Montreal:

The chaos of my life - in brief: Kiln not right; moved second kiln up to shed; woke up next am with excruciating pain in back - at waist level; texted neighbour Sue who came with good cheer, a salve, and an anti-inflammation tea - marvellous! A do-nothing day - pain was ok if I stayed in bed in one position! I used a lot of comfrey poultices -However, by Sunday the immediate area itched; too much comfrey is possible! It was almost totally better by then. I continue to sip the tea; I find it helpful and comforting: ginger (chopped), cayenne 1/2t, turmeric 1/2t and 1/2 lemon to qt hot water; more spices to taste.

Finally back to kiln on Friday: The kiln overfired; inattention on my part to a warning signal. Packed the car with salvageable and drove to mill. Four firings and all is well. Rested, read, glazed, rested, fired, and met Geri at resto.   

Tuesday: drove to Montreal with pots. R had "made the house somewhat civilized" but did not vaccuum???? He, and others, are BUSY redoing roof on parental home; major job including a monster vaccuum to take out all old insulation and raccoon poop. On fourth day of that and more than a week so far. Coming home at 9 pm or later. Took the roof off sunroom and put a leaky tarp over it, rained hard, ceiling fell... Some people realize that half baked measures... Not my circus!

I went off to Canadian Tire on Weds and bought a shop vac and did the second floor, staircase, and LR - YES- with mask on. Sat downstairs reading; kept mask on and air cleaner on high waiting for dust to settle.

Thurs: did the rest of downstairs. Took allergy pill. Shopped for food and special stuff for family due to arrive today: Son, DIL, GD and partner and GGD!

Fri am: up early, set out food, thinking I would fetch Ali et al at 10am but decided to go fetch son and DIL at 8+am as I was early enough and awake enough and the traffic report said it would take 22 minutes; it lied but I told them I was coming about the same time I got message that Ali could not!

Driving; no texting but phoned son (blue tooth) to tell him I was on the way. Picked them up w/out problem and brought them "home"; stopped at convenience store for coffee! (no coffee at our house) They did not want food - "too early" They had taken a "red eye".

Ali did not realize she needed a passport for 4 month old Zayda. We were disconsolate as this was a well planned trip so son could visit me, pick up pottery AND get to see Zayda, et al.

Ah! They can come by car with only a birth certificate - Go figure! So they have rented a car and are en route. Troy and Julie are now resting at their airbnb, walking distance to the famous Atwater Market. I have put away uneaten food and hope it will get eaten before stale. So I sit here, having noticed uncaught cobwebs--oh well. The stress of the last couple weeks... Troy and Julie declared the pottery beautiful. Now I can curl up in a ball and be relieved!!! close to tears of relief!

And the plane tickets - Ouch! non-refundable.

Have not seen Troy and J since fall of 2010; They look good. They are wonderful! They saw Taun in NY, in March before he moved into his condo but he was already happy, just from having made the decision to buy it! Both my sons are happy! I am joyous.

R did his laundry and finally brought it home so I folded put it away. Nothing "needs" to be done until T&J phone for a ride, or not.

Maggie's dogs! Such creatures! The friend on Whidbey who took my Aussie posted pics recently of him at the end of life, with one of her dog pack snuggled up to him - "right to the end". "just a dog"???

"Until mankind can extend the circle of his compassion to include all living things, he will never, himself, know peace” -Albert Schweitzer

Charmion: maybe you could check the online Richter's Herb Farm catalog for your mystery herb. If it has a square stem, it is a mint of some sort; if not, not.

Need to do something about the lack of coffee; maybe Julie can help.

Doing pretty well with that special BF; managing to eat mostly veggies and protein. Might eat a muffin... No great desire to do so.