Carol Highsmith and another bit of a ramble

I took this photo when we were at Lewis Ginter Gardens a while back. I have another post about this urn if you click here.

Carol Highsmith is an amazing photographer. I listened to her being interviewed by Brian Lamb last Sunday night (17th) on C-Span. What I liked about her was that her passion for photography really comes through, and she laughs easily and came across as a very nice lady, one whom you would enjoy having a chat with about her obvious incredible talent, about her life, her travels. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her and made a note of her website. Many of the photographs shown on the show are on her site. Click here to see them if you are interested. I was in awe.

I have always enjoyed Brian Lamb interviews. Gregg has been listening to him for years and I first learned about Mr. Lamb through him and it wasn't long before I became a big fan. He asks interesting questions and actually allows his guests to talk about themselves, and does not interrupt until they have finished talking. It made for a great interview.

My thoughts have been with my niece in Germany as she had minor surgery (not so minor if you're having it of course) and was in hospital for a week recovering. She is back home now and I'm hoping to catch up with her on Skype today, or at least in the next day or so. She is very dear to me and I have always called her my little sister, as in many ways we are very alike.

Gregg is working in Washington DC and went off this morning feeling better, though not 100 percent by a long shot. The medication for the poison oak/ivy - I really have to get out there and take a photo of the stuff so that I can go online and find out which - not getting that close - will take it with my zoom lens!!! - is doing its job, as he had a pretty good night's sleep last night. Thank goodness for that!

We've had overnight company, my in-laws Celia and Gully. It was a short but fun visit as they arrived yesterday in the early afternoon and left this morning at eight o'clock. When we see them we always wish it could be for longer but I am happy that they are going on such a fun road trip and am looking forward to hearing more stories and seeing all the photographs. Celia enjoys taking them as much as I do and I will be sharing some of her lovely shots in the not too distant future. Tonight they hope to stop in Ohio. They are on their way to a family wedding in North Dakota and are visiting friends along the way.

Tomorrow evening we are expecting one of my sister-in-laws who is in town on business. She will be staying for a couple of days. I am also getting together with friends and after having to postpone our last get-together I didn't want to change things around again, as even though I said for them to go ahead they said no, we'll get together next week instead.

I was going to show you the work we have done in our family room. We had floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookcases made by a very talented young man we found through his dad and brother who had previously painted the family room and kitchen, and eventually will do the whole house. Finding this family was our lucky day as they are like gold. Anyway, it's taking me longer than I had thought to fill the shelves as I haven't had much time, but hopefully I will show them in next Monday's post.

I'm longing to get out of here but I have a repairman coming to sort our air-conditioning out. With the heat index getting up to 110 this week we need it working properly and it's struggling to give us cold air. The unit isn't that old but it has become apparent that we have a problem, and I am hoping they will be able to fix it today. This being the case the doorbell just went and I answered it thinking it would be the repairman. It was another man from the county wearing a bright red shirt with matching cap, and a tag clipped on his shirt pocket saying County Assessor or something like that. I thought yes I can make one of those easily on my Paint Shop Pro program. I can be so suspicious and yes Gregg would probably laugh and say once again, "Policeman's daughter!" Anyhow, the man said he was conducting property assessments in the neighborhood. He asked questions about how many rooms did we have, bathrooms, had we had a new kitchen done, did we have a basement, etc., etc? I honestly didn't like answering these nosy questions and I said you don't expect to come inside to measure things do you, because I'm not letting you over the doorstep?

He was quite nice and friendly, a jolly smile and I certainly am not comparing him with Jack the Ripper, but I'm sure Jack the Ripper and his ilk had a jolly friendly smile? So there I was at the door answering all the questions that I didn't feel were too intrusive, with a nice friendly smile too while watching my neighbors in the background, and he didn't see me with the big heavy flashlight I had in my hand at the ready just out of sight, and the other hand on the door ready to slam it shut at any sudden movement. I'm a big girl and all the time he was talking I was weighing him up and saying to myself, yep, I could push him off that doorstep like a feather while screaming blue-bloody-murder if I had to, while backing inside quick as a flash and slamming the ruddy door faster than a speeding bullet. Yes even that thought crossed my mind. After all, I am a policeman's daughter, just ask Gregg, and I probably am overly caution to the max as he will attest to. I remember the self-defense moves my Dad taught me and the quiet chats about a young girl avoiding certain situations, being aware of body language, even checking out a person's eyes, etc., etc. I still fully believe that you can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes, the windows of the soul don't you know. I can always tell when a person is smiling with his mouth but not with his eyes, or her eyes. Policeman's daughter well trained in childhood, what can I say? Thanks Dad!

Yes, my imagination can start rolling down the hill like a snowball sometimes, can't it Gregg? But to this day I am always aware of my surroundings when I go outside and I never take what anyone says to me at face value. Policeman's daughter? Yes, and very proud of it I might add. My Dad always took care of his girls' welfare and again, thanks Dad!

All this being said I normally never answer the door to anyone when I am on my own, and I was mentally kicking myself that I had this time. The repairman isn't supposed to come until this afternoon, but I will look through the blinds and see what his van says first. If it doesn't have anything to do with air-conditioning on the side, he can tootle on back to wherever and I'll cook inside the house for a few more days. Sometimes everyone needs a little reminder that safety comes first and there's always a nicely air-conditioned shopping mall to walk around. I am always thankful on hot days that the previous owners of this house installed ceiling fans in practically every room.

Fanciful meanderings not meant to be taken too seriously, but with a point. Do be careful when opening the door. Years ago it seemed that we didn't have to take so much care.

Added note: the repairman came and I didn't even have to bop anyone over the head with my truncheon-like flashlight. He looked hot and thirsty and I took pity on him. I asked him if he he would like a glass of water. I keep a large jug in the fridge. He was in a hurry to get to his next job and said he wouldn't mind a cold bottle of water to take with him if I had it. Unfortunately I did not but offered him a large bottle of icy cold Pelegrino instead. He accepted gratefully. I almost said, "Lime with that?" but before I could he thanked me and was on his way. Yes I'm joking and no I didn't offer him lime. Bless his cotton socks, we now have cool air running through the house. Hope everyone else is able to stay cool out there while this heatwave is going on.