The Fur Kid

I heard somewhere that pampered pets are known as the fur kids of the household. That would be Lucy. But our fur kid Lucy got into big trouble when we were in church on Sunday. She knocked over one of my potted plants - dirt all over the carpet, reached up to the counter to pull down a few slices of bread, and even managed to bring down a plate of oatmeal cookies to devour them in the living room. (She spit out the raisins.) I was not happy. She and I were not on good terms for the rest of the day. I mostly ignored her. Then Sunday night I started thinking about forgiveness, and that forgiveness is not for people only. I knew I needed to forgive the fur kid. So Lucy is back in my good graces again, the plant is re-potted and the dirt scrubbed out of the carpet. Addie says Lucy had a great time on Sunday, a rowdy party of one.

Tiny Jenna's

One of Jenn’s Christmas gifts to Geo was a home-cooked Thai meal – a gift the whole family enjoyed. She prepared Pad Thai, Chicken and Rice, Sticky Rice with Mango, and a Banana Coconut Milk dessert. Recipes were authentic, those she learned from the Pad Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai. In the center of the table she was sure to include fresh limes, salt, sugar, and hot sauce that we could add to taste. What a feast! One of our fav restaurants is Tiny Thai; George said we were dining at Tiny Jenna’s. I’d say we need to include a Thai meal as one of our holiday season traditions. Hopefully, Jenn, this was the First Annual. Thank you so very much.

Pajama Packing

A wintry evening last week found Addie and me at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, together with over thirty other supporters and members of the Vermont Council of the Blind. This is the time of year when orders are flying out of the factory with help needed to make sure those deliveries are on time. The Teddy Bear Factory invites volunteer groups to help with packing orders, then donates a generous amount of funding to the groups. We were a hard-working crew with even a few guide dogs in tow.

Our assignment was the Pajama-grams, to pull boxes off the assembly line, take pajamas out of packages, check the orders and to repack for shipping. I was amazed at the wide variety of pajamas, the quality, and the personalized way they are folded into “hatboxes” and totes. Personal gift cards were included with many orders – we had a fun time reading them as we packed. I just know that each person who receives one of these gifts will be very happy and very cozy this holiday season. I had so much fun, I know I’ll want to do this again.

Okay, VCB, how about the Valentine’s Day rush? We’ve done it once, and we can do it again!

Toots

A & J keep introducing me to new music, new sounds.
J seems to like the reggae beat and lyrics. I’ve been a James Brown fan, and so I’m recently drawn to reggae Toots and the Maytals – and where it all began in the 60’s – a great mix of Jamaican soul, rock and gospel. Toots “invented” the genre and gave it its name.
What I appreciate is that an artist of another generation is current, like Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney. I’m not familiar with much reggae, but this is one artist I want to be hearing more of.
For the official check it out here: http://www.tootsandthemaytals.com/

Mini-vacation

Ok, it wasn’t an official day off, but Saturday evening was Pinochle night at the Richmans’. Partner Michael and I took all three games - a first for me.
Sunday eve Geo, Addie and I drove to The Black Sheep for dinner - another first - and it was excellent.
Monday was spent up at the Kamp on the Lake where Geo and I finished closing for the season. First time I can recall closing when the weather was mild enough to pull up a beach chair to the shore, stay awhile and enjoy the wave action and the late afternoon sun. Peace.
Geo gave a talk on Tuesday at the Community College of VT, so Tuesday was a day for me to amble around Burlington. I didn’t shop for anything, but it was nice being downtown without needing to rush around, and that does not happen too often.
On Wednesday Geo and I took in an event at UVM on health issues of Vermont farmers. Very informative. Many of the talks touched on farmworker disabilities and on the unique problems of migrant farmers. I learned a lot, and Geo did some networking, especially with a contact who could speak at the Gov’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities.
Best of all, I've got lots of vacation hours left. Am looking ahead to much more time off and many more firsts.

What I’ve Seen the Past Few Days

A red fox - Yes! Directly in front of our Kamp on the Lake.

A coconut curry potato crepe at the Skinny Pancake, not only seen, but
savored.

A Dunder Miflin bright blue t-shirt. A & J, you know I’d like one.

Archer Mayor AND Joyce Carole Oates, in person - what a literary treat!

My checkbook and a load of laundry at 4AM. (Me, needing to catch up on
household chores.)

A Bit of Trivia

Question: How did the Skinny Pancake get it’s name?
Answer: Seems that the restaurant was originally a Church St. pushcart business selling crepes. This was around the time of the start of the war in Iraq when the French were not very popular with Americans. French fries became the politically correct “freedom fries,” and the French crepe became the “skinny pancake.” When the restaurant opened at College and Lake, it was named the Skinny Pancake. And now you know...

Vacation Days

Nice having time off. Tues, however, Geo needed oral surgery - he is recovering slowly and hopefully he'll be back to his ol’ self by next week.
I've been driving Addie back and forth from work - good spending time together that we would not otherwise have.
Yesterday was Kamp time. Phil came up for the day and put wheels on our foot valve (all you lake campers know what that means). Also did some painting (where are ya, Jenn, when I need ya?) and Phil rebuilt the pump cover. Super improvements. After driving him home, I returned to Kamp for an overnite.
Swimming was the best, water like velvet. After sundown I spent time with Benedict XVI’s book on Jesus. More about that later.
On Saturday the hours went by so quickly. I was determined to finish the book (I did), and delighted in the warm breeze off the Lake while relaxing on the deck. I still believe that Sept is the best laketime. As Mrs. Murphy would say, “The tourists are gone.”

