Spiders, Beth and eating habits (pg7)

Beth is sitting beside me in the big chair as I type this, and I can't help but think she's adorable When I look at her and say "I love you," her little face brightens and her eyes crinkle with a big smile. She has grown so - even since arriving here. She plays with all her toys now, banging them about and chewing on them ... and she has reached the stage too where she plays with her bottle when we near the end and her tummy is full. She pulls it in and out and gnaws on the nipple rather than suck. And she gibbers now to me and Snoopy - saying, "Ooh" a lot. She is still rocking on her knees back and forth, but any day now I expect her to start crawling in earnest. From all indications our little Beth is going to be a gadabout. She does not like to stay still.

I took Beth out for a walk in the carriage. I made a mistake in taking Snoopy - although I didn't want to leave her home alone, as that's asking for trouble. Each time we've left her, she has gotten even by chewing on magazines or knocking over flower bowls. At any rate, Snoopy really had me all tied up - walking in front of the carriage, going around trees, so I would have to follow with the leash and finally by mistake I ran over her paw. Next time I will just have to clear the sunroom and lock her in there.

Last night I had another session with a big spider. DEick thinks I'm crazy, but I can't bear them. We have low ceilings and while talking on the phone I happened to look up and there was one of these big ones. I'm afraid I screeched in the phone as it seemed so close. I wonder if there is anyway of getting rid of them. We've sprayed, but they still are around.

We have really been putting our little charcoal grill to use. Steaks, chops, and hamburgers taste so much better cooked on it, and we take advantage of it as much as possible. Dick has brought some of the boys home for dinner, and you really can't go wrong on the grill, and too, it saves me work... Dick cooks the meat!

Did I mention how late we have been eating? I feed Beth at six, and she usually is in bed by seven. By the time we have a cocktail before dinner and have everything set it's eight o'clock and one night when Dick got home late from flying it was ten! However, I hope to get it down to a regular time of seven o'clock as it is nice to have some of the evening to relax.

Was I ever shocked when I first listened to the radio here. They have no qualms about cursing and swearing. It really seemed strange. One thing I do enjoy is the lack of commercials. B.B.C.just doesn't have them, and that is what we get the strongests. I do enjoy their concert hour which they have everyday, and I do get one soap-box story.

I just put Beth on the floor on some blankets and she really is enjoying herself. She's as happy as a lark, on her tummy and drooling like crazy with her legs going a mile a minute. Think I'll go and play with her a while.