Connections old and new

When Robert got to the house late Monday morning, he had to come in by the den door (I'll tell you why in a minute), and I had him close his eyes.

I led him toward the sound of a hammer and told him to take a deep breath. He inhaled and smiled: "Cedar!"

Lots of it was going up in our den closets. Arnold said that with our louver doors, the room would always have that great scent, which is fine with me.

Cedar makes me think of so many people -- my Mom, and the chest she got from her father; my grandma, and her closet in Milledgeville; Amanda, and the big chests we got from her (and one of them is coming to Key West).

- ■ -

Now, about the side-door detour.

For one thing, Mr. B and Nate were finishing up the front-porch floor -- solid as can be. But more to the point, the plumbers had finally fixed their backhoe (it had broken down in mid-job Wednesday) and dug our two sewer-line trenches.

If it rains in the next little bit, we'll be the only cottage in Old Town with a moat.