Labor Day at the Museum

Addie has a new job at the Shelburne Museum, and she loves it. One of the perks with her first paycheck was the benefit of free passes to the museum for her guests. So she invited the ‘rents. Very generous of her to spend her first day off at her place of work.

It was an absolutely delightful day. The weather was sunny, in the 70's and low 80's, with a light breeze. It had been some time since we had enjoyed the museum, but today it was even better, because we could see it with her enthusiasm. She planned an easy pace for us with her favorite highlights.

I was blown away with the colorful chandelier exhibit along with quilts in the main entrance. Next was the Shaker furniture exhibit. We not only viewed the furniture, but we also learned more of Shaker culture. (Inspired me to pare down and clear out the clutter!) Apparently their furniture was of very high quality and made to last, because eternity is forever, and the Shakers wished to express that during their lifetime. I loved the intricate Shaker “gift” drawings based on Scriptural prophecy; “Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above...” Just to see this alone would have been more than enough, but there was more...

We went on to see the period houses, the Monets and Degas paintings, the dolls and miniature doll houses, and - of course - the 50's house. Not only were the exhibits so wonderfully presented, but we enjoyed the gardens, the views, and the hospitality of the staff. Addie truly has a fabulous place to work with many areas and collections to explore, to research, and to share with all the Museum visitors. Thank you, Addie!

In the Puddle

Mom called the other nite. She had a great story. Seems she went grocery shopping with $26 in her purse. She had planned to stop at Wendy’s for a $1 shake on the way home. However, when she was at the check-out, she was disappointed to discover that her groceries came to just over $25, not enough money left over for that shake. She went to her car to load the groceries. She noticed that in front of her car was a puddle. Floating in the puddle was what looked like a dollar bill. Must be play money, she thought. She bent over to pick it up, but - sure enough - it was a real dollar bill. She looked across the parking lot and saw that there were no other puddles anywhere. The one puddle was directly in front of her car, and this was the puddle with the dollar bill. “It was a miracle,” she said. She now had enough cash to enjoy that shake before she returned home. I love this story because it tells me what a joyful woman of faith my mother is. Miracles can be found even in the nearest rain puddle.

It's August

Well, the raspberries that were in full bloom produced NO fruit, and the rabbits ate all the beans. At least the geraniums are blossoming nicely on the deck, along with marjoram and parsley and basil. We’re even getting a few tomatoes to add to our salad.

Jenn is juggling 2 jobs with catering and working in teen residential homes, sometimes back to back shifts. Addie landed a job as docent/researcher/interpreter at a museum, and is also helping out at the local library - Bookmobile duty is a favorite; you may also find her stacking books at one of the colleges in town when she is not caring for a developmentally challenged child.

Thanks to Phil, our Kamp on the Lake is in good working order. Yes, we even have hot and cold running water. A few dead and overgrown tress have come down, opening up the lake view and getting more sunshine into the backyard. Now for the time to be up there to enjoy it while Kamp-enjoying weather is at its peak.

Less than 2 weeks, and Jenn is back for senior yr. We will miss her, and the family dynamics will change once again. She’s been frustrated with knee problems, unable to run and hike in her free time. We hope and pray that her knee problem is resolved soon. She’s been getting great care from professionals who happen to be our neighbors, and we are grateful for that.

Geo and I have taken in a few plays and musical productions. Last week it was Suds, and before that, Brighton Beach Memoirs #3, and Into the Woods. We’ve been helping out with audio-described productions for the blind and visually impaired, taking our turn assigning seats and distributing the receiver headsets. The plays are described in detail for those who are unable to see the stage and actors, so the visually impaired are able to enjoy the productions. Some of our local theaters also have audio description with state of the art transmitters and receivers for anyone requesting them. So nice to take part in this.

Geo spent a week on vacation in Maine. Unfortunately, it rained most every day. I was able to join him for 1 weekend. We dined at a German restaurant, heard a Dixie jazz band, and savored gourmet gelato for dessert one evening. While he was there, he met up with a Belgian Shepherd - and was quite impressed. So...

we’re beginning to think about getting a partner for our Beagle-Shep Lucy. The new dog would have to be just the right match for sweet mellow Lucy. Lucy is a “pack dog,” and would benefit from another pal. And we need a dog with a little more energy to keep us moving. Let’s face it, Lucy is a couch potato and does not seem to require quite as much exercise as we need. She let’s us know in her little Beagle way when she’s had enough. But she is Lucy, the sweetest dog on the planet, and we love her to bits.

Looking Forward...

to Addie returning home, and the four of us together for the whole summer the first time in four years;

to our work conference this week in MA, and planning for the upcoming year. Geo is coming along with me for some R&R at a very fine New England inn.

to the ordination to priesthood and the first Mass of a young man we know (Addie’s confirmation sponsor). It will be quite the celebration and a privilege to witness.

to fresh flowing lake water at our Kamp on the Lake. Phil has the expertise and an amazing plan for a new pump system. I will be ecstatic to see it in full operation.

to wild raspberries in our yard, and vine-ripened tomatoes and beans from my garden.

More News

Addie emailed from London. Something I would never have expected to hear: she's finishing up her aesthetics paper, due May 14, while traveling in a coach between London and Leeds. She has planned this UK trip well and has already purchased tickets for traveling to Leeds, York and back to Leeds and London. I'm eager to hear more about the art internship. She is winding up senior year in high style.

Jenn is completing finals this week. She's already landed two part-time summer jobs - one on staff working with teens at risk, and the other catering with a culinary school.
Knowing Jenn, she no doubt has a few more adventures in the works...