How charming of you to call. Sorry you had to get the machine, the unrecorded me was in the garden. Here’s the update: We are all still here as follows: (Well, the 12 little guys aren’t here, I’ve given them away.)
It feels like nothing much has happened since you left. I lightly sprained my ankle and am managing to hobble about–this just after a massive case of poison ivy contracted in the garden that kept me from answering your call. I threw myself at the gardening to beat the rain and it paid off. Speaking of rain, I did manage to fix the leaky chimney by climbing up to the roof and using the zen approach: look at the chimney, look at the shingles, look at the sky and the trees. Think like a leak. A leak starts on top and moves downward. So I spread concrete over the top of the chimney. No, I didn’t sprain my ankle mixing cement atop the roof, I twisted it on terra firm at Capen Park.
Speaking of Capen Park, that’s our Master Naturalist project site. Louise and I tend the garden there and have been crowned Volunteers of the Month. You’ll see us in your May trash bill. Our smiling mug shots are in the newsletter circulated to 100,000 or so.
Getting back to French, Aline’s class started and I have joined again. I’m also tutoring with a political refugee who fled Cote d’Ivoire in the night with only what he and his wife could carry in a single suitcase. His wife had made unfortunate connections having worked for the president of Cote d’Ivoire. The president was ousted in a violent takeover, so his proteges became targets. They went into hiding for 10 days before escaping across the border and eventually got to Columbia where he’d gotten a degree – as a soil scientist. I’ll be learning French with an African accent.
I did get the commission for doing the little masks, so that’s pretty exciting; now I have to find time to execute the project. Well, after hearing my Cote d’Ivoire friend’s stories, “execute” is not a word to use lightly. I do feel a bit of a fraud cashing in on my faux African masks while the real African is eeking out $25/hour trying to teach me to say ‘le chien est bien élevé’ instead of running agricultural programs for his country. By the way, the chien is not bien élevé , she still barks at Cedar to keep her from using the stairs or following me. Poor Cedar, le chien agé, trying to live peacefully with this bossy newcomer.
Well, the recap may make things sound more exciting than they are. Ann and the boys and I did go to Memphis for 5 days which was quite fun. The museums there are fabulous, we did 8 by Ann’s count but didn’t get to see Patricia P. or the Institute of Egyptology. We did discover the National Museum of Ornamental Metal. They were having an enamel exhibit at the time, amazing enamel work you wouldn’t believe, tiny sculptures, imaginative, abstract, whimsical, jewelry, wall pieces. I have photos on my photo website which you should look at if you would like a museum jaunt with no walking. Click here.
I’ve rattled on. Hope you had great birthday celebrations, and that an unnamed admirer bought your dinners and set off a magical fireworks display for you. You deserve no less.
Best to both of you,
Julie
eye travel 