Pheww!

I don't write often here about my grad school work, what with this being a cozy hiding place from life's various stressors, but... whoo-hoo, people! Yesterday I finished editing the first chapter of my dissertation! (The chapters are all written - now they need to be rewritten, and then I will be able to defend and get my degree.) That is also why I've been away from the bloggie a bit - well, that, and a lovely trip to Boston with my mom to see my grandma:



and to show Jakey off to the rest of the family, including his uncle (well, cousin once removed, technically, I guess) Phil:



I came back to lovely weather, a beautiful and happy family, and a weekend of picnics: