Très muggy . . .

68* gray, muggy and the chance of rain seems to have gone bye. At least we got enough rain so that Puppy's Pop burned the wood pile and assorted odds and ends. It took all morning but I was able to add some fuel to the fire with about 10 years of collected paid bills, medical papers, tax papers and what have you. I still have the last nine years of paper work boxed up in a big plastic bin upstairs on "the other side." That always sound ominous, "the other side" but I really don't know what else to call it. It's not an attic, not a junk room, not a bed room, not a toy room, not a play room. It just exists, plain and simple. Grampa's plane room no longer exists on the other side so I'm hoping some day to get his help painting it and sprucing it up for a library, sitting room, on the other side, bien sûr.

Quote: The age of virtuous politics is past, and we are deep in that of cold pretence. --Patriots are grown too shrewd to be sincere, and we too wise to trust them. ___Cowper

Back in the groove . . .

Finally a normal, honest to goodness me day. Seems like a long time since I had a leisurely morning breakfast at home with the horrible Bulletin. Got some housework done and when Puppy's Pop got back from his early dentist appointment we went to Lizzy B's for a cup of coffee and a grilled blueberry muffin. It was rather more interesting than usual because "tall Linda" was doing the cooking. She's been working at a different restaurant for a few months now and we missed her, but today she was helping out. She such a marvelous, bright, witty character. Too bad she is only temporary.

I managed to get the garden cleaned up Sunday morning before going to Groton. Grampa also got the fertilizer spread and we ended up with a problem! Our very nice farmer who tilled the earth for us can't do it anymore. He's got a bad hip. Gee, it's not always fun getting older and wiser. but as Mémère used to say, "Every age has its compensations" and Mémère was pretty much always right! So we'll be off soon to borrow Uncle R's Troy Bilt and Grampa will do the honors. I suggested we buy our own roto-tiller but the suggestion was nixed.

Back to playing my usual catch-up on the magazines. ( le sigh )

Quote: A drop of ink may make a million think.

Almost in the groove . . .

Remember the cows and Spanish Moss? Here they are!

Wow, already almost too busy. Here it is Friday morning and I've already gone to Big Y. Needed to fetch a few items because we were gone for several days. Only $96. I must be getting good at this shopping stuff. Only three bags of groceries! Also found out why Puppy's Pop and I like the Rex Goliath Cabernet-Sauvignon I've been buying for $9.99 a magnum. The price when not on sale is $17.99. I knew we had good taste, just didn't realize that I accidentally bought a very good thing! That's the story of my life; sheer luck! That's OK by me. Every day brings something new and interesting.

Was invited to go to Carnival in Québec in February, for free no less, and I can't go because there are already other plans on the agenda. Would have been fun though. I told my friend who is still teaching in Killingly to try to keep her fun trips to Saturdays through Tuesdays! One of these days we'll manage a neat trip to Canada. It must be at least 15 years since she and I went to Montréal on a Columbus Day weekend.

One of the best parts of the trip home is that we found the yard in perfect order. The 15 monster logs and all other wedges and smaller stuff were no longer strewn across the lawn. It's rather incredible how deep the ruts are from the toppling of the trees, especially the one that was closest to the house. They had to topple that one after they had removed quite a bit of the top of the tree. That one really made a super hard thud and left a very deep imprint. The first tree went down more easily because it still had its top and that made it fall with less of a bang. The place looks good. I have to get in the garden next week and finish cutting back the flowers and removing the Swiss Chard that the deer have been munching on so delicately since Grampa took down the fence! Then we'll spread some fertilizer (Grampa always does the honors) before we have the garden turned for the winter and plant the winter rye. Must be off to Groton soon.

Quote: An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves. ___L. M. Child

A la maison . . .

We did it. Home by 2:30. Good weather, excellent driver who drove all 3,000 miles, gorgeous foliage. Time to unpack and get ready for Kiddo.

Enfin . . . le dernier jour

Good night's rest, pitch black day and we're on the road again. Had to eat breakfast at McD's. Up too early for Johnny Appleseed! Only 458 miles to go. Over and out.

Cruise control on . . .

Whipping out of Alabama bound for Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia today. Journey is starting to seem long. Looks like we'll have dry weather. That's a plus. Minor occurrence at Best Western, Gadsden. The card one fills out when one leaves was sitting on my bed already filled out on October 10. Yesterday was the 18th! There were a couple of cleaning imperfections that I'll mention when we get the on line form other than that just a ho-hum stay. Back to watching the scenes go by.

