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DEAR READER, I HAD A mountain-load of stress! I can't stress how stressed-out I was. So what did I do? Went off to the mountains to unload. It was my yard man who suggested we go to the mountains. And then, luckily, we got some friends to go along.








It's amazing what two days of driving through large (extra-large) green hills and staying in an old (extra-old) hotel and discussing everything from the logic of math to the eating of worms and laughing so hard (extra hard) can do! Stress hung its head and went slicking off, no chance of it sticking around!

Perhaps I'll be able to elaborate later (I can't stick around right now, either, Reader Dear, but I'm aiming at telling you more!)

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Friday the 13th

Friday, the 13th

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DEAR VIEWER: The Happy Birthday Surprise*
A Story in Pictures**
















*Well, you know, Reader Dear, it came close to being a surprise.















Or at least it was a surprise for a few minutes.
























At any rate, the Little Actor's mama couldn't see the brownie cake when she walked in the door; we had squirreled it away quite nicely.





So, except for that tantalizing aroma...

...and that irresistible urge to talk about some kind of cake...

...and the, oh, the tiny bit that slipped out about decorating...

and, um, a few words about candles...










...it was such a grand surprise!!

Happy Birthday, Suzy-Q!


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Post Script:
























**It's no secret...a few words slipped out, too......

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IT WAS SO BLAMED HOT ALL LAST WEEK! But then...



Today, ah...just in time for the outdoor concert:
Hallelujah, the heat wave breaks!
The band breaks into music!
It wasn't my favorite genre, but there was a pleasant breeze blowing, and I won't break my habit of rhapsodizing over these superb summer evenings enjoyed with friends!)
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I CREPT AROUND THE SIDE of the barn and took in one more Fourth of July fireworks display this evening. The yard man was gone to the Philadelphia airport with the final load of his international horse buddies, and it was just after dark when I heard the popping and shrieking of pyrotechnics very close by. Investigating, I discovered it was just the neighbors with their backyard celebration.



But what an extravaganza! It was an exciting half-hour.
It was so impressive, I supposed the noisy fire-poppers might be illegal
(alas, the perfect display for those European visitors!*)
There was even some thought that the grand finale might burn down the barn.
(It didn't.)


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*True American spirit!