This bread is really nice....and thanks for the recipe i can sure use it.It's nice to have a change once in a while.....i get tired of the same thing over and over at home. Our Luminaire was very quiet,very few visitors and just a hand full of cards this year.So pretty boring at home.I've been getting a lot of sleep in,and i guess i needed it.I feel not too bad. Anyone else want a cup of java while i'm up?

Frieda chuckled at Red Calypso's remark, "Oh, I've got this all planned out, just in case. I have a midwife on hand, you'll meet her soon enough, and I'm keeping Weldon here on the island and not flying offworld like last time. We've upgraded our generators in case the power is interrupted and the weather is supposed to be wonderful. Even if the babies came early, I think we have that covered.

The reason I wanted to have a little kaffeklatch this morning was because I wanted to talk about our next adventure. I wanted to do something special either for the Pandemic celebration, or for Masquerade. Sam, What do you think of getting the whole gang together for another Love Truck Adventure?" Frieda picked up her tea and took a sip, while eying a cranberry scone. "Chook, I would enjoy one of those scones there, if you please."

Red Calypso looked interested. "Would it be another camping trip or would we be doing something different this time?"

This sounds good to me...i wonder how many of the gang we would be have together this time??And yes as Red just said where are we going this time Ha Ha Ha are we grabbing snowshoes or bathing suits.The truck isn't a problem,i can get to our destination but it does make a difference where we go............Pouring some more to drink........ When are you due Frieda?

Frieda had a scone in one paw and a piece of ginger bread in the other paw and didn't want to let go of either one while she sipped her tea, so she sloshed a little on her dressing gown, then tried to wipe the drips with the back of the paw with the scone causing a streak of crumbs down her front. "Oh bother! Mother would not be proud of me...'young females do not eat cake both both paws...'" She heard what her guests said and swallowed another bite before answering, "I was thinking about a trip to Atebus, or an expedition to the Sacred Lands. You know, an adventure with a little mystery or intrigue mixed in. Of course it would have to wait a month or so till the pups were...you know...eating solid meat and such. I'm not due until the 30th of December." She smiled self-assuredly as if that was in in the distant future and reached for another scone.

Red Calypso blinked at her and said slowly, "You do realize that tomorrow's the 30th, don't you?" Taking another bite of her beans, she considered the choices. "Personally I'd like to go to the Sacred Lands. We could go the excavation site and help dig for a bit,and it's always fun to see what treasures you can find shopping in the Souk."

Frieda blinked twice, "Oh, yeah. Tomorrow." She giggled. "I forgot." She put down her scone, wiped her paws, then her mouth and tried to regain some dainty composure by placing her paws on her lap. But she couldn't find her lap, her tummy was in the way, so she fidgeted with the tie on her dressing gown. "I guess I'm not really forgetful, I'm just a little frightened. Last time I had a litter, it was pretty traumatic. Weldon wasn't here and the pups came two weeks early." [b] She brushed a crumb from her bosom, [b]"Not very good conversation for company, now is it?" A tear formed in her eye as she rearranged her plate and spoon absent-mindedly before she perked up and smiled. "Yes, The Sacred Lands is an excellent suggestion. I'm sure Mr. Steele would let us camp there for a week or so. We could call it the Love Truck Archeology Expedition...or something like that. "

Bohicon knew that Frieda's due date was near so she stopped by for a quick visit and to deliver some cookies. [item2=Freshly Baked Cookies]. She saw Frieda, Sam, Chook and Redcalypso and there were hugs all around. She then settled in next to Frieda, offering some cookies and refilling her tea. "How are you?" she asked as she placed the platter of cookies within reach.

Frieda's eyes lit up and she leaned over to give Bohicon a hug and a kiss on her cheek. "Good morning Sweetheart, thank you so much for bringing over these beautiful cookies. They're still warm." She took a cookie from the platter and set it next to the rest of her scone. She looked in Bohicon's face and knew that just saying 'fine' wasn't really an answer. "Well, I'm nervous about actually delivering, I'm supposed to be officially due tomorrow. Only the Maker knows for sure though. It's nice to have friends over for a little chit-chat, we were thinking of chartering an expedition to the Sacred Lands either just before the Pandemic Celebration, or just before Masquerade. What do you think, would you be interested in another Love Truck adventure in the late winter, early spring?" Frieda picked up the cookie and nibbled half of it.

Bohicon was so excited at the thought of another Love Truck Adventure, she blurted a muffled "YETH!" with a mouthful of cookies. "I am very interested and how much fun will we have with the new babies!" Bohicon clapped with excitement, forgetting she had a cookie in each hand..."sorry..." she said as she cleaned up the crumbs. Calming herself down a bit, she looked at Frieda and saw the concern on her dear face. She reminded her what a wonderful mother she is and to not worry about the delivery.

