March 31, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Blossoms.

The cherry trees at the Tidal Basin are at their peak of their beauty. These blossoms always arrive, but almost never at Festival time. The Kenwood cherry trees are just coming into bloom, and the best thing is that I can see them right out of my fourth story apartment. The scene is glorious. I am always so pleased to be here at home at just the right time. Of course, the right time changes every year, so it is hard to plan ahead. The folks who live here are very good natured to put up with all the traffic through the neighborhood. The police post no parking signs on all the major routes, so every evening and all day on the weekend a procession of cars winds their way all around the area. Then there other folks who park a long way away so they can take pictures, so you see the wanderers roaming around. They will soon be gone with the blossoms. So if you want to come and visit, this would be the time.

Why was Gitta on the back deck of of a house wearing only her blouse and pantyhose? She is a very good agent, very experienced, and she was holding her listing open on a Sunday afternoon. The day was beautiful but for what ever reasons, people were not coming to see her listing. She was by herself for a long time and she was bored. She was going out for dinner that evening and did not want to crease her pleated skirt when she sat down, so she took her skirt off and put the skirt on the back of the living room couch. She had the front door locked. She is a smoker, so just stepped out on the deck to smoke, thinking that if anyone comes to the front door she will have time to pull on her skirt and let them in. The next thing she saw was two young men in the kitchen. She peeked in the sliding door, called to the young men and asked them to please give her the skirt on the couch. And they did. When she was properly attired, she showed the young men through the house, and they all had a very good laugh about the whole thing. Gitta of course keeps her clothes on at all times at her open houses!

March 30, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Cornered.

I have just come out of the shower when I see Bill Taylor drive up. The window in the bathroom is large and has no shades or shutters, so I quickly step away from the window. Ken is working on the bird feeders, and calls to Bill to come into the house. Bill walks into the house. Ken walks over to talk. Bill is a long time friend at the farm and he came by to see how Ken was doing. Now I am effectively cornered in the bathroom. Our house on the hill is isolated and the outside walls are windows, as is the master bedroom. Between the bedroom and the main room is a screen porch, with windows on both sides. When you are in the main room you can see right through the screen room into the bedroom. Mostly this is not a problem because we are isolated on the top of the hill, and during daylight hours we are both fully clothed. Until today that is.

I have a habit of laying out my clothes in the guest bedroom. Now here I am, with Ken and Bill talking in the kitchen, totally open to our bedroom, while I am stark naked and my clothes are in the other bedroom. The door is open to the bedroom too. Now folks in the country are quite proper and do not offend, and if Bill finds me still not dressed he will think he came to early to visit Ken. So what to do? I decided that if I kept very close to the wall and closed the door , I could find more clothes in the closet and dress in the closet. And I did. No one was aware of my dilemma. But for a while I was cornered in the bathroom with out my clothes. It reminds me of the time Gitta got caught without her skirt on the deck during an open house. But that is another story.

I read "The Road to Samarcand" by Patrick O'Brian. It is one of his earliest books and is a rollicking book of adventure. He wrote the Master and Commander series, the Aubrey/Maturin novels, a quite remarkable work. We have the series in Nova Scotia and David is working through them while he is there. I wonder how long it will take his to finish? Also we watched the last two discs of Brideshead Revisited. This TV series was shown in 1981, but we only watched it on Netflics. I am certainly glad I did not come of age in the twentys.. The speed with which thighs developed was excrutiatingly slow. But the photography and the acting were supurb. I am current with my magazines too, and have been since Ken had surgery. You see... something good comes of everything.

March 28, 2008. Bethesda, Maryland. Regina.

I received a reseme in the inter-office mail. It was 1988, early in the year and early in my years of a manager. My practice was to interview anyone who wanted to talk to me, on the premise that even if I do not have a job right now, I might down the road. So I called Regina and she came down from New York to talk with me. Now Regina was born and raised in Brooklyn, and she sounded it. But her reason for moving to Maryland caught my attention. Regina and her husband Douglas were both employed in New York. They had one young daughter who was soon ready to go to school. Regina did not want Shatisha going to Brooklyn schools. Their plan was to interview for jobs in the Washington area, and as soon one of them found a job, they would move, and the other one would find a job. I thought it showed a lot of spunt to leave your family in order to protect her daughter's future, and even though I did not have a job I really enjoyed talking to Regina. I liked the spark in her eyes and the fire in her belly. Now I know this is difficult to judge, but that was what I was going on. Three weeks later one of my staff members quit, so of course I called Regina and offered her the job, not because of her skills today but because of my judgement of her ambition.

Since early 1988, Regina has been my right hand man. Now at the beginning her verbal skills were not up to snuff, but she was taken under her wing by Pappy Walsh, an excellent agent who was then teaching the Basic Training in the office. I was in my office, very close to the front desk when Peppy was teaching Regina to answer the phone properly. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to be excused. But Peppy persisted and Regina wanted to learn, so they got the job done. In true New York fashion, if things were not done properly, Regina's response was to hollar, which in Bethesda is not the way to speak. She she learned...kind of. She still can yell at folks she likes a lot, but most of the time she maintains her pleasanr upbeat manner.

She has the wonderful ability to look at a situation and figure out how do it better. She is able to take on new tasks and responsibilities. She is able to conceptualize who the end is what I need, and then figure out the steps to get there. She really has a wonderful brain. She loves it when we are planning big projects. Remember at that time we were with Merrill Lynch Realty on Wisconsin Avenue. First we moved to temporary space on Bethesda Avenue, then we took over our new large office. Prudential bought Merrill and I still recall the day that all the signs arrived just as I was leaving on a trip. I knew that Regina could handle these new Prudential signs. In 1990 we moved to Long and Foster in a tiny office on Garrison Street. We were in this ten desk office, and we were 50 agents, but Regina quickly changed the work room so the agents could function, and we survived and thrived. Then we moved into our new space at Hampden Square after six months in our box office. Soon we expanded and then expanded again. Regine is in her element when we have a huge project in store, thank heavens, because in 1999 we merged with the Metro Office and yet a new building and a new set up.

Today, Regina is responsible for everyting in the office except sales and advertising. And her daughter, who we call T. has a Batchelor of Science with her R.N.certification, and is at Medical School in the six year program, where she works in the dialysis lab in order to fund her tuition. So what a good thing for all, that Regina moved to Washington. Everyone got the benefit.

March 27, 2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland. Shopping.

