Tue Jul  7 10:02 EDT 1998
Weekend Update: July 2-6

On Thursday, we found the last strawberry patch in the solar system
that was still permitting pick-your-own and the pickings were less
than ideal.  There were plenty of juicy red strawberries all right,
but many of them were over-ripe and rotting.  However, we were able to
find 29 pounds of strawberries to make jam for the year plus some.
Joy makes a sugar-free (or reduced) batch for her dad, who insists
that he didn't get any last year.  Joy says she's going to make him
sign a release form for this year's batch.  I think she should hold $5
per jar, which he can have back when he returns the jam jar; that will
guarantee his memory!  The company that evening got strawberry
shortcake.

On Friday, the Hodsdons from Bangor, Maine came to visit for a couple
of really short days.  Chuck has a law practice and Judy is his
administrative assistant.  Chuck likes to fish in leech infested
waters.  He said that the leeches leave him alone out of professional
courtesy.  I periodically ask him if he'd handle my divorce and he
always says yes, but he'd represent Joy and leave me with nothing.  I
guess I'll stay married a bit longer.  We enjoyed the Pepperell
fireworks display with the Hodsdons, the MacFadgens, and the Papes.
The whole town turned out, I think.

On Saturday, we enjoyed the small town parade, with tanks, and clowns,
and farm tractors, and school bands (in which Emily and Andrew
marched).  We enjoyed wonderful weather by the pool and sparklers that
evening with the added company of Brice and Donna Allen.

Sunday was a nice day of rest and recovery, because we stayed up late
reminiscing and relating the nights before.  I decided to bookend the
weekend by taking Monday off, too, spending time beside the pool in
between tasks in the pool house.  The new window is in and the drywall
is almost ready to be sanded.  It won't be long now till that project
is done.

I read with fascination some exerpts from Krista White's emails about
her experiences in Romania this summer.  If you are able to get a copy
but haven't yet, do it; it is rivetting material.  She has my
admiration!  My wife commented also on the remarkable Dorothy Tarrant,
who lives there year-round.  We're grateful that Krista was able to
bring Romania so "close" to us through her words!

I hope you had a great fourth of July weekend.  Rev. Farmer in
Scotland informed me that they do indeed have a fourth of July there,
too, in between the third and the fifth.  :-)

God bless!

Mark
Mark Metcalfe                                      .    .   __.----.___
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.    ,                 (\(__)/)-'        ;--`
270 Billerica Rd   MA 04        \_0__,             `(oo)'  metcalfe |
Chelmsford, MA 01824              M                 )  (   @cadence |
Phone: (978) 446-6451            .|\.              (o  o)  .com    ,/
Fax:   (978) 446-6351                              '`--'\_    _____|
Email: metcalfe@cadence.com             \|/\|/\|/   /|\  `||~||   ||
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