Books, Boulder and Vacation

It's slightly hazy outside this morning - Boulder got a drop or two of rain, but nothing like areas to our south.  Centennial had 2.17 inches of rain fall in one hour, and there was flooding with floating cars in both Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs.  I'm glad we didn't have it here, but I feel sorry for those afflicted by the rain.
   Amazing as it may seem, I have never read Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows.  I began it last night, and will finish it this afternoon.  It is such a delightful tale!  I knew the premise of the story, and I've been on "Mister Toad's Wild Ride" on almost every visit to DisneyWorld - but I have never actually read the book.  I can easily see why it became a classic children's book; you feel that you know each and every one of the characters.  Now I'll have to run down copies of his books published before 1900, and read about the orphaned children and the adults they knew (whom they called Olympians).  I think what surprised me even more than finding a copy of The Wind in the Willows in this particular private library, was finding a copy of Marguerite Henry's Justin Morgan Had a Horse immediately next to it...
   Rosie and I have been spending laid back and relaxed days at her house; I travel home twice a day to spend time with my kits, Lovey and Nedi.  The next time I take a vacation, I'll have to stay at home for a week after my return, so the kits won't be so traumatized about my leaving again.  But both kits are getting used to having a roommate; and Beatrice is getting used to having the kits around.  Lovey talks to her frequently, and Bea has discovered that Nedi will readily converse and beg for love, if she's using my computer.  Lola, Cooper, Pounce and Tipsi's family returned yesterday afternoon - all is well on Tamarack Court.  I was disappointed that none of the tomatoes were quite ripe enough to harvest, but the several carrots I pulled and washed were totally delicious.
   I am still remembering how much fun I had on Chincoteague and Assateague.  Since it was planned as a vacation, there were a few things that I had planned to do during my 13 days there - see the ponies in the Holding Pens, see the Dawn Beach Walk, see the Pony Parade on Main Street, and see the Pony Auction.  My other big desire was to buy and consume a funnel cake at the Carnival grounds.  I did all of those things.  I also got to speak with Dr Charlie Cameron, the veterinarian for the Chincoteague ponies, and also the vet for my cats when I lived on the island.
  I surprised myself by being very content to sit on the back porch of the rental house, sprawled in a rocking chair, and just reading and watching the world go by.   The back porch was a covered deck, with steps down to our dock and private pier; it overlooked the Assateague Channel, and we could easily see the Lighthouse.  A hundred yards or so  to the north was a kayak and canoe lessons and rental spot - and watching people try to paddle for the first time was funny.  I watched one couple, fighting an incoming tide, go under our dock six times in 15 minutes.  At low tide, the smell of the marsh mud was a balm for my soul.  The sounds of the sea birds - even the piercing cries of the gulls - brought contentment to my heart.  The constant lapping of the water against the rocks and the pilings were a constant lullaby.  (And I was extremely lucky in that the mosquitoes were not attracted to me, and didn't like the way that I smelled or tasted.  In my 13 days on the island, I was bitten once, by a yellow fly, on the back of my knee at dusk.)  An excellent vacation, overall.