Yesterday was a first for me. My grandaughter Kate and I went on a shopping expedition. This year for their birthday gift I gave them a shopping trip to buy anything they wanted. I thought they might want clothes or books or games, or even art. Mary Frances, who is eight, had a very difficult time with the concept, and was very anxious to buy the wrong gift and waste my money. I suggested that she choose something and I would get it, but she was still very worried. Then I asked Christina to try to find out what she really wanted but was fearful to say out loud. During a quiet time with her Mother, she finally admitted she really really wanted a Wii. We ordered it and was delivered in two days, much to her great joy. The whole family has enjoyed the game, so she chose wisely.

Kate who is eleven had no difficuly with the idea of shopping, as she needed clothes. She has grown a lot this past year and her summer clothes do not fit, so she was ready to go shopping. We all went to the Tysons Two, Gallaria. Christina and Molly the baby, along with Me and Kate did the shopping. Ken and Mary Frances walked the Mall, all three floors, and checked out the lunch options, while we shopped. At first Kate would put on an object and come out to ask our approval. I marched right into her changing room to explain the system, that when she put a garment on, the first thing to do is liik in the mirror. If you like it, then come out to show your Mother and me. Well, pretty soon she was as opinionated as can be. She was rejecting clothes right and left. Christina and I laughed that we had opened up a monster!! It was fun to see her exert herself right before our eyes. What a revelation. Both Kate and Mary Frances are very well mannered girls and a pleasure to be with. Mary Frances is more prone to speak her mind. Kate will always be polite. Yesterday was a time to really take charge, and she did it. She rejected everything white. Most things were shades of pink, except a lovely dress for church which she piched off the rack herself. It is big blue polka dots with a white background. All filmy and lovely, along with a white sweater.

We shopped for two hours, and by that time she was no longer able to make a decision. Nothing fit and nothing looked good. At the end I made some choices for her, and just snuck them in her bag. I no longer am able to buy her clothesf rom the catalogue. She now loves shopping. And best of all she discovered that she was in charge of her choices. Adn I saw it all, right before my eyes.

Ken and Mary Frances chose our lunch, Chinese, and they found a chocolate store for dessert. Of course we had to finish up the day with a bang. Molly was a perfect baby too. Yesterday morning was a first for me taking Kate shopping. Remember, I hate shopping and only shop every second years with my lady Amy. But I would not have wanted to see Kate take over her role with such relish. This is a good omen for her future.

March 26, 2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland. Shopping.

I had nothing to do with it, but my hats took on a life of their own. On the other hand, I had a part of my tea ritual. Every day since I have been a Manager, around four o'clock, I serve tea to the agents. They like it. I have become the tea manager. From the standpoint of the agent, it is a welcome break from the phone and a bit if a pick-me-up at the end of a day. For a Manager, the tea drill is invaluable. I get to go away from the phone and say hello to my favorite people. Remember, the agents make the house sales where we receive the commission who pay our bills, including my salary. So anything I can do to make the agents easier is worthwhile. As a side effect of this tea service, I have received many many tea objects. I have tea trays, tea aprons, tea scarves, tea plates, tea shirts, tea pictures, tea earrings, tea pins, tea bowls, tea tea towels, all given to me.

My system for serving the tea has changed over the years. Now I serve tea using a most wonderful tea cart, given to me by my co-manager, Carole Maclure. It is one of those gifts you never knew you needed until you received the gift. Now it is invaluable. It also looks very elagent. I make the tea in the kitchen in a coffee pot and I push my cart around the office handing out the tea and buiscuits. Right now I have lots of Girl Guide cookies donated by the agents. Then I take the elevator to the agents on the second floor. In the olden days, I used chine mugs, but now I use styrofoam cups. The system is easy and takes about one hour of my time. We have a good thing going here.

Over the years I have taught many managers about how to run an effecient office. I always speak about the tea routine. To my knowledge, not one manager has implemented this drill. I often am called over the years about all the other systems and suggestions that they have found useful and productive. No on does the tea drill. I ask about it, and the answer is always the same. They just can not bring themselves to serve tea. It is amazing to me.

This is how it started. I was a new manager. My training was education, not managing, so I read lots of books, one of which was 'The Walk Around Management System'. I tried walking around the office, just to see how everyone was getting on, but only thing that happenened was that the agents stopped talking on the phone until I passed them by. Now I was the new manager, who used to be a very hard working agents, and I think they thought they were wasting time. But I really did want to know how they were doing, so I decided to serve the agents tea. It was an instantanious success. And I by serving the agents, in turn were served by the agents, in that I could sense their moods and their anxieties. And of course, many times the questions about strategy are asked in this informal setting, questions that might never be asked if the agent has to come to my office. For me, the Manager, the tea service daily is invaluable. For the agent, it is just a pleasant time in their day.

I started this routine for my own purposes. But no one knows but me....until now!!

March 25, 2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland. Hats.

Some things in my life are the direct result of acts initiated and implemented by me. I was asked to teach Physical Education at a Junior High School because I had a teaching certificate and had taken the summer courses giving me that certification too. In addition I had taken my Red Cross papers to become a water safety teacher. So when I wanted to teach P.E. instead of fourth grade, I had the credentials necessary when the job was available. Other teachers wanted the job, but had ommitted to get the required water safety course. Other aspect in my life are the result of other people in my life. Hats come in that catagory.

Yesterday a couple came by my office, along with their agent, and admired all my hats. They made the comment that I must really like hats. I had to admit that the presence of all these hats had absolutely nothing to do with me. In fact I actually had nothing to do with all my hats, The hat thing got started and then take on a life of it's own. This is how it all started.

First the background. I was an agent in the office and was asked to take on the task of Manager in the same office, as the old manager wanted to go to the Potomac office. This was late September, 1987. I accepted the position and began running the office early October. At our first Christmas party, in the home of Peppy and Bill Walsh, Gary Ditto gave me a hat all wrapped up in a fancy box. The hat was a two peaked baseball cap, with the caption "I am their leader. Which way did they go?" Everyone laughed. I wore the hat the rest of the party. At our next sales meeting, as a way to say thaks to Gary, I wore the hat. An amazing thing happened at that sales meeting. Everyone had a lot more fun, more frivoloty, less anxiouty. Now remember I had been an agent in the same office and very often at our sales meetings an agent would ask me a question, often a very difficult question, which I had no clue how to answer. But wearing that ridiculous hat, it was not possible to ask me hard questions. So they stopped asking hard questions. Now I am not the smartest person in the world but I'm not totally stupid too. I wore that hat at every meeting. Soon Kay Beane gave me a cowboy had with a corn cob. And then a court jester hat given by Lynn Gorsage. All I did was wear those hats in order to keep the fun rolling along and no difficult topics discussed in public. The hats kept coming in, one at a time, for the past twenty plus years. They fill the hall outside my office. They fill my office too. And I wear a different hat every Tuesday. For I while I was able to cajole the staff into wearing a hat , but they won't do it any more.