Alabama . . .

Arrived in Gadsden at 1pm. Made good time and got 18.1mpg. Not too shabby! Took a ride to find old Gadsden but this area is pretty homely so we just went for a walk in their Wildlife Refuge. Even the refuge was somewhat deplorable. Had an early dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and, just to set the mood, when the waitress/bartender asked Puppy's Pop what she could get for him he retorted, "A new menu!" I refused to let it go downhill from there. We had a decent supper and are now ensconced in our room. I've got my snack bottle of milk and crackers and we're kicking back. Leg, numéro deux demain. We may end up in some rain.

Come to think of it we went South into Gadsden and last year we went North. North was Noccalula Falls. I bet we were on the wrong side of the tracks today!

Waffle House . . . Route 67 North

We're on our way. Too short stay in Slaughter but still a long ride to Moosup. Poor iPad had trouble finding a signal but we're back in business. It is amazingly black outside. Not used to driving with no street lights! Grampa got second place in Advanced yesterday and was tickled because he bought enough raffle tickets to win some oh so good prizes. A brand spanking new engine being the best one! Woot! Wel'll gas up before we get on highway 55 and head into Mississippi.

Weird beginning . . .

The guys were up very early and out of the house before 7 this morning to get to the Baton Rouge control line aircircle. Daughter-in-law was already up and dressed when I rolled out at 7. We were going to go out for breakfast and then do a "whatever" when the SOS call came in. The guys ate breakfast at the Waffle House in Zachary and then the Jeep wouldn't start : ( Bummer! So with no time for bathroom or breakfast she hopped in the newly detailed Durango (we worked on it yesterday) and I drove the Stratus to Zachary. Daughter and I picked up Puppy's Pop, his planes and gear and rushed him to the contest while son took the Strat back to the house to get the Dodge Ram and the trailer. We got Puppy's Pop to the contest in time for the pilots' meeting and left for breakfast. Arrived back at the Waffle House to find that son was loading the Jeep onto the trailer. I must say,"Thank goodness for cell phones and numerous vehicles!"

Time to take a break. The Dodge and trailered Jeep have just arrived back home.

Stand off . . . under the Spanish Moss . . .

Can't believe this one. Having a nice, serenely peaceful breakfast of fresh corn bread, butter, jelly made by the prisoners in Angola and coffee out in the backyard Gazebo when I hear a munching, crunching, rushing sound and as I turned I saw the cattle grazing through the fence eating some of the wild blushes in the backyard. I went to get the camera and they just placidly walked off and watched me! I didn't try to get too close because I have no clue how to act around big animals but they just stood their ground as I shot away. Of course I can't download the photos because I took everything I needed except the USB cord. What a dummy. I really scare myself sometimes.
Oh well, I'll get the pictures when we get home and put a couple on the blog. What's so neat is that the Spanish moss is gently blowing in the breeze as the cows and two calves just munch away. A pastoral scene of quiet charm under clear blue Lousiana skies. Grampa and son are at the flying contest in Baton Rouge while daughter-in-law and I are having a day of gracious Southern living.

Interesting morning . . .

Started out at the Waffle House in Zachary, then on to a grocery/ hardware store and a gift shop where I was hoping to get a really nice Louisiana sweat shirt for a good friend from Ledyard who asked me if I'd get one for her. She wanted to give me money but I would never let her pay.. She's always bringing me baked goodies and little gifts plus she watches over Kiddo when I don't go to Sacred Heart. Grocery store didn't have all the stuff we needed and the gift shop is out of business so off to Walmart where we got some of the necessities but no really nice sweat shirt. Off again to a mall in North Baton Rouge, still no luck finding a really tasteful Louisiana sweat shirt. Off again to the hobby shop where Grampa got some odds and ends for the planes and the nice owner said he and son should bring me to Cracker Barrel if I needed a neat gift. So off again to Cracker Barrel and lo and behold a beautiful, light weight, very tasteful hoody and although it does have LSU on it it is definitely Louisiana gracious living. Speaking of graciousness, I was deeply thankful that son and Grampa were so patient and truly uncomplaining through out the sweat shirt ordeal and it only cost $54! How much more better can it get? After all of that exercise we were off to the Flying Field in Baton Rouge which is part of a beautiful park. I wish I had brought my camera because next to the flying field the city is putting in a water park, huge water slides and all. It is truly awesome. I hate that hackneyed word but it fits the slides which of couse are purple and gold. For the uninitiated those are the LSU colors. Can't wait for next year. Do you think they'll let a, by then, 68 year old Mémé, a Yank to boot, go play? I really nope so. While Grampa was practicing for the week end flying contest I spoke with another pilot who made me laugh. He said he couldn't really tell where Grampa was from but I was was surely a Yank. Then he immediately asked if it was OK that he said that. Cracked me up and I laughingly told him that it was pretty obvious and he was right on. I guess he was afraid he had insulted me. Wanted to know if I could tell if he was from Louisiana and when I said "Yes!" he grinned. So cool to be here with father and son.

