Rural Retreat

Thursday,  June 26—Rural Retreat w/John and Pat 

Got up to find John emptying the dishwasher. When all were up, John prepared French press coffee. Pat and I went down to the barn, mucked out the stalls and paddock, and watered and fed the horses. Then it was back to the house where Pat cooked up a farm breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, and Rob’s bread toasted. We ate it, around the oak table in the kitchen.

Good food is never ending here. For lunch we had tortillas of ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and fresh garden lettuce at the porch table. John and I also had a couple of icy beers. Pat had to be at the eye doctor at 2pm, so had time only to gulp down one tortilla.

The TV was on in the corner of the l.r. all day today so all who passed could keep track of the World Cup soccer match being held in Brazil. The U.S. was playing against Belgium. Unfortunately our run in the World Cup ended here in round 16 when Belgium beat us 2-1 in overtime. A win would have sent us to a quarterfinal against Lionel Messi and Argentina; the loss, instead, sent us home.

Sarah and John and I spent the afternoon while Pat was at the docs trying to find on the Internet the provenance of an old French sabre that John has. It seems to be from the early 1800s. It is fitted with an ivory haft (grip) and fancy beaded handguard. John is thinking of sending a photo of it to Antiques Roadshow to find out its history and worth. Sarah and I also walked up into the piney woods. 

We ate lunch late, so held off dinner until 10pm and played Quiddler. Remember: The whole family has been infected with Quiddler. John said that they are on their third deck because the previous two became too sticky and worn to use. In this family it is Pat who quietly wins most hands.

 

Sarah and Pat before Pat's clematis

John & Pat's house from the beginning of the trail up to the piney woods

Hill and valley south? of John & Pat's from the piney woods