This is true. This hat fettish took on a life of it's own, without any help from me. All I did was to enjoy the ride.

March 24, 2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland. Blossoms

The trees are bursting out in Washington. The white blossoms of the Bradford pear trees are in bloom now, soon to be followed by the cherry trees. Very often we are away, but not this year. We are going to enjoy them all. Of course for the allergic folks the blossoms are very trying, so there is a lot of sputtering and sneezing and coughing in our home. I think the sight of the trees in bloom is worth every sneeze.

Yesterday we drove home from the farm on the slow road. The interstate highways takes us about fifteen miles from the farm, and we always take the fast roads when we are arriving. But we take the slow route home. The roads we wind along to home are the old old roads, built years ago. Many were wagon trails and horse trails, and of course there are towns all along the way. Actually there are several different ways to get home,and we alternate them, depending on our whim and the traffic. Most people don't like those old roads, so we mostly have the old roads to ourselves. We leave the big highway just jammed with cars, and on the little roads we are alone. It is bliss. Of course it takes us an hour longer coming home those old roads, but it is worth every extra minute. Also on those roads are many many antique stores, and sometimes I can even get Ken to stop and look. Once we purchased an inexpensive hand carved decoy on alternate 40. All the other decoys were four times the cost. I called Ken over and we decided to buy it. After I had competed my purchase, I asked the owner of the store why this decoy was so cheap. He told me that it was from an unknown place, carved by an unknown artist. Except the decoy was carve in Port Moutton, N.S. . a town very close to our town Liverpool. The carvers name was Roy. We told the store owner where the duck was from, but he did not care. The next time we were in Nova Scotia we tracked down the carver, by asking folks in that little town. It turned out he was a retired fisherman, who turned to carving to fill his time. He was in hie 80s, and was still spry. He was very interest in what we paid for the duck. But neither Ken or I could remember.

I am sure it is a definate charcter flaw. I can not remember how much I have paid for an object. Even ten minutes after I bought it I can not recall. I only care when I am looking at something whether I can afford the piece. If the answer is yes, and I want the object, then I buy it and forget all about the price. I am sure this is a character flaw. The trouble is, Ken is as bad as me about prices. Not so long ago we were discussing what we sold our Old Spring Road for in 1987. We both guessed. Then Ken looked up the file and discovered that we were both on hundred thousand off the right price. I was one hundred dollars low and Ken was the same amount high. How can this happen?

The moral of the story is to drive on the back roads, stop at the antique stores and keep good records,

March 23, 2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland Easter Day.

This weekend at the farm was wonderful. Ken walked for over two miles today, up hill and down dale. Gary and Diana Ditto came over to our farm to walk with us, and I think it was a good idea to distract Ken from the walking fatigue. During the walk we saw one deer and two hawks. Their dog Cobey came along for the walk, and in order to avoid the dog going into the pasture with the cattle and the calves we all had to go over the fence. Now the fence is an electric fence, so in order to get over we had to climb the stile., which we did...but with difficulty. I got a sliver which a part remains with me, and Diana came within a hair of touching a hot wire. She was not anxious because she thought it wasn't turned on!!! The man who made the stile had never heard of the term or the function, but we drew him a picture and explained the purpose and he seemed to understand. We were away for the construction. We expected to have a set of stairs, but instead we have a ladder, but it works just fine.

There a pair of wood ducks building a nest close to the pond.. They are the most beautiful ducks. Four mallards are in the pond and a pair of Canada Geese. This will be the fourth time a pair of geese have built a nest by the pond. They are quite a pair, strutting around as if they own the place. They work so hard every year, building the nest, laying the eggs, and incubating them. But something always happens and the goslings do not survive to grow up. The first two years the eggs were broken in the nest, so we figure that a raccoon or black snake ate them. Last year the eggs hatched and the goslings were swimming around the pond, but one day they were gone. And so were the geese. The books say that over 90% of goslings do not survive. We always feel badly for all the work those geese do for their offspring only to have them all die. Maybe this year will be a charm.

We have a pair of red tail hawks screaming at us when we walk in the woods. And we saw many many gold finch at the bird feeders. A flock of about 15 turkeys ate their way across our lower field Friday evening when we arrived. Best of all , we had a new calf this morning. Bryan came up this morning to make sure the right calves are to be registered. His daughter Kelley came with him. They were laughing when they arrived and related this story. On their way up to see us, they stopped to see the new calf. Now the calf was born about five o'clock. The calf was walking slowly away from the mother, followed by a very large white cat, followed by both Canada Geese followed by the Mother cow. All about two feet behind the other. The mother cow put up with this for about 20 feet, when she raced ahead and sent the geese flying. Bryan and Kelley said they wished they had a camera. I was sorry to have missed it.

This was a most unusual Easter Sunday. No sunrise service. No church with the family. No special dinner with the family. I did speak on the phone with both families to wish them Happy Easter. Although unusual, we had a very happy easter weekend. Next year we will try to be better grandparents.

March 21, 2008. Bethesda Maryland. Good Friday.

In the olden days, when I lived in Vancouver, our church held a Good Friday Service. It was a regional service in that all the Salvation Army groups would gather for the one group meeting, held by the Divisional Commander and all the local big wigs. My father was not impressed with big wigs. The order of service was to have several folks supposed to speak for three minutes about the stations of the cross. The problem was that all the speakers took longer and seemed to think they were the main speaker. My Father was fit to be tied. After listening to the first six speakers take fifteen minutes each it was my fathers turn to speak for his three minutes. But what he did was to stand up, go over to the podium, raise his hand in blessing to the congregation, and then pronounce the benediction, effectively ending the service. The leader of the meeting was furious, the future speakers too, but the congregation loved him. My Mother on the other hand was not pleased at all. Dad did not care about the big wigs, he just smiled and said the service went on too long. To my mother he said that he had spiritual indigestion, and he just had to call it quits. How could you not love him.

Now, the question of the day is,how many stations of of the cross is there? I can not remember.

Now we are going to the farm for Easter. Spring comes alive at the farm. We are looking forward to seeing or looking for the geese and ducks.All the calves have been born. The buds are bursting. It will be an exciting weekend at the farm. But there is no computer.

