can't match the travels of the brothers

I'm very impressed by the pictures of both John and Mark, who certainly have documented extraordinary trips. I think Mark wins the award for looking the most British, and congratulations to Carol—a byline above the fold is very impressive.

Life is a little quieter here. Tom harvested the last of the corn and has rototilled the plot so he can put in his squash plants. The total corn yield was about 10 dozen, from six rows of corn. The neighbors ate well while we were out of town, and we still had some to freeze.

For the first time in a few weeks we had time to look for some bargains. This is a German salad bowl [Vohenstrauss/Johann Sollmann/Bavaria] and we picked up 12 of them, in perfect condition, for $4. That's $4 for 12, not $4 each. This heavy-duty Sunbeam mixmaster/heritage series, complete with two sets of beaters and dough hooks, was $15. I have always wanted a heavy-duty mixer, probably because mother's was so impressive, but could hardly justify it.

I ran all the parts through the dishwasher and I'm ready. Tomorrow morning, the best test I can think of: chocolate chip cooky dough.

it hasn't been all work

One of the good things about being in LV this weekend has been that we could check on the progress of the grass project. So far, thanks to Martha's diligent raking of the grass cuttings, the grass is looking darn good. The back yard is now a perfect spot to conduct business.

And another good thing is that Tom got to take some lessons in building a pergola, which is being constructed by Eileen, with some help from Roger, right in one of the most photogenic valleys in Cattaraugus County.

So while Martha and I were piddling around the house and doing a quick run to KMart, Tom got to do some construction and work in Roger's shop in the garage, cutting mitered corners in 2x4 and 2x8 treated wood.

It probably goes without saying that we have eaten well. Last night we had Tom's grilled chicken, baked potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, and Eileen's orange pineapple cake, here at 413 Fair Oaks with Ed and Martha. Tonight Eileen somehow managed to do the best pulled pork barbecue I have ever eaten, homemade coleslaw and hot German potato salad, pickles (homemade), and carrot cake, while she and Tom were working all afternoon on the project.

In the middle of all this she also made a quick run up to Five Points this morning to bring home a kitten that Roger pulled out of the landfill where he works on Saturdays. The kitten is doing well, new home to be determined.

Tomorrow morning early we are off to Geneva to catch the end of Cullen's triathlon. Bridget is already there doing the advance work, Tom's in the kitcen making sandwiches, and Martha has a batch of chocolate chip cookies packed in the car. We're ready!

Once again, Culllen raises the athletic bar. The duathalon (run-bike-run, rather than swim-bike-run, as in a triathalon) in Cambridge MD this morning was a real test of endurance. The first run was 12 k (7.5 miles), the bike race was 70 k (43 miles), and the last run was 8 k (5 miles).

The number of participants was small in the sense of numbers, but the field was made up of elite runners from all over the US. His wave went out at around 7:10 this morning, and, in 95 degree heat and high humidity, he finished— still able to run and speak coherently—in just under 3.5 hours. (I'll let him handle all the really technical details.)

For Tom and I, the weekend was just a nice little vacation. We went to Cambridge yesterday afternoon, found the race start and picked up maps, ate out at a great new restaurant in Easton, and had only a 20 minute ride to the start this morning.

Our job was to monitor the racers in his age group. Once we figured out the system—if we couldn't see the bib number, then we could check the number written on each runner's upper arm, and his age written on his leg—I think we could have done a sportscast. We knew Cullen was in 6th place in his age group at the end of the first run, where he stood after the first bike loop, and who the hotshots were who were ahead at the end.

Always good to watch a race where the ambulance isn't needed for the racer you are tracking!

On the home front, here's the garden at one of those times that are few and far between when almost everything is doing what it should, and whatever isn't flourishing is overshadowed by what is.