home

We are back in Gaithersburg, after a great trip to Little Valley, despite gas at $3.99 per gallon.

The new oven at 413 was baffling--the temperature actually matches the temperatures used by recipes. No fudging and adapting was necessary.

The two rusty bikes hanging on hooks in the barn cleaned up beautifully. Tom filled up their tires to 50# psi, and I bet we saved at least $1.25 by riding them around LV.

Notice the orange pants clip.

Of course, there were faster ways to get around Cattaraugus County:

The best thing about Memorial Day? No question, seeing John and Christine and Ryan and Sean, who were kind to their elders and kept the porch lively.

The old folks retired to Ellicottville late in the day.

Canadians must not celebrate Memorial Day, because we had no trouble finding parking, and we could have spent as long as we wanted doing the family photos--

and we still didn't manage to get everyone in one photo at a time.

We've been here less than 24 hours, but we're making progress. We visited Roger at the transfer station, where we transferred a truck load of branches and odds and ends.

Then we stopped at Sinns just outside of town on the road to Cattaraugus and picked out five geraniums ("Patriot bright red") and two "snowstorm/giant snowflakes" (a trailing vine with small white blossoms) for the cemetery urns. The urns are planted and in the barn, ready to go to the cemetery, but there's a frost warning for tonight, so we're not going to rush it.

To Ellicottville for lunch at the kabob place (Tom had beef kabobs, Martha had a gyro, I had lentil soup), followed by a tour of lawn sales. At the first house we picked up a Corning roasting pan, exactly like one we have used for almost 40 years, for $1, and a set of dishes for $2.50 (bargained down from $5). The roasting pan and the dishes will go back with Martha to Cameron.

I didn't even try to bargain for these. Two Vermont teddy bears, for $1 each--jointed arms and legs, eyes intact, and they went through the washing machine beautifully.

Tom obviously has no fear of heights. The clogged eaves troughs over the back porch and around on the Virginia Avenue side are now flushed clean.

The only ones the ladder would not reach are the eaves troughs at the very front of the house on the Virginia Avenue side. Fortunately trees are not a big issue in that area.

If you look closely you will see an iris, one branch from the small lilac bush, the last of the daffodils, and sprigs from various bushes whose names I don't know around the house.

How do we top this day?

bargains and baskets

The price was right--a whole bag of cookie cutters for $3.50, including planes, trucks, lots of bears, hearts...you name it, I now have it. Just don't ask me how often I roll out cookie dough. If I ever get the urge, I'm ready.

The corn may not be planted yet, but nine baskets are filled (with lots of growing room) and about 50 flowering plants are waiting to go into the ground. We bought plants that we've had good luck with in the past (trailing geraniums, verbena, ivy, purple petunias, vinca) and two plants that we know nothing about (beard tongue and penstemon/red rocks). Next, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers. If Tom hadn't been fighting a cold, they'd be in the ground now.

On the chewing front, because I know you are interested, last night I ate some fish, without first liquifying it in the blender. There's hope!