When we were in Bristol yesterday,
I bought a new 2-line phone at Office Depot,
identical to the ATT speakerphone that we
have on the third floor and in the kitchen.
At Lowe's I bought a post-hole digger and 
the heavy, pointed steel rod which one uses
to loosen the soil in the posthole as it is
dug. The two locust poles at our entrance
from which we suspend the chain are loose and
are leaning, and I thought I should replace them
sooner rather than later. But today it was raining.
When, late in the day the sky cleared, I thought it
was too late to start working outside. So I stayed
at the computer; and now I feel a bit cooped up.

Mommy walked down to Eva Blevins to collect the
latest gossip. She is back now, and seems to be well.

I telephoned the Historic District Commission
this afternoon, and ascertained in a very pleasant
telephone conversation, that the Commission is
not enthusiastic about the casement windows,
but that they will probably approve the design
nonetheless. The remaining issue is about the exact
location, and whether they will require the erection
of one or more 25 foot poles to help them visualize
the effect of the proposed building on the landscape.
They will decide this at their meeting on November 2,
and I will telephone them from en route on the third,
to find out what they concluded. Possibly Mommy and I
will go over on Saturday or Sunday (Nov 6 or 7)
to give me time to place the poles and to do a little
more brush cutting.  I was advised, in any case,
to show up at the HDC meeting on November 9th at 5 p.m.
at which time the matter will presumably be settled.