Monday, September 22, 2014

Mail Call

Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 at 2:58 AM
From: Jamie
To: Linda

I'm so glad you're done with the 20 hidden pics. I never said this when you first mentioned that project, but I've never like 'hidden pics' pics. I always feel slightly anxious and even queasy when I look at them. When I was little I always had a lot of trouble finding the hidden parts, and I probably still do. It's a 'different side of the brain' problem, I'm sure!

Do you have a picture of Deb's husband? The much-younger guy? It's okay if Deb's not in it….

Miss you too,
Jamie

***

Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 at 1:56 PM
From: Anna
To: Linda

Hi Linda, Just wanted to say hi. We've been sick with this awful sinus/earache/fever thing so the past couple of weeks have been a blur but I think (hope) we are over it now. Everyone seems fairly functional today.

Nothing like moving and starting at new schools and trying to get a house done while sick:) We weren't alone at least. Something is going through Harriet's school and she brought it home to us. So I'm way behind on work but I'm just going with it for now.

I've been thinking about you all week. Remember last year when you did your kitchen floors and I said I wanted to do ours and you said to hire someone if possible because it is so MUCH work. Well. I did hire someone and two men worked here for three days straight just to get the sanding done. Thank goodness your message got stuck in my head and I didn't try to do it on my own. Those guys were exhausted at the ends of the day and they know what they are doing! The floors look beautiful. Now just waiting for the poly to dry. We are in the basement with the garage door open wide and fans blowing so the smell is tolerable but the down side is that chipmunks run in to where we are camping out and the cat gets them.

Life here isn't too bad. A bit lonely perhaps but it will get better. The good part is that we live right across the road from the farm Billy grew up on and I walk over there every day. It is really beautiful. One funny thing about Maryland, maybe this is a problem everywhere, but people don't go outside much. When I drive around I never see anyone outside, except in their cars. And the weather is amazing right now so that's not it. My nieces and nephews aren't down in the woods playing in the streams and I don't pass Billy's sisters while I'm walking. They are missing a lot of beauty. I do see Billy's brother sometimes- he milks cows here and some afternoons he is on the tractor in the fields and waves when I pass by. Mostly it feels as if I have the whole place to myself.
 
This weekend we are going home though!! Very exciting. Way too much driving but we are homesick and it is Billy's birthday so we are going to put the dogs in the kennel and have a quick trip home.

How are you? How is your work going? More soon, lots of love, Anna

***

Anna, guess what! It's the same here. It's the first day of fall and the weather is beyond compare. It's "after work," and nobody, but nobody* is on the beach. I kind of like it that way, but it does seem strange.

*I stand corrected. Peter was on the beach, along with his pal Carmen.

Looking south   7:29 p.m. 

Looking east   7:29 p.m.

Looking north   7:29 p.m.