I woke up early and went for a long walk while everyone was asleep, except for Mike who had already gone to work. I stopped for breakfast, which I love eating out, and then wandered around the neighborhood. It's a great residential area. I understand that Lakewood was one of the first "planned" communities in the 50s and they did a good job. The residential areas have an access road off the main streets which not only gives everyone a place to park but insulates them from the traffic. Mike and Lauri's house is only one off the main road but you can hardly hear the traffic.

I found an old railroad right of way which looked interesting but I continued on and ended up at Forest Lawn Long Beach. The flags were still out on all the veterans graves and the flowers were fresh from yesterday. There is a huge mosaic mural that was copied from a renaissance painting and some stone carvings that are great. There is one stone with an explanation of the mural carved in a large stone and then, also carved in stone, is a sales pitch about great sites close to the front. Nothing like putting your ads in writing. The gardeners were out in force spiffing everything up and the place looked great but I get a little irritated at seeing so much effort put into dead people.

I continued on around the mile block area and then back home. It was a nice walk and I'm very pleased with the area. I approve. Yep!

I helped Lauri with laundry and hung it outside as their dryer isn't working. It's been a long time since I hung my laundry in the back yard. It was rather nice but not something I want to go back to. I also broke down the every so many boxes they've unpacked so far. They have all their stuff they put in storage two years ago and the stuff they picked up while in Seattle so it doesn't seem like they've made a dent in the piles of boxes still to open. They do keep finding things they had forgotten about and they plan to have a huge garage sale since they have duplicates of so many things.

We went to a couple craft stores, which we always seem to do as Lauri is so into crafts. I enjoy wandering around them and being amazed that people actually do stuff like this. I really admire all that she can do but I would go crazy if I tried to sit there and do crocheting for hours.

I finished reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J K Rowling. I had started it months ago with a book from the library but never finished before I had to return the book and since there is such a long waitlist I never bothered to get it again. It's an good book and the story is great but I found it to be too much of a children's book though I know so many adults who absolutely loved it. Of course, I know adults who find the Narnia books to be too childish and I still read them. It's still a good read and I was glad to finally finish it so I can discuss it with those who like discussing it.