September 30. 2011. Artemas, PA. Early Adapter.

It makes dense.  In the natural world, some animals are quick to find new sources of food while the more timid ones hang back, waiting for the all clear to be signaled.  You can see it in the deer at the farm.  First into the field comes the brave active deer, usually smaller, then soon the larger deer appear.  Finally, the largest deer walk cautiously onto the field.  It is perfectly reasonable to wait until the younger ones clear out the danger.

People are the same.  The early adapters jump on every new toy while others wait to see if the object will be useful before the purchase of the object.   Ken is one of those earlier birds.  He wants the new toy immediately and he wants it in use.   I want a new piece of equipment if it will help me with business or if it makes my life easier but I am not quick to use a new piece of equipment if I have another way to do the same thing.   For instance, we bought a new IPad for me in March.  I don't use it much because I read on my Kindle and I use my computer for e mails and the blog.   It is merely laziness on my part.  I have not taken the time to get used to the systems.  We are thinking of leaving the computer at home and taking only our IPads.  Today, I forced myself to use my IPad.   I have become a late early adapter!!

September 29, 2011. Artemas, PA. Cab Calloway.

I enjoy rags to riches stories, especially with a musical theme.  Cab Calloway fits that bill.  I have just finished reading a new biography,  one in a line of swing era people.  It has been interesting to  note that many of the musicians appear in the biographies of Louis Armstrong, George Gerschwin and Moss Hart.

Cab Calloway died in his mid 80s and worked right until he died.    I remembered him as the Hi De Ho man, in fact that is the name of the book.  He certainly did that, but in addition he was a band leader and singer and entertainer, then an actor and singer in Porgy and Bess and Hello Dolly, also The Pajama Game.  Finally, he worked as a sole entertainer, never losing his voice until over 80, al least according to the writer.

It is a great story, although not particularly well written,  but I enjoyed the book.  I am sorry but I don't recall the author as I can't find it in the archives of my Kindle.  I am always astonished at what went on right in front of my eyes and I did not even know about it.  But I was working or at school or raising the children with no time for the Broadway scene.  But I love reading all about it.

September 28, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Rains.

The ranch in Texas has finally had some rain, but not much.   Texas is still very dry so the danger from wild fires is still high.    It is a different story, here at the farm in Pennsylvania.  All of yesterday and today we have had intervals of heavy rain and thunder storms.  Then the sun comes out but very soon we are back to heavy rain.    It is difficult for the farmers to get their work done.

An added difficulty is our Internet signal coming via satellite, also the TV.   The heavy drops of rain interferes with the signal and we lose our service.  Our first satellite service was installed at the ranch in Texas.  I asked the young man installing the system if the high wind at the Top House would interfere with the signal.   He set me straight.  "High wind does not interfere with the satellite but heavy rain will cut the signal right off," said he.  And so it does.

I'm enjoying the rains.  I turned on the air conditioners to get rid of the humidity so it is very pleasant inside the house looking out.  But I'm glad not to be a farmer.

September 27, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Drive.

For 38 years Ken and I have been driving the backroads of Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  If you had asked us, we would have told you that we had been on every road in Bedford County.  But today, we found out that we would have been wrong.

I needed a skirt shortened and as I can't thread a needle I found a cleaners in Bedford who had a lady who would take down the hem, cut eight inches from the bottom, then fix the bottom.   I put the address in the GPS and low and behold, it directed us onto a road we had never been on before today.    Ken and I have driven to Bedford hundreds of times.  Now we have found a better way.  Who said that we are too old to learn anything new!!

September26, 2011. Artemas, PA. Planning A Trip.

This afternoon, sitting in the screen room of our hill house,  we talked about our train trip.  We have been discussing the trip for almost two years but there are so many variables that spinning down time and place has been difficult.    We want to take a train trip across Canada and the US, and never use a rental car.  One problem is where to start and stop and where to leave the truck.  We would prefer to not repeat any leg of the journey but that leaves the truck in a place other than us.   Our discussion was productive with Ken on the IPad and me with the map.

This is what we decided.  We will take the trip either in late spring of 2012 or Autumn 2012.  We will begin the trip in Jackson, taking the train to Chicago.  From Chicago we go to Los Angeles, via Denver.  Next north to Seattle, followed by the train through the Rockies.  Lastly, depending when we go, we will take the train to Chicago and on to San Antonio or we will go right across Canada to Halifax.  It should be four or five weeks, all on the trains.