March 20,2008. Chevy Chase, Maryland, Home Again.

Yesterday Ken had another milestone. We returned home from Halifax via Boston to Dulles airport without using a wheelchair. Two weeks ago Ken could have not been able to do that. By the time we were home ,Ken was very weary, but he fixed dinner!!

I always enjoy getting to the office. It is such a pleasure to see the expertise of the agents and staff operating at such a high level of competence. Everything just keeps going on. It is a wonder to behold. I left home at 8:30, the first time I left that early since the surgery, and arrived to find everything ready for a training session on short sales,given by one of our affiliates, Joy Siegel,and organized by Nancy Neff. Once a month Nanci is responsible for an hour class called Ask The Pro. She brings into the office some expert who will help the agents do their job. Her skills in selecting topics and organizing the teacher has been very valuable. This Thursday training is designed for the intermediate agents but of course is open to all agents too. The other thursdays are run by three other agents. Jeannie Ahearn organizes the Continuing Education once a month, so the agents can get all their credit hours right in the office. This is very valuable for the agents and they are appreciative of her efforts. Sharyn Goldman runs a session on another Thursday called Business Builders, dealing with any topic Sharyn thinks will be helpful for the business. The topics are interesting and very valuable too. Then Wendy Banner in the fifth Thursday in those months coordinates an agent panel, on any topic she feels would benefit the agents. Finally once a month the Managers teach a session called Contemporary Issues. Put it all together and you see four top agents organizing sessions for the agents in order to get better. And this done for and by competitors. It is a wonder to behold. I am very grateful for the time and talents of these dedicated agents.

Two other agents, Gretchen Koitz and Sarah Toppins teach or organize the new agents. They meet once a week on Wednesdays. That class is a wheel that keeps on going so when you get back to the beginning topics , you graduate. At the end of this course the goal is to be sure the agent is safe on the street. That class goes a long way to answer the question of why the agents do so well. These two fine agents are sure all the questions can be answered by the agents.

I receive a great deal of satisfaction when returning to the office and see the whole operation running along so smoothly. And I haven't even said a word about the staff!!

March 18, 2008, Western Head, N.S. Music and N.S.

Today I contacted the four groups that will be playing at our anniversary. I could have hired thirty other groups, all well within an easy drive of our home. It takes a while after you move here to discover the number of people who play an instrument and who belong to a group. The folks I spoke to today are full time professional musicians. One is a jazz trio, another plays primarily celtic music, another plays the bagpipes. They are all very good, which of course you can expect when they make their living at music. I read the Halifax paper last week and in the entertainment section I counted 42 places where live groups were performing. Now Halifax is a city of about three hundred thousand if you include the larger surrounding area and this is still winter, so the tourists are not here. Look up the groups in Bethesda who regularly perform. It makes me wonder how these musicians survive and thrive in this area. It is a complecated question I am sure but I think you have to start with the celtic tradition. Those old time Scots had large families who all played and sang. What else could they do all winter.

I already mentioned the number of wood workers living here. Add musicians to that list. The other group in abundance is artists. Almost all our art here was done by local artists. Perhaps the cost of living appeals to the artists and musicians. It is certainly cheaper to live here than either Toronto or Bethesda. What ever the reasons, I am happy to have both the musicians and the artists here and in my life.

Your mind is a complicated piece of business. This morning while showering I wondered what I like the best that did not exist when I was born. While standing under the hot water, I decided that showers were the best. Remember, most of us in 1937 used the bath tub. Then when doing the laundry and loading the wet clothes into the dryer I decided that the dryer must be the best. Certainly hanging clothes on the line at twenty degrees must make for some uncomfortable moments. Then when organizing my gear for the trip back to Chevy Chase I wondered if the transportation might not be at the top of my list. A phone call from my daughter-in-law Suzanne from Lake Tahoe could make me re-think what is the best. It is a connundrum for sure. One thing I know for sure. I will take today. But you knew that already!!

March 17, 2008. Western Head. N.S. Waves.

These waves this evening were incredible. Strong north wind gusting up tp fifty miles per hour along with very high waves resulting in the largest rooster tails blowing off the tops of the waves back toward the sea. It was an amazing sight. We are just at the edge of the storm hitting Newfoundland this evening. Our result is very high winds but clear sunny sky, while they are having three feet of snow. This is after the two feet of snow that fell two days ago. The weather in Newfoundland is fierce, in fact they speak of weather as always bad weather. The Newfoundlander will speak of the coming weather when they really mean the bad weather is coming. We were just there for two weeks, but my observation was that they do not just put up with the weather, they relish the weather. We loved Newfoundland. It is beautiful, and the people have been so isolated for so long , they have interesting ways of talking and acting. But I would not like to live there. Too much weather.

I wonder how long you would live here in this home before you stopped seeing the sea. I know over time the familiar scenery becomes comonplace and soon you never see the look of the place. When we moved to Galveston, Texas, an island on the Gulf coast, we either walked or drove along the boardwalk every day. Most evenings after dinner we walked along the beach. It was a wonder to us to be able to walk in the evening when it was still warm, after moving from Toronto where the evenings are always cool. The second year it was every other night on the board walk and the third year it was once a week. The fourth and fifth years were taken up with the children, and by the time we left Galveston after six years we barely paid the beach any mind at all. But so far I am not tiring of the Atlantic Ocean. Every day the sea is different and beautiful. The way the waves looked today can keep your memery bank full for a full year, I am sure.

March 16, 2008. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Surfing.

They just do not seem to go together, surfing on a day when everything is covered with snow. I awaoke to find a beautiful winter scene in front of me. The sky was bright blue , the sun was shinging brightly, everything was covered with fresh snow, and when I looked out at sea there were four surfers out catching their rides. Soon more surfers joined in so we watched ten young men and women out playing in the ocean. It made me feel cold just watching them. But they were getting pretty good rides. A new storm heading to Newfoundland was out at sea, which meant the waves would be big, even tho we do not have a storm. These surfers watch the weather channel, then send a person to check the waves. If the waves look promising, their cell phones and e mails take over, and soon we get to watch the surfing right in our front yard. It is a surreal scene to see all this snow and the surfing at the same time. I always think of Hawaii and surfing, or California and surfing, but not Western Head and surfing, not in the winter!!

I also saw the eider ducks this morning. This is the first time this spring so I guess they have returned from the south. Soon the males will be in their bright white plumage, but not yet. Too soon to breed. The ravens are so large this year, almost as big as the vultures. I saw a harrier hawk too. We have a pair close to the shore that we see every year. I always wonder if they are the same pair each year. We see very large gulls, great black backed gulls, and herring gulls. No cormorants this year yet. Since they moved in the area we see fewer gulls. Ken thinks they are not connected.

