May 17th

First lazy morning since our return to New York....read the paper and enjoyed a cup of coffee in bed....to me that is the ultimate luxury...caught up with all the mail, cleaned the kitchen....and went out to enjoy the day...bought a new dish washer as ours was leaking ...and now that we are older we don't see as well...so a dishwasher is necessary for our health...or so I rationalized it to my husband, Joe. hoping for a new stove too..as believe it or not I still love to cook and entertain...I like going out to eat too...but a good home cooked meal is like creating a magnificent painting to me...Then we went over to the beach to see our grandson, Nathaniel...We have a small beach house on the sound...It is more like camping then anything elegant...but it does have a bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet (which leaks) and a kitchen with a stove and refrigerator...and most important the view is magnificent...and there is always something to see on the water...today I saw two swans...I stopped and bought some inpatients to plant by the door..and spent about a half hour weeding and planting...it is like leaving my signature for others to see...Nathaniel and I walked a bit...threw rocks in the water and dug in the sand...he is two and a great age...everything is new and he is anxious to do it all...on our return home I planted some of the inpatients in tires around the tree in front of our house and some geraniums on the back patio...and spent another half hour weeding the back garden...It was a very good year for weeds and other wind blown seeds...We are inundated with wild raspberries, dandelions, wild yellow Violet type ground cover, gourd vines and maple tree seedlings...they have taken over...so if I don't clear them out ..there will be no room for my herbs, tomatoes and other veggies. Made delicious lamb chops and pasta with asparagus for dinner....and watched 24 with my honey...