I am excited.  Now we just fill in the details.

September 25, 2011. Artemas, PA. Agriculture.

We get over 250 TV channels.  They  include several specifically for farmers, so we watch the farmer's report.   At least, I listen to the farmer's report while I stay at the computer.   Ken is giving himself a short course in the latest seeds and fertilizers so we can have a sensible conversation with the farmers Brian and Alan.

It is astonishing what you find on TV these days.  Next up is Alaska.  We could be farmers in Alaska!!   On the same channel are ranchers teaching the raising and training of cutting horses.  No telling what you can find on these rural channels.  We might even become farmers, we will know so much!!

September24, 2011. Artemas, PA. College Football.

It is always the same.  Every article critical of university education ends up recommending the elimination or reduction of athletics.   No one suggests that college ball is perfect but why throw out the baby with the bath water?  I want the articles to stick with the education of students and deal with athletics as a separate issue, not lump them together.

I know several things about higher education.   Standards have decreased.  My Mother knew more than I did even though she had a high school education.  She studied Latin and Greek and was widely read in English.  My Grandmother spoke French and could read Latin but she had no college degree.  Clearly, standards have dropped.

But leave college football alone or better still, fix it.  The NCAA should allow players to receive a stipend.   I know the student athletes have a free education but the Universities earn millions of dollars when these kids play these games.  It makes no sense they have no money.  But I love watching college football.  You never know what will happen.  Today is a bonanza for fans.  Six games on TV at the same time and more tonight.  I am in football heaven.  

September 23, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Last Ice Cream.

Cathy will shut down the Alleycat Creamery tomorrow so Ken and I ate our last dish of ice cream for dinner.  She has had a slow summer in the ice cream business, probably due to the abundance of rain.  Today she was out of hand dipped  and only what Ken calls 'plastic' ice cream, really, soft ice cream.  I liked the chocolate while Ken ate a hot fudge sundae.  Seems like a good dinner for me.

I still am amazed that we can buy ice cream at a special store close to the farm.  This small shed is on the grounds of the Road Kill Cafe.  Cathy has operated the creamery for seven years and I hope she will continue for many years.    The price is right!!

September 22, 2011. Artemas, PA. Enjoying Life.

A man named Fermor died at aged 96 still enjoying his life.  He had a zest for life and people and he died as he lived as a happy man.  He was a writer I had read  years ago, when he wrote about walking as a youth across Europe.  Now he has just died and a review of his life and works was published in The New Criterion in the September edition.  Now I have downloaded three of his books on my Kindle.

Another type of man, Kazin,  seemed never to enjoy anything in his life.   Even great prizes and tributes left him complaining.  Over the years,  I have read reviews of other peoples work that he reviewed but I never agreed with his words.  Now I know why.  He was a miserable man always complaining about someone or something.  Joseph Epstein  wrote  an article on Kazin in this month's Commentary.  I will not be down loading into my Kindle any Kazin.

Now, that is the key.  Enjoy your life.

September 21, 2011. Artemas, PA. Our Post Office.

I have started to enjoy our post office, and now the powers that be are wanting to shut it down.  Tonight at 6:30, a meeting will be held at the Community building in Artemas, called by the postal authorities to tell us why our Artemas post office must be closed.

I like my post office in Artemas, for the same reason  the authorities want it shut down.   I don't wait to buy stamps.  I just walk in, they call me by name, and they ask me what I need.   We chat about the community and I leave.   When we will be traveling, I just ask them to forward our mail, or I ask them to hold our mail until we return.  Only two people look after the place  so  the requests are always carried out correctly.

If a package to be delivered  is too large to fit into our mail box, we are called to ask  what to do with the package, and I ask them to leave it on the porch of the farm house.  All nice and neat so nothing ever gets lost.

I have lived here full time for a short time but I am not prepared to lose our post office.  It is cute too, and is housed at the end of a private home, so looks nothing like a real post office.  Tonight I will attend the meeting and say my piece.  I want our post office to remain in Artemas!!

September 20, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Meat.

A freezer full of frozen Angus beef is a good thing.  This morning we filled our freezer in the basement of the farm house and we filled the freezer of the refrigerator in the farm house.  And we filled the freezer of the refrigerator in the Hill House and we still had to take a full crate of hamburger back to ask the Jay's to store the meat for us until we leave for Mississippi late in October.

It is complicated and labor intensive but now we have plenty of meat.  For many years,  we have been accustomed to always having beef in the freezer and last year we cleaned out the freezers when we took meat to Texas.  I won't make that mistake again.   In fact, Brian carefully made packages for two so we could keep them here and packages for five to drive to Mississippi.  Now we are set for the year.

September 19, 2011. Artemas, PA. A Farmer's Life.

Just after lunch, Alan, our friend who farms our land, went by our house,  driving an old 'Farmall' tractor,  on his way to till the far field in preparation for the planting of barley.  I waved as he passed by but an hour later, he was walking.  His tractor broke down and he walked back to ask for a ride home.  Now farmers don't walk much so that walk was not pleasing to him but he was laughing about it as I dove him home.  He knew what was the matter with the tractor so he intended to return with tools and complete the task.  Being a farmer means you must be a good mechanic.

While at their farm, I stopped to chat with Tammy.  All five children are in school and she was busy baking 2000 gobs, to sell at the Bedford Fall Fair the week after next.  Brian was picking beans to be sold at the Farmer's Market tomorrow and a man was buying several bushels of potatoes that Brian was yet to dig today.

Jacob, the 14 year old, is playing a football game tonight in Everett at 6:30.  He is a good player, quick and strong but not big but he plays on both offense and defense.  Ken does not like to drive these windy roads at night so we probably won't go to see the game but I would love to attend.  Of course, all the Jay Family will be out in force.  No telling what will happen in a high school football game.

Ken and I drove in the Gator all around the farm and came upon Alan, Brian and a friend working on the tractor, right in the middle of the field.  Just as we drove up the hill to our farm they were on the way back to their home.  The tractor is fixed but will await another day to complete the task on the field.  The life of a farmer is always unpredictable, something Alan likes about his job.

September 18, 2011. Artemas, Pa. The Second Look.

This is only the second time we have arrived at the farm since we moved  our belongings from Chevy Chase,  and the first time I have seen the pictures and furniture  incorporated into our house.  It is one thing to change a home bit by bit as I did when I hung all the pictures and paintings,  but it is another thing to see it all at once.  Often, the whole picture is not as pleasing as it was bit by bit.

Fortunately, I am pleased.  The laundry room is warm and friendly with all my family photos hung on the wall and standing on the chests.  It certainly does not look like a laundry room, except for the washer and dryer and laundry tub.  And the lower lever functions well.  It is bright and cheery and elegant, except for the concrete floors.  They are mostly covered with Persian rugs so I pretend not to notice.

I even like my own upstairs changing room and bathroom.  I keep my clothes in the guest room on the second floor so I can lay out objects on the double beds.  Of course, guests will have to stay in the farm house but they will not mind I am sure.  In the meantime, we are enjoying our home at the farm.  We have done a good thing.

September 17, 2011. Artemas, Pa. The Farm.r

Everything is green.  And the pond is full,  as is the creek.  The rain has fallen since we left.  So far, everything in our home is fine except one window has a hole in the outer pane.  We haven't looked at the old farm house yet.

Our journey from Nova Scotia was very pleasant.  Our route took us down 95, around Boston on 495 to 84 west, then 81 south to 76 at Carlyle,  finally on 30 to Everett and south on 26 to the farm.  It is the first time we have travelled that exact routs but we liked it and will do it again.  The hills in Pennsylvania are lovely and as we stayed last night just outside of Scranton, we spent the whole day enjoying the vistas.

It is always a pleasure, returning home.  I am often asked,"Where is your home?".   My response is always the same, "In the summer, my home is Nova Scotia".  Truthfully,  my home is where I am living right now, so today I have returned home and am receiving the pleasure that brings when arriving home.  And the best part is that I get to do it again in Mississippi and Texas.  I am a fortunate lady indeed.

September 16, 2011. Dunmore, Pa. The Flooding.

It is interesting sitting at the bar eavesdropping to the conversations.   The flooding in Pennsylvania was the main topic.  Each group of people  were describing the extent of the flooding in the area where they lived and work.  I had read about the flooding and had seen pictures of the flooding but nothing I saw and heard was anything like I overheard at the bar tonight.  Apparently, the flooding this year was worse that five years ago.  Apparently, the area is still a mess.  Wilkes Barre and Scranton were hit hard as were all towns along the Susquehanna River.   People are helping each other, lending pumps and blowers but it is a long way from normal.  You can read about it and you can see it,  but listening to the people who are here trying to help,  brought it up front and center with me.    The flooding was massive.

September 15, 2011. Augusta, Maine. The Journey.

The plan was a good one.  Dinner at The Admiral Digby Inn was excellent and we enjoyed eating while  overlooking the Annapolis Basin.   We had hoped for good clear weather on the ferry,  but instead we got fog, all the way from Digby to St. John.  Part of the drive today included driving through heavy rain so we stopped after five hours,  in Augusta, Maine.  As we did last evening, we will dine early.  It appears there are good restaurants in Augusta, at least according to the lady checking us in to the motel.

Now we have 11 hours to drive before reaching the farm.   I know because the GPS told me so.    But we will not follow their route tomorrow so will hear many times of "recalculating" from our friendly lady from the GPS.  But we will get home to the farm and we do have good maps, so we may just turn that lady off.  We will continue our journey without her!!  How old fashioned of us.

September 14, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Beginnings and Endings.

Wendy read that prior to building a home, in order to pacify the gods and bring harmony to the new home, one must spread corn meal mixed with sage and tobacco over the ground prior to pouring the concrete basement.    They completed the ceremony.  Their home did not burn, so our friends have told us to follow the old adage and follow the rules for a happy home,  ala Wendy.  This morning, I completed the task, spreading corn meal from Mary, thyme in stead of sage from the spice drawer and tobacco from Ken's drawer, a ten year old cigar.  The deed is done.  Now the construction can proceed.

Today we leave from our summer in Nova Scotia.   This morning we picked up the cheque for  funds to replace furniture and belongings, and deposited it in the back.  Our truck is organized with snacks and everything in our house is in place, so soon we will depart.  Our plan this year is to drive to Digby and stay the night at The Admiral Digby Inn in order to catch the ferry to St John at 8:00 am.   We think we will drive on highway 84 and 81 back to the farm.  The weather today is glorious so we begin our journey south and end our summer in Nova Scotia.  We are excited to get along,  yet sad to say goodbye.  It is the story of our life.

The Forks

September 13, 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Devil Fork.

We bought it in a blacksmith shop near the ranch in Texas.  It is used at the fire pit and is extremely useful.  We have always called it "The outside poker".   The next year, we stopped at the same shop to buy another,  for use at the lake  but discovered that the shop had closed.  Ken and I have been looking for a similar outside poker ever since.  Finally we gave up and asked a man who lives in Western head to build us two, similar to the one in Texas.  His name is Adrienne and he works by himself building with steel and metals.  

He agreed to take the job but required specific dimensions, which we provided, including pictures of the original poker in Texas.  The first time he saw the pictures, he called it 'The Devil Fork'.   Yesterday  I answered the phone to hear a man's voice.   The man said "Your devil fork is ready".   Now we are the proud owners of two sturdy 'devil forks', one to use at our fire pit here by the shore and one for the cottage.   We are thrilled to have a sturdy poker for use at our outside fires and especially thrilled that our pokers now have names.

Late Summer 3

Late Summer 2

Late Summer at Ponhook

September 12, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Marion and David.

They are the most energetic retired people I have ever known.   This summer they have been working on their house,  making their deck larger and getting their home ready for painting.    They will do the painting.  We first met them through Mark, my Dentist who bought a home along the shore, and who got to know David through golf.  Also both Marion and David run races, regularly, and they win.   Soon they will be 70.  Whew.

Tonight they came to dinner along with Mary and Cliff.  It seems silly to say goodbye when this is the first time we have seen them this summer but we have both been busy so now we were able to spend an evening together.  Both and Marion and David were born and raised in Liverpool, and their ancestors too, so they can talk about the history of Liverpool.     David worked as an upholsterer and he taught the job to his son Alan.  Marion had a business selling craft supplies.  They both worked very hard but when they were almost forty they took up golf.  David could shoot 72 regularly but now he only golfs about once a week.  They have always run but 20 years ago they started racing and they love it.  "Keeps us young", says David,  "and gets us out with young people".  It is working.  It was a pleasure to spend time with our friends Mary and Cl;if and these energetic folks, Marion and David.

September 11, 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Auction.

The Auction was held in Shelburne,  in a large room at the Community Center just behind  the Fire Hall.   Hundreds of seats were set up in the middle,  with tables full of objects loaded ready for sale.  Furniture was arranged around the outer ring of the room.  We had stopped by on Thursday to see if the objects were worth the journey.