Daughter-in-law and I will get In some kind of time for ourselves this week end if all goes well with her family in Texas. She has some very sick family members and may have to leave. If not we may go to the Angola flea market where you can buy articles made by the prisoners. Very interesting.

Welcome to Louisiana . . .

Drove in yesterday about 2:30 pm Central time. Had a welcome to Louisiana moment when we stopped for gas at the first exit on Route 55 and I bought an ice cream and decided to wait on the grass while Grampa gassed up etc. Yep, a nice red ant bit me between the toes. I was wearing sandals but the suckers attack anyway! We had only been in Slaughter for about two hours when Grampa was off to buy beer and wine while the eldest decided he had better get the Harley in the garage quick. A storm was brewing. It was gorgeous, sunny and clear when out of that blue I heard a huge crack of thunder and the sky opened up with sheets of rain, hail and wild winds. Grampa drove home in the mess and then it was over, the sun came out, the air was fresh and cool and the power went off. We had a very comfortable night, no need for air conditioning, just left the windows open.

We started out today at my favorite breakfast place when we're not at Lizzy'y B's, The Waffle House, in Zachary. Love their pecan waffle with a side of fantastic, crisp bacon. I love it when the entire crew say "Good Morning!" when we come through the door. We had to hit the ATM because the truck likes to use a lot of gas and we were just about empty pocketed. Then it was off the the best meat market, Chris', for tomorrows dinner; fresh boned rice stuffed chicken and roasted vegetables. A quick stop at Winn Dixie and the best stop of all the Tri-Parish Cooperative in Slaughter. I was looking for a Louisiana sweat shirt for a friend back in Ledyard but instead I found the best hand bag ever! It's a Lou-ella and it is perfect. It is a tan suede, soft and has room for my iPad without having to squash anything else. Way cool. And Puppy's Pop found another hat by jimminy cricket! So far he's only bought three new ones on this trip. This is my first pocket book in at least 7 years! I hate pocket books so I always used to get Angie's hand-me-downs. The last time I tried to get her to let me have her pocket book, it was a Coach, she wouldn't give it up so I had to break down and buy my own bag. She would approve of my new comfortable purse.

Puppy and I have been left to fend for ourselves today so we've gone out for a walk and I've been enjoying my time in the beautiful yard. I'll be sitting out on the verandah soon to catch up on my swinging and reading.

Back to 75 . . .

Only a 3 vehicle pile up . . . little red truck in the middle of two cars mashed so hard it's frame was bent up. Of course at least 3 other vehicles stopped also. Running free at the moment. About 45 miles from Tuscaloosa.

Oh, oh, Birmingham . . .

Almost at a dead stop, three lanes , trying to get around Birmingham, ALA. The highway truck is just coming up the ramp and closing down the right lane. Be here for a while. Quite a mess. Over and out.

430 to go . . .

Back on the road. May get some showers but it's still looking pretty good, just a mite hazy. The dawn was more than rosy fingered, it was down right red. Hope that does not portend anything of consequence! Okay, back to my passenger seat driving. Oh, yes, heard the old golfers talking at breakfast this morning and if what they said holds we will have a lot of new faces in DC in November! Hip! Hip!

Guffaw of the day . . .

I don't usually read trailer truck doors as we pass them but for some reason I read this one: Don't be shy,show me some thigh, as you pass bye! Just cracked me up and it was too late to comply!

PS . . .

I almost forgot! As we left dinner at Johnny Appleseed and walked through the lobby of the motel a group of at least 20 kids were in the middle of Bible Class! Only in the South on a Sunday. It was pretty cool. I can't imagine a bible class being held in a hotel lobby anywhere else.

Leg numéro deux. . .

