November 30, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Moving.

It is a big job, moving from one place to another. Every real estate agent should move every ten years, just to understand how it feels so can empathize with their clients. I am keeping my mind in check to treat the whole thing as a big lark, except when I wake up in the middle of the night, figuratively walking through the apartment, trying to figure out what on earth I will do with all these objects. Next I open every closet, trying to donate or save each object, of course all in my mind. In the middle of the night it can not be done, but in the full light of the daytime it is a piece of cake.

This afternoon when we arrived from the farm, I picked up all the books piled up around the apartment. I shelved sixty books in the library. No wonder the apartment looked crowded. I found piles of books beside every chair and on every table. Ken tends to keep several books on the go at any time so no wonder we have books just sitting around. My habit is to keep a pile of books on my bed side table, waiting to be read. And I stash partly read books on the coffee table. No more. All books are in the library and I must say, the place looks horrible with everything in the right place. I certainly will never be able to locate any specific book. I am preparing for the future and I am determined to enjoy it.

November 29, 2010. Artemas, Pa. The Farm.

As usual, arriving at the farm always pleases me. Yesterday was no exception. We arrived after a second eight hour day long drive. It is probably not a good idea being in the car for eight hours for two days running, but we wanted to see if being on the road only one night was possible, and it is. We started driving at seven and arrived at three. We prefer to drive only one long day and part of two days but now we know it can be done.

The farm looks lovely. The fields are green and the cattle look fat. Everyone in the Jay family is healthy. Alan has a cheque for us from cutting more wood. Tammy made progress on our furniture. The double bed is gone and the couches and chairs downstairs are gone too so we are ready to change the lower level into a use able space. Gloria will fix it while we are gone. God willing. I am prowling around the house, making the spaces for when we live here. I have moved my clothes upstairs into the closet and re-organized the closet in our bedroom, to make room for Ken's clothes. I gave all the blue willow dishes to Tammy from the farm house and I will bring our kitchen dishes given to me by Miss. Tomlinson for use by us in the hill house and take the hill house dishes to the farm house. You can see I am getting the wheels in motion to move us up to the farm.

Ken has changed our change of address to many organizations, even though we do not actually move until March. We will be in Mexico and Texas for all of December, January and February so we want to be ready in March. Our apartment will go on sale in February but we will move whether it is sold or not. We are ready for the next mountain to climb.

November 28, 2010. Artemas, Pa. Anticipation.

Katie, Christina's sister-in-law who lives in Jackson and who I like very much, asked me why I did not seem to be excited about being retired. I gave her two reasons.

1. I have been partially retired for the past three years so I have learned how to be retired. Now I am just doing it all the time, so it wasn't really anything to be excited about.

2. My life long habit is to stay steady. I never get either excited or depressed for the simple reason that no event is purely wonderful or horribly disastrous. Much about my retirement pleases me very much. Ken and I can stay as long as possible in warm air which we hope will help his health. I will be able to spend more time with the grandchildren and be a bigger part of their lives. My friend Bev. and I hope to see each other every year, now that I am retired. For these reasons and more, I am pleased to be retired. But like every other event in life, it is not purely delightful. I had hoped to keep the working platform stable for the agents for the next ten years. We only made three so I feel badly for them. Also, I enjoyed my work. I have been working and making money since I was thirteen, so not doing that will be an adjustment, so retirement for me is not all gravy.

This steadiness has served me well in my life. Now I enter my retirement years with the hope that I have the skills necessary for a successful life. I am pleased and confident.

November 27, 2010. Morristown, TN. Travelling.

We are on the road again, heading north. For the last several times we have driven through cities where football games were being held. It is always astonishing to us to see the traffic close to the stadiums. Fortunately we did not get caught up by any major backups. These southern states really do support their college teams.

Our stay in Jackson was splendid. We got to know more people and we organized our doctors. Jackson will become our medical center. For our last evening in Jackson , Andrew and Christina, Kate, Mary Frances and Molly along with Ken and I dined at the Yacht Club. The food was good and the service quick so we were pleased. Dessert was at our condo in order to send all our extra food back with them. Everyone enjoyed the evening.

