A welcome visit by Carol Bostian; otherwise a mostly quiet day with plenty of empty parking spaces along the street . . . Would you believe? This is the 101st entry in this log? Seems like yesterday. Guess I am just a long-winded gossip . . . Lacking other news, it is time for a commercial. This flat-sided cast iron pig doorstop stands about nine inches high and sells for $24. Only have one in stock . . . Send us an e-mail if you want to reserve it.

Car break-in overnight in Oliver Alley behind 246 North Street . . . Visited by Yvonne Brown who brought cookies for JJ and me . . . You will see our first advert in TheBurg this month; it hit the streets today . . . It is official: Victoria Zellers has rented Matt Simmons' house and is moving back into the neighborhood on Thursday. Street will be posted for the moving van, so be careful where you park . . . The promised new shipment of Campbell Pottery arrived today; bought several of his beautiful new Waterfall bowls which sell for $38 each . . . I accidentally spilled his orange juice on JJ's artwork-in-progress this afternoon; he was not pleased and assigned me a "Time Out;" I had to sit in a chair for five minutes and no amount of pleading would reduce my sentence. . . Just learned that numerous restaurants in the area offer some very good bargains for kids--some even free! Go to http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/ and type in your zip code . . .

Welcome visits from Robin Janes and Carl Kepner . . . Waited all day for thundershowers which never materialized . . . Several of us were invited to Madeline and Syd's last Friday night; excellent pasta soup and great hunks of delicious bread. Syd showed off his sculptures but thankfully didn't ask us to help move them into the new apartment . . . Years and years ago (so far back I don't remember the year) our neighborhood and a few others were 'spot assessed' which was clearly unlawful. Property owners banded together and sued. The suit was won and we recouped some of our money (which, incidentally, then led to a countywide re-assessment). BUT we were deprived of the interest on our unfairly collected funds, so negotiations continued on and on and on. Well, I am happy to say that last week we finally received our 'interest' checks. It only took about 20 years. . . Wasn't a protracted court case the subject of Dickens' Bleak House or another of his works? I gotta look that up ! . . .

Happy birthday to my sister in Everett . . . A mostly gloomy day. Ignored business and did things I enjoy (much to the amusement of my friends). . . Put out a new jigsaw puzzle . . . Learned about chicken farming in Wales. They have an "animal rescue" operation of sorts. When caged layers are no longer productive they are not slaughtered; rather they are given to farmers and villagers where they can happily "free range" for the rest of their lives. Do we have such a program here? . . . then on to Scotland where I learned there are fall-bearing raspberries; that was news to me . . . watched some train videos; the Swiss ones are scenic but I like the British ones best with their visits to quaint villages and English Heritage and National Trust sites. (But it isn't a real train if it doesn't "smoke" according to JJ.) . . . Bob scores a 'ten' for his pumpkin pie . . . the clock offered in yesterday's post has been sold . . . the Steelers lost again!

Cold and rainy; autumn has definitely arrived . . . Special staff party today to mark Dr. Bob Coldren's retirement . . . Nice visit from Mary Quinn and Lennie Whitcomb . . . Understand that birthday greetings are due Kevin Hancock around this time . . . This 13-inch wooden wall clock with an apple motif is the last of a series we offered. Regularly sells for $24. Would like to clear it from inventory. Would someone offer $15? Send us an e-mail. . . Still enamored by Only Men Aloud. Am always playing one of their YouTube videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0YzHOIeUv0 will give you Don't Rain on My Parade and lead you to Goldfinger and others. Thanks to Jack Brandt for directing me to the choir's home page http://www.onlymenaloud.com/ . . .

Bob and I got our flu shots . . . Visited by our artist friend Earl Blust this afternoon. He was on his way to Gallery Blu on Third Street with some new works which will be displayed there shortly . . . Your reception of Bill Campbell's new pottery pieces has dictated an immediate order for more; expect delivery late next week. You have got to see his new "Waterfall" bowl . . . New Root tapers in pretty harvest colors are here. Will look great on your Halloween/Thanksgiving table. . . I have been keeping you updated on the renovations to Amy and Doug Hill's house and you have been asking for a photo. Happy to oblige with this one that was taken about noon today . . . it sure ain't dirty white stucco anymore . . .

A brief visit from Richard Hebbard today. . . Just learned that John Zimmerman's home in the 800 block of Green will also be on the HHA Candlelight House Tour. That is four properties in our immediate area. Yes, the Bare Wall will be selling tickets when the time arrives . . . I wish Webmasters would leave well enough alone. Must sites always be "improved for your convenience?" In the past few weeks Verizon, my bank, and PennLive have all undergone make-overs which have merely added to the clutter; I have had to re-learn them all over again. . . Of course, in the case of PennLive, a little restraint on those leaving comments has long been overdue. I worry that some of these odd-ball commentators might live on my block . . . We should take a cue from our European friends. The Times of London allows just 300 characters in formulating a comment; make your point and don't ramble. Scotland's Daily Record posts one's name but rejects the comment if it is obscene, obnoxious or otherwise inappropriate. And no one complains that his "Freedom of Speech" rights have been curtailed. . .