I forgot to mention skunk on yesterday's Alcott House wildlife list. One passed through the yard last night, and the smell gave Little Chuck quite a surprise. In other news, maybe we've finally conquered the bat problem. I found a gap behind the trim on one of the bedroom windows, which T caulked up last night. Here's hoping we've finally plugged the hole.

Not much desk work will get done today. The sweep is coming this morning to clean the chimney, so I will be on Little Chuck patrol. Then I'm getting a haircut, and then I'll have to bake something or other for my evening writing group, and in between times I'll scrub bathrooms and get started on floors, if I can take my eyes off that cat. Wriggling into soot seems like a hobby he'd really enjoy.

We're supposed to get some rain this evening and into tomorrow. I hope that's true. A good soaking rain would be so pleasant. Yesterday I cut the season's first baby cabbage (magically untouched by the groundhog) and stir-fried it with fresh red onion, soy-roasted tofu, and lots of cilantro, green garlic, and Thai basil. I do love kitchen-garden life--wandering out late in the afternoon to ponder "What do I have? And what can I do with it?" It is such a luxurious way to cook.

Teresa and I are beginning to cogitate about next year's conference theme, and the word that is resonating is transformations. I thought, during the stress of the past few weeks, How will I ever dredge up the energy to invent new plans? But now I am full of ideas and excitement about new plans--next year's conference, my upcoming Poetry Kitchen class, my high school sessions. And I have a new poem draft, and I'm going out to write again tonight . . . It is such a relief to feel my mind back at work.