No, I Haven't Fallen Down a Hole

I've been very very busy.  Very busy.  On Friday I had to gather up, edit, and print out the poems I was thinking of reading that night and on Saturday.  (god forbid I'd have gotten that done ahead of THE day)  Then Durwood had to patiently listen to them and say that I'm a genius and that I should read them all. (there was only one that he didn't like, not exactly helpful in thinning them out)  Since I had 45 minutes of total reading time in the three sessions, I read each one, timed it, and put them all in a folder in sort of an order.  When it came time to read I opened the folder and started at the top.  It worked out, I only had to repeat three poems from Friday night to fill the last 15 minutes.  The audiences weren't large, poetry doesn't really draw a crowd, but people laughed when I hoped they would and applauded.  I enjoyed it and will volunteer if asked again next year.



I picked the first tomato on Friday.  Duwood made it go away in the blink of an eye.  I'll get a bite of the next one.






Also on Friday the barricade barrel showed up by the pink painted part of our curb and gutter.  The contractors plan to start on fixing them on Monday.  I'm just happy that our fix isn't the end of our driveway because then the cars would spend a week on the street and it'd be extra hard for Durwood to go anyplace.

The poetry readings weren't the only things keeping me busy.  Durwood's brother and sister-in-law came for a visit (stayed at the Holiday Inn so we didn't have to fling things down the basement stairs so they could get in the door) so all of yesterday was taken up with marathon visiting.  The guys stayed at the motel and she came with me to my readings.  We had a bit of time to wander through some shops between readings and then got back in time for them to go to Mass, then we took them to a good old Wisconsin supper club.  They left early for their long drive home so today is a day of rest.  Sorta.  Well, we all know that I'm not good at sitting still.  I went to Aldi for fruit and to Meijer for greens to make a cauldron of chicken soup and take advantage of their "10 for $10" specials on yogurt and Durwood's favorite canned soup.  I might have also gotten the makings of blueberry tartlets.  (hey, blueberries were 3 pints for 5 bucks, I couldn't leave them there and those tiny pie shells aren't very expensive)



How hot and humid is it?  This is how the patio door looked when I opened the drapes this morning so it was still hot enough and humid enough to fog up the cool glass.  I guess there was a storm last night and it just rained for about 10 minutes like it didn't intend to stop.  Thank god for air conditioning.




Look, there are buds on the sole surviving stargazer lily.  I can't wait until they open.  Won't be long now.







I didn't write the prompt Friday night or last night, I was just too bushed so I'm putting on one of the poems I read.

July 23--Barbara Malcolm, Expensive Pie

April evening chill filled the house where
furnace heat was meant to be.
A tap on the thermostat brought
sound but no fury.  Without a pilot light
nothing to be done but call Mr. Fix-it.

He came, his "after hours" clock
ticking, wiping his interrupted dinner
on his sleeve.  Explaining I had a meeting,
I urged him to hurry--and went upstairs.
Called back almost immediately
my hope soared, only to be squashed
by a lecture on frequent filter changing.
"Is that the problem?"  "No."  "Then keep working."

Too soon he trudged upstairs
sorry that no broken doodad or
fizzled thingamajig was found.
"I have to check the pipes."
Before his heels disappeared
outside, his voice floated back,
"Come out here.  You're not gonna believe this."

When I heard his words, I knew.
A humongous bright green leaf
of the rhubarb plant transplanted from
my Indiana grandmother's garden
had grown tall and suffocated the furnace.

Would you like a piece
of $165 rhubarb pie?
~~~~~

Before I go to make the soup, here are some daisies to brighten your day.
--Barbara