The weather today was perfect for driving. The only problem was the amount of traffic , which was heavy. We are half way home. First we must stop at the farm, to leave the four coolers and to pick up Ken's Kindle and I Pad which we forgot. We drove eight hours today which is about our max. Tomorrow also will be clear and cool but I bet the traffic will be even heavier. The drive is very pretty and worth the trip. We are almost ready to leave Tennessee.

November 26, 2010. Jackson, MS. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the most rewarding of holidays. Everyone in the community is celebrating. Actually everyone is The United States is celebrating. And always the food is the same, so there is no need to vary the menu or consult the cook books, even for the side dishes. In each family, it is always the same., which makes life easy. And families gather together, always, where these are the traditional activities: The Christmas parade in the morning followed by the dog show followed by football games. Family members young and old drift by to sit and watch the TV. It is so much easier than it is at Christmas.. Both children and adults are rewarded with good food and no pressure. Just pure relaxation and pleasure.

Yesterday was the first Thanksgiving celebration at Andrew’ and Christina’s new home so it was a special event. All the Creath family living in Jackson came for dinner along with all the Dickies too. The children played, in fact as the adults sat in the comfortable chairs and talked after dinner, the three big girls put on a fashion show, pretending to be famous singing artists., wearing clothes they would never be allowed on the street. It was clever and funny and unexpected for these three girls, 13, 10 and 10.

The other part making for an easy holiday is that everyone traditionally brings part of the meat. I chatted with Sara Lou while she was on the way to her daughter for Thanksgiving dinner and she was bringing the same things that she always brings, making her life easy. Now for our dinner, Linda brought rolls and a salad, Katie and Nelson brought dessert, a famous Mississippi butterscotch cake and asparagas, also an appetizer while we brought wine. Andrew had smoked the turkey , which was delicious and he made the gravy while Christina fixed cheesy potatoes and organized the whole meal. It was a feast fit for a king.

Andrew said it best. “I love Thanksgiving, especially when everything is complete and all we must do is enjoy each other. I live the hubbub and the children coming and going. I love the whole holiday scene.”

Birthday #3

November 25, 2010. Jackson, Ms. 3 yr.old Molly.

It was a perfect birthday for Molly. She loved every minute, until she realized it was time to go to bed, then her bottom lip went out and she exclaimed "but I don't want to leave my purple birthday!" And the tears fell. Until then, she was in a state of ecstasy.

Several months ago, Molly decided that she was going to have a purple birthday. Every time her birthday was discussed, more purple appeared in her plans. It was to have purple balloons, purple cake, purple dress. No one knows where this idea came from, but she just knew, that her third birthday was to be a purple birthday. Of course, everyone fell in line, and everything for her birthday came up purple. She was thrilled but in truth, she always knew it would happen.

At her party Molly was charming and excited and enthusiastic, everything you want to see in a three year old birthday. She opened her gifts carefully and played with every gift. The only guests at her party were relatives. Her sisters and cousin wore purple. Her flowers, delivered just as she woke up from her nap, were purple, including a batch of purple balloons. The first gift was a pink leotard with a tutu which she put on and has worn ever since. Everything for her birthday was perfect, according to Molly. Now she is three.

November 24, 2010. Jackson, Pa. The Smoker.

I have tasted the smoked meat which is delicious and I had been told the dimensions but it took until I saw it my self that I realized how big it was. It is huge, all made by John and Andrew. I had been given blow by blow descriptions of the progress as they were busily building it but I still was surprised by the size. Andrew mentioned casually that a smoker would be great for the venison. John got interested as did Andrew, so they both read everything in sight about how to build a smoker. John sketched out a plan and they started in to work.

John was brought up on a farm so he is a handy fellow. Actually, he can do everything. Andrew can talk about everything and he is a good helper if you tell him what to do, so with John's ability to figure things out and Andrew's willingness to help, together they built this enormous smoker. Inside the smoker today were three turkeys, one large ham and the meat of two deer. And it was not full.

I have eaten the meat this week but today, with my own eyes, I saw the smoker in action. It is the most impressive piece of equipment especially when you realize they spent not a dime on the equipment. The bricks came from the backyard, the fire box was donated by John's father who is still a farmer, the door and wheel for the door was pulled off an old tractor from the Family farm in Madison. If you look carefully at the bricks, you can see that the quality of the brick laying gets better as you go up to the top. In other words, they got better bit by bit.

