Procrastinating in the freezer

Dear family and friends,

Every once in a while domesticity takes over my body, like some revenant from the 1950s past of good house-wifery. Someone had left the big freezer door open (not me! I couldn't walk then) and before it was noticed a huge amount of ice had accumulated all over the shelves and door edge. It must be defrosted and cleaned. But first it must be emptied.

Bill, the physical therapist, has encouraged me to walk down the steps to the cellar (do you say "basement"?). So down I went yesterday, took out unnecessary things from the basement refrigerator's small top freezer—such as freezer cans—and started packing it neatly in an organized way with the items from the big freezer. I had organized the freezer at the top of the refrigerator in the kitchen and wanted to do the same with this one. Of course, as I began the emptying yesterday, I noticed many items that I had forgotten about. I suggested to Merwin that now that we don't buy $250 or so of meat we no longer need a big freezer: he blanched! Another idea to incorporate into his psyche. We have had it forever. I said, "It's not energy efficient, and we don't need it any more." In any case, it has to be emptied to defrost it. So that's where I am headed as soon as I do a little touch up work on my Measure for Measure draft.

To add about son Harvey's teaching, I should mention that his father also was a model for him, both as a teacher of his sons, and also as the proud recipient of many accolades from his students during 11 years of "retirement" teaching of math at Hofstra.

I am tapering the prednisone a little more, now down to 22.5mg/day from 25. I'll be talking to my doctor about it tomorrow. With the lower prednisone, of course the energy goes down also. So sad.

The deck umbrella is working very well. It looks very nice and Merwin has placed it so that it gives the maximum of shade. I didn't spend much time out there yesterday because it was very hot—and we put on the energy-efficient air conditioners we had installed last fall. I am happy that we did that, something I really need when I have trouble breathing. They are virtually silent because the compressors are outside.

So, onward to domesticity:

Does anyone have a good recipe for chicken thighs? That's what I hope to make for Merwin for tonight's dinner.

Love to all,
Bernice