This was another first for Ken, entertaining our friends for lunch. We decided that as he fades in the evening we would serve lunch. It turned out to be a very nice event. Everyone was happy to see us and each other, and at this time of year the old stuff seems stale. Also lunch is self limiting in time so the short time perion was a hit. We will do it again. We served port and sherry before lunch, and chicken and rice soup for the main course, followed by a most wonderful salad, along with breads. All prepared by our local caterers,Altimento. Dessert was pound cake smothered with fresh fruit. Delicious. My role was to set the three tables and then meet and greet, and of course clean up after everyone went home. We liked the idea of the three separate tables rather than one large one. In the garage we have a very old drop leaf table that is the same width and height of our dining table, so when we have large groups we just bring that table into the dining room and place it at the end of the dining table. But that table was covered with stuff. We store lots of outdoor furniture in the garage and it was too difficult th get at it. Instead I used the table that belongs on the deck. With a table cloth and green wooden chairs it looked great. Instead of seating 20 people at one long table, we used one table for 8 and two tables for 6. It is actually easier for conversation. I will do that again.

March 15, 2008. Western Head. Nova Scotia. Storms.

The snow started falling at 5:00 am and has been snowing all day. The wind is blowing too. I am upstairs in our bedroom and from the windows you see a winter wonderland in all directions. And the roar of the wind comes through loud and clear. It is a perfect day to stay at home. This morning early I looked out toward the sea and I saw this figure through the dense snow walking across our lawn. Ken of course, out cheching to see if the weather was fit to go for a walk. The answer was that it was fine to go for a walk, as long as you kept your back to the wind. We stayed indoors all day, just like any good Washingtonian would. There is something about being required to stay at home that is appealing. For a day lots of tasks get completed but after a time, the enforced status would not be pleasant. But I have enjoyed it today. With the wind blowing so hard, the snow blows across the lawn not on the lawn. Not much snow accumulates by the shore. The forecast is for snow all evening and all night. Tomorrow we are having our friends for lunch. I bet you not one of them cancells.

My sister told me last week that they were snowbound with no electricity. Their home is on McCullough Lake, thirty miles south of Owen Sound, Ontario. The highways were closed so no option to get out, so they happily stayed at home, snug as bugs in rugs. They have a wood stove in the living room which heats the house if necessary, and the stove can be used for cooking too. So Carol spent the day cleaning her house, doing an early spring cleaning, while her husband Ken used the snow blower to clear the driveway. Ken is 82. These Canadians are tough!!

Once Ken and I and Andrew and David were sking in France. We were staying in an apartment right on the ski hill, in a lovely little town. The boys were in high school. We awoke one morning to discover two feet of snow had fallen over night. The snow continued to fall so hard you could not see the hill from our house. No skiing today. After several days of skiing all day we were ready for a break. Our refrigerator was full and we had plenty of books. We always travel with a book on games-Hoyles Rules I believe and of course a deck of cards. Neither Ken or I were brought up playing cards, sinful you know, so we had to learn from the books before we could teach the boys. But teach them we did. The boys and I played cards all day. We played lots of kinds of games. We kept playing all day and all night because I kept losing. Every different game we played I lost, time after time. At first we laughed about it but did not think much about it, but as the boys were used to seeing me win a lot of games they liked the idea that I was losing and just kept going. I tried everything. I played aggressively, I played the conservative style, but nothing worked for me. It was not an hour of card games. This was all day and all evening. And I was trying my best. We all agreed that we would keep going until I won a game, which I finally did, at 11pm. We still laugh about that string of bad luck of mine, and remember when we were snowbound in France. The lesson for the boys was that when you hit a strek of bad luck, quit playing. It was a good thing I was not a betting person playing with real money. I would have been stone broke.

March 14, 2008, Western Head, N.S. Curling.

I think a person would get interested in anything if given enough information. Curling is much beloved in Canada, I am told. I grew up in Vancouver, then Toronto and some how or other I never learned to curl. But now I know a lot about it because we have been watching the national championship of curling, being played in Winnipeg. The problem is that the terms are unfamilier to us, and these wonderful announcers assume you know all about the game. In truth I did not know how to keep score, let alone understand a freeze. Every so often Ken needs a break but does not need to lie down, so we turn on the TV and watch a bit of curling. Of course there has not been a basketball game in sight, but curling has been on all day and all night. So we have gotten interested in the game and the players. Actually it has been fun. These players are the best in the world with the winning team going on to the international championship where many times they win. They are so good at curling. They make that stone go to within fractions from where they are aiming. When playing, it is all about the strategy, so the players are wired with transmitters. We can hear the conversations between the four team members. Then we watch to see how it works out. The bad thing is the game moves very slowly. The good thing is you get to discuss their strategy, then see how well they did it. All done in slow time. We still would like the announcers to tell us the terminology. Surely we are not the only two people watching stupid about curling. On the other hand, only old hands are watching I bet.

Once while in the Canary Islands, after a full day of sight-seeing and dining out we watched a bit of television. Sazanne and David and Andrew were with us staying in the timeshare. Darts was the only thing to watch on TV. All channels were showing darts. Of course it was the World Championships of darts, but it was still darts. We five watched and actually got interested in the competition, the strategy, the personalities of the players and the scoring. After that hour of watching darts, whenever we got home, someone turned on the TV to check who was winning. The winner of the tournament and world champoin was from Canada, the first time that had ever happened. And we were there. That was in 1994, and it has not happened again, either a Canadian winner or us getting interested in darts.

I think these players in the champoinship are professionals. How can you make a living curling, is the question I ask myself. All I know is Nova Scotia lost 8 games so their team will not go on to the final games. Alberta, British Columbia,Manatoba and Ontario are playing for the championship round. The games continue tonight. We will watch a bit of it!!

March 13, 2008. Western Head, N.S. Lazy Day.