It was a good idea and now has become a most valuable adjunct to the kitchen. Greta-Barbour, John's wife, just wishes it had not been built right outside her kitchen window!!

The Smoker

November 23, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Job Site.

Eleanor and Jim are building a new home. Ken and I have been instrumental in moving the project along, and for that they are grateful. This afternoon we went out to look at the progress. I love constructions sites and the whole process of building a home, so this is just up my alley. Eleanor and Jim are a bit discouraged because the whole permitting process has been lengthy and the foundations ran into problems, which of course costs more money. But now progress will be much quicker I feel sure.

The location for the home is perfect, right at the top of a hill looking out in all directions. The home is being built on the farm owned by Eleanor's family so even though they see no other homes, their relatives live within walking distance. They have designed a lovely large home, and will be built of a fancy type of stone. Eleanor is an artist so the home is designed with a studio for Eleanor and a workshop for Jim all within the confines of the home. Porches front and back on both level will mean outside sitting will always catch the breeze. It is a home for living, for their own four children and relatives, 16 cousins in all.

Jim and Eleanor both are worried with the lack of progress. I tried to get to have them think about joy in the process, always looking long term. I will enjoy watching the progress and await sitting drinking mint juleps on the back porch.

Job Site A

Job Site

November 22, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Linda.

Linda is Christina's mother. We are friends. She and I have led our lives totally in opposite ways in so many ways, yet we are friends. It is quite amazing to me. Tonight we have been invited to Linda's house for dinner. She lives in a lovely large home here in Jackson just over a mile from Christina and Andrew's home. She purchased it when she moved to Jackson from Houston on the recommendation of her family. As her son and daughter- in- law lived here she selected Jackson for her new home. A bout of vertigo in Houston laid her low and after she recovered, the family encouraged her to live close to one family member and she chose Jackson. Now Andrew and Christina live here too. Now she just must visit Boston to visit her other son.

Linda is everything I am not as a grandmother. She is a huge help to Christina with picking the girls up from activities and she takes one girl at a time over to bake with her. Before Kate was old enough to stay with Molly she babysat for Molly herself at her own home. She does everything I am not.

Linda has not worked since she became engaged. Her social skills are top drawer and she can talk to anyone. Now I have worked since I was thirteen. I am now retired so Linda and I are the same. I think it is fascinating that we have arrived at the same place via very different paths. And we are still friends.

November 21, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Brunch.

I love brunch. No rush, no fuss, just really good food, when eaten at the Yacht Club right next to our condo. Andrew, Christina, Mary Frances and Molly met us right after church, at 11:15. They attended early church. We slept in. Kate was at a church retreat so she could not join us. A buffet is the most conducive type of meal for children. The food does not require any waiting to arrive, the variety is unlimited and the desserts are delicious. This buffet at the club is big enough to be interesting but not so large as to be intimidating, a perfect combination.

It was a wonderful meal. We left the club at 12:45 and Molly ate the whole time, consuming a huge amount of food. She must be ready for a growth spurt. Mary Frances eats only when she is hungry, so today, after eating breakfast food, went back to the buffet table for mashed potato. Next was a piece of strawberry shortcake, which she ate only one half, before giving it to Molly. It is a great eating pattern, only eating when hungry. It never crossed my mind!!

The weather was perfect. The pansies and azaleas are still in bloom and the sail boat race gave us something to watch, so all in all, eating brunch turned out to be a good idea.

Jackson YC for Brunch

The MS Condo and Neighbor

November 20, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Parks.

The weather was perfect, 65 degrees and sunny. After nap time, Molly, Mary Frances, Ken, Christina and I went to a park, a very fancy park on the grounds of the Museum, right beside the Pearl River. The three dollar entrance fee was worth every penny because the park, which is large, has the most imaginative equipment I have ever seen. Along with the multitude of traditional equipment, this park has everything to delight a three year old and a ten year old. Mary Frances, after climbing everything in sight, played in the large sand area along with two other little boys while Molly made a circuit going from one favorite to the next, finally stopping to swing for a few minutes. Then she wants to start the whole thing over again. And again.

Ken and I watched Molly play for a bit, then we went for a walk around the grounds. You really can not beat this weather for November. The park closes at five so at four forty five we enticed Molly to sit at a bench and eat a sucker, then followed a red tailed hawk down the road. That was an added bonus, watching the hawk scream at us and stay in the tree looking at us before flying off. While still discussing the hawk, we climbed into the car heading for home. Only then did Molly asked to return to the park. Clever adults.

