Sweet Summer Days & Time Away

Barn Door

On Thursday mornings I sneak away. It's usually just for a couple of hours and I usually just go to the local coffee shop, but it is so nice. There are no more Bunco nights, Girls Night Outs, or even just dinner with Terri. Our little party of five is together twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and we are usually right here at home. I love it so much and I need to step away as well.

For the first few months here I was only scooting out at nap times and it was just to run to the local store, or the bank, or on quick errands. Never a break, never anything particularly fun. I got weary of it all. So, finally I told Sweetheart I needed time off and I needed to have it regularly and at least once a month.

It hasn't happened every Thursday, but it does more often than not. I feel so decadent and I know from a few comments, people here don't get it.  I know I didn't when a friend blogged about taking a day off each week.  I think it was mostly jealousy.

The coffee shop is the place to be here in town.  I've met all sorts of people from town natives to people considering moving here.  This morning I chatted with a wide range of folks.  Most of the other people are at least twenty years older and that seems normal.  In Denver, I mostly hung out with people in the same stage of life as me:  working women, newlyweds, young families, etc.  Now, I met a few moms of little ones here, but not a lot.  The change of perspectives is good.

Now, I know that I can ask around the coffee shop and find to almost anything I need to know.  It's a kick because everybodys' lives intersect  in one way or another.  Of course, the flip side is that everybody knows your business whether you like it, or not!

This morning my new neighbor dropped into the coffee shop as well.  She just moved in this weekend.  I pulled up a chair for her and introduced her around.  She and I had a few laughs together about being an outsider here.  She, too, is thrown by random people just dropping by with no warning and she knew I'd understand.  I do.  And we exchanged numbers so we can call each other before we drop by.   It all works out.

I just got back inside myself a few minutes ago.  A neighbor said he was done with the raspberries at his place so after the kids went down for naps, I grabbed my basket and went picking.  (Sweetheart is here whenever I'm not.  I'm not leaving the kids alone!)  I was able to pick a few pounds and will get making some jam in a few minutes.

I was able to put up almost nine quarts of cherries the other day from gleaning someone's trees and hope to get back for more before it's too late.  I'd like to dry some for winter baking and the cherry pie I baked yesterday had only one piece left when I got up this morning.  Guess Sweetheart liked it!

So, I'm going to rub some Healing Balm all over my scratches from berry picking and get canning.  It's an overcast day here and I was sprinkled on a bit walking back.  That's nice as it won't feel too hot in here.  The cherries ended up sugar-packed and frozen because it was just too hot the other day to want to run the canner.

What are you doing these August days?