Last weekend we had the final retirement fête for Clif. Dee came home from New York, and Clif was treated to a meal at the Great Impasta in Brunswick. As the accompanying picture indicates, Clf was toasted as well. May he have a long, healthy, happy, and creative retirement.

Dee left yesterday, and her extended stay gave all of us a mini-vacation. It also gave us a chance to celebrate Dee’s birthday, which is at the end of the month. At her request, I made cheddar cheese soup from a recipe I have adapted from a Moosewood cookbook. The whole family loves it, and this soup is rich and satisfying, just perfect for special occasions. I also made a double batch of biscuits—another request from Dee—and a salad with romaine lettuce, roasted walnuts, feta, and sliced apples rounded out the meal. Naturally there was cake. Chocolate.

While Dee was here, we saw a couple of movies. One—Martian—was very good, and the other—Maze Runner—was all right.

Now, it’s back to reality. This afternoon, I have a dental appointment so that I can have a permanent crown installed. (Having six crowns should certainly make me a queen, don’t you think?) While I am feeling much, much better, I have an annoying dry cough that will not go with keeping my mouth open for nearly an hour while my dentist drills and installs the permanent crown.

I have doused myself with Benadryl, and my mouth is sweet from too many cough drops. I’ll take another Benadryl just before I leave, and Clif will be driving in case I get drowsy.

Normally, I would have canceled the appointment, but our dental insurance runs out at the end of the month, and the crown is expensive.  I don’t want to pay out-of-pocket for it.

Never a dull moment at the little house in the big woods.