We are grandparents! Of approximately 20 keets (baby guineas) and 10 chicks. All except 8 of which were hatched under Mrs. Buffy - the broody hen we had borrowed from another farmer. They hatched nearly 2 weeks ago and she, bless her heart, seems not to know (or care) which are keets and which are chicks - they swarm around her in a state of constant motion (hence our inability to count the precise number) and every last one of them tucks in under her ample wings when it's time for a nap.

We had to bring 2 of the keets inside for special care - one with a seeming broken leg (who died after 5 days of a feisty battle) and one with little curled up toes which are now almost straight, thanks to the splints we put on him - kind of like snowshoes. His name is Big (because he was bigger than Little, the one who died) but now we've brought him 2 other healthy ones to keep him company he's actually quite small - but we continue to call him Big. He runs to you to be petted and will fall asleep on his feet when cooed at. We are totally enchanted, Paul, Nataw and I. (No kidding!)

We lost one chick to a black snake - which was caught in the act of strangling it. But not before it had snaffled down 6 eggs from the nest in the chook house - we know it was 6 because we could see the 6 egg shaped lumps in the snake's body. Ian, who is fearless of non-poisonous snakes and kind to animals, picked it up and took it a few miles down the road so that it can eat the mice at the horse farm there. Today, we are building a snake-proof enclosure for the chicks in a corner of the chook house.

Monday, as well as being Memorial Day, was our first wedding anniversary. And what a lovely one it was - our first year of marriage, that is, and the anniversary itself. We had breakfast outside on the deck and I gave Paul his present - a registration to a one-day writing and yoga workshop to be led by the UNC teacher whom he's been studying with this year. I had wanted it to be a surprise and so had had some email correspondence with Richard, asking him not to let on to Paul about it. And it was indeed a complete surprise - it brought tears to his eyes, the dear man. It was such fun to plan that.

The rest of the day was very mellow - we went to a nice co-op for lunch and then came home and laid in the hammock in the shade for most of the afternoon - meditating, snoozing, reading, talking.

Ian (Paul's oldest) and his girlfriend, Valeda, came over for a cookout - and it was just one of those evenings where you keep saying afterwards "oh, wasn't that a nice evening?"

We have been thinking over the last months about a name for our "farm" and Bed and Breakfast to-be. And I was drawn to naming it after the place where very dear friends live in Tasmania - "The Deepings." I knew it had special meaning for them, but could not remember what. And so had written to Roslyn, asking her to tell me the story again, and to ask if they would consider the possibility of us using the name.

On the morning of our anniversary came her reply. I quote, "We would be absolutely thrilled, honoured, and we are definitely absolutely humbled, that you should want to pick up the name The Deepings and carry it on to the far side of the earth." I guess that means "yes, go ahead"!!! Yay!

The name itself comes from a collection of villages on the east coast of England and there are some wonderful saints and personalities from the 6-7th centuries associated with that area - St Guthlac and St Pega.

So we will be "The Deepings at (or "of"?) Hillsborough" adding the last part to make it our own, and are so happy to have that connection with Roslyn and Adrian's home.

Talking about names, Ian, who just happens to be a web designer designed me a super website for my new enterprise tutoring in computer usage, The Last Coach. Check it out - I'm really pleased with it.

That's all for now. My latest gluten-free bread for Paul is rising in the kitchen - I now have found the knack of getting it to be truly "feather light." I love to bake and cook for him - he is one of the most appreciative people I've ever cooked for. I think being so much in love makes the baking more special for me and probably makes it taste even better for him! Maybe.

Our garden is a thing of beauty - and so much pleasure. We got a truck load of horse compost from a friend last week - Nataw and I driving out, loading up the friend's truck, driving back, shoveling it all out, driving the truck back, driving our car home - and have added it to all our plants, vegies, trees, bushes, and flowers alike. We 3 work outside for a couple hours every day - right after breakfast, and then in the evening - and an afternoon siesta or meditation has become the standard in this house.

Our chicken hen has been sitting on the 24 guinea eggs and 4 chicken eggs for what seems forever (3 and a half weeks) and the babes are due this weekend. We are so excited. And, now that those silly guinea hens have seen what they should be doing, one of them (sometimes joined by a friend) has taken to sitting on another nest in the chook house. They are a source of constant amusement.

Mothers Day on Sunday - Ian and Nataw (Shem was away) made me a special brunch - and she brought me an arrangement of flowers from the garden in the evening. I keep saying "oh, thank you God, thank you, thank you, thank you" for these amazing and wonderful stepchildren of mine. Not only are they just such a delight, but they love me too - and as a bonus, we get to spend time with them all - Nataw living at home with us at the moment, and the boys being so close by.

Now that school is over, I'm out of work. Ro-roh.

So I had this great idea. You know I used to do a lot of computer training? So I'm putting together flyers, ads, website to get the word out that I am just the person you need to come into your home and hold your hand and teach you - at your own pace and on your own computer - how to use the damn thing. I'm aiming more at older people. I know there are free courses in libraries - but you get what you pay for. I think this thing of mine has great potential. I'm going to go and talk with people in retirement homes too. And the name of this operation? "The Last Coach" (you'll ever need). "Coach" is an in word. People have personal coaches, and exercise coaches and who knows what else. I don't expect this to be full time, but to fill in even when I'm doing adjunct work.

I had great reports from my students at Meredith - one wrote that I was "awesome" - another, that she had learned SO much. I so enjoyed having them.