Summer at last...

Some weeks are quiet. Just the normal ebb and flow of things, you know. John left for California Monday and I hit the ground running after being away the previous week. Seemed like that all week. I will admit that I found time to indulge in a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo while I traveled and I started the 2nd book in the Twilight saga on my way home, finishing the 3rd one yesterday. Evenings while John was away, I would sit on the front porch and read. Not great works of literature, but an engaging read nonetheless. I'll be off to the bookstore today to replenish.

John arrived home Thursday and we returned to dance lessons Friday evenings for the next 4 weeks. We're doing East Coast Swing (I think). It's fun at least and we get some measure of exercise. At least we both end up somewhat stiff afterward so there must be some exercise credit in there. The weekend is full of usual weekend "stuff". We took time to go into the Farmers Market yesterday. I was actually looking for the woman who sells these nearly indestructible catnip mice. We picked one up last year at the Market and it gets a good workout from the dog and the cats. It would be nice to have another one or two around. We didn't find her there this week, but it was nice to walk around and see all the wonderful produce. I didn't buy any of it as we are set for vegetables this week. Our garden is coming along quite nicely given the delayed summer conditions. The peas have grown into a small forest (picture at the end). We'll have some to eat soon. I tried  the kale last week and it was delicate and yummy. And the lettuce will be available for salad this week. Add to that the herbs that are right outside the kitchen and we'll have green stuff on the table. The rutabagas, beets, squash, cucumbers, fennel, carrots, potatoes, and brussel sprouts are growing, but harvest is a ways off. And we have some tomato plants in the sunniest part of the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing valiantly trying to grow. Difficult crop to grow up here.

SInce I was away over my birthday, we celebrated it again this week by going to dinner at the Four Swallows restaurant on Bainbridge Island. It certainly is my all time favorite up here, but pricey enough to be a "special event" venue. It's popular with Seattle-ites as well since they can ferry over and walk to the restaurant. But we had our reservation and enjoyed the evening very much.

We'll Skype with some friends this morning and then do some yardwork, I think. The sunshine is too good to waste.

Special Events...

Well, that was a big week! Not much of it spent at home, however. I attended a conference in San Diego from Tuesday till Sunday. The conference was great; the weather was unexpectedly cool and cloudy. And, as luck would have it, John enjoyed the warmest, sunniest week at home so far this year. And there was a 5.4 earthquake in San Diego while I was there. Welcome back to California. All that aside, I couldn't have asked for a better conference. The content was good and the experience was professionally invigorating. And then there were the women.

I got to spend time with women who are important to me. The whole team from my previous employer was there as well as a coworker at my current employer. If I had never worked with any of them, I would have wished for them as friends. It only happens that our mutual choice of employer brought us all together. It was too short but so much fun. Women can be so caring of one another, alike and different in all kinds of ways. What a privilege. I celebrated my birthday while I was there and the presence of the women made it unique and joyful.

While I was in San Diego, I also learned from my sweet daughter that she became engaged - in Paris - in front of the Eiffel Tower. I love them both; my daughter and my someday son-in-law. Her happiness is mine to share :-) I will travel down to visit them July 31 and learn all the details and plans.

So, a busy week away. And it was made easier by my own sweet man who rearranged his work travel to remain behind to care for our circus family; the hard-headed brown dog and the "boys" Roosevelt and Mister Purrkins. He tended a bursting garden, making sure everything was watered in the recent heat wave. This week is my turn since he could only postpone his trip down to California, not cancel it. He left this morning. We agreed to catch up with "us" this weekend. And I get another opportunity to celebrate my birthday!

Taking Time....

Our hummingbird population is pretty amazing. They are a pleasure to watch. I think nature is like that if we take the time to look. It's been a cool summer thus far, but that doesn't detract from the beauty of the place. We are surrounded by green and the sounds of birds from sun up to sun down. The garden is thriving too. John will put in potatoes and brussel sprouts this week so as to have them in time for Thanksgiving. And then he promises to move on to the shed construction. Summer won't last forever.

We opted in for the monthly Farm Breakfast yesterday and opted out of Poulsbo's 3rd of July fireworks. I like to see them but once every few years is adequate.  It's finally warm enough to have dinner outside comfortably and we will grill some ribs tonight. Tomorrow evening we will visit with friends to round out this holiday weekend.

I am traveling to San Diego this week to attend a conference. I will meet up with the team from my previous employer and introduce them to one of my current team who is also attending the conference. This is the one conference I really look forward to and will be busy each day attending workshops and various sessions. I leave Tuesday and return Sunday. John has altered his twice monthly schedule to stay back and care for the animals and the house. And then he leaves for California on Monday after I return. We'll catch up mid-month.
Meanwhile, enjoy the hummers....