It has been some time since my last post, and though I have been silent, I have not been still.  So before I get this blog back on track, let me sum up the last three months.

Foraging has become a hobby of mine…not one that Joel is necessarily excited about, since he has a fear of something in the yard winding up on his plate.  However, he will admit

that my sumac merengue pie was really good.  

I connected with family for my aunt’s 83rd birthday in Tucson, Arizona.

It was a good time with good food, good company and beautiful scenery.  And, since I was in the vacinity, I stopped by the Boot Hill Graveyard to pay my respects to Billy Clanton and The McLauries.

When I got back from the desert, I started “Mammy Camp” for Josie and Ellie.  For three hours, three mornings a week, we spend time together.

We slide, play in leaves and sand, and have snacks in our secret hiding place.

Sometimes (certainly not everytime) we paint. And, one cold morning, we did some pretend open hearth cooking.

They have a good time and so do I.  Someone said, “You don’t quit playing because you get old.  You get old because you quit playing.”  If that’s the case, I’ll never get old…especially if I keep getting new playmates.

That’s exactly what happened on November 7th. 

Parker Joseph Jaques, who weighed in at nine pounds, one ounce, became grandchild number six.  So last week,

I put another initial on the mantel.  Maybe in a couple of years…somebody will buy another vowel.