I bet they were thrilled, Dorothy, to have such a windfall, and when they have friends or family visit and remark on the furniture, it will become a story about a great welcome and friendship extended to them in their new home.

An eclectic dinner tonight - I had a few okra ready to eat and I took a piece of salmon out of the freezer to bake. The okra was rolled in flour and seasoned cornmeal, then fried in shallow oil. Not the healthiest vegetable, but during the season fried okra is a favorite delicacy. I picked a few this evening as I did some work in the garden - I fear the sweet potatoes have once again attracted mice or rats; I cut out a bunch of the vines this evening near the okra, poblano peppers, and eggplant, then spritzed some garlic and hot pepper "tea" around the bed. I have a Vietnamese neighbor who said sweet potato leaves are a popular vegetable, but for now I'm cutting and removing, not preparing to eat them.

Today was rainy and cooler, I think fall is finally arriving. With some weight loss and the cooler weather I expect soon the moment when it's a clear, crisp fall day and I have tons of energy - something always missing during the hot Texas summers. Every year I think I've acclimated, and every fall I realize I never did. The house is incredibly improved, clutter-wise, from a few years ago when these threads started. This process is slow because I generally sell (if I can) or donate the surplus as I identfy it. And sometimes I find great things that I forgot about and now want to keep and put on display.

Every so often I offer a "shout out" to the lurkers; the mudcat logged-on only policy in the BS section means fewer responses, but I know Donuel has been clearing out, as have PattyClink, and MAG. Are any of you reading along, and how is it going? And LilyFestre, BatGoddess, and others, what's up these days at hour houses?