"Thought makes every thing fit for use." -- Emerson

James cooked Leroy's birthday dinner last night: a beautiful rib roast, fresh green beans, salad, rosemary diamente bread, and an amazing invented squash-ginger-carrot soup, with roasted pistachios on top. He is as accomplished and curious a cook as his father.

The meal was amazing, and followed an afternoon photo shoot by our photographer friend Suzie. The photo shoot for a holiday picture in October means that my cards will go out on time this December.

As I write this, James is flying back to Pittsburgh, where he leads a well thought-out life.