A fictional supper

rainy, misty, overcast temps 18

Fire in the fireplace again today! This must be the most wretched summer. Oh well, better on the way, apparently. And, still, while I'd prefer a 'real' summer, the weather really doesn't affect me all that much. REally.

The beans have blossoms as do the peas...climbing furiously up the vegetable patch fence.

The field is filled with clover...so that when I walk Trudy in bare feet I have to pick it out from between my toes...I look like a flower child. And feel like one too. Even in the mist, this area is gorgeous.

It's 7:30 in the evening and the sun has just appeared. Time for dinner...long day at work for both Michael and me...but a good day...though I still sometimes think the book is something that came out of the business end of a goose. Or two. Or, on really bad days, a bear.

Must make dinner before Michael divorces me...honestly, I must be the worst wife. I stare at a computer screen all day...or into space...sometimes not even answering him when he talks. I gobble candy, huff and puff and turn purple while ellipticating and when dinner arrives it could be anything from a tomato sandwich to a steak. In fact, even though I'm going down to make dinner...I have given it absolutely no thought. Maybe a gummi bear sandwich. On whole wheat. Maybe I can convince him he's already had dinner.

I'll think of something. Clover soup. Oh oh, I hear him moving in the living room...maybe if I wait long enough he'll come up with something.

Wait, maybe we've already had supper.

odds and ends

clearing, cool, temps 11

Still well below seasonable, but at least it's lovely and sunny this evening. So pretty. Checked the lilies this afternoon for japanese beetles...they're terrible...look a bit like Lady Bugs, if you don't know what a lady bug looks like. These pests are red/orange and shaped like a very, very small cigar. And they'll destroy all the lilies in hours.

Didn't find any - but will keep looking. had a few last year.

Had a bbq tonight. Hamburgers. While they were cooking I tied up some clematis that we want to train up a post in the middle of a bed. If you wait too long they've wrapped themsevles around all the other plants in the area.

So that felt good.

Good days writing, I think. Feels good, anyway.

Got on the elliptical - the monster. Thought, for a horrifying moment, it said my heartbeat got up to 215...but then it bounced down to 157.

It feels very good when I stop.

It was a lovely, quiet day at home...and then we were surprised by the skies clearing early this evening. Beautiful.

Tomorrow we're off to Cowansville early for breakfast, then home before 10 to write. Have a 2pm interview with the Ottawa Citizen. Try not to forget.

Oh, we've been watching the level of the pool and we think maybe we don't have a leak...sure hope not!

C'est la vie

mainly sunny, temps 22

Of course it's sunny. Susan goes home today. Poor woman shivered through cold and rain for a week - and now the sun comes out. C'est la vie. Which is French for: we're screwed.

Lovely day - Tuesday, so we went to Cowansville for breakfast. Eggs, bacon and french toast (pain d'ore - which is French for: our diet is screwed) Then to the bank. Picked up some fresh corn on the way home. planning a wonderful dinner of fresh fruit and vegetables - corn, tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, salad.

No editing today but need to make some calls to pin down some research and ask permission to use the real names of some stores.

The new television - flat screen Aquos - won't work in the new TV room. this is the second one that's gone kaput. Brand new televisions right out of the box. They replaced the first - but when the second refused to work the TV people said it must be the electricity. But the electrician's been and gone - put in a dedicated line - tested for current fluctuation (we already have a surge protector, in the country you really need one) - and everything's fine.

We're frankly completely stumped. TV people never known anything like it. Gary stumped - electrician amazed. The only rational explanation is ghosts. But why a ghost would object to a flat screen TV is beyond me. Maybe ectoplasm and plasma don't mix well.

I mentioned this to Gary this morning. We might need to do an exorcism. Will get Gary, the TV guy, the electrician and a priest in later this week. It reminds me of one of my favorite couplets...from Hilaire Belloc I believe:

A smell of burning filled the startled air,
The electrician was no longer there.

We'll keep you informed. Michael thinks it's the TV, but he's always been a little woo-woo inclined. We ignored him. Might smudge the room later tonight.

Nothing tomorrow except writing - and possibly banishing evil spirits from the TV room. Can't risk it also taking offense to the cappuccino maker.