let's start with something easy

land_girl asks me:

1. When you come to live in England and join a W.I., where would you like it to be, and why?

Should I ever live in England and join the W.I. (because you know I love making cakes and going on day trips to pretty sights) I suppose being in Devon would be good. (I suspect we would live near my in-laws) I could really play up that whole Jam and Jerusalem existence with wacky folk. I would bake cakes and make jam with the best of them. I could give talks on fun with duck eggs or how to smuggle seeds in from other countries. Hopefully the W.I. would appreciate the uppity nature of an American.

2. Which Mitford sister would you be?

That is kind of like asking a person which Bennett sister they would be. Everyone says, "Oh I am totally Elizabeth" and I think for many they want to say, "I am totally Decca or Nancy" because they were fun or interesting. If I am honest with myself I would say I am probably more like Pam. Minus the whole lesbian thing. I take care of people and animals. I try and keep the peace within the family. I lack the fangirl nature of Unity, or the definite opinions of Decca or Diana. It wouldn't hurt to be like Debo now and then. A nice flock of chickens and a dior or gown or two.

3. What is growing in your garden?

This and that. The strawberry patch is flowering at the moment. Let's see there are potatoes, peas, runner beans, artichoke, pickling cukes, tomatoes, basil, rhubarb, summer squash, sunflowers, spinach, lettuce, cress, garlic and onions. There is also the herb garden (lavender, dill, french tarragon, oregano, sage, english thyme and chives) that has a sprinkling of nasturtiums. In the front garden there is rosemary and lemon thyme growing with some things like rose campion, sweet peas, fire witch, tulips and something else... I forget the name of it. Plus I have mint growing in some spots around the house. I probably have something else but I can never remember.

4. What are you wearing right now?

A blue long-sleeved t-shirt from The Gap, a pair of yoga pants and some fancy blue topaz studs in my ears. Because I am fun like that. I think someone got applesauce on my last pair of clean trousers.

5. If you were to go back to studying full time, what would it be?

I think the idea of being in university makes me want to fall asleep. I love learning but having to write papers on what the author really meant or listening to some yahoo in class argue with the teacher about the semantics of Jihad vs. McWorld (a book I had to read years ago) would make me go mad. I like reading history... But if I was made to go back to some sort of formal educational experience I suppose I might go to cooking school. Learn to conquer frosting and so on.

a brief moment

My son just made his sister laugh by peeking behind his art easel and saying, "Would you like a party here my little darling?" He then put her hair clip in her hair and said, "And now she is a cute baby sister."
So my Mom is right. They can indeed entertain one another.

I am keeping an eye on them because it can go from a happy fun time to chaos in about three seconds. (someone hitting someone or knocking someone over) But that being said it is definitely one of life's pleasures hearing them giggle with one another.

And now they are pulling books off of the shelves and making loud noises.