When I get ready to write a post for my blog, one of the first things I have to decide is what to name it. Sometimes it’s fun to come up with a one-word subject that has multiple meanings.

As I was mulling over this post, I was reminded of the book Charlotte’s Web, in which Charlotte is challenged to think of one key word that best describes her friend Wilbur. Without checking the book to be absolutely sure, I’m rather confident that “radiant” was one of the words Charlotte chose. It’s a good word.

Yesterday we made it over to the Monroe house after lunch, not sure exactly what we would accomplish, but hoping to take at least a few more tiny steps toward our goal of finishing that house. I was rather miserable, but decided that I might as well accomplish something while miserable, versus just laying around in my misery. So I finished preparing the walls in the master bedroom (sanding the patches I had made) and then I worked on priming the ceiling and walls. Meanwhile, Michael worked on putting the bathroom back together. He installed the toilet, he put the light above the bathroom sink, he and I wheeled the tub back into the bathroom (the feet will be ready tomorrow, so it’s still an upside-down tub), and then he got to work connecting the radiator in the bathroom. (Allow me to digress for just a moment to say that I think we finally have figured out the best way to move a cast-iron tub without injuring anyone. We put a dolly on each end and gently lift and push. Amazingly easier than using our backs to lift!)

The older children worked on cleaning out the freezer in the kitchen and the big freezer we have in storage in the garage. Both units took advantage of our ignorance to grow lots of interesting mold. I think that monster has been beaten back, and now we must be more aware of keeping those areas well-ventilated and mold-free.

Miguel and Judah didn’t do much with themselves yesterday other than wandering from one work-site to another, getting into mischief. They are quite the duo!

Amelia complained about being cold, so Michael encouraged her to go burrow into the blankets piled in the nursery. She did just that and fell asleep for a very long nap.

Michael made amazing progress on his plumbing project, and succeeded in getting the radiator all hooked up and the heat turned on for the house. He was almost giddy with delight!

By the end of the day, I was exhausted and ready to go home and crawl into bed. So Michael accepted the task of taking the oldest five children to the pumpkin patch to choose the pumpkins they will decorate and enter in the “Spooktacular Pumpkin Decorating Contest” today. (You can see the list of last year’s winners here, and notice the multitude of “Lyons’” on the list.

Hence, I choose the name “Radiant” for this post. Not only do we once again have radiant hot-water heat in our Monroe house, but I have a radiant husband who is quite satisfied with his work.

Without looking in the book or searching the internet, can you list the three single words Charlotte used to describe Wilbur? I think I know two of them without looking… but can’t remember the third. How about you?