Ken and I arrived at 9:30.  The parking lot was full of trucks and trailers, a sign that  antique dealers had attended this auction.  And when we entered the room it was full of people.  My heart sank.   I expected no good deals.  The best auctions are the small auctions.  But something was the matter at this auction.    Most auctions are spirited and everyone has fun, but not at this one.  It had no life.  I think most people were not experienced at auctions or perhaps they were afraid to spend money but even though the objects for sale were plentiful and beautiful, by one o'clock,  three quarters of the people had left.

We did well.  Our old truck is still full of the objects we purchased.  Most will be seen in The Guest House.  Ken's comment was "I guess this time the art will be eclectic",  and it will, thanks to this auction in Shelburne.

September 9, 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Sea.

The waves were huge, over 20 feet tall,  but the air was still.  We are at the outer edge of a storm;  no rain,  no wind,  just  huge waves.  It was a spectacular show, right from our own deck.  Gull Bay was frothy white from our house  to the green house on the other side of the Bay.  It was a very unusual sight.

Ken and I sat and watched from 5:00 to 7:30.  Along with watching the waves, we also kept track of three surfers who were having the rides of their lives.   When they finally quit for the  night just after 7:00, getting into shore was a difficult task.  They kept being washed back out to sea.  Finally, a large wave  pushed them onto shore, where they quickly stood up and raced for dry land, where they were safe.

The height of the waves was announced on the local radio station so many folks from town came out to Western Head to watch the waves and the sunset.  What a sight it was.  This is our thirteenth summer, living at Western Head, and these waves were the highest we have seen.  But the best part was watching the waves while we were sitting high and dry on the deck with not a breeze in sight.    It was a most unusual experience.

Outskirts of Katia

After a Quiet Summer the Restless Sea

September 8, 2011. Western Head. Surfs Up.

The noise is deafening while sitting on the deck.   The waves pour into the shore, one after another.  You can hardly hear yourself think.    The air is still.  No breeze at all.  It is a perfect time to watch the surfers as long as you don't try to talk.  The crashing waves drown out all other sound.

The surfers were out before day break, riding those big waves.  Many must go to work but all day, there were surfers in Gull Bay, having the time of their lives.   It is 7:30 pm but they are still there,  trying to catch the wave.  It is my guess that the surfers rotate throughout the day.  From our deck it is difficult to identify the individual surfer.  They all look alike in their black wet suits complete with hoods.  That water is cold.  No way would I ever join them.

They move very fast as they ride those big waves toward shore.  It must be exciting.

Hitching a ride

September , 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Surprises of Life.

Who knew that Jackson, Mississippi is a center for ballet in The United States?    And who would ever know that three grandchildren love their ballet classes each week?   It is the most unlikely but lovely surprise for me.

Molly will soon turn four.  Now she is able to attend ballet school.  She has been wanting to attend for a year but she was too young.   Every time her older sisters dressed for ballet school, she also got ready, complete from head to toe.   When asked about her class, she correctly replied that "I do not have my class today", which was true.  But now she is beginning her lessons and she is thrilled.  She was not pleased at all when class was over.

Ballet lessons are invaluable.  I wish I had taken them as a young person.  Now the move to Jackson has allowed the three grandchildren  to benefit from the expertise available in Mississippi.   Life is full of unexpected surprises.

Molly's First Day at Ballet

September 6, 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Visit.

 For years, Bob D. wanted to visit Nova Scotia.   He saw my pictures and he wanted to go.   I always offered him the use of our house but something always got in his way.  Last Fall, before I retired, Bob asked if he could visit Nova Scotia in September 2011, so I booked him into the calendar for September 24, 2011.  My sister Carol and her husband Ken would also be there but staying in The Carriage House.  So all was set.

But the wheel turns.  My sister Carol had two heart attacks and will have a procedure September 7 in Hamilton.  Brother-in-law Ken had a stroke and is in a rehabilitation hospital in Owen Sound.  Bob D. suffered a stroke in Florida and is in hospital prior to being transferred to a rehab. center in Florida.  Now, none of them can come to Nova Scotia this Fall.  The family members accompanying Bob are probably not able to come either.

The moral of the story is to do it now.  Don't wait.  Go now.  The wheel may turn and spin you off!!

