Baking

Baking and cooking in the summer doesn't seem nearly as satisfying as doing it in the winter.

I baked two Blueberry Buckles today; one for us and one for Tracy and Zac. He had to have carpel tunnel surgery again on his right hand; he had it a year ago, so I went to visit. He's doing well, but is bored staying in the house. He had photos from the surgery...it was really gross looking!

I also made a big macaroni salad and went to Aldi to get tomatoes to go in it. I didn't do much else today other than straighten up/clean up a bit, water plants and do some laundry. Tomorrow I am going to school at 9:00 to help Tami make up the class lists. Carissa says she is going to come by and visit too.

Dennie Ezzelle has a job at another school for the fall and Carissa has an interview for her job on Thursday. I hope this is just a formality and that she is really going to get the job.

Lazy Sunday

I didn't go to church today; I didn't do much of anything other than put up new blinds in my room and plant some things outside.

I planted the new plants I got in the new pot outside and also some plants in the yard. When I finished doing the planting my face was scarlet, I was so hot. I was drenched with sweat and I came in and took a very cool shower.

Sarah made some really delicious pasta for supper and now I am watching Law and Order, one that I haven't seen. So things are good.

It Is Harder Than It Seems

It's hard to let friends leave. It was bad enough that David and Melissa had to go back but after taking Tom and Barry to the train station today, I have felt really sad. I enjoyed their company so much and I think they enjoyed being here. They enjoyed taking Sam for walks too.

So I went to Lowes and Home Depot today and bought some plants; some plants for a big pot I bought on Eastchester Dr (they wanted 50.00 but I got 10% off) and also a dark purple butterfly bush. I also got two bales of pine needles for the bare dirt next to the sunroom. I came home and didn't do much of anything other than spread the pine needles.; it was so hot by then. I've been reading today and took a little nap in front of the tv.

Hopefully it will cool off some in the next few days; not tomorrow though; it is supposed to be 96.

Happy Friday

We had a nice day today. I went to the library and picked up a book I had on reserve and the Tom, Barry and I went to visit my mom. She had potted up some Rose of Sharon plants for me so I brought those home. After that we came home and had lunch. Then the three of us and Sarah went to Greensboro to Edward McKay Used Book store. I bought 68.00 worth of books, mostly for the classroom. I also got a 501 Spanish verb book and a dvd of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I mostly got board books with the intention of using them in the weekend take-home packets I am putting together for next year.

After the bookstore we went to Starbucks and then to the Andy Warhol photography exhibit at the Weatherspoon Gallery. T&B treated us dinner at the Thai restaurant on Tate St. The food was great and we had the whole place to ourselves b/c we ate as soon as they opened at 5:00.

Now we are watching the movie To Die For on tv and Sarah is upstairs reading. The guys have to go back in the morning; it has been such a great visit....I wish they could stay longer.

Home Again

We got home from Asheville about 7:30. We had a great time, although it was hot. I didn't tour the gardens at all this year and spent time on the veranda reading instead.

We did the rooftop tour this morning and there was a photographer up there who said she could take our pictures. She started to take a picture of a couple and the guy dropped down to one knee and produced a diamond ring from his pocket and proposed to his girlfriend. It was so sweet! It made me tear up, just to see how sweet it was.

So we came home to a stinky kitchen; either it was the dishes in the sink, the compost or the trash. We took care of all of that, plus feeding the animals and ourselves and we are all now ready to kick back and relax for the night.

Going to Asheville

Yesterday was a fun day even though it was hot, hot, hot. The high was 94 yesterday and is forecast to be 96 today. But we won't be here today because we are all going to Asheville to go to the Biltmore. The high is Asheville is supposed to be a few degrees cooler.

We picked Tom and Barry up at the train on Monday night and the train ended up being close to two hours late overall, so they didn't get in till 8:30, so we didn't eat at Panera but went to Rome Pizza since they are open till 11:00. We got a delicious pizza which we all four shared.

Yesterday I had to do some errands, like go to the post office, so they went with me so Barry could take a photo of the Big Chair and then we went to the Emporium and by my school. We came home and ate lunch. David and Melissa arrived in mid-afternoon and Mom, John and Pat came for supper. We had a very nice evening but John was feeling very tired. He said he was in a funk, but the weather could do it to anyone.

We'll come back from Asheville tomorrow evening. Neal is going to the Mylets and to Elk Creek so we'll see if he actually stays for the weekend or if he comes home early!

Today's Schedule

I am going to eat breakfast and then finish cleaning the windows outside of the sunroom. After that, I'll take a shower and go to school to release the bird I've been raising (yay!), go to the library, get my oil changed and go to the grocery store(s).

Back home, I'll put away the groceries, eat lunch and then do more cleaning; maybe a quick mopping of the kitchen and then start on my room.

As usual, there are two piles of Neal clothes in the room; I'm taking all of the clean ones and dumping them in the closet. It's either the closet or the front porch! And I don't want to mess up the porch that way!

The temperature is supposed to be in the mid-90's today, so that's why I'm up early for the outdoor work!

T&B's train leaves Baltimore at 9:45 and they are due to arrive in High Point at 6:49, so we will get something to eat before coming back here.