Half Price for Apples

Daughter #2 visited this weekend. She wanted to go to a pumpkin patch--and I wanted some more fresh apples from the orchard. I was so happy when I found out that all the apples were half price, but that was because all the apples were on the ground. :^)

Nevertheless, there were plenty of good apples and we made baked apples when we got home. Yum.

A Taste of NJ Bureaucracy

On Wednesday, my hair looked good--and it wasn't humid so I could count on it remaining just how I wanted it. I decided it was the day to renew my driver's license because there was a better than average chance that the new photo on my driver's license would not resemble a mug shot. Yes, I want to look like a glamorous romance writer even on my driver's license. I had all my identification in order, so I went to Motor Vehicles.

However, I did not get past the first step. Unfortunately, I was born in Jersey City and the DVM no longer accepts birth certificates from Jersey City. This is evidently because a Hudson County clerk was issuing fraudulent birth certificates.

I had to get a new birth certificate. I decided the fastest way to do that would be to go to Trenton the next day.

I spent $20 on gasoline, $3 for parking, and $25 for the new birth certificate.

Somehow this does not seem fair. (The state has to be making a lot of money on this deal.)

I guess I'll try again next week to renew my driver's license.

The Blessing of the Animals

Today is the Feast of St. Francis. Our guinea pig, Speedy, was blessed today along with a few other guinea pigs, a hermit crab, a parakeet, and plenty of dogs. It was hot, noisy, a bit chaotic, and fun. :^)







Speedy looked terrified. However, she was a popular little animal--several children asked to pet her. She was extremely well-behaved as usual. She's such a sweet little thing.










Father Lang posed with us. He was very happy that nobody had any snakes for pets today. Evidently, he doesn't like them. :^)

My Grandmother

My grandmother was not a biker. In fact, she never drove. But she had a quirky sense of humor and enjoyed posing for the camera. That's how this picture came about.

Today would have been Grandma's 107th birthday. She was an amazing woman who raised seven children--one of them being my mother.

Grandma liked to tell stories. When we visited her, we would sit out on the back porch and simply listen. Time seemed to move slower at her house.

I miss that unhurried pace.

I miss Grandma, too. But I do remember her stories. :^)