Cary Bluff

Hi all! I am almost over jet lag, though I still have urges to take a siesta! I am spending a few days at the home of my friend Nancy, who lives on "the ranch" at Cary Bluff. I arrived last night after a nice dinner of grilled burgers at Nichole and Ted's house where I went to hang out. She gave me some blackberries and I took those, ranier cherries, strawberries, and blueberries to Nancy's and we've been eating them in different mixes. When I arrived at nine Nancy had delicious iced tea and homemade rose petal icecream! Delicious. Wonderful breezy night, good for sitting out by the fire and also sleeping. Today went to an auction in Wausau- I didn't think I wanted much of anything, but I got some crocheted and tatted items, costume jewelry, some fantastic vintage hats and purses- much will be used in opera workshop!!!

Got a tour of Wausau, which seems like a nice town, and stopped at a large independent bookstore there--Janke's Books.  It was nice, and I picked up "Wild" by Susan Strayed, which is about hiking up through california over mountain ranges!  I got two other books as well, and how have a million and three books to read!  I also started Sister Helen Prejean's book "Dead Man Walking" which is incredible.  She had a surreal, powerful experience serving as spiritual advisor to death row inmates in Louisiana and she believes strongly in social justice.  She powerfully states that being kind in a socially unjust situation is not enough.  We must stand up and demand that institutions change, and we must share the pain with the people who are going through it.  Powerful stuff, and she is a fantastic writer so everything is very vivid.

Hot night on the ranch, and I got some bug bites, but it is quiet and peaceful here and I am feeling more rested.