The Blackburn Digest

The clock radio woke us up at 7 AM, and that’s when the day stopped being *normal*. Normal would have been the two of us spending an hour consuming caffeine and reviewing on-line news and new e-mail (probably in our jammies) on separate computers before DH started working and I started. . . .whatever. This morning was much different; following a recent diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, DH had a 9 AM appointment for a Mohs micrographic surgical procedure, and we were preparing to (possibly) spend the entire day at the surgical center. Books, quarters for vending machines, cell phones, wallets and materials for my newest miniature needlework consignment all found space in my tote.

MLK Day - DH was off for the day and DS is home between ten-day work-shifts. DSIL (Daddy to my adorable 10 month old GD), however, was committed to office projects which wouldn’t end till 9:30PM!

The weather was pretty awful for the MLK parade and errand running; fairly dense fog (which thickened to travel-advisory status this evening) with rain dripping through it. Good reason for a gathering of the clan - minus DSIL - at Casa Blackburn for a computer fest and beef curry!

Our grand-daughter was pulling out her new “magic tricks” in fine style: she loves to wave Hi and Bye-bye; has become quite adept at walking her way from play table to terrarium to grandfather clock (not “Look Ma, no hands!” yet - but she’s getting close!) and definitely has added a new word to her vocabulary. “Cat!” (said without the troublesome T) announces each sighting of one of our fur-kids.

As a Mom, today is one of the Really Good Days!  DS is flying in from his temporary assignment in “Sandy City, TX” this afternoon and all of us are gathering at his sister’s this evening to celebrate (a tad late) DSIL’s birthday. (Stretched-out-birthdays are rapidly becoming a Blackburn tradition - LOL!

Of course, yesterday’s decision to stay warm, dry and near DD & GD has a fee to pay today. The extensive/expensive tour of the supermarket, stashing many bags of food-stuffs in their assigned places and getting SIL’s gifts wrapped must be accomplished before I point my little red sporty-car toward the airport and let out the reins.  (Sure wish the local police weren’t *packaged* in a rainbow of hues - makes them very hard to detect! Yes, I do realize that is their plan.)

I’m looking forward to being surrounded by my family this evening:)

I reeealy dislike alarm clocks on weekends. It’s not as if the RA allows me the luxury of “sleeping in” very often anyway, but arising at the demand of a chirpy-voice radio DJ or the beat of a C/W song should be exclusively a work-week activity! Still, I dutifully arose and put bare foot to cold floor at 7 this morning; it’s the third Saturday of the month, my day to “herd cats”, Club Day.

The morning challenge (of converting me from stiff/sore ogre to presentable human being) was rendered somewhat more problematical by yesterdays’ thorough ‘wetting and chilling’ episode. It was also accompanied by an on-going internal dialogue; “You have to attend, you’re the president”, “You can’t hold a hair brush, how are you going to hold an art knife”, “You need to be there to keep activities moving along”, “You haven’t even worked on the current project”, “You enjoy the social time with them”, ‘You’re not going to be pleasant to be around”, ”You have to do the two-week food shopping today, and you don’t have a menu or shopping list yet” and on it went. 

You are growing so fast!

Slowly (verrrrry slowly), several of my projects are progressing:

1) The miniature yo-yo quilt (commissioned last Sept.) is nearing completion. It is requiring about the same amount of time as its catalyst (the SAM’s auctioned quilt), for the same reasons; it’s an insane undertaking for someone with wonky hands! But then, I haven’t laid claim to sanity in several decades:D

2) My Tower work-bench is becoming more organized. . . . . .each time I go hunting around on it for some missing tool or material! LOL! The miniatures display room?  Um, well, let’s not discuss that, O.K?

3) A pair of pants DS has been waiting for are now waiting by the sewing machine. Hey, they’re on the right floor, at least!

4) The total re-do of three miniature “shops” (The Petal Pusher, Le Beastro Pet Supplies & Sound Advice)  in a new barrister’s four-shelf unit, and permanent installation of Wakefield Public House (Pub) in the fourth shelf is finally moving forward.

I have erased five or six entries; I just don’t know how to express what I feel, but I want to find a way!

Because of my childhood ( a back-story best left untold), having busy adult children who actually want to spend time here at the casa with us is the biggest compliment I could ever wish to receive. It thrills me (and humbles me) that I receive that compliment often.  This evening, the presence of DD and our adorable grand-daughter provided the irrisistible lure for our travel weary DS - when I retrieved him from the airport, the destination-of-choice was our house rather than his spacious apartment. Thanks, everyone, for the time together!