Not a ripple in the ocean, the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Today it looks like a pond, except bigger. April Williams cuts my hair here. She is a very nice young woman, the daughter of our builder George Perhaps because boat building was for many years the main employment in Nova Scotia, there are many many good carpenters. George Williams family has been in this area for several generations. He was born and raised in Liverpool, played in a rock and roll band during and after high school, married Sheila and then went into the building business. They moved to Calgary, Alberta ,for a few years when their children were young, then returned here almost twenty years ago. George is more interested in doing a good job than making more money. He cares about the job he does and it shows. He did the renovations to the old part of our house, and built the addition. He built my friend Gills house across the bay, and the house of the Mitchells. He built our carriage house too. He has the best qualities. He is very smart but does not know it. He is very humble but proud of his work. He is quiet but will talk with you for half an hour about what he saw in last nights sky. When we first met him he was not cumputer literate. We suggested that as we were not here, the best way to communicate was via e mail. So he bartered a computer for a roof job, bought a digital camera, and soon while away he would sent us daily progress on the job. Ken told George about the Nasa web site. Now he looks it up every night. It has been so much fun to watch his progress and his confidence grow. When our home was complete, Ken and I walked around to prepare a punch list. There were two items not perfect, both done by the subs. That is what I call a good builder.

Yesterday I talked with another carpenter. He is a fine carpenter, not a builder. His workshop is down by Moose Harbor. He can make anything. Using pictures in an old book, he made a replica of an 18th century bed for us made of birch (the same wood as in the picture) complete with all the fancy bits. It is beautiful. He also made us a drop leaf table, made of birdseye maple, again a replica of an antique table. They are both beautiful and live in the carriage house. It is important to be beaufiful there because the living accomodation is an effeciency apartment. Everything in one room. But a room with a view. David is a wonderful carpenter, but he is very very slow. In fairness to him, other builders ask him to make these fancy mouldings for these custom jobs. Also he is a diver, so he gets asked by the power company to repair the dams, or the paper company to do down and repair the docks. With his skilled hands and his expertice as a diver, he gets paid a lot of money. Lots more than he gets paid from carpentry. Yesterday we contracted David to build a coffee table and two end tables, all for the living room here. Since knowing David, I have aquired a very good collection of books about antique furniture in Canada. David is again making us a replica of some old furniture. The book we are working from has all the dementions and the types of wood. So he is excited and so am I. Now the real question is when will they be completed. I will let you know. Oh yes, the furniture will be made of birdseye maple and cherry.

Ken and I walked the main street in Liverpool today. Once every time here I go into every store from one of the street to the other, so today Ken came with me. It is a nice walk, but it is a nice little walk. The main street is not very long. But the stores and galleries are interesting. And April Williams cut my hair today.

March12, 2008, Western Head, Nova Scotia. Friends.

Yesterday it was like being in another country. The ocean was calm, with not a ripple in sight. Just the quiet waves coming and going. Not a breeze in the air. Yesterday morning when I woke up I could not hear a thing. No waves and no wind. At first I could not get my bearings, and wondered where I was. But I sat up, and then I could the sea, so I knew I was in Nova Scotia, still in Nova Scotia, The best part of gettting older is you get smarter, at least I hope so.

Tonight we are going to the home of Diane and Vinny Risotti with our friends Mary and Walt. Diane and Vinny are our friends too and they are interesting people. Vinny was an Obstetrician from Long Island, N.Y. and Diane is an artist. For 20 years they vacationed in Nova Scotia near Sable River. Diane and the children stayed all summer and Vinny came and went. Diane painted all summer, which kept her in business the rest of the year finishing all the unfinished paintings, then selling them in New York. All was well until Vinny decided to retire. Diane announced they were moving to Nova Scotia full time. Vinny was not pleased. Too cold, too far from the family, too isolated, house too small, nothing for him to do. But he agreed kicking and sceaming. He knew it would take a long time to get their immigration papers. Much to his surprise the papers arrived, so after selling their home on Long Island and starting on the addition to their collage, they moved. Another New York friend came too, but just for the summer. The friend and Vinny started to make wine. And soon Vinny had more to do than he had time to do it. They kept adding on to their house, a room at a time. In fact the first time I saw their home I commented that although their home is interesting and beautiful, it was a real estate agents nightmare, with an absolutely horrible traffic flow. But they love it. Now Vinny will never go back to New York, while Diane goes several times a year for her art shows. You just never know the end from the beginning. Vinny is the cook and he is a good one so we are looking forward to seeing them tonight.

We drove out to the cottage today. The lake still has ice, and the water is very high. In fact the ice took out our lower deck by the water. But everything else looks good. We have changed our insurance company, so the agent wanted to take a picture of the cottage and she could not find it, we suggested we go together when we were in town. She was brought up in a home that was in their family since the 18th century. So many homes will transfer title for many many generations with never a sale only by the will. Two years they they found a family will from 1802. Just amazing.

March 11, 2008. Western Head, N.S. More walking.

Summerville beach is a wonderful place to walk, especially when the sun is shining. The beach is about two miles from end to end and the sand is hard and firm, and of course there are no crowds. Best of all today, there was no wind, so it really was a perfect spot to walk. Of course, we walked too far so by the time we were back to the truck Ken had very shaky legs. I drove home. Folks in Liverpool walk a lot, most often for their regular chores. You see people walking with a grogery bag in their hand and you know full well they are three miles or more from the store. The facilities for walking on the streets are not good too so most folks just walk along the side of the road. This can not be a good idea. But they walk everywhere. Sidewalks are only built on the main street evidently. There are several very nice walks in town but most folks just walk on the streets. Not us. We walk on the beach.

Going back to our walking in Washington, D.C., for about ten years, every Sunday morning we went walking. We used, usually in five or six mile stints. We would park the car and walk for about an hour or two, then cross over the street and walk back. It was interesting what you learn when walking that you never see when driving. I mentioned yesterday the streets we walked, but I forgot several. We walked Wisconsin Ave. from Bethesda to Georgetown. Both sides of the River we walked and every trail in every park in the area. Many trail guides were very out of date but we persevered. Then we bought our new farm and stopped walking the streets.

Actually we were going to fix up our old farm, which was a perfect place for us in 1973 but would not work for us in 1996. When we were talking to our friends Alan and Helen Jay about who in the area could fix houses, they suggested we buy the Bill Taylor place. Alan called Bill. we met to see it and we shook hands and did the deal, just like that. Our old farm was not rustic, it was primitive, so we were very fortunate to buy a bigger home in a nicer spot with 115 acres of land. Then one year later, when the adjacent 200 acres was going to be sold, Alan told the seller to come and see us. We were sitting on the porch drinking tea when she drove up, introduced herself and told us that Alan sent her to us, and we shook her hand and sealed the deal. Now, is there any wonder we like Alan Jay. He is one good fellow. But the really interesting thing about life is that the paths are never straight, but if you keep preparing and working hard, the opportunities always come along to enhance your life.

March 10, 2008. Western Head, N.S. Walking.

