Beaver:

Came last Tuesday and finally recovering. It seems to have taken more out of me this time and causes me to be concerned about how much longer I can keep doing this. Malaise that started 1 July took two weeks before I felt safe to travel. I do believe it was a virus as Charmion described, so I attacked with Pau d'Arco (herbal antibiotic) successfully. Lost 10 pounds and now trying to keep it off.

SRS: no hope of me keeping a food diary; I have tried and failed so many times. The only thing I manage to keep any record of is pottery firings - They have been essential to my life and relative peace of mind!! I keep finding food ones that I started and gave up on - as recently as two years ago.

The bread: Dimpflmeiers - mostly organic loaves but some just pumpernickel made with spring water and no additives. Heavy, thin sliced ones with sunflower seeds or sandwich types - not so dense! Not easy to find in grocery stores so I just get fed up and order it and pay the shipping for the convenience of knowing it is in the freezer. I tried two new-to-us sorts this time - heavy with flax seeds, and plain but sandwich shaped which I have, curiously, been using for my one slice toasted with almond butter for BF. Very tasty. The half round type I use for grilled cheese sandwiches; last night's was cheddar, green pepper and apple slices.

The water here is not potable and that at Dupont is disgusting so I do not buy anything that needs much washing - use distilled water with vinegar for fruits, esp soft ones. I was in a bar/restaurant on Friday and the water (in town) was undrinkable; I could smell it. Had left water bottle in car and did not want to leave to get it.

The good part was that a very fine musician of my acquaintance, Noah Zacharin, was playing with a friend of his; I was able to sit with two of his neighbours - nice folks. Major social event for me. I ordered nachos with chicken - one of two things on the menu I would tolerate. Had nachos for lunch on Sat and Sunday! Not bad for $40 - food, large tip and tax. This place is 5 minutes from here and, in the 3 hours I was there, I did not see anyone I know.

Got a nice handful of blueberries the other day. Need to feed those guys! Meant to ask Larry when he and Abbie (dog) visited. We were able to sit on the back deck - no rain or mosquitoes!!! I think he said peat moss - all I need is enough energy to fetch some. Home Hardware I think; they will put it in car for me. And I need a sweep for the bottom of the back screen door; a garter snake seems to lie in wait along the bottom edge - catching the aft sun? I prefer not to have it in the house.

Did manage to throw half a dozen butter dish tops and bottoms and trim them. With any luck they may fit each other - or the previous ones that need tops of bottoms that fit! Does the law of something mean that someday I will manage to match all.... ??? I measure! This time I made the bottoms smaller than the tops. The bowl shaped lid pulls in as it dries; the plate does not shrink as much.

Weather has been quite decent and good rain. I can keep the house ok by closing east drapes in the am and west ones in the pm; the aft sun can raise the indoor temp several degrees - nice in the winter!

The new Beaver pond across the road is causing the stream to rise. Steve cannot mow as close to the stream. I am delighted to have the beaver; though I have not seen any, they have been enlarging their pond! And a large brood of wild turkeys, with mom have been enjoying the area. Also, resident woodchuck, who was sitting in one of the raised beds the other day - posing!

There were lots of cherry tomatoes coming along at Dupont - for Robin to pick and enjoy. It does look better with the grass cut. The perennials have enlarged in the front garden and the canna are blooming, and the wonderful Roxanne greets me at the front steps, reminder of friend Tina.

Steve came to cut here again - without invitation! I guess it is easier for him. He also told me he would deal with the new woodpile - move last year's to the front and stack the new behind. He is a good worker, takes care of his tools, organized ... One might say he is hyper-active - And I may be starting to understand his speech impediment!