We drove through 7 states yesterday in our allotted eight hours with stops. Today we'll only drive in four! We're in the Shenandoah Valley with the Blue Ridge Mountains to the East and the Piedmont to the West. The sky is beautiful with early morning clouds lit up by dawn's early light. (Can't help myself, I love clichés!) Had one of our best walks ever last evening when we stepped back in time to New Market during the Civil War. What a beautiful little town. Gracious homes with verandahs, wonderful parterres, comely people and some gun shot holes where the Yanks shot their way into town. I believe that the battle of New Market was the last time the South won a battle during the war. If we get back here early enough next Tuesday I hope I can convince Puppy's Pop to visit the battle field and the museum. He doesn't like going to the battle fields because it is very uncomfortable to remember what took place on this beautiful land. Battlefields of the Civil War are truly hallowed ground. Time to get back to marveling as the scenes unfold.

Last leg for today . .

We are in Virginia and had to turn on the air. It is really, really hot when you were crazy enough to leave home in long sleeves and jeans because it was 31degrees this morning. It has to be at least 80 outside right now; clear, dry and cloudless. Only 2 small snafus so far. Foolishly thought we'd stop for gas in West Virginia. First stop, the station was closed. Of course, it's Sunday in the South. Fared better at the next exit but went the wrong way on the exit. No matter, we turned around and found a full time truck stop so we are fine. So far getting almost 18 mpg on the Ram. About 30 miles to New Market and some libations, food and a walk!

Another wow . . .

We're just outside of Hershey, PA and the weather has been spectacular. I'm pretty impressed with the live traffic on the iPad. It warns you of problems, clocks your speed, let's you check the traffic and weather. In any case it's pretty interesting. I didn't set it up for directions because the GPS is working fine and talks to us. This is so cool; we just crossed the Susquehanna and there was a house boat floating by. We are about 60 miles from Maryland under a strato-cumulus sky! Time to go back to watching the world between the mountains.

Busy week . . .

I would hate to be on the horns of this dilemma.

It's not even 9am and Puppy's Pop is out washing the Dodge Ram. Hmmm . . . must be something in the works. He can't be trusted. I'm sure he'll be loading things when I'm off to lunch duty. That man still scares me. I should know better than to worry about his shenanigans after more than 46 years but he still puts me on edge sometimes!

Had company Wednesday. It was nice to share pizza with Grampa's younger brother, his wife and Bijoux. We always have a good time chatting with them. She brought me some dishcloths that she crochets. I love them. They do such a good job washing dishes and clean up just fine in the wash. Last evening my younger brother's wife stopped in to drop off some puzzles and I gave her two puzzles that were a bit easier than one of those she left for me. I've been challenged to put a hard 500 piece together and I will eventually take up the challenge. It's the painting by Monet, Woman with Parasol, all pinky, bluey, purply undefined impressionist colors. It should be fun. Glad it's only 500 pieces. The last 500 I did drove me nuts because it was strawberries and blueberries. Grampa had to help me finish up! But I also broke down and bought a 1000 piece Springbok called Lucky Roll, all dice. Love the colors and defined edges!

Sterling school had a voting session for 7th and 8th graders at their town hall yesterday. Malloy (D) won for Governor; McMahon (R) for Senator; and the incumbent Courtney (D) won for Congressman. That may just be the way the November election turns out. We are in a world of doo-doo. It probably doesn't make any difference who wins. There isn't a decent candidate running in our neck of the woods. There is one good guy running for State Representative in Norwich, Coutu, but I won't be able to vote for him. We have a bunch of do-gooders with nary a brain between them running for office in both parties. The exceptions to that will be defeated because they aren't promising to give the takers my money!

Starting to get ticked off so I'll just end with my latest saga. Ordered a prescription refill from CVS in Plainfield Tuesday. Went to pick it up Tuesday and was told, after I had politely waited in line and the girl had searched in vain, that it couldn't be refilled because the due date was the 12th. I explained I couldn't wait until the 12th and she said she would get an over ride from the insurance (Caremark, which is part of CVS.) Told me that if she had problems getting the over ride she would call me otherwise I should pick up the prescription Wednesday. No call so I stopped yesterday to get the prescription. Again I patiently waited in line and another lady finally searched in vain for the medicine. This time I was handed over to another lady who said that I had to call in to get an over ride from the insurance. I explained that we had already gone this route. As I was starting to fume we agreed that she would call the insurance and I said I would call too the minute I arrived home. I called and explained in no uncertain terms how angry I was that I now have to make 3 trips to CVS because they can't get their act together. The lady was very nice and after 15 minutes of hassle on the phone she said I had to call CVS and tell them that the over ride would be available for one day (that's today.) I called and they are supposed to have my prescription ready today. I may go postal when I stop on the way back from Groton with Kiddo if it's not ready. It's very tiring to be surrounded by incompetence.

