Dinner with the Tobins

Last evening Rob and Linda Tobin, their two children, Emil and Drew, and Rob's Mom, Lois came to visit. They are on a swing through the west and they came through Phoenix to visit me and it was such a delight to spend time with them. I fixed dinner, steaks, asparagus, salad and brownies for desert and that was the first time I have tried to entertain that way. It was a milestone for me.
All went quite well. The steaks were a little rare, but everyone was very polite and said that is how they like their steaks. The kids loved the pool and we had a great time sipping wine and snacking before dinner and relaxing after dinner.
I did learn somethings though by virtue of having the whole process of prepaing the house and he meal, etc. What I learned is that I could have been a lot more helpful to Scottie whenever she prepared to have people for dinner. I was always a little indifferent about how the house looked or whether the front walk was swept off, etc. Now I realize how much it meant to her to have the house looking nice for company and how much work it is to get it ready and to prepare and serve and clean up a meal for 7 people. I could have helped a lot more than I did and been more sensitive to how much it meant to her to have everything as nice as possible. I am not beating myself up iover it, it is just one of those things you learn and wixh you had learned it sooner. Mike helped a great deal and Linda helped a lot also. But still and all it was a humbling lesson for me in some ways. On the other hand, I also felt some real pride that I did it all and that it all went so smoothly and I really enjoyed doing it. So it was a great experience for me and one I will look forward to repeating again.
The flagstone patio is still in process. Diego comes and works a few hours each afternoon and he thinks he will get it all finished tomorrow. It will really be fantastic to have it done and I know it will be beautiful.
Tomorrow evening Tom and Carol Goretzki are coming over to see the house and then we are going out for dinner. Keeping in contact with them is really important to me, and I am anxious to show them the new? house.
Earlier today I worked on one of the photos I took at Bosque del Apache the last time I ws there in 2007. It is a rich image of blue sky and blue water shot at dawn with just a hint of first light in the sky. The image is really about the various textures and tomes of blue in the water and in. the sky. I enlarged it to 36"x24" and took it to be printed earlier this afternoon. They should have the print ready to review on Tuesday and assuming it comes out OK I will have it mounted on a museum mount and I plan to hang it in the master bedroom on the wall over the bed. I think it will be beautifl there. I still have to get a queen size bed ( I just have my twin size bed in there now, and frankly it looks a little funny). I will get a new bed after Mike moves out. After he leaves I plan to take my twin size bed and make it inot a day bed in what is now Mike's room and then get a queen size bed for the master bedroom. Slowly things will all come together I am sure.
Well that is it for today. this evening I hope to get some more reading done. I am reading Scott McClellan's book on the lies about the war and other deceipts perptrated by theBush White House and it is fascinating.
Adios for now.
Glenn+