I like to walk. Ken has been happy to walk with me if we were going somewhere but he has never enjoyed walking just for his health. Until now that is. Now he is being a good soldier and walks with me every day. Today we walked in a lovely little park called Pine Grove, designed and maintained by Bowater Paper Company, the biggest employer in town. The park has three loops, through the woods, around the pond and along the river, a distance of about a mile and a half. The day was cold but with no wind so we did just fine. The park is on the road to Milton on the left, so the next time you are here, look it up and go for a walk. We saw ducks on the river, both black and mallard and lots of Ravens. Also two couples walking their dogs.

Ken and I have walked many places over the years. We have walked almost all the trails and paths in the Washington area and in all the parks. In distances of ten to twelve miles we have walked to Mount Vernon from Great Falls. Also the whole C.and O. Canal from Georgetown to Cumberland and Mass. Ave. and Conn. Ave.from top to bottom. And 21st Street. My brother and sister-in-law joke that when we ask them to go for a walk with us they always ask how far. Just ask Andy Funt. He will not go on a walk with us. For exercise Ken prefers to do real work like gardening or cutting wood or fixing something. The Doctor has told him to walk every day, so now I have company on my walks. I am happy about that.

I did not think this could happen but it did. We went out to the hot tub tonight and it was snowing. Then we looked up from the hot tub and realized the stars were out, at the same time the snow was falling. How can this happen I want to kinow. Another problem in my life is this computer terminal. I can not use quotation marks, or apostrophes or question marks and lots of other signs. But since I went loopey I have been able to use other words other than the ones that will not come to mind. But It is a nuisance. Ken is trying to fix the problem.

March 9, 2008. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Driving.

I wonder how long the wind will blow. That is the question. In the middle of the night, the wind blew so hard we both woke up . Our home is old, a farm house with lots of dormers, built at the turn of the century, around 1910. We added a garage and a master bedroom over the garage, with more dormers. So the house has retained the old charm. But does that wind roar. This morning our trash cans were scattered all over the property. All day yesterday and all day today the wind has been blowing hard. But not as bad as last night. But the temperature has been mild with lots of rain, but no snow. For that I am grateful. Both my brother and sister have piles of snow.

After dinner Ken & I went out to the hot tub. You had to be brave to get out there, with all the wind, but once you were in that hot water you would think you were in heaven. Sooner or later you do have to get out. That is the only problem.

This afternoon we drove along the shore road to Bridgewater. It is a beautiful drive, and we have driven it many times, but today it was especially beautiful. The trees are bare and the grasses are down, so all the houses are visible from the road, so we just ambled along and enjoyed the view. Not much action tho. All the antique stores and cafes are closed for the season. We expected to walk along the boardwalk at Rissers Beach, but the cold air and wind made Ken cough too much so we walked in the Mall in Bridgewater, a very safe and comfortable spot. With the wind blowing all the way, the waves breaking on the rocks made for a spectacular picture.

Our life in Liverpool includes a lot of social life. This afternoon Pam and John Winters invited us for ealy cocktails. They live three houses along the shore from us which we like a lot becauses they live here year round. They both retired 4 years ago from Ontario. Pam is a retired school principal and John still designs and writes about canoes and kayaks. So they are interesting pleasant and competent people. Last evening we had dinner in the home of our friends Betty and Vinol Smith, both local folks, born and raised in this County. We ate wild duck, shot by Vinol. Betty is a good cook. Then Thursday night we had dinner in the home of our friends Mary and Walt MacDonald. They live in a most wonderful home, old with 15 foot ceilings, all beautifully furnished. They are real estate agents and we like them a lot. Their world is a very different world of real estate than is ours, but they thrive and survive. Tonight we are staying home. Ken is doing well but enough is enough.

March 8, 2008 Western Head, N.S. Firsts.

We are experiencing more firsts for Ken. The first time we hung a big picture. The first time we went out to dinner with Mary and Walt MacDonald to Mahone Bay. The first time to fix his weather station here outside. All firsts for Ken since his surgery. Many have suggested it was somewhat dangerous for Ken to travel so soon after surgery, but his head is as important as his body to heal, so the trip to Nova Scotia opens up a whole world of interest and ideas to involve him. We were both told by many people that everyone gets depressed after that type of surgery, perhaps by the length of time on the heart-lung machine, but that has not been a problem for Ken. Perhaps because we have kept him leaping around. He is now taking a rest every afternoon, and before we go out for an excursion, but the rest of the day he alternates reading, walking and working at the computer. We are grateful. Especially me. Ken makes the tea or coffee every morning and brings me a cup up to the bedroom!!

The Beaver is a very interesting magazine, a history magazine about Canada. In years past the Beaver was an internal paper of the Hudson Bay Company. When the Bay folded , so did the Beaver; but the National History Society took it on and now is a fine little journal, published ten times a year, with special editions published from time to time. Right now I am reading the special edition of Quebec at 400 years. For Maryland folks 400 years is not so unusual, but for Texans and the whole of Western Canada and the U.S.150 years is about as old as things go, so Quebec at 400 years is something to consider. It is on the web at TheBeaver.ca.

Two small publications about privateers. Bold Privateers. Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canadas Atlantic Coast.by Roger Marsters.Published by Formac Publishing Company Company Limited. Halifax. And The Atlantic Privateers, by John Leefe, published by Mortons Printing and Publishing. Queens County, Nova Scotia.This latter little book gives you privateering in a nutshell, written by the present Mayor of Queens County.

One of the great benefits of a new place is meeting new people. I have always thought that the best part of the real estate business is getting to know our clients and agents. Folks we would never have gotten to know if we. were not in the business
of helping them buy or sell a house. The same is true of a new place. We bought a home in Western Head, Nova Scotia, and it is true but simplistic to say that our lives have been enriched by our association with the friends we have met. One of them is John Leefe. He is an historian by training. After teaching High School for a few years he served in the provincial legeslislation for many year., he retired, but was asked to run as mayor of Queens County

March 8, 2008. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Firsts.

March 7, 2008. Western Head, Nova Scotia.

In Nova Scotia we were told, if you do not like the weather, just wait a bit, and it will change. I have found the same to be true of the sea. We arrived at our home on Tuesday at six oclock. The sea was angry. Big waves, boiling sea, huge wind, pouring down rain coming right in your face. We came in, and after watching for a few moments decided that no trip to the hot tub tonight. It was a wonderful night to stay indoors and watch the scenery from the wamth of our home. The next day the wind had shifted to the north and we awoke to clear skies and large waves crashing into our side of the bay. I saw an amazing sight. The sun was very low in the early morn, the waves were big, the wind was strong, the roostertails were spraying off the tops of the waves. And with every wave I could see a rainbow in each wave. It was a beautiful sight. The whole day the waves were big so the surfers were out in force. This morning the sea was calm. No big waves. Just all calm and bright.