November 19, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Dinner Party.

Eight adults and nine adults makes for a good party, especially when the children play outdoors the whole time, including dinner on the patio. Then after dessert the children watched a movie in the TV room and were quiet as a mouse. At dinner, the adults ate in the dining room, just like real people. It was a very pleasant dinner indeed.

Jim and Eleanor and their four children attended along with the builder of their new home and his wife and two children who are staying in a trailer out by the construction site while the building is underway. It was a lively interesting group.

Andrew smoked the turkey in the huge smoker that John and he built in John's yard. The interior dimensions of the smoker is 48 by 48 by 60 so it holds a whole bunch of meat. The turkey was tender and tasty which along with sweet potatoes made for an excellent meal. Christina's chocolate cake for dessert.

I am the beneficiary of my children's friends both here and in San Antonio. I enjoy their friends and they are kind to introduce us to them. They are a great blessing to my life and I appreciate their kindnesses and their thoughtfulness. I feel that I am a lucky lady.

November 18, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Ballet.

Today was ballet class. First Mary Frances at four, then Kate at five-fifteen. Molly stayed home with me for the first trip and she showed me all her dance steps, all taught by Kate. The living room is without furniture so Molly calls the empty room her dance studio. Fortunately there is a mirror in the room. That is her favorite, dancing in front of the mirror, especially when your grandmother is watching. I drove the secon trip and Molly atayed back with Ken and Andrew. She was not so pleased with that but I wanted to see Mary Frances in action. There is a window I could spy out and watch the action. Mary Frances is a full head taller than any other tall girl but she does not seem to mind. A good thing too.

The ballet school is impressive. Many classes being taught at the same time and many more girls waiting in the halls ready for the next group, all looking like proper ballerinas. Mothers sitting waiting. This town is a dancing town. Certainly the girls are enthusiastic and keen on dancing. Molly can't wait until she is old enough to begin her class. I must say, the girls look beautiful with their hair in buns and all so straight and thin. Would that I had studied ballet as a child!!

That's Molly

November 17, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Home.

Not in my wildest dreams had it occurred to me to live in Mississippi, but here we are, with a small condo overlooking the lake, busily contacting doctors to establish our medical checkups. And we do seem to need a lot of doctors. In the spring we will sell the apartment in Chevy Chase, so we decided to find a whole bunch of new doctors somewhere else in a more convenient spot. We chose Jackson. Ms. There is a medical school here which has excellent facilities. And the city is small so easy to get to the doctors. The ranch and the lake house, also the farm are all a forty minute drive from a doctors office so we decided to make our life easy and have our regular check-ups in Mississippi.

So far we are doing well, although they want us to book an appointment in the new year right now. Unfortunately we know when we will not be in Mississippi but we do not know when we will be here. And I forgot two types of doctors, a gynecologist and an oncologist, but perhaps I won't need either. It does seem silly that both the breast surgeon and the oncologist have wanted to see me every year. Two years ago I talked them into seeing me every other year, except I have been so busy I have not seen the breast surgeon this year. Naughty me.

Now I have two doctors to go, then we will send our records on to them and have our medical life be here in Jackson, Ms. What an astonishing thing, but very convenient!!

November 16, 2010. Jackson, Ms. Molly.

A year ago Molly had a vocabulary of about twenty words. Now that she is going to be three years old in a week, she talks up a storm. She never stops talking. It is a wonder to behold, that a child can learn so many words in such a short time, and talk all the time, while a year ago they she was almost mute. She is charming and enthusiastic and energetic and she never stops. Both Kate and Mary Frances take ballet classes and she is anxious to attend her own class too. But she is too young. In lieu of class, she wears all the paraphernalia of the dance and wears her ballet slippers and her tutu all the time. It is only for church that she will leave the house not dressed as a ballerina. The rest of the time she wants to look the part.

On the days when Kate and Mary Frances have their class, Molly asks Christina to put her hair up in a bun and wear her leotard and slippers. When she arrives at the studio she tells the other children that her class is not being held today, which would be true. For now she is in love with ballet. Now she is a very sturdy child so she does not fit the profile of a ballerina but no one tells her of course. For now she is in love with her life and her sisters and her family. You can't beat having a three year old around!!

