A large, violent rain storm was tapering down as Rudi and I left the movie theater this evening. I needed to get across town and biking seemed the best option to do that, since Georgetown is not on a metro line, but does abut the river trail. I’d get a little wet (Honestly, it was more than a little, since I was dripping from the humidity as well by the time I arrived to meet my friends for dinner on Barracks Row.), but it was efficient.

Soon after setting forth, I watched the sun break through the clouds to the west and the dark clouds moving to the northeast, thinking that this was a prime period to catch a rainbow emerging. And, sure enough, one did.

It was never especially bright and it was very low in the sky, but it was quite wide, as you can see here looking up at the back of the Lincoln Memorial.

By the time the bike trail left the Mall by the Jefferson Memorial, the rainbow was receding. But it had been there, and I got a chance to see it because I was looking for it.

Life lessons. A rainbow is a rainbow is a rainbow, after all.

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is favorite tropes in our reading material.

Mine include:

1. Found families (if you’re surprised to find this at the top, you haven’t been paying attention)
2. Heists
3. Cozies (People who are not professional law officers solve crimes that stump aforementioned pros!)
4. Bequests that let you change your life
5. Nerdy girl/guy saves the day (Hermione forever)
6. Bad guy isn’t really a bad guy
7. Booklovers love books
8. Sisters are doin’ it for themselves (be they literal sisters or BFFs, they’ve got each other’s back)
9. Definitely not love at first sight (or even like, really)
10. Crossovers (I feel like this is getting more common as ways for authors to write sequels without writing sequels. Or when they have enough series where a character from one can show up in another.)

What are some of your favorite tropes/themes to discover in books?

Monday marks the start of the weeklong reading event called Bout of Books. I’m signing up once again.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01 am Monday, August 19th, and runs through Sunday, August 25th, in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 26 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

My goals for the event are simple:

1. Read at least 5 of the 7 days.
2. Take part in at least three of the non-reading events, such as Twitter chats, challenges, or commenting on someone else’s progress.
3. Blog here at least once more about my progress.

I was on the wrong side of Nationals Park to truly capture the beauty of tonight’s sunset, so this was the best I could do.

The summer season is waning, which means both that the infernal weather will soon abate and that all the fun outdoor things will soon wrap up. As such, my weekend plans include:

• Floating in the pool.
• Watching a baseball game.
• Buying lots of summer produce at the farmers market.
• Taking a trip to the library.
• Reading and knitting outdoors.
• Attending an international food festival.
• Spending time at the garden.
• Doing laundry. (Some of the weekend has to be spent inside!)
• Cleaning the bathroom.
• Refilling the tea canisters.

What are you hoping to get to this weekend?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. There’s nothing like returning to a garden that’s at peak production. My haul on Wednesday included peppers, at least five varieties of tomatoes, and basil.

2. One of the things I really wanted to do while in Connecticut was to get to a sporting goods store to see if I could find a pair of volleyball sneakers. I could tell the difference for my knees just jumping around Dick’s shoe department, so I am excited for next month when I resume playing indoors and can use them. Since I’ll be playing twice a week again, it will be good to minimize the beating my knees take.

3. A shower immediately after coming in from an hour playing volleyball outside in the August heat.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?