museum where I (no one else would go with me) paid and went into the special butterfly exhibit—extremely hot and humid inside but the most gorgeous collection of butterflies and moths you’ve ever seen!!!  Flitting all over the place!!!  This was the only place that I can honestly say was crowded…kids, kids, kids.   But it should be, since it is for them.  On to the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden then the Air and Space Museum.  Finally on the Metro and to the parking garage then the drive home.  Logged well over 12,000 steps and outlasted a 15 yr. old—pretty good!  Home by 1am.  Every single person we spoke with was friendly and went out of their way to be helpful; a wonderful day in all ways.  (Well, we aren’t going to discuss food, he, he.)

Saturday went up to Williamsburg again and took the tour we missed earlier in the week.  Afterward we ended up getting an impromptu  private tour of the behind the scenes work of the stable  and tack room from a very nice woman who conducted the original tour and A. got to try out a sidesaddle.

Last night and today we finally have gotten some rain!!!! YAY!!!!

Reading:  There’s No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern—daughter of Ireland’s Prime Minister, only 26….very talented young woman.  This is not my usual; I picked it up expecting it to be a mystery; not sure how it’s going to turn out but suspect it is becoming a bit too much fantasy-like for my taste; we’ll see.

Food the past few days had not been terrible but I can’t say it’s been exactly good, either.  New week, new wagon.  Will get caught up on some more blogs tomorrow.

G’nite, chickadees.  Sleep tight!

Been running around all day every day.  Hope to get caught up on everybody’s posts and news sometime this week-end.  Tomorrow will be up before the crack of dawn for a day trip to D.C.; we drive to north of Fredricksburg and catch the Metro in.  Going to be awfully crowded and hot; not looking forward to this at all.

Food has not been too bad….it’s funny though, yesterday I did have one of those little bags of chips they give you along with a sandwich.  I ate the chips—told myself –just half; well you all know how that goes.  Anyway, this am, as soon as I opened my eyes, I knew, I just KNEW I was retaining water from those chips–my LIPS felt puffy!!!!  Sure enough, hopped on the scale; up a pound and a half.  WHEN will I learn????  My lips are like my barometer or something if I have salt.

The 2 wildfires are still going strong; one had been “contained” but recent winds put an end to that.  Smoke, haze and smell!!!!!  It’s awful and will be with us for quite some time yet.  Need rain!!!!!

Gotta get some sleep for tomorrow.  G’nite chickadees.