Goats, Music & More

Partied with Eleanore Tanin last night. Episode "Hostage Officer".

Eleanore Tanin

She played the soulful dispatcher.

Got up a little out of sorts this morning. I blame the bad party popcorn.

Mary takes a call.

It was nearly 1:00 pm before we arrived at the goat festival. Headed straight for Margarita's stand for a lunch of her signature gorditas, only stopping to greet sister-in-law Anna. After eating, Mary and I took our time browsing.


More people than ever took in the festival. It was not easy finding familiar faces. We ran into the proprietor of the supermercado where Mary shops.

Denise and Robert with Leah. Andrea and Richard with their girls. Robert & Richard are brothers. Denise and Andrea are sisters.

Nieces Andrea and Denise were there with their families. Andrea said she'd been there since 4:30 am.
Terry, Mary and Gloria
I cooled my heels in the shade creekside, while Mary went in search of the Einhorns who were to meet us there. After a while, the three returned together.
Mary, Susy and Maylim
About then, Maylim and Susy came walking by. I felt bad later for forcing Susy into a photo. She has a malady that makes bright light unbearable for her.

Mary and I took Gloria home with us, so Mary could cut her hair. Terry stayed to take in the Charley Daniels concert. He would pick up Gloria later.

72.1 °F, clear. (Chapel Hill)

lost

Deborah and Mother brought us watermelons and tomatoes this morning from the farmers market.

Mary served chicken and rice for lunch, with potato chips and tomato.

At cards, one could tell that Mother was really lost. Sigh.

123 lbs.

84.0 °F, clear.

tulip poplar

Mary and I have this thing where, when we notice the time is 12:12, 1:11, 5:55 and so on, we act as though we had been granted a wish. Actually, a little prayer to be answered. Today, at 10:10 am, I asked that all would go well at the dentist's today. My appointment was for 11:00 am. Time to receive my permanent crown.

After depositing a check at First Farmers, Mary and I headed for Dr. Rector's. He was not at all phased by my not having been able for two weeks to chew on my right side. Probably the temporary crown had been a little too high, he said. Popped in the permanent and I was out of there "in seconds flat", as Paul McCartney once sang. I'm to stay off it for a day or so, giving the tooth time to normalize. I feel no sensitivity now, unless I accidentally apply pressure. High hopes for tomorrow. Prayers work.

Late lunch was the little Hormel "Compleat" dinners, plus plantain. Cheesy Ravioli for me. Guava juice on the side. Honeydew melon for my appetizer.
Antique disc in the field: Sony DSC-HX20v at 20X Zoom, using the "Illustration" setting, cropped and minor editing by ThumbsPlus 7.
Table in the garage: Sony DSC-HX20v with "Watercolor" effect, cropped and minor editing by ThumbsPlus 7.

Coffee with news from Colombia followed. Eventually, I went out. Made a few snaps. Been a while since the urge hit me. Took along the Sony. A little fed up with the Canon's ISO problem.


Deborah came with my two tulip poplar saplings. She wanted me to show her exactly where I wanted them planted. She had made some headway on the first hole, when I called Mary out to see Deborah's new light weight weedeater. It turned out still to be more than Mary could handle, without straining her back.


Mary did help with the digging and watering though. Things were going well, when brother george drove up. I dreaded the first word out of his mouth, "dummy". Yes, it was not the best time of year to plant trees. Yes, this wasn't optimal soil for poplars. But, I indicated to George that one receives a gift whenever and however it comes. He took that well enough. In fact, he drove down to the garden and returned with more tomatoes and okra for me and Mary.

George can't really help it, I reckon. He takes his torpedo remarks from our dad. One has to take something, right? Genes.

73.6 °F, clear.

familiar strangers

Burger King remodeling: Canon S100

Into town this morning. To the Taylors' for eggs. To First Farmers & First National for deposits. To Dollar General Market for avocados. Pulling out, we noticed Burger King, across the street, was almost finished with its remodeling. About time.
Sony DSC-HX20V with the "Gourmet" setting. Cropping, resizing &minor sharpening using ThumbsPlus 7[/caption]
Rotisserie chicken for lunch, with steamed asparagus topped with mozzarella, stewed & seared turnip, home-grown tomatoes. Guava juice on the side. Apple and pear appetizers.

We expected the delivery truck all afternoon. Had rushed home from town. Put off our movie till tomorrow. Only near sundown did I receive the driver's call.

I notified sister Deborah, so she could help with the batteries. She came. We waited. I showed her where I want the new tulip poplar. Finally, the truck turned into the driveway, with brother George following. He had happened by just then. What luck I thought. He and Deborah together would make short work of installing the batteries. But, I didn't count on some old family baggage.

Familiar Strangers

As the box with the new scooter was being lowered from the truck, brother and sister, hardly acknowledging each other, wandered in and out of the garage. George helped rip open the boxes and lower the seat onto the scooter. The batteries should go in first, Mary and I hinted, not addressing anyone in particular.

Mary managed only a few words in Spanish. George made some wise cracking small talk with me. Deborah hardly opened her mouth. Finally, she left. Maybe she thought George would see things through. But, George was too tired. Maybe next Thursday, if he had the time. Drove off. The batteries remained unpacked on the garage floor.

I remarked to Mary that I couldn't see what the big deal was with putting in the batteries. She spoke rather harshly to me for a time after that. Perhaps, I was out of line.

Deborah called and said she would come over tomorrow. Shortly thereafter, she called again. Coming right over.

Local Engineers at Work

Between Mary and Deborah, the scooter was put in running shape.

Seems like I wasn't given flat-free tires or the arm saddlebag.

75.2 °F, clear.