November 15, 2010. Bessemer, Al. Ezell's Catfish Cabin.

This is why we travel. After eight hours driving in the fog and rain, we dined at Ezell's Catfish Cabin, just down the road from our hotel. The place pleases me. Within minutes of being seated at a booth, a waitress brought us a basket of fresh hot hush puppies along with a bowl of coleslaw for each of us. Nice gesture. Then we read the menu and discovered they serve food from Louisiana although the family came from west Alabama. Their fishing camp on the Tombiggbee River had been serving meals since before the Civil War but it was the 1950's that started the family to move and open restaurants. I'm glad they did. We found them by driving around, and tonight we hit the jackpot. The gumbo was tasty but not too hot. Delicious food. Well worth the drive!!

Driving in the fog is difficult especially when driving through mountains but this morning Ken took it in stride. He drove through fog and rain for his two hours, then when my turn arrived, the fog lifted and the rain stopped for my two hours. The same occurred all day, rain for Ken, clear for me. Even though we were only three hours from Jackson, when we came upon an accident on the highway we called it quits, found a hotel and opened a bottle of wine then went out to dinner. Tomorrow we will arrive for lunch at Andrew and Christina's home to see Kate and Mary Frances and Molly. We are excited to see them.

November 14, 2010. Princeton, W.V. Travelling.

By eleven 0'clock this morning the truck was packed with frozen meat and books. There seemed no reason to not get on the road so we did, driving west on 68 then south on 77, finally a new road to us, #19. Eventually we will pick up 81 in southern Virginia and then it is a straight shot south. During the afternoon it had rained so we decided to stop for the night in Princeton, a busy town in a valley. Almost all day we drove through valleys and around hills, also with more people than we expected. Interesting and beautiful.

Yesterday we gave away an ugly orange chair, and a set a of coach, love seat and chair that once was in the terrace room on Franklin Street. The gentlemen were coming this morning to get the two tables and perhaps take the old coach and chair that once belonged to Andrew's condo. But we left before they arrived. Now Tammy will let them in to get the stuff. I was pleased. Now we are ready to set up the lower level as a TV and an office area. Yesterday we moved the workshop tools and supplies down to the basement under the master bedroom. It was a big job and finally we ran out of energy, so we called our neighbor, Gary, to come and help, which he did. Country people help each other. When we went to pay him, he first refused to take any money because he said that he was just helping us out. I explained to him that we will need him in the future and we must pay him for his services. Finally he accepted payment for his services and I was grateful.

Gaby and Randy stayed only the night. They are a wonderful couple and we enjoyed the visit with them. Today they drove north and hope to be home in Toronto by eight tonight except Gaby left her purse so even though they left at eight this morning, after returning for the purse they eventually left just before ten. We wish them well.

November 13, 2010. Artemas, Pa. Randy and Gaby.

They are coming to say hello to us, here at the farm in the hills of Pennsylvania, arriving in time for dinner. Now this will be their first visit to the farm, and it will be dark, so getting there will be a bit difficult, but they are smart and they use a GPS and a cell phone so we feel sure that eventually they will arrive, sooner or later.

For the past week they have been traveling in the Carolinas, just the two of them, without their two girls. Both Ken and I enjoy getting together with them. Randy is the son of Ken's first cousin Ray, from the Sudbury family, who Ken stayed with when he worked at the mines during college. So we have contact and history. Randy was wise in his choice of a wife, so we have the whole package coming to visit us tonight. They are family and we like them, definitely a good combination.

Charleston has been their home base for the week. It's a place Ken and I explored for retirement and decided the city proper was claustrophobic so we struck it off our list, but we love to visit Charleston. Great restaurants, interesting history and wonderful antiques. In one store we say a small table exactly the same as one that sits in our living room, except in their store the price was ten thousand dollars and I bought it for fifty dollars. It is identical, a liquor cabinet, pretending to be a side table. When you visit me, take care with the small table!!

We are looking forward to visiting with Randy and Gaby, even if it is for a short time.

November 12, 2010. Artemas, Pa. Bedford.

