Author Archives: fustianist

I finally screwed up the courage to call about a property we were particularly interested in in Oxford.  I’m new enough that calling England is still rather exciting–and nerve-wracking.  After several good signs (still available?  yes.  floor plans available?  yes.) … Continue reading →

Why so quiet around here?  On Monday we got the go-ahead from Oxford to apply for our visas.  This has now consumed pretty much every free minute.  It seems the UK has outsourced this process to private contractors, and apparently … Continue reading →

This afternoon Sydney’s mom and I took Katherine blueberry picking.  To my great surprise, we actually picked a fair number of blueberries while Katherine entertained herself.  She ran the rows, carefully selected blue berries from the lower branches, and was … Continue reading →

After watching me waver between another nap and reading, Sydney ushered Katherine and me into the car and on a tour of some of the area’s beaches.  We took Katherine out on the sand (no mud this time), where she … Continue reading →

I am quite sure that most people don’t wait until their first child is out of the house to have a second.  But how are you supposed to give the first child anything when the second limits you to one … Continue reading →

Clapping her hands is a new and favorite activity.  Usually because she wants us to imitate her and say, “Good job, Katherine!” She happened to be both clean and in a fantastic mood (two things that rarely go together).  But … Continue reading →

Last night a bunch of the young people from Sydney’s community got together to play volleyball.  As I learned last time we visited, there is apparently nothing that gets me more excited than the possibility of playing volleyball.  I don’t … Continue reading →

This morning I drove Katherine to the farmer’s market, half an hour away, where her grandmother was selling vegetables and her uncle was serving up cheesecake and salad for the Tastes of the Valley culinary competition (which he won!).  We … Continue reading →

In the back yard of the cabin there is a small clump of blueberry bushes.  Today our landlord kindly encouraged us to take advantage of them, since he gets plenty from his daughter.  We dove right in!  A big bowl … Continue reading →

I am feeling much better in this pregnancy than I did when I was at this point with Katherine.  Regular meals, for example, rather than subsisting on popcorn and sparkling water.  And I like a lot of things I definitely … Continue reading →