This past week was my one week off between the spring and summer semesters teaching. I had a really nice time at home. Sunday Mama put together a Subway sandwich picnic on the porch. Grammy was here, and Andy, Jessica, Allie and Layla came over. Afterward Allie and I stayed outside, gave Truman a chance to eat some yummy grass, and then played on the lawn. 
Monday Allie had a softball game. She's Number 12, plays "behind shortstop" (a special mid-left field position), and has lost her two front teeth. 
I took several walks and got some pictures. The roadsides are full of coreopsis (the gold flowers) and there's one spot where some climbing roses are all wild over the road. On one of my walks I made friends with some cows, as I often do. I should remember to tell Allie I didn't have to wiggle my bottom at them to get them to come (her method). 
And there was wildlife: five or six foot black snake on the dirt road and a skink Andy caught in their kitchen. 
I came back to Little Rock with a trunk full of discount stuff from the Food Mission, a sack of freshly-picked kale and spinach, and some cups of zinnia seedlings planted in worm castings Allie and I dug up from the ditch by the dirt road. What a wondrous worm habitat to play in!
Two weeks ago was Mama's OLT production of Meshuggeh Nuns. It was lots of fun, and everybody came. Layla had to be held a lot out in the lobby, but that meant I got to dance with her. Afterwards we had birthday cake for Gramma, and Allie spent the night. Saturday morning I took her to her soccer game. She was back in the evening, still incredibly full of energy: play outside (a game in the pasture involving CB radios, magic wands, the cedar tree as a lair, and villains named Ursula and Dracula), bath, make cookies for Gramma, and finally I settled her on the couch and rubbed her back while she watched TV. The apple trees were blossoming. It was a really nice weekend. 
Last weekend I went to Heifer Ranch in Perryville for their Earth Day celebration. It's sort of an open house/activity day at the farm they use for education and research about small-scale sustainable agriculture. They also have a "global village" of different types of houses from developing countries. (Here's a link to a page about Heifer International's work.) Gorgeous day, beautiful scenery, and I got to see and touch the camels, llamas, ducks, goats, water buffalo, and bunnies. 
I've got one more week of classes, then finals. It's the busy time of the semester. The students are distracted and burned out, and I think we're all ready to be finished. Thank goodness for coffee!