Once upon a time, Bedford was a busy important town, complete with industries, manufacturing and commerce, in addition to being the county court house. It still has commerce and the county seat, but not much is happening. Today we drove up to register for the Green and Clean program. The state encourages agriculture by giving a reduction in taxes if you own a working farm and do not develop the land into houses. This is a new program. Alan has been trying to get us to go up to the county house and register our farm, but of course we have not done it...until now. Except, now the applications were closed for next year at the end of October, but we signed up for year 2012. This is good.

We could not find the court house. Although we have been to Bedford since 1973, we only use about two blocks of the town. The rest we ignore. We knew the court house was new, but we were not able to find the place so finally I phoned the tax office and they gave us directions. Turned out we were right outside. It was very clever. They kept the old buildings at street level and built the new modern building right in the center, so the inside is modern and the outside is old.

While we were driving around lost, we discovered many beautiful old homes. Once upon a time, this town had people who had money. It is a lovely place and I hope it continues to thrive. And we intend to save our taxes.

November 11, 2010. Artemas, Pa. Nostalgia.

The back roads in Pennsylvania are narrow and winding and plentiful. Years ago when the boys were young and we lived in our old rustic/primitive farm house we often went driving at dusk to see the deer. We had favorite roads, roads that always rewarded us with wild animals, deer, rabbits, foxes and birds. This afternoon on the way to the farm, Ken and I drove down those old roads. Not much has changed but the drive is still pretty.

This morning we packed up the car and drove to the farm, leaving the apartment at eleven o.clock, a most unusual time for us. But I must say, the traffic was light and we ate at noon, both rewarding to us. Hagerstown is a restaurant town, but what is most impressive is that it houses a Japanese restaurant that is better than any others we frequent in any other cities. Go figure? The food was excellent and plentiful and we dined at our leisure.

My son David wonders what I am going to do with my self now that I am retired, but I think I will be fine. Ken told someone recently that we are much better at doing nothing than we were in the past and I think that is correct. In the meantime, we will drive frozen Angus meat to Andrew and Christina in Mississippi and spend Thanksgiving with the family. My life will be full.

November 10, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Retirement.

I am retired. Many benefits accrue to me now. Tomorrow afternoon, after meeting with the staff in the morning at work, Ken and I will drive to the farm for the weekend rather than leaving on Friday noon. Then on Monday we will drive to Mississippi to get a head start on Thanksgiving with Andrew and Christina. I am free as a breeze. Ken has booked us into another place in Mexico, right next to our Playa Royale condo called The Palace, an all inclusive resort where we own some weeks, so we will spend all of January and all February in Puerta Vallarta, where the temperature in 85 degrees F.

Actually, I am paid thru the end of the year, then retained for three years as a paid consultant with Long and Foster. Ken and I are thrilled. Actually, Ken is a bit anxious, as he thinks that the only person I will be able to manage will be him and he does not like to be managed. Our task in the immediate future is to get the apartment ready for sale. Ken has already arranged for a mailing service to sort our mail and ship it to us, wherever we happen to be. Soon we will change our residence to Texas and our physicians to Jackson, Ms. It is a whole world in front of us, which we will enjoy.

November 9, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Retiring. 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Coincidence.

Ken and I will wander the world together, now that I am retiring. Tomorrow I meet with Mr. Foster to map out a plan. It is all very exciting, although unexpected. Yesterday I met with Mr. Foster to discuss the office, and explained to him what I could and could not do over the next few years. I offered to retire now or in six months or six years, and he decided that the time was ripe for me to retire now. My friend Gary D. commented to me that someone had to make the call and he is probably right.

The agents are in shock but I believe that things tend to work out well and I am sure they will for the agents and staff. My goal was to provide a stable platform for the agents to work for the next ten years but it was not to be. Starting this July, the wheels started to come off the wagon so now I have done as much as I could to be helpful. Now I think my job is complete. We have had a great run. Now I am onto my next phase as a culinary maid or a world wanderer!!

November 8, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Coincidence.

In 1974, my Mother fell in our home in Bethesda. That was in June. By September she was back at work, but was disabled. The following February she died. As she was born in 1902, she was 72 when she fell.

The first time I went swimming in a hotel during our trip on the plains, I realized that I had a very sore sternum and I could not figure out why. Then I recalled that my Mother dislocated her sternum when she fell. I finally figured out that I fell when I was 72 in David's home and my sternum was injured as was my leg. Interesting coincidence. But I am not going to die in my sleep next February and I am certainly not going to read C.S.Lewis' "Surprised by Joy". Not me.

