Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Pie. Say it aloud, and remember fresh, crisp apples, the warmth of cinnamon, the tang of lemon juice. Apple pie. Mmmm pie. Our little tree, the one along the driveway, is even more full of apples than it was last year. Last year was when we discovered that the tart and tiny apples in the garden were meant to be baked in to pies. They taste good fresh. They are crunchy, and flavorful. When sliced, sweetened, cinnamon seasoned, and tossed with lemon juice from the neighbor's tree, then baked under a crust... oh delight.

It's early for apples, and much too hot to be baking. Most apples ripen in autumn, but our apples are ready now, so we must oblige them.

You know what else tastes good with fresh lemon juice? Tequila, is one answer. But I digress.

Maybe I do not digress.

Last night, after pie, after tequila, I was writing beautiful stuff. I was composing in my head and I specifically recall asking Geoff to take notes, because I could not be sure I would remember my poetry in the morning. We had spent the evening in Nostalgia. Like a faraway land. We were remembering people and places and things we did; things we believed. We sometimes were a bit solemn, because we remembered solemn things, but mostly we were laughing. The air, the temperature of it, was perfect or nearly so. If it had been any cooler it would have felt good, but it might have reminded us of Christmas and it is too soon yet to be reminded of Christmas. If it were any warmer we would wish to be in hammocks, on vacation, near the water, and that's not possible yet either. I meant to record all my thoughts and the things that made us laugh and remember. I meant to, but I never did.

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Busyness

Happened, and happening.
My mom was here and she accomplished quite a bit. She helped her cousin Mary, she hung out with Hans and Gretchen, she kept appointments, and she made her first ever visit to LEGOLAND. Max would tell you that being at LEGOLAND with his grandma was the best part.

We saw March of the Penguins and enjoyed it very much. It seems to me that there were more movies like this one in theaters when I was a kid. It was what these days I would expect to see on PBS or some cable channel. It was a pleasant surprise to see a good, interesting, nonblockbuster, nonDisney movie in an air-conditioned theater.

Yesterday we were picnicking with Deanne and James and Sammy the Dog. It was really nice, low-key, relaxing... we shared good food, and engaging conversation. Sam amused us with his doggy actions and sensibilities.

This week Max will turn 7! The party is Saturday. He wants coffee cake. Coffee cake with cinnamon crumble topping. His theme is reptiles and amphibians and he has a black dragon piñata that he wants to fill with peanut butter cups and sugar free gum.

What else is happening? Mom and grandma are driving back to Oregon and berries and jewelry making. Geoff's game is getting closer and closer to publication, so much so that we have actual plans to leave on a vacation. Geoff and William go to the last night of their extension class this week. Did I mention? William got 96% on his midterm. Tamsyn just returned from her second summer trip, but she leaves again for 3 more weeks; hot summer days are a bit slow and sad without a friend next door. Alex and Max are still working on the castle, but they are in a bit of a slump since they need more bricks.

My camera battery is working. And I would have shared pictures from our picnic or LEGOLAND, but now there is a problem with the cable. I cannot download new pictures to the computer.

I feel a haircut coming on. It happens this way every few years. Suddenly I realize that my long hair fantasy is clashing with my split end reality. It's time for short. And I will regret the shortness soon after, because short cuts require maintenance, and I don't do maintenance. Geoff thinks I should dye my hair red to match my glasses. I must have issues. I feel very insecure about my hair now. Does he think I have too much gray? Does he prefer redheads? And what about maintenance? I'm lucky to get a shower. When will I be finding time and pride to get my brown and gray roots touched up red? Red? In my teens I did an eggplant rinse. It was fun and very temporary. But he said DYE. Permanent dye. Wounded ego... it raises an interesting topic that I may touch upon someday... how long do I intend to go *natural* while everyone else is not?