September 5, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Another Last Supper.

Tomorrow, Gill will leave Nova Scotia and return to Toronto.   The summer is officially over.   Our custom is to have dinner together the evening before departure.  Mary cooked a vegetable curry with all the trimmings.  It was wonderful food and interesting conversation, just as you would expect from good friends.

One item under discussion was whether we will live in the same place when we are old and infirm.   It works well  for us living for the summer within walking distance of each others homes,  but we decided tonight that we probably would not live here  when we need more medical help.   And we wondered if our children would want us closer to them, once we get really old.   Our discussion was very funny, even discussing which of us might lose our mind.   Perhaps we should chose a retirement community that we could all live.  We must plan ahead!!

September 4, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Keeping Lists.

Lists are merely tasks I want to accomplish.  So I have lists of places I want to visit,  which include New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and many others.  The list is in a book kept in my travel purse where it can be updated as needed.   And I want to hear a brass competition in England and to see the northern lights.

Then I have a list of things I want to do before I die, such as travel on the major rivers of North America.   The list is also in my travel purse.   I wanted to begin with the Hudson River, as it was an important river in the growth of the country.  But no boat sells seats traveling the Hudson River.   As best as we can determine, the Mississippi River is the only major river where we could book a spot to travel it's length.   It seemed so simple.

Now I have lists for the next ten days, tasks that must be accomplished prior to departure.  This list is on the desk right in front of my eyes so nothing could be forgotten.  I have already started.  Yesterday I booked the Ferry and the motel in Digby.  Now it is merely checking off the tasks one by one.

Thinking is much harder than doing, so I think hard about what needs to be done and I make a list.  The doing part is a piece of cake once the list is done!!

September 3, 2011. Western Head, N.S. A Special Dinner.

Gill hosted the dinner at her home to celebrate her son Tim's visit to Nova Scotia.   The evening began with a cocktail hour with munchies.  For dinner Gill served lobster.  One whole lobster was placed on every plate and a basket of bread  in the middle of the table.  Gill, being smart, asked Sobey's to cook the lobsters and cool them down so she had no fuss and muss with the cooking.  We ate the lobsters cool.  They were delicious.

Next course was corn-on-the-cob.  It was excellent local corn, cooked by Mary.  The third course of the meal was a big salad, full of hearts of palm, avocado, cucumber, tomato and everything else that one could put into a salad, and made by Claussen.

Finally, dessert was a do it yourself effort.  Two types of ice cream were brought to the table, along with a large bowl of blueberries and we each helped ourselves.   It was a fine ending to a wonderful celebration.   After all,   we have known Tim all his life and we only get to see him every so often here in Nova Scotia.

September 2, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Progress.

It has been three months since the fire in The Carriage House, but finally, the construction of The Guest House has begun.   All this week, the men and machines have been working, first pouring the concrete for the footings and next putting up the moulds for the foundation and finally bringing  the cement truck to fill in the moulds.  Today, the concrete is curing and the large machine has been removed, so the construction site is quiet.

In addition, the parking area has been extended eight feet so all the large rocks and soil have been moved.  The new structure will be 24' by 32'  with a deck on the water side.   It will not be A Folly.  It will be a perfectly reasonable two story building.  But the most important point  is that  the construction has begun.  It is fine to think and plan but the building of the structure is obviously the most important part.  And we have now started the process.

Starting Over

September 1, 2011. Western Head, N.S. The Sound of Silence.

In my house today,  silence reigns supreme.    It is almost noon, and I have been reading all morning, all about the Acadians.    The phone rang and I turned the page of the calendar,  and  noted that  it is empty.  The only notation was the departure on September 14 to The Admiral Digby Inn to stay over night prior to boarding the ferry at 8:00 am on September 15, thus beginning our journey to the farm.  Between now and then, our house will mostly be silent.

For me, lots of people around me is normal.  For Ken, it is a different story.   The sound of silence is what he likes the best.    Our life is one of alternating the silence with the  activity of people.  Our farm in Pennsylvania in 1973 was designed to get Ken and the family out of the city and away from all the people.  And we have settled in remote areas, other than our homes in Bethesda, Kensington and Chevy Chase, and our condo in Mississippi.  

Human beings are perverse.  We need and enjoy a time of silence, but not for long periods of time.  Soon we want to be around people and their activities.  Right now, our house is quiet, so I will go for a walk.