Quote: Oppose not rage while rage is in its force, but give it way a while and let it waste. ____Shakespeare

OK, Willy, I'll give it a try.

Comfortable day . . .at home, even though not at home. . .

Even though the weather is damp, cool and wet I had a wonderful, warm, comfortable day with my kid sister. It is always a pleasure to share lunch and a trip to the farm for ice cream. It feels good to see each other on a bit of a regular basis. She and her husband looked good and as healthy as I could wish. None of us are getting any younger but our spirits soar when we can get together and laugh and review old memories. The drive only takes me about an hour and ten minutes because I go late in the morning and return mid afternoon. Our ride to the farm from East Granby is a beautiful, curvy, New England at it's best road and we enjoy the scenery and our company! I know I probably talk too much but it feels so good to be able to just talk about any subject with someone who was and is a part of my whole life. We talk about people I'd almost forgotten and commiserate on the state of the country. Yes, it is so nice to have brothers and sisters. They know what forged us and probably understand us better than any one.

Quote: I regard that man as lost , who has lost his sense of shame. ___Plautus

And there is rarely any sense of shame to be seen in this era. How sad.

So much good stuff . . .

All kinds of neat things have been happening. Thursday after lunch duty I went to Richoni's for lunch and the French Onion Soup was the best I've ever had. Now over the years I've eaten in some pretty fancy places in France and New York but this was the absolute best. Chef Aaron, you rock.

Friday got a little screwy because after lunch duty I went to daughter's home, sat back with a nice cup of java and National Review. I had plenty of time because I was only picking Kiddo up at 3:00. What a monster mistake :( Daughter came home at 2:30 and asked if I had picked up the Kiddo because he had a half day, first Friday of the month. I thought I would die. She went to get him and he was as happy as could be because he got a chance to go to Sunshine and had a great time with his friends. On top of that he learned about some new game cards he just had to have so when we finally made it to Moosup (only an hour and a half late) he asked me if he could finish reading the First Grade Dick and Jane book. He knew that if he finished the whole book we'd go to Target to get something for doing such a good job. That kid read out loud to me for almost an hour; ate a whole hamburger from Riverview, not chicken, a hamburger and then we were off to Target. I now know how to play Yugioh but I must admit we play it using Calvin Ball. I can't even figure out how to play reading the directions! Of course he beat me good. But that's just super fine.

Also on Friday my cousin Charles drove to Moosup from Long Island to bring us two boxes of pistachios. I couldn't believe my eyes. One box was fresh from the trees. That's just about impossible because they go bad very fast and cannot be shipped fresh unless . . . you have cousins determined to get them to you. His sister's husband packed them up just before they took their Southwest flight back to the East coast from the pistachio plantation in California and he drove them to Moosup as a fast as he could. Puppy's Pop and I spent over an hour husking them because some of the husks were rotting. We managed to save 99% and I've put them on some old window screens on the porch to dry out. They are salubrious. We also have about 16 5oz bags of roasted pistachios to pass out to my brothers, sisters and cousins. How cool is that? Most of the roasted nuts are Plain and Salted but some are Chili Lemon and also Roasted Garlic.

And that is not the end of the good stuff! Grampa drove to Exit 28A on 91North in Massachusetts to pick up my Vermont Folk Rocker. Yes, yes, yes. I've finally got it . I've wanted one for at least 20 years since the first time I sat in one at a Vermont rest stop on 91North but I just couldn't get myself to pay the price. Well I finally just ordered it. It was going to cost about $300 to ship it from Starksboro, VT south of Burlington but Jim Geier, the designer and builder, makes a trip twice a month to Exit 28A to deliver the rockers free of delivery charges or taxes. Since we had Kiddo here I couldn't go with Grampa for the 10 am meeting and he went all the way up to the border for my rocker. It is the best Birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day gift ever. I just absolutely love it. It is the most comfortable rocker in the world. I am certain of that.

Well, time to go feast on raw pistachios before I make supper.

Quote: If we find not repose in ourselves, it is in vain to seek it elsewhere. __From the French