Not many birds back from the south here. I have seen a few seagulls and eider ducks. And the fish crows who stay all winter. When walking yesterday Ken and I saw very large animal droppings down by the shore. Either moose or bear maybe, but that would be unusual for sure. We often see fox and deer and of course a lot of shore birds. But it would be wonderful to have our own resident moose!!

A Privateer was a person who was instructed and authorized to seize enemy ships and bring that ship to port. The cargo was then auctioned off, with the payment divided between the ship and the government. Of course this was in the 18th and 19th Centuries when Spain, France and Britain were always seeming to be in a state of war. The ship Captain was given a letter of marque which gave him the right to seize enemy shipping. The trick was, you had to know who was at war. Communications in those times were not so quick, so many times you as a captain would head out to sea to steal someones cargo, only to find the treaty was signed and the countries are no linger at war. Which means you are now a pirate. They hang pirates but not privateers. Liverpool was known as the home of the privateers. In those times Liverpool was a rich little town. But not today. Now it is a charming little town with very pleasant welcoming people. And we like it.

March4, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. On the road again.

Once again we are in search of clean air.  Tomorrow we go to Nova Scotia to our home by the shore, where the sea roars and the wind blows but where moist clean air fills your lungs.  This is the time of the year when the north wind whips off the crest of the waves into a rooster tail.  It's great sport to watch the sea from the warmth of the house.  I love to see the sea.  Look us up on the map.  Liverpool is the town, Western Head is our home by the sea.  It is an old town, very important in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, perhaps into the nineteenth century.  Then the twentieth century left it behind.  We're 100 miles south of Halifax.  Liverpool is a charming little town and we love it and the people.  But I would never live there full time.  Way too cold in the winter.  We had to buy extra heavy terry robes with hoods in order to get to the hot tub.  And then we put a glass shelter around two sides of the hot tub.  It requires perseverance to hot tub in Nova Scotia.

Actually the winters are not actually so cold.  The temperature seldom goes below freezing.  But when the wind blows hard which it does a lot, it seems a lot colder.  But we have not been there since Thanksgiving so Ken is anxious to go and look and see and smell.  So we are going tomorrow and will be there two weeks.  I bet you don't know what a Privateer was?  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Ken had an appointment with the heart surgeon today.  He went without me, because he said he did not want to have me asking any questions about his future activities.  Now only Ken knows what he is supposed to do.  This a good thing, I think.  He has also been dismissed from the care of the surgeon.  This is good too.  Two weeks in clean moist air will do him a world of good.  It certainly will lift his spirits.  Now Ken drives and walks twice a day.  He is becoming a human.  When he can drink we'll have a party!!

March 3, 2008. The Other shoe.

I spoke of my family that stressed counting our blessings and never complaining.  Along with  that blessing comes a lack of  evaluation and introspection.  I don't know what other families do in their homes, but when I was growing up there was no discussion about how to lead ones life.  The way was set in stone, along the path laid out and we went along that path cheerfully.  I was totally unschooled about color sense and home decoration also, as we always lived in homes provided for and furnished by the Salvation Army.  I am not much interested in shopping or decorating homes, and I am sure this comes from never paying attention to either.  I am lost without my friend Gloria.  It was all those darn blue uniforms and those ugly houses I lived in.

I also only pay attention to money in order to do something.  I like to be building something or paying for my children's education or taking a trip.  Then I get interested in making money.  I love to see the agents make their money and then build their own home with the money they earned as agents.  It's fun to be a part of their success.  But I am sure my attitude to money would drive a financial planner crazy. 

So with one shoe that drops I uncritically enjoy my life.  With the other shoe that drops I lack all kinds of skills including assessing issues with a critical eye, evaluating options and color sense.  I had to learn those skills as an adult and for many of them I am still a dolt.  

March 2, 2008. Spring at the Farm.

It may not feel like Spring, but the land knows it is and the birds know it is and the cows know too.  The farm is absolutely bursting with life.  Many birds arrived this weekend.  We saw many many bluebirds checking out the nesting boxes, the males already in their bright plumage.  My good friend Mary has never seen a bluebird except in a picture and we saw at least 25 this weekend.  Are we ever lucky! And some robins appeared too and the phoebes, as well as the chipping sparrows.  The ice on the pond is beginning to melt, which is a good thing because soon the ducks and  geese need the water.  The creek stays open all winter so water is still plentiful.  The red tail hawk nest in the woods, but I did not hear him this weekend. Whenever we hike in his woods he screams at us.  But we do it anyway.

This weekend we had two new calves, one early Saturday morning and one today at noon.  Kate and Mary Frances saw the calf just after being born while he was standing up for the first time.  They were very excited but did comment that birth is a bit gruesome, which it is.  The side of the hills are full of little black calves.  Our farmer friends are thrilled and so are we.  We bought a bull for our farm last year and bless his heart, that bull knows how to be a bull.  Bryan who manages the herd has told us all about the risks of farming.  He choose the bull at auction with us along to cheer and pay the bill, but he said even tho you do your homework, some bulls just don't end up with 35 calves.  But we do.

Andrew and the girls took the gator (the small tractor that caused Ken's accident) to clean out all the bluebird  nesting boxes today.  Ken usually does all these chores right after Christmas, but he was otherwise detained, so today the nesting boxes are all ready for the season and a good thing too.  The birds are checking them out.  Andrew and the girls were at the farthest part of the farm  when one of the tires went flat.  They walked back to report.  This is what happens in the country.  Ken can't  work with his arms.  Andrew is not mechanically gifted . Ruth is useless.  So Andrew called Helen Jay who went to get Bryan who came to the rescue along with Ronnie, a good friend.  They were all cutting wood along with Alan and two other friends.  Bryan comes over, gets the tire, takes  it to another friend to put in a plug.  Then they all come back to the farm to put the tire back on the gator when Andrew drives the gator back to the shed.  This all took about an hour.  Of course no one will allow you to transfer any money.  And folks wonder why we like the country!!  Bryan is 2 years older than Andrew, but they grew up together, because we have had a farm up there since 1973.  Bryan calls Andrew 'City', which is about the worst thing Bryan could think to call Andrew.  But they are good friends.  But Bryan has a lot of Andrew stories, which he loves to tell.  I think this is another one.