Perhaps it is the 72 age thing. The most important fact is to take more care while walking around unfamiliar places. That is the lesson!!

November 7, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Tim Wu.

'The Master Switch', by Tim Wu is now for sale. This is very exciting. I knew it was being published in November but I forgot, and when I was talking to Mary M. she was in the midst of reading it. This is his second book.

Tim is the son of Gillian who lives around the bay from us in Nova Scotia and was a picnic group member. We have known Tim his whole life so it is wonderful to see his name in print. We are proud of him, and Gill.

Driving home from the farm tonight we noted, very close to us, the hills and the trees and the narrow roads. Being on the prairies for three weeks makes your eyes see for a long distance. Wilma told us that when they moved to Quesnel, which is in the midst of the high hills, she really missed the horizons in all directions. After two years, they moved back to Brandon, definitely on the prairies, where she was comfortable again. Ken and I accommodated to the horizons quickly to the plains and were a bit spooked on the drive home through the hills. I kind of enjoyed being able to see forever!!

November 6, 2010. Artemas, Pa. Butcher Shop.

Picture this. We are sitting in the butchering shop at the Jay's farm, which is a favorite place to talk and eat and drink, especially on cool evenings because the wood stove is always hot. Usually I am the only woman. Now I am almost 73 years old, don't swear much, speak properly and have always lived in the city, but tonight, as I have done many times, I sit and have a drink and talk with a various number of men from the area sharing stories and talking. Everyone is comfortable and having fun. Of course we have been coming here since 1973.

We arrive at five-thirty to chat with Tammy, who I know would be milking. I have furniture to give away and wondered if she needs it. Ken goes right into the butchering shop to say hello and visit with Alan who is already having a drink with Wayne. They are talking when I arrive about the Green and Clean program and the property tax, which Alan swears will go up dramatically. Jacob comes in from feeding the calves and working with his steer, that he hopes will win at the fair. He is fourteen and the grandson of Alan. He fills the stove with wood as he is cold from the barn. Dave arrives to sharpen some drills so for the next twenty minutes he teaches Jacob to use the machine. Bryan comes in, notes that Jacob, his son, would never learn from him, but he is pleased to see Jacob close to Dave and listening. Nice scene.

We talk. Bryan tells Andrew stories which are funny. Bryan misses Andrew. Now Tammy comes in drinking a beer, which is unusual. Somehow we get started on Woody and one by one each tells another story which was funnier than the last one. We all know Woody, who was one of twelve children but who never went to school. Once he told a judge that he went to school one hundred percent of the time he went to school. Now these folks have known each other their whole lives and they live in the country and talk with a strong accent. Many times I can not tell what they are saying, every one is laughing so hard.

Jacob, the fourteen year old is hungry so he plugs in the left over lunch to warm it up. Soon we are all eating Tammy's lunch, which was good.

The Jays farm our land. When we were leaving, Bryan followed us to our truck and paid us a compliment. He said "technically, you are the landlord and I am a tenant farmer on your land, but it never seems like that and I want to thank you for it". Now that is a big speech for a farmer but it is true. His efforts on our farm have made our farm better, which we then enjoy. Our system has a two way street, befitting both, not the least of which is sitting around chewing the fat in the butchering shop!!

November 5, 2010. Artemas, Pa. The Union Hotel.

For almost forty years I have driven by this old hotel in Everitt. 'Rooms For Rent' in neon letters were in the window, with a bar on the first floor. It was old and run down, but not anymore. It is elegent.

Everett is a town that used to bustle but while Bedford, just thirty miles along highway 30, has gotten trendy Everett has stayed the same. The downtown has always been busy but it always looked the same today as it did thirty five years ago. Until now. This old hotel was purchased by two local young men, owners of a stone quarry just outside town. They were both born and raised in Everett and after college returned to their family business and settled down with their wife and children. They purchased the old hotel and with their own stone and their own workers hoped to renovate one floor at a time, hoping to spend no more than one million at a time.

Somewhere in the midst of the renovation, they decided, for practical purposes, to complete all floors and ended up spending just under three million. It opened for business one year ago. It is beautiful. The old tin ceiling has been restored, also the marble floors and the mouldings. The hotel was built in the early part of the nineteenth century. Once it was posh then sunk into the depths but now it is elegant once again. Now it again is a treasure.

