Snippets of the weekend 7.5.2022

Salad, pet store, finishing a book in the dark. To the shore Saturday morning for turnover - all the bedding and laundry, mirror fixed. Watermelon bedspreads make me happy, like notes from fam.

Back to Philly to shower and pack up and head upstate to the peace of the lake at Lori's - a solid six hours in the car on Saturday but worth it to do turnover in person and make it to the lake.

Reflections. Super low dew point. Sunshine. Nice skies. Signature purple. Lots of books, some good, some passed on. Porch time. Relaxing. Relaxing. Relaxing. Watching new boat drivers. Laughter. 

Dog heaven. Dirt rolling, swimming, panting, sunning, snoozing, eating.

Blue skies, sun dappled everything, breakfast hotdogs, Montrose, vendors on the green, flowers, dips, pickle hummus, fireworks, time with one of my most cherished people. The promise of America and the reality of America chafing with several mass shootings on July 4 and many white women feeling for the first time an infringement on their rights that Black, Native, and marginalized people in general and women in particular have felt for centuries. 

And, lest I forget ever, a shore hot water heater that gave up the ghost on July 4, 2022. Emergency service, expensive AF repair. Thankfully MFD had not yet left for Monday parades and could stay down and be the man on the scene. 

TWTW - the no dayer

Friday I worked until 6:30 and we ate out inside a restaurant for what was my second time since March 2020. I packed a bunch of shit for the weekend and fell out around 12:30.

Saturday Up at 6:15 and out of bed at 7. I changed the sheets, loaded the car, and we were on our way to the shore by 8, gassing up along the way. We talked to our departing guest for a long time and then they were late leaving, but we still did everything we needed to do before and after our cleaning crew left and got back on the road by 12 to make it back to Philly by 1:15. We picked MFD’s car up from getting inspected, I picked up soft pretzels, and after yelling because we have extremely different leaving for a trip styles and keys lost, we were headed north by 3:15. We drove through every storm hitting the area and arrived at the lake by about 6. Notice my stuff and dog stuff all ready by the door in the top middle and MFD's entire life emptied out of his car not prepared at all to leave. These were taken at the same time and his clothes were not yet packed LOL

We drove through every storm hitting the area and arrived at the lake by about 6. Lori and I got groceries and I put in four hours of work work. I showered and read until 11:30.

Sunday I was up at 5 but not out of bed until 6:30. I worked from 7-11a and 5-9p. Nothing says the Fourth of July like Capitalism! In between we got more groceries and whiled the afternoon away outside with dogs and books. I painted my nails. We were outside all the live long day and the weather was absolutely perfect. Jack grilled and we had a delicious Fourth meal on the new bar on the deck. The entire renovation is just fabulous. MFD went out fishing in the kayak and at night him and Jack went out on the boat. We saw fireworks from couches and from bed after I got out of the shower. And Gus walked into the lake three freaking times requiring three separate drying off periods of which he was not a fan.

Monday Lori and I left at 8:15 for the Montrose  Festival on the Green and to stop in a few small shops. I love this little town. It always feels like the promise of America to me - a place for the community to gather, dotted with a square of small businesses. We can live up to this promise for everyone. We just have to choose to.

I worked a full day even though we were closed in observance of the Fourth. Deadlines are a B. At least I had a picturesque setting in which to work. MFD fished and swam and we set out for home at 7:30 and were back in Philly before 10. 

I am usually driving but got to take drive pictures this time. Pennsylvania is beautiful, and I love the Endless Mountains region. I'm glad Lori & Jack live there or I probably would not have been so many places in Bradford & Susquehanna counties. 

I should have brought my second screen, and I was going to. If I had we probably would have stayed through my deadline Wednesday LOL. It is beautiful and quiet and relaxing and we all love it there, especially the dogs. Thanks to Lori for always welcoming all of us, dogs included, into her spaces. It was a wonderful weekend and we're trying to figure out when to return this summer. 

Show Us Your Books is a week from today!

TWTW - the one with the girls at the lake

Friday if I was any more relaxed, I would have been dead. Mom and I got to Lori's lake house around 8:30 on Thursday night and settled into relaxation station. Lolling around just being and enjoying the silence for most of the day, painting nails (Lori gave me the blue color and I'm super jazzed), snacking, playing with the dogs in the yard, reading. Melissa arrived early afternoon and Debbie early evening and we did more sitting around and talking before hitting the hay.

Saturday we headed into Montrose to do some strolling and shopping early with the Bs. There's the cutest store there that looks like it's just a flower shop and while it is it also sings to my tie dye loving heart. I got a dress and headbands there thanks to Lori!

We came back and chowed down, did a little floating and relaxing, talked talked talked, went for ice cream, and rounded the day out with CAH and hair mane games.

Sunday I woke up to let the dogs out at 5:30 and Bruce had an accident then had super hurt feelings about it and was shaking for an hour. Loon. I finished a book over coffee and we sat out on the porch together before Mom and I hit the road around 10:30. I love this weekend. It is super relaxing, we are all so easy together, it's beautiful up there, my dogs can be there, Jack pops in, and Lori is a wonderful hostess. Love my ladies! I stopped at a farmers market off the turnpike on the way home, dropped Mom off, got home and changed our sheets and washed towels, and took a little snooze. MFD got home from the shore and we went for sushi at Sakura. 

