8 September 2012.

Today came as a welcome respite after a string of nine-to-nine (or sometimes nine-to-ten) school days. We slept in and woke up to a morning that reminded me of the best days in Northern Ireland: after last night's rain, the air was fresh and cool, and a gentle northwest wind was blowing, but the clouds had not yet broken. After breakfast Scott forayed outside to start his latest project, removing ivy from the southeast corner of the house, while I started housecleaning.

Outside Eric showed up, and he and Scott spent the morning splitting wood. The last people who owned the house left an enormous tree in sections along the east fence. It's probably oak or hackberry and has probably been sitting there for quite some time, judging by the size of the fungi growing on some of it. They had a grand old time with their mallets. I eventually finished--all the windows open, everything clean--and ate some lunch.

At half one Eric and I drove down to the church to help load the Bs' truck. Today is the day of the church picnic, which is always organized by the outreach committee. The Bs had volunteered to help set up and tear down, thankfully. Those four extra pairs of hands were extremely helpful, not to mention the cheerful, entertaining stream of chatter from wee Naomi about their goats and their two dogs.

At the Building and Trades Park, we unloaded the truck, set up three shelters, strung the volleyball net, and laid out all the grilling supplies. Gradually people from the church began to arrive. The Ws started a fierce volleyball game, while Bob and Tom collected enough other people for ultimate frisbee. In the shade, someone had laid out a couple of corn hole boards, so those less inclined toward running around enjoyed the more leisurely game. The kids dashed about madly everywhere. The ones who weren't playing volleyball or frisbee had two playgrounds, lawn darts, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles to choose from. So all-in-all, it was quite a happy, lively gathering.

I spent most of the time chatting with Miriam about her work as a speech pathologist, and then with Mary, Miriam, and Sierra about pets--Miriam has two parakeets, and Sierra, who has just moved out on her own, recently acquired a kitten.

At about half four Eric fired up the grill, with Keith's help, and soon billows of blue smoke were adding their pungent scent to the gathering. Enormous clouds drifted through the blue sky, shadows chasing each other over the vast flat playing field, where volleyball, frisbee, and now soccer were all underway. I talked to Amy to organize meals for students, said hello to Lisa and to Thomas, who are both back in town after stints away, and started a conversation with Angie.

This was curtailed by the signal being given for dinner. Hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. Scott and I sat with Rachel Cosens and wee Nathan and Elizabeth. I talked to Rachel about homeschooling and how that's working out for them. As usual our conversation was punctuated by her having to stop and feed one of the two kids or stop them from bouncing everywhere (Elizabeth was particularly lively today).

After dinner I found Angie again so that we could finish our conversation--though first I got to talk to Minda about how they're doing, about her experience starting school with wee Emily (who's only five). When Angie and I did get to sit down and talk, though, it was encouraging.

By now the picnic had begun to wind down. It was seven o'clock, and the air was quite chilly. We packed up the cars. I horsed around with Anne and Jane, keeping them entertained while Amy was on her way over. I rode back to the church with Lena, helped unload, and then walked home.

At home Lisa, Laura, Eric, and Mary came over. Lisa had brought chocolate-peanut-butter brownies and the ingredients for s'mores. Scott has a metal fire pit which has been languishing behind the garage for awhile, so he dragged it around to the patio by the pond and lit a fire. We sat around it for a couple of hours, relishing. Our small group hasn't been together in one place, just the half-dozen of us, for quite awhile, and there was something very refreshing, almost comforting about being able to sit and talk or not talk, staring into the fire or up at the stars all the while. The fire burned warm and bright in front of us, with the falling water chattering behind. Chilly night air. Above, Cygnus and Casseiopeia. So pleasant. Calm, sheltered there behind the house.

At about half ten, everyone said good-night, and we went our separate ways.