For the first time in ten months, the fact that it’s the weekend means something. While I worked hard to keep celebrating Saturday and Sunday’s arrival during my period of unemployment, in reality there wasn’t anything particularly that set those days apart for me personally.

But now I’ve put in four long days of meetings and learning and getting up in the morning and putting on dress clothes, so I deserve the next two days. I’ve earned them.

As such, I hope to:

• Watch the Nationals play.
• Put in some time in the garden.
• Attend my teammate’s housewarming brunch.
• Bake. (So I don’t show up to the former activity empty-handed.)
• Stay up late for Art All Night.
• Celebrate the Kennedy Center’s new expansion at the Reach Festival.
• Finish my shawl.
• Read.
• Wash the kitchen floor.
• Sleep. (I. am. so. tired. Good night!)

How about you? What are you hoping this weekend includes?

… for a moondance.

-Van Morrison

Here’s some of what I hope this weekend includes:

• Attend BookFest. I’d like to see Rainbow Rowell, Barbara Kingsolver, Ngozi Ukazu, RBG, Julia Alvarez, Madeline Miller, Pablo Cartaya, Shannon Hale, Jon Klassen, Juana Medina, Renée Watson, and Mitali Perkins, among others, but between the crowds and the schedule overlap, I’d be happy to cross three of them off my list. After the first year when they moved the festival indoors from the Mall and I experienced a panic attack at the crowds (200,000 people attended last year’s festival), I came up with a game plan that seems to work for me — go a little later, bring food, find corners where breaks can be taken, and be attached to no particular author. Mostly I’ve gotten to see folks, but I don’t wait in lines (other than the five minutes before a new talk begins) and I am willing to miss out on hearing pretty much anyone (rooms have fire code restrictions about how many people can be inside). (I’m already pretty much resigned that I will not get into the RBG room.) But there is rarely a period of time where I have no one who interests me and usually you can squeeze in someplace — particularly in the outskirts around the children’s stages.
• Swim. The outdoor pools close on Monday — just in time for our next heatwave.
• Send out some writing samples. I’m keeping options open for the future and have decided to start investigating freelance work. (I have no illusion that that earns one a livable wage at the outset, but one must acquire a first client somehow…)
• Plant some fall seeds. Our growing season easily lasts into November, and I often harvest all the way until the end of the year, so now is a good time to put leafy greens back into the rotation and try planting some more root veggies and a fall bean crop.
• Shop at the farmers market. I need milk and raspberries and maybe plums or peaches for a tart.
• Watch baseball.
• Do laundry.
• Send some thank you notes.
• Knit on my shawl.
• Finish another book.

How about you? What’s on your weekend wish list?

Our weekend was a nice one, with gorgeous weather than encouraged spending time outside.

Friday morning, Rudi and I headed to a cafe we enjoy for elevenses after attending a talk. We cuddled under an awning as a light rain came down and cool air descended into the region.

Saturday, we headed over to the eastern side of the neighborhood for a street festival. Rudi bought a new mug after discovering a crack was developing in his favorite one and I bought the last two baggies of cookies some a senior citizen group was selling. We stopped in at the local Japanese food store, sat outside at the popsicle stand reading and knitting (Rudi did less of the latter, obviously), and came home to watch the latest episode of a new tv show we’re enjoying.

Today, I did a little shopping at the farmers market, picked up a pair of bagels hot and fresh from the local bagelry, and sat in the park. We spent the evening with friends, barbecuing on their balcony, before returning home.

It was a good weekend.

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?

Here are three shots from my weekend:

That last one is not quite as in focus as I’d have liked, but it does clearly point out that autumn is on its way, no matter how slowly!