The Kirkwood Clan

Oh my I've been remiss about blogging, but I think that is a typical summer malady - too much to do....

We saw everyone off for home the latter part of July, and within two weeks Keith called to say he had a business trip and would be arriving on the 7th. So we had a fun short visit with him before he went home on Thursday.

It has been quiet on the Virginia front, but I think Brian and Sheila moved into their house last Friday, and I presume by now their household goods have been delivered and they are busy unpacking, arranging furniture, hanging pictures, and assembling whatever has to be assembled. I know Nolan has some new bedroom furniture and Warren is the owner of a basketball-sized chicken for his bedroom decor.

Under the guise of making up to our neighbors for all the traffic, noise, and confusion in July, we invited all of them here on Sunday afternoon. We have lived in this house almost fifteen years, some neighbors have lived here longer, and not a one had ever darkened our doorstep. We all wave to each other as we pass on the street down below, but that is it.

So we had an enjoyable afternoon visiting with some old and some new neighbors. Later in the afternoon we invited 3 other couples for dinner - the McKains who live behind us, Elisabeth Merritt and Katherine and Kit Baker; the latter two women were my buddies in the real estate days.

We served beef kabobs, a tried and true recipe of Brian and Sheila's, along with taboulah, Caesar salad, and a rustic fruit tart for dessert. We didn't do much of anything the next day!! But wait, there's more.

Brian learned while he was here that one of his college friends lost his wife to an infection last spring, and Jim is left to rear his six and ten year old daughters. After several messages from us that we wanted to help if we could, Jim relented and let us go to Seattle for a visit - and take dinner. So that was roasted lemon chickens on croutons, tossed salad, homemade macaroni and cheese, and snickerdoodles. It was a good visit, and I have no doubt Jim will manage just fine, knowing he will have some sad and difficult moments. We are hoping there will be other ways we might be able to intervene with him and the girls.

We are going to Spokane this weekend and taking the motorhome and Cooper. We'll park at Rod and Karen's and she and I have grand plans to do some canning and preserving along with making a batch of sausage strudels. We will also see Mike, Mary and Becky to ooh and aah over new baby Benjamin.

There is a quilt show on the 25th and 26th, in Reardan of all places, so Karen and I plan to take that in. Then Ken and I have to get back here to repack so we can drive to Lake Tahoe for Labor day weekend and Rana Jayne's wedding. We will leave the motorhome at Rod and Karen's and upon returning from Tahoe, we hope to take a little jaunt to Montana or BC, or some other equally interesting spot. More to follow. Ciao