Carol's birthday was Sunday. Happy birthday Carol! We love you! Thanks for everything you do for us. 

Weekly food prep: Breakfast is breakfast burritos. Lunch is zucchini pie. Snacks are grape tomatoes, blueberries, peaches. Dinners are tomato sandwiches and corn on the cob and pasta with lemon and broccoli. I didn't need anything for today so the zucchini pie will get made tonight. 

Show Us Your Books tomorrow! See you here for that. 

Local Love: Four things to know about this week

In Bucks County  
Check out this public facebook group on a 30 Day April Declutter Challenge / Sexual Assault Awareness Month - Select one item a day you no longer use or wear and donate the bag to NOVA Thrift Shop in Perkasie. All money raised will support victims of sexual assault and help provide prevention education programs in Bucks County. It's like raising $$ for a great cause just by getting rid of shit you don't use anymore. Donations are accepted daily. Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education, and prevention programs.

In Center City 

#SurpriseArtShow: A Pop-Up Public Art Exhibition in Center City until Monday, April 10, put together by Streets Dept. The art is in the windows so you can see it day or night. I pink puffy heart love happening upon street art, and I love when other people show me where they happen upon it. If you work in town, it's at 18th & Chestnut. We don't get a ton of these in the business district so I was pumped to come across it. I shared one from BLUR on my IG yesterday. I am big on supporting local artists and I own a few of her prints (this one and this one and I still want this one). All artists are linked in Street Dept's blog post and you can find their shops via those links. I must have this Divine Lorraine poster by Monica O in my next home.

 Amberella - Goth Hearts series

Park Shortcut - When I'm walking from Chestnut to Market I always cut through the John F. Collins Park via the alley off 17th when I'm walking towards Chestnut or next to the bagel store when I'm walking towards Market. It's a tiny spot of serenity. Could we not all use some more serenity?

In Pennsylvania
Fairdistrictspa.com - Gerrymandering is bad for all of us, something politicians from both sides of the aisle actually agree on. Please read up on it and urge your local legislator to cosponsor and support SB22, a bipartisan constitutional amendment in PA to reform the rules. If you look at these two districts (I'm in the 13th), you can see how fucking crazy some of these districts are and it will be apparent that officials from both parties are picking and choosing the voters they represent and not allowing the voters to choose who represents them. This might not change who we put in office but it will change how they govern once they're there - they will have to reach across the aisle and truly represent all of us. They will also do a better job representing constituents because they won't be spanning multiple counties. This bill is in committee right now and it would do all of us much good to get on the phone with our reps to support it. Check out the Fair Districts PA site to learn more.

I might do this every once in a while for here in Philly/Bucks and Ocean City.

And of course today is Eva the Diva's birthday. Happy birthday girlfriend!

Until tomorrow then, mon frer.

TWTW - Thanksgiving

1. Wednesday MFD and I loaded up the dogs and headed north for the weekend. It was a bit of a white knuckler in some spots but we made it to Lori & Jack's by 10:30. Relaxing ensued. Sorry for double ups of any instagram pics from this weekend!

2. Scenes from Thanksgiving...we ate, we walked in the woods, we lounged, we watched football. It was a great day!

3. Friday we set out to patronize small businesses on our annual made up sleigh ride. The car ride was a riot full of laughter and cursing as always. We also saw Lori & Jack's new lake house. Another full, fun day.

4. Saturday MFD, Maria and Ashley headed home in the early afternoon. Lori & I took the dogs for a walk in the woods, then we headed out with Jack & Perry to do some Small Business Saturday shopping and rounded out the night with the hallowed Chinese buffet.

5. Scenes from the great outdoors...

6. Lots o' lounging...

7. Wildlife sightings included lots of deer and a bird Jack saved.

8. Mae found a new friend - Popcorn the indoor outdoor cat. To say she was obsessed with him is an understatement.

9. But as always, it's a huge dog Disney.

10. Sunday the dogs and I hit the road by 7 and were home by 10. I enjoyed the scenic ride as always and listened to Serial on the way home. Laundry, Christmas decorating part one, and some vacation packing planning took up most of the afternoon. MFD and I hit Marshalls and Sam's at night, had an easy dinner of pizza, and that's all she wrote. The best thing of the weekend - Lori handed down her Kitchenaid to me. I'm so freaking excited!

On Mondays I'm doing a picture linkup called Picture Practice with Kelli at Just Beachy. If you'd like to participate, here are the prompts through December. Share on your blog, or if you don't blog on Twitter or Instagram every Monday with the hashtag #PicturePractice. This is my photo for the prompt warmth. You all need this Land's End jacket.

I almost wet my pants laughing quite a few times this weekend. That's how it goes in my family.

Zillions of good thoughts to my friend Marla at Luck Fupus today as she undergoes surgery. Marla kicks ass.

Last week before vacation. I think I can I think I can.

Tell me about your long Thanksgiving weekend - what was your peak and what was your pit?

Linking up with Kelli for

Linking up with B Loved Boston for Weekending.