Tonight

Ella, Dino, Tony sings their very best in the background. Songs which make you close your eyes and breathe in, hold it, open your heart. 

Nat sings about Stardust. The melody haunts my revelry and I am once again with you. When our love was new and each kiss an inspiration. 

Songs we use to relate to, far away from one another. 

Candles glow. For no reason. No special occasion.

Dogs sleepily play at our feet. 

The bed is half made. 

The curtains dance with the wind. Outside rain mists. 

We read, legs curling with the pups. 

It is so perfect. So simple. 

A night I want to remember when I'm old and grey, smiling that I did all right. 

Of Tan Lines and Bubble Baths

It is dark outside and a cool breeze blows through the window screen.  The leaves rustle on the branch, still green from Spring, but showing their age. I have nothing in mind to write about.  The days mostly fly by but still have their moments of aggravating slowness. The Summer is  gone and with it the realization that there could have been more--more campfires, more swimming, more tomatoes, just more sitting and enjoying.  It could be heartbreaking, it really could.  But it never really gets to that point. There will always be another Summer and now there is a new Fall. 

I get high on Fall. 

No Fall List is necessary (no Summer List this year either, well life is just a bit too busy).  It doesn't require one. I have no reason why, it just doesn't.  Summer calls for bare shoulders, loose schedules, and extroverted behavior.  Fall encourages engulfing sweaters, holiday planning, and a bit of reflection.  The book end to a year and at the same time a chance to start new.  Fall is my favorite. 

  I crave a bit of Fall and a bit of leftover Summer.  A warm bubble bath, glass of wine, and a date with my blog.  Fall.  Tomorrow, falling asleep with the windows open, the smell of the neighbors fire pit wafting in.  Still Summer. 


Another Summer gone.  It's okay.  We'll eat more tomatoes next year. 

In the meantime, let's live in both worlds. 

Anatomy of a Weekend: This Perfect Saturday

Today was so wonderful that I had to sit down and write it all down.  But, I should preface it with K broke his wrist last weekend and is miserable, and I have to work tomorrow, cutting my weekend short.  The pressure was on for today, and yet there was no pressure at all.  It was one of those days where you just decide to get in the car and drive to one place, then visit a couple of other places near that place.  You get it. 


We started at a diner with breakfast.  Big, heavy, lots of coffee, fuel for the day.

We decided to go to Lake Cushman, then grab lunch at a dive bar, finishing up at Hamma Hamma. We did it all. 


 It was overcast and a bit colder than the Summer days we've had so far.  Still, the conditions were perfect, the parks slightly less crowded, the trees and water contrasting perfectly against the grey.

 

 

The road turned into gravel, then back into paved again as we entered the Olympic National Park grounds.  We stopped at Staircase camp grounds, tucked against the Skokomish river. 

 

 

And my husband, my HUSBAND, looked around and said,

 

 

"This would be a nice place to camp."

 

 

 

I guess he's starting to become a bit of a Washingtonian. 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the pictures later, I couldn't believe I hadn't taken more.  I was in the moment, I realized.  Fully breathing in the scenery, cementing it into my memory rather than worrying about capturing it for later. 

 

Besides, we're going to go back I hear. 

 

 

We drove further North after, looping around the Hood Canal, through quiet, sleepy towns scattered with rope and crab pots.  Eagle's Creek Saloon was our destination in site, based off a recommendation by a friend. 

 

 

 



It didn't disappoint.  It was a dive bar, but filled with elderly couples celebrating birthdays in a large group.  One woman asked for champagne, which they did not have.  Dollar bills were stapled to the pillars, one reserved for those serving our country.  We'll go back there again too, dollar in hand. 

 

Finally, we got to Hamma Hamma.  Its where to get seafood on this side of the water. 

 

 

We left with clams, crabcakes, bread, and even ice cream from a local producer.

 

 

 

We will, well you know we'll be back. 

 

 

The day was finished at The Hardware Distillery in Hoodsport.  We had tasted their selection of vodka, and gin at a local restaurant, but were floored by their Bee's Knees. 

 

 



 

So we bought a bottle, cursed ourselves for leaving the phones in the car (the place was just so cool, I wish I had pictures), and drove on home. 

 

It was perfect and simple.  And, it's not over yet.