OOC - (Freida, love the artwork! Nice!)

((OOC : I commissioned ExpertFieldmouse, one of the LairBears to do three graphics for me a while ago. This one is her most recent one of me and Welly in a more Subetaesque humanoid form. She is an amazing pencil artist. ))

Frieda giggled at Bohicon, it would be something she would have done herself. "You know, we could make it a cruise to the Sacred Lands. Weldon and I do own a small three-masted sailing ship named the Krakatoa. It was given to us as a wedding present from a dear friend who just happens to be a pirate. Her name is Captain Jacqueline. In fact our fourth-born is named for her. The Krakatoa just finished her refit and sea trials this fall. It's got private berths for forty or so souls and there is a dock on the southern shores of the Sacred Lands that can handle that size of ship. Weldon could fly Happy Wanderer over to shuttle us back and forth across the sands to the excavation site. "Frieda was starting to get really excited about the possibilities of another trip with her friends. The fullness in her tummy told her to stop eating and she asked to be excused from the table to retire to the large fireplace in the open drawing room.

A cruise! So exciting! Bohicon helped Frieda to the drawing room wondering if this is where actual drawing is done. She did not ask Frieda though as it seemed not a good time for silly questions but she did glance around for an easel...not seeing one, she headed back to clear the mess she had made with the cookies, dreaming of a cruise...

Red Calypso smiled at the thought. What an adventure! A cruise and then who knew what could happen while in the Sacred Lands? She was definitely in! She finished her meal and then started gathering dishes, took them out to the kitchen and began washing.

Love Archaeology Truck Expedition L-A-T-E sounds like a fun trip....at least i'll be warm,i sure hate this cold weather we've been having this year...so much snow and tons of blizzards...there's drifts everywhere. When did you say you wanted to start?

Frieda put her feet up on the big wing back chair, leaned over and took a steno pad and a pencil in her paws. She smiled as she wrote L.A.T.E. in her notes, then jotted down some of her own thoughts and ideas, "I think we should probably start now to make plans for a cruise in late February, arriving in the Sacred Lands in Early March. It really shouldn't take more then five days to cross the ocean from Port Plunder. The Krakatoa has two launch bays for fighter jets, but I only have the one, little Passion Flower We could put the Love Truck in the second launch bay and use that as our land transport to and from the excavation site and the port, or for trips into the souk for shopping." She made a few more notes on her steno pad and called for Weldon.

Red Calypso wandered back in after finishing the dishes and curled up on the floor by the fireplace. "Do you need someone to contact Blake Steele for you? I've come to know him from my attempts at the Crypts."

Frieda put her steno pad down as Weldon entered the room. [/color] What do you need Little One?" He asked. But he had already figured out what she needed. He could see by her dilated pupils, her increased heart rate and blood pressure by the little artery above her right eye, her paw on her tummy, the white knuckle grip of her other paw on the arm rest of her wing chair and the lap blanket suddenly strewn on the floor that it was time. Her overly-perky and silky voice didn't hide the fact that she had suddenly gone into active labor either, "Weldon, my dear, could you see to it that Bcsam is well looked after, you know, occupied with a gentlemanly activity, like going downstairs and overhauling Passion Flower's impulse engine or drinking some ale, or something fun? And then send for the midwife and get Red Calypso, Bohicon and Chook another round of tea and cookies? In the mean time, could you get me to our room so that I can have our pups NOW??" She smiled sweetly and purred, but Weldon perceived a wild animal deep within her cute smile and her purr carried wavelengths of growling which were imperceptible to the human ear. Had she just asked him to do three things at once?

"Sam? Do me a favor and go downstairs and ask Merril to call Reina in to see Frieda? Red Calypso, Bohicon, Chook, could you help me get Frieda into our room? I'll go get it ready and I'll meet you there." [color=purple] Weldon moved quickly toward the double hall doors, propped them open and made his way quickly to the master suite in anticipation of the arrival of the new litter. He quickly surveyed everything and was pleased that he had planned ahead of time this morning, just in case.

Red Calypso jumped to her feet and hurried over to Frieda. "Can you walk, dear, or should I carry you?" Frieda was tiny enough for it to be feasible, at least for a short distance.

Bohicon tried not to panic. Hot water? Towels? Do they only do that in the movies? Red Calypso was at Frieda's side and Bohicon asked her how she can help.

Frieda smiled at her friends, "Welly and I have everything planned in our room, so we don't need the hot water and towels. But I can walk, no need to carry me, though that would make a cute picture. We can continue chatting about our trip to the Sacred Lands once I'm settled in. No need to panic dearies." She stood and let Red Calypso and Bohicon take her elbows.