Today we ate lunch in the lovely dining room. The food was excellent. This is the first sign of a resurgence in Everett. I hope it continues to prosper and to keep their good chef.

October 4, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Traffic.

The Mitchells moved from Bethesda to Annapolis because they hated the traffic. When they were both working, Mary at NIH and Cliff on Mass. Ave. they had no option but as soon as they retired they switched their primary residence to Delaware and sold their Bethesda home and moved to a town house in Annapolis. They are thrilled to be away from the traffic in Bethesda. Because we have lived close to work, the traffic has never been much of a problem for me...until today.

Last night it rained hard and it rained all day, so when Ken was driving me to work, normally a ten minute drive, it took us close to thirty minutes. Coming home was worse. The streets were clogged, the drivers were aggressive and all in all, I would have preferred to avoid the whole thing. The corner of Montgomery Ave. and Wisconsin had at least a foot of water on the road, the same corner that has not drained for several years. Montgomery County is broke but it would be nice to clear the drain every few years. The traffic must creep across the road which backs up the whole street in both directions. What a mess. One day I will cease putting up with this traffic mess, I bet.

Halloween (TX)

November 3, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Working.

It is always such a pleasure to be at work. The people are fun and competent and they are always so pleased to see me. I am seduced to fall in love again with the office.

For instance, today at Gold Team lunch we discussed applications on the IPad for Realtors. About twenty top agents sat around talking about the use of this very helpful piece of technology. Sarah T. led the discussion. I happen to believe that the IPad is the best tool for an agent since the advent of the cell phone. Today the agents shared the ways the equipment has been helpful to them. The hour was lively and informative. Present were agents from age twenty five to seventy. Most brought their IPad. Those folks who did not already own the machine were going right out to the Apple store.

One of the best aspects of the agents at work is their sense of helpfulness to each other. In truth, they are all competitors but they always seem to understand that when the tide comes in, all boats float higher, so they know that when the competence level goes up for all, every agent benefits. It is such a simple concept but unusual I suspect. Anyway, it is a great pleasure to see this sense of sharing right in front of my eyes, and I am grateful to be working with these particular agents and staff.

November 2, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Voting.

It is a big deal to vote. Even though you do it often, the act of voting is an impressive event. Today is election day in the country, so today I voted, even though Maryland is a Democratic state so my vote is usually for the loser. Everything is so well organized. The machines work, the voting is electronic, volunteers are available to work the polls and everyone seems to be cheery and helpful. The whole system is impressive to me.

Then tonight we all watch the results all evening, except when the commercials are on TV and we switch to the hockey game. Everyone at work had voted too and wore their sticker 'I voted" on their shirt.

But the most impressive aspect of the vote is that the power is transferred peacefully and the losing politician goes home while the new person takes over the office. No pushing, no shoving, no kidnapping, no violence. The winning person just takes over. It is an event to be cherished. Today I was pleased to be a small part of the whole process.

November 1, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Home.

I have a very long 'to-do' list, now we are home at the apartment in Chevy Chase. We have decided to sell the apartment, probably in February or March, so we have lots to do. While in the car together on our long 281 trip, Ken and I talked out our options for the next ten years, and we decided it was foolish to keep the apartment any longer. Just the co-op fee itself is costly. What we will do is stay in hotel suites when we come in town to work. It will be cheaper. But before our apartment comes for sale we must make it ready for sale and stage it properly, which means getting rid of furniture and send some to the farm.

Our list includes hiring a cleaning service too. When we were away all summer I cancelled the service, thinking that we did not need to pay to clean an empty apartment. It actually was false economy because of the water overflow from the kitchen sink so it was a stupid thing to do. Ken will obtain four extra sets of keys, ready for the fix-up and the sale, and will buy book boxes to take some books with us when we drive to Mississippi for Thanksgiving.

The plan is to turn the lower level at the hill house into a multi-room space, for a television area, a desk and office space and an already existing workshop for Ken. I think it will work just fine. I will use the second floor closet for my clothes while Ken will use the guest bedroom and closet on the first floor. Now we must sort and organize and donate everything else. It will be fun, I am determined to say!!

Now we have three weeks in town to get it started.