For many varied and unusual reasons, this blog is moving. 

This address will stay for a while in case you need to catch up. 

http://duchessoflanier.blogspot.com/

(Duchess of Lanier)

We are off on a field trip of sorts downtown later today.  I’ll be the sleepy one.  I’m reminded of my favorite Anne Rivers Siddons novel, Downtown and the lyrics sung by Petunia Clark woven throughout the book and my life.  Thank you, Duke, for being my inspiration to move to the big city.  I love our life, but I do miss all the fun we had downtown.  And yes, in response to the small-minded comment directed at us this week, yes, we actually did go to events quite a lot.  And it was crowded, and it was such great fun!

Downtown recorded by Petula Clark

When you’ve got worries, all the noise and hurry
Seems to help, I know
Downtown

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose? The lights are much brighter there…
You can forget all your troubles; forget all your cares, and go
Downtown — things will be great when you’re
Downtown — you’ll find a place for sure
Downtown — everything’s waiting for you

Don’t hang around, and let your problems surround you,
There are movie shows
Downtown

Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close
Downtown

Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle Bossa Nova
You’ll be dancing with ‘em too before the night is over,
Happy again…
The lights are much brighter there,
You can forget all your troubles; forget all your cares, and go
Downtown — where all the lights are bright
Downtown — waiting for you tonight
Downtown — you’re gonna be all right now…

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you;
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along…
So maybe I’ll see you there,
We can forget all our troubles; forget all our cares, and go
Downtown — things will be great when you’re
Downtown — don’t wait a minute more
Downtown — everything’s waiting for you…

The organizing and planning that goes into collecting the documents that make up our homestudy are enough to lead me to the decision to employ an assistant.  Yet the services which advertise themselves as document assistants really do not manage the entire process.  There is a niche business opportunity here.  Right now, I would happily open my wallet in lieu of opening my planner and trying to schedule or reschedule another task.  Didn’t I once have a lady in waiting?  Where is my assistant?  When did she leave my service?  Ahh, yes, ’twas the day our first package of paperwork instructions arrived.  How can I teach dear KK puppy to write and drive and impersonate me?

The Duke had a special birthday last week!  He celebrated with friends at the camp house and with family at our traditional favorite,  Dante’s Down the Hatch.  Gifts ranged from quite funny to cherished photos to a little weekend getaway to his favorite spot from me.  Photos of DL with Donte plus gift opening to come.  He’s the same age a the “Box (with sharpener!) of 64 Crayola”, another present he received form me!  A good time was had by all!

Five For Fighting

*Click Here to Listen*

Lose the Earthquakes – Keep the Faults
Fill the oceans without the salt
Let every Man own his own Hand

Sunlight’s on the Bridge
Sunlight’s on the Way
Tomorrow’s Calling

There’s more to this than Love

What Kind of world do you want
Think Anything
Let’s start at the start
Build a masterpiece

History Starts Now

*sigh*

More than sixty days later, caught in what is sure to be in the future referred to as “the online system backlog”, we have PA.  Lady L REALLY is now waiting for us.  And the best part is being able to dance and tell everyone that we are expecting a baby girl to be home by Christmas. 

We also had our first visit with our social worker this week.  Releif.  She is knowledgable and experienced and wants us to bring our daughter home as soon as possible.  Balance is good.  A focus on the family is good.  We have great confindence. 

Oh, dear darling daughter…

Introducing Chu Wei, to be Lady L. 

Our Daughter…

Now you can see why we are head over heels for her…

Grandmother Lila’s garden had beds overflowing with red amaryllis in the summertime.  These remind me of her and how I spent countless happy spring and summer days playing outside as she tended her flowers.  How I wish she were still here and could know of our daughter!

Here’s a site where you can play with your monogram ideas in different formats and fonts.  You’ll have to look for the link on their homepage.  Right now it is “new” and in red.  Enjoy!

http://store.ringboxyahoo.com/moco.html