I’ve always wanted to go to the shenendoah valley ever since I heard that wonderful song which unfortunately I have totally forgotten. We spent three days in the Shenendoah State Park, looking down over the immense valley, our high up camp accessed only by a very winding road over which every child was constantly threatening to be sick. Our particular site was steps away from the actual, for real, Appaichan Trail. As we “hiked” it (that is walked liesurly and... Read more
Binghamton is welcoming us back whole heartedly with a torrential down pour this morning. Actually, we’ve been here through the weekend which was beautiful and sunny and cool. But as we drove over the Susquehanna we noticed how high and brown and rushing it was. Clearly it has been raining and so it is no surprise that it is raining now. Though ‘raining’ is to light and domestic a word. My dog, Ash(erbanapal) just considered the quality of the outdoors... Read more
San Antonio has a beautiful duck feeding option. The river is all green and cool and murky. And around the various bends sit beautiful old settling houses and other kinds of interesting structures. And a sparkling water fall. And a bridge. And a beautiful view. Besides so many interesting varieties of ducks and other birds, most of whose photo likenesses did not prove fabulous enough to post here, though in person they were so interesting Elphine took about 200 pictures.... Read more
Romulus turned seven yesterday. And so I worked on a contribution for cake wrecks. This is called The Wave. And then we trundled heavily out to the beach one last time to say goodbye to the spectacular view. And then we went swiftly to bed so as to be able to be in the car by 4:30am for the 12 hour drive to San Antonio. So here I am, in a really cool and lovely hotel room with a massive... Read more
I have been groping towards my former mind over the past few days, feeling that I could, if I tried very hard, put some words together in a string for the everlasting gratification of the Internet. But the trouble of it has been much much too great. I’m trying to read The Fellowship of the Ring (because I promised myself I would, as a New Years resolution) and I feel like Frodo, lugging my wretched blogging mind through the wilds... Read more
After a great deal of puzzling (Elphine’s word), I’m pretty sure this is what will be worn to the upcoming wedding that kicks off The Kennedy Grand Holiday on Saturday. Or maybe it should be the Kennedy Grand Tour. Hmm. I am open to suggestions for the name of this much longed for adventure. Actually, here’s us all hoping for very little venture and a whole lot of placid boredom. A month solid of no whining. No disobedience. No car... Read more
OMW I’m so tired. And so is everyone else. I swear, if we have to clean the kitchen even one more time we will all die. We are up to our ears in packing and junk but mostly just fatigue. Maybe it was the stupidity of going to Walmart on a Saturday to look for impossible items like a “flashlight”. They do have them, but they don’t really want you to find and buy them. Anyway, I really do want... Read more
I have a lot of interesting plants in my garden. Whether plunked there by me, or inherited, or discovered to be growing even though I don’t recall bothering myself about them, the great variety of flowers and whatnot making a go of it is a source of fascination and wonderment to me for the simple fact of my own ignorance. I don’t know what any of them are and I have no idea how to go about finding out and... Read more
Alouicious finally finished his school work last night. I was pretty sure the effort would be the death of us all; certainly he himself believed that he would perish if he had to write or read one single word more. But miraculously we lived through and today the sun is out and the thunder and lightning are momentarily away somewhere else and summer freedom hangs in the air. I’ve been thinking a lot about Freedom lately, and its lovely relation,... Read more
This has been the Wall of Shame. It is the length of the Long Wall in Sheol (or the basement for those desirous of a more prosaic life). Many of you, when I have offhandedly mentioned The Wall of Shame, have looked at me with quiet and amused disbelief. ‘It can’t be that bad,’ I have seen in your eyes, ‘she’s just being hyperbolic as usual.’ And yet, all you unbelievers, you haven’t accounted for the profound and robust smell... Read more
Preventing Grace
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