Merrily We Roll Along

 So this morning I was sitting on the back porch, reading blogs and so forth and Mr. Moon was in town and it was raining a little and suddenly I heard a cracking noise. 
Now. I know what that is. I've lived here long enough. It is the sound of a tree letting go a part of itself. The question always is- how big a part, and also- where is it going to land? 

I heard another crack. 
"That doesn't sound too big," I thought. 

And then came the "whoosh" of leaves falling through other leaves and then a thud and a bounce as a pretty durn big limb detached itself from a Bradford pear tree right beside the back porch. Some of the smaller limbs attached to the main limb even landed on the porch steps. 

We're talking maybe ten feet away from where I was sitting. 
Ooh boy. 

I went out to check the damage and miraculously, it did not take down the wisteria arbor or even the ferns I have hanging on it. It did not smash the air conditioner which is about the same distance away from it as I was. It did no damage at all except to flatten my beautiful ginger that I have growing in a pot that was on the steps. Hopefully, it will pop back up. I've moved it and the sprouts do not look broken, just bent. We shall see. 
We were incredibly lucky. 

So that's how the day started out. 

I have gotten some things done. I got my suitcase down and started rolling up my dresses and putting them in there. I picked up yet another dress I'd ordered off of eBay from the post office. I swear- this will be the last dress I get this summer. 
Unless I see another one I really like, of course. 

I took library books back and did a quick Costco trip, mainly for liquor because it's expensive in North Carolina. I got some gin for Jessie and Vergil and some Tito's for us and a bottle of something I'm not going to name because it's for someone that Jessie is going to give it to and although I doubt she reads my blog, on the off chance that she reads today, I don't want to ruin the surprise. If it is a surprise. I also got Mark some frozen pizzas for him to make easy meals of. 

And then I went to Publix where I got more easy-meal stuff to leave and cherries and grapes for us to take on our trip. Now let me stop here for a second. Something has happened to my taste buds when it comes to grapes. I just can't stand them anymore. Have any of y'all experienced something like that? 
I got Mr. Moon's favorite pita chips and I got some rice cakes because as you know, one must snack on the road. It is imperative. I'd rather eat Cheez Its and potato chips than rice cakes because I'm a human being but I'm already round enough. I bought laundry detergent so that there will be plenty for Mark and Rachel and Hank to do laundry if they want. I got two boxes of animal crackers to take to the boys because I had to. 
I asked Jessie to please ask the guys what they would like Mer to bring from her house. 
Levon said, "The TV" and August asked for the game "Life". 
Probably neither are going to get their wish. My version of Life is so old and it drives me crazy because of how long it takes to set up although that very fact pleases Mr. Engineer, Jr. 

Then I came home and sorted everything out, putting things we're taking in two different bags. One for when we get there and one for in the car. There will be so much more packed tomorrow. 

I started a focaccia and sliced tomatoes and they are salted and resting, draining, between two dish towels on the counter to go on the focaccia. Then I did some more laundry and a lot more ironing. 

And I am tired. Just pure-T tired. 

I did pick out a book to read to Mr. Moon on the road. I think we're going to go with Mark Childress' book, Crazy in Alabama which I read a very long time ago and enjoyed. They made a movie of it with Melanie Griffith in it in 1999 and I think it did well. The other book I was considering is Tara Westover's Educated which is an amazing book but a bit heavy for a road trip. My husband would probably rather listen to a book about a woman who has her husband's head in a Tupperware lettuce keeper than a book about child abuse, child sexual abuse, and many other horrific things in that vein. Crazy in Alabama does involve domestic abuse and racism in the south so it's not all fun murders and the startling ability of Tupperware to preserve a human head. 

But anyway, that little but very important detail has been taken care of. 

Time to go figure out whether I want to put mozzarella on the focaccia or just serve it topped with a nice green salad with vinaigrette dressing and goat cheese. 

I'm thinking goat cheese. 

Love y'all dearly...Ms. Moon