One by one

Yesterday I took some books to the library.  The Friends of the Library accepts donations and then has a huge sale twice a year.  I've only been to the sale a couple of times, but I donate frequently.  They accept books, music books, CDs, even VHS tapes.  Recently I bought a couple of DVDs of Star Trek movies, so I donated the old VHS tapes.

Several weeks ago I finished reading Clutter Free:  Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp.  She offers many, many specific tips for reducing clutter in your home.  Near the end she writes about the challenge given her by a friend to get rid of 2000 items in a year's time.  And she did it!  Now she has extended the challenge to her readers.  So I have begun, writing down how many books I donate, the clothing items to Salvation Army, the worn-out sandals in the trash.  Will I hit that magic 2000 mark?  I don't know, but I'm sure, at least I hope, our home will have more clean surfaces, more closet and drawer space, and other people will benefit from our out-grown clothing and books.

Empty house

They did it!  Even though they overslept because e had a rough night, they were ready to go by 7:35 or so this morning.  I kissed e goodbye at the airport, and as I walked back to the car she began to cry.  I got in the van and looked back at her.  Her face was full of confusion.  "Grandma, where are you going?  Why aren't you coming with me?"  I'm sure her dad settled her down before too long.  Perhaps I should not have gone back for that kiss, just left her in her stroller with her folks in the baggage line.  But I know it's important to say goodbye to a child, so I did.

It's been a full week, caring for e and my regular work.  I'm so glad they came, but it was a reminder of how lovely it would be if we lived closer so time together would be more natural, less of a special event.

In a little bit I will head over to the church to get some practice in for tomorrow and the next couple of weeks.  Thursday afternoon I fly down to San Diego for a short visit with Sarah and Erik, so I've planned my prelude and postlude for May 15 knowing I won't get last minute practice.  May 22 the choir presents some special anthems; while I've been working on them for weeks, even months, now it's time to be sure they're polished and ready for performance, so I will be on the piano a lot until then.  May 29 is the choir's last anthem till September.

Day 5, Friday

K worked from home today, so first thing this morning I grabbed many of e's toys and carried them downstairs because K was set up at the desk in the green room, where e and I have been playing.  I am so glad we are able to provide work space for both E and K when necessary.  And, of course, Randy works in his office downstairs.  E found a small yellow bear, "Banana Bear," from her childhood and introduced it to e.  After breakfast e and I walked along the lagoon once more.  She pointed to ducks, dogs and a squirrel, as well as some big black birds.  Back at home she discovered an old pull toy, a telephone with a dial that makes sounds, and played with that for quite a while, talking in the handset and pulling it along the floor, even crawling with it.  And we built towers with the peg board and colored some more.

Later today we expect K's brother to come down from Davis.  It's lovely he lives so close to us, so when K and family come here he can see them.  Much more convenient than his going to Phoenix.  Then after dinner, clothes and toys and work computers will be packed up to be ready for tomorrow's early departure.  E wants to be at the airport by 8 AM.

Day 4, Thursday

Last night e didn't sleep very well, which means her parents didn't either.  But K still got up in time to catch the 6:30 ferry, while E and e slept in till nearly 8.  After breakfast e and I worked on a puzzle and looked at photos till I had to leave for an appointment.  Randy took over till I returned a couple of hours later.  They played in the sink with water, emptied the diaper bag, learned the difference between chairs (rocking, stationary, swivel), and I'm sure more.

I'm glad e naps after lunch. That's the time I can sit with a cup of tea and read for a bit.  e usually sleeps for a couple of hours, as she did yesterday.  When she got up, we spent some time with the crayons and paper, then went outside to check the mail.  Soon E came out to take over, and I went back in to work on supper.

Day 3, Wednesday

E and K left about 6:10 again this morning (Wednesday), and e was already awake.  So I cooked her cheesy eggs and put blueberries, a raisin bran muffin, and avocado on her plate.  We walked down to the ferry terminal to watch the 8:30 ferry arrive.  About 25 people disembarked but over 200 boarded.  Then the ferry swung around and headed back to the city, and e and I returned home so I could finish my shopping list before we went to Safeway.  Because I had shopped ahead a bit, I didn't need much today.

After lunch e really put up a fuss about napping but finally fell asleep for a little over two hours, during which time I planned and wrote out my postlude for Sunday.  I'm combining a Handel minuet (section1) with a hymn (section 2) and was afraid I might forget my plan, so I notated the third section (alternating the minuet and hymn).  At one point in my life I might have trusted my memory, but after messing up a time or two I've learned it is better/safer to actually write the notes out.

We played after e woke up, then Linda came by for a few minutes on her way to Jazzercise.  Randy was outside with e, talking to a neighbor and her two young children.  Then it was time for supper, followed by choir practice for me.  Only two more days of bootcamp!

Day 2

My shift began quite early today as E joined K on the 6:30 AM ferry to the city.  While e was actually still asleep when they left the house, she woke about 6:30.  So we ate breakfast, Skyped with my dad, then took a walk along the lagoon to Safeway (we needed more blueberries).  After a snack of cheese and crackers we drove down to the church.  I remembered to take the stroller this time, but I guess she was tired of being confined and began to fuss.  So I only practiced a few minutes before I put her on my lap and let her play the organ.  I thought that practice might be hard this week, so I planned ahead and chose easy pieces.  When we arrived and stopped by the office, she teared up and cried when the office manager greeted her, but as we were leaving she held up her arms so Jessica would pick her up.  On the way home we stopped at Trader Joe's for a few things, and I saw another example of "stranger danger" reaction when I pushed the cart up to the check out counter and was out of E's sight for a moment.  She started to cry, then saw me and was OK.  The checker gave her some stickers that we enjoyed playing with at home.

After lunch she took a long nap, then we played a bit till my student arrived, at which point Randy took her outside to walk around the neighborhood.  They chatted with several people, checked the mailbox, blew bubbles.  E and K caught the 5:30 ferry and arrived home about 6:15.

Day 1, Bootcamp

Yesterday began with a walk after breakfast, down along the lagoon, watching for ducks and dogs.  Once we stopped so I could point to a snail on the sidewalk, and e began to cry, surprising me a lot.  She doesn't cry when she sees ducks, even when they approach the stroller, so what was it about this little snail?  I have no idea; I'll have to ask her mom.  As we finished the loop and were close to home, I let her walk and push the stroller.  How funny!  She wanted to hold on the way I do, to the curved handles, which means her hands are up over her head and she's looking down at her feet.  But so what?  I was in no hurry, so we ambled along.  Once home we got the soccer ball out of the closet and kicked it around a bit.  Back in the house we colored, read, sang, dressed and undressed the big doll, ate lunch and napped.

After being in bed for three hours, e was ready for bubbles outside and more playtime.  Then she and her parents went out for dinner with one of K's co-workers.

A good day together.