I have just had great success importing posts from another WordPress installation into this one. The research took more time than the import/export! For those who are interested in trying the same I recommend exporting to Movable Type format via WordPress Export 0.3 by Eric Pierce and then importing the former WordPress posts as MovableType posts via your import-mt.php (included in your wp-admin directory). The thought of merging databases made my head spin so I’m glad I avoided that option. I have a bit of clean up to do (looks like private posts were imported as drafts), but for a site the scale of mine, this is no big deal.

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No, I haven’t started on the previously mentioned September garden tasks. But I have a good feeling about today. A trip to Portland Nursery is in the works. I still have a week of September left.

Meanwhile… figs! Our fig tree is bursting with more figs than we can reasonably eat out of hand. Hurrah! We’ve only had the fig tree for two—maybe three— years and it’s already prolific. Our harvest this summer is meager so every pluckable edible is that much more exciting. I was thinking about making fig preserves, but the only recipe I have at hand calls for 4 pounds of sugar. FOUR POUNDS. Granted, it also calls for 2 quarts of figs, but still… I hope I can find another option. According to Mr. Slakethirst’s baby brother, fig preserves are the bee’s knees.

So, we did it. We finally decided on a roofer: Robert’s Roofing —”Gresham’s Finest!” I can’t keep track of all the initials I devised for the many contractors I have met, so screw it - I’m now naming names. We are slated to have our roof completely removed and rebuilt on October 21st, I’ll report on that when the time comes. As for why I chose Robert – he seemed the most eager for my business; the most upfront about his insurance and whatnot; he was reasonably priced (without being suspiciously cheap); he included gutters in his bid; and he had one of his employees chauffeur me out to the Gresham showroom when I said I didn’t have a car. All in all, he seems to really care about customer service and he promises to be the best balance of quality and economy. I have high hopes but am, frankly, afraid to be too optimistic. I have heard too many contracting horror stories. Happily, for what it’s worth, they have only good reports on Angie’s List.

But now that that is over with, Mr. Slakethirst and I can indulge in some fun stuff. A decision about roof color is imminent, so we have scheduled an appointment with Mary McMurray, a color consultant. We want to coordinate our roof and the new exterior paint (which probably won’t be applied until late spring, but we can dream). I can’t wait to see an artist’s rendering of our house in new snazzy colors.

The Visual Communications Program at the University of Delaware has created a nifty flash-based letterspacing workshop that anyone can join (at least for now). Test your typographic mettle and prepare to get cross-eyed!