Did You Miss Me?

I think not, since few people have read my last two posts. But for those who are hanging in there, let me apologize for my laxity. I simply haven't been inspired to write, at least in the blog, for some time, though I have begun trying to get to know, to understand, my mom (and my relationship with her) through my own private writing.

A quick encapsulation of the last couple of weeks:
1) We drove to Texas in two long days, and enjoyed our brief time there, visiting with Susan, Beau, and Bryce; having dinner out with Steve and Ellen one evening (Cadillac Bar!) and Courtney and Larry and Pat another (El Toro!), and enjoying another dinner out (the Monument Inn!) with Pat.
2) Tom saw his three doctors and had tests run - nothing to report on that front.
3) We got our tax info ready and in to David Start, on time for once.
4) Nephew Eric and his partner Mike paid us a visit at the Funny Farm, getting to experience it for themselves for the first time (and being appropriately amazed).
5) Annie learned to trust us a little bit again, though not as readily as before, as we had left her for about five weeks. She looks good, well-fed, sleek, and shiny.

6) Another two-day drive, this time back to Little River.
7) We enjoyed spending last weekend with Crawford and Mary, including celebrating Tom's birthday early with a good salmon (with a balsamic vinegar reduction) dinner followed by homemade apple cobbler.  (Helpful hint: Don't substitute fine flour made for gravy [all that was available in Crawford's kitchen, I discovered too late] for regular flour when making pastry.)
8) Leigh Jones has almost finished his work on the boat, and Tom and I have been working on it, too. My latest project: painting the walls around the portholes in the stateroom, teak walls that have suffered water damage. The result is good, lighter and brighter - a very, very pale yellow. And never fear, my traditional friends, the room is still massively, classically, nautically teak.
9) We now await word from the shipyard that it's time to take her in to be hauled out for cleaning and painting and such.