The Big Clear

In order to make room for some summer purchases, I had to purge several shelves in my storage room.  I went through lots of stuff but only some could be kept and moved to the attic. The rest I put in the recycle bin. Here are the results:

Kept:

1966 program from my first opera - Don Giovanni at the old Met

1973 World Series and National League Championship programs (NY Mets)

Some of Moody's  and ML's childhood books

1978 Opera News with Beverly Sills on the cover as Thais

My transcripts and recommendations from Columbia University (several professors wrote that I was "exuberant"!)

MBTI materials and books

3 typed sermons from 1978 written by Moody on the reserection and eternal life

Book on medieval feasts, a few souvenir pamphlets from my 1972 trip to Europe

Recycled:

My SF 171 and personnel folder from my 30 year career with the Federal government

Many awards from work and press for my publications releases

Many files with articles that were helpful to my research on physician and emergency medical utilization

15 year old cell phones

Given to Public Library:

Books not previously disposed like Follow the River, The Frontiersman, Stonewall Jackson

Some of the books written by cousin Julia Davis

Anthologies of English Literature (Norton's type is too small for my eyes to read)

It was fun looking at this stuff that will be totally meaningless to whoever has the go through my stuff when the roll is called up yonder.  There are still plenty of shelves that can be tackled and I will soon. I have a whole raft of stat books that should be given away, hard copies of all my publications, and many books on embroidery, smocking, and quilt making. I also have tons of music for my various instruments including vocal, piano, mountain and hammered dulcimer, guitar, violin, etc. Then there are my hymnals, bibles, and prayer books.  We won't even mention all the VHS tapes!

Progress nonetheless, I now have space for my dozen juice glasses for holding gazpacho, and new paisley chargers in turquoise and white, and devices for serving stacked food in various shapes.  Looks like party planning is in my future rather than scholarly research.

Home Again!

After returning from Nantucket, Patti and I enjoyed a week with visitors. Mary Pringle came the night after I got back to NH. Ned and Royal came over and we attended 2 Opera North performances.  Jeff and Sim arrived.  John, Carol, Molly, Matt, Vi, and Marty came for the weekend. We went to see Lee, Richard, and Laura in Brookfield Sunday morning.  I went to the craft fair multiple times and I stayed within my budget (one necklace and some pottery)!  I also finally got to King Arthur Flour and only bought some mixes and semolina.

Sim and I left Sunapee on August 16th and traveled via Albany to Sue and Steve's home in Garnet Valley PA. She prepared us a lovely dinner and we watched some of the Olympics. The Brazilian rum cocktail, Caipirinhas,  was a great addition to the fun (rum, sugar, and lime). The next day we stopped to visit Anna and Elbert on our way across Kent Island. We had Popeye's chicken in Richmond and made it home by 6 pm.

Everything at home was good and the dogs are happy to get out of the back of the car.  I'm getting ready for the new sliding glass doors by making space. In the meantime Arlo is now in his big boy bed and Lyle has turned 7 months old. I have my plane ticket to visit them in November. Can't wait!

Caprese salad with added peach slices!

Caipirinhas, Braziliam rum cocktail

Lyle at 7 mos.

Nantucket

I took busses and a ferry to reach Nantucket for a week. I met up with Catharine and the Chamblees in Hyannis and we shared the Weille cottage on Highland Ave. This is the house my aunt and uncle rented every August. It is my 50th anniversary of first coming to this cottage and Nantucket. I have only missed a few Augusts in all this time.

As might be expected, there are more cars, houses, and people on the island than when I was last here in 2012. We have been to the beach, concerts, movies, etc. And played hearts and salad bowl. Deb and Jeff have been great at cycling down for donuts each morning, though today we made blueberry muffins.  Every morning at 10 am, we have been playing tennis at Jetties. I met up with a friend from St Andrew's who moved away about the same time we moved to NC. I also met up with a former colleague from NCHS in Hyannis. I have had Boston cream pie, Portugese bread, and BLT's, and sushi by Yoshi just for the record.  The last day I was there we all went to Siasconset for the walk. Then we had a sunset swim and sandwiches at Steps Beach.  Below are some pics.