~ the deck gets its roof ~
~ mmm, Toolbelt's looking good ~

An angel food cake is in the oven. We're off to Grandma's to celebrate her 89th birthday, which is this coming Wednesday.


~ Everett can't stop dancing to madagascar soundtrack ~

He opened the CD on his birthday and immediately he and the other kids, age 5 and 8, started dancing and singing one of the songs. Seemed to know the whole thing and love it.

~ Everett's summer-day project ~

Now he's going through the local Lutheran Ladies cookbook Grandma gave me in 1981. He is thrilled to recognize and be related to many of the contributors. I've just told him he can have the recipe book one day. If it hasn't fallen apart by then; well used.

I have been sorting through some of Aunt Jean's personal effects, figuring out what to do with everything. It is sobering, but also pleasant to be reminded of Aunt Jean and family times as I look at pictures and hold small items in my hands. My great-grandmother kept a scrapbook; in it she glued floral cardboard cutouts and newspaper clippings from the 1930s. When I looked at the book in years past I thought the clippings were poems; yesterday I looked more closely and saw that they were the words to songs. She must have loved singing. Will have to ask Grandma what she remembers about her "Mother," as she always calls her.

There's the timer.

xoxo
etc