While strolling from Georgetown to the garden this afternoon, I came across this planter outside someone’s home. It contained possibly the largest clematis I’ve ever seen. Each flower was easily the size of a saucer!

My grandmother had clematis growing up the lamppost in her front yard and seeing them always reminds me of her. I didn’t realize there were so many varieties, but Wikipedia shows me they can vary from tiny fuzzy flowers to gigantic, leather-like ones. I knew there was a hairy variety, but never guessed that was just the start of the ways clematis could vary one from another. Nature really is cool, isn’t it?

It’s supposed to be a pleasant spring weekend, with the rain having moved through this afternoon and projected highs in the low 70s. Plus, we’re now into outdoor festival weather, so that means good weekend event options. Here’s what I’m hoping the next couple days include:

• Doing some version of this year’s Independent Bookstore Day’s Bookshop Crawl. (I don’t know that I’ll make it to all 10 to get the tote bag, but I might give it a shot.)
• Seeing the new Avengers movie. (Tonight’s non 3-d show was sold out when I went to get tickets.)
• Completing my sock and work on my shawl.
• Sending out a resume. (Doesn’t Manager of Storytelling Initiatives sound like a good position? I keep forgetting what it’s really called and referring to it as the Master Storyteller job.)
• Going to the library.
• Checking out this year’s French market in Georgetown.
• Heading to the farmers market. (Our compost bin needs emptying and spring veg are in season. I’ll need to get there early to get morels…)
• Stringing up more twine for my peas. When I stopped by yesterday, they were already to the current top rung at my knees and growing ferociously.
• Washing laundry.
• Getting some cleaning done.

How about you? What are you hoping your weekend holds?

This was a mixed bag of a weekend.

When it starts out with a violent death in your family’s inner circle of friends, describing it as good becomes impossible. I’m away from Rudi, who is struggling — with his own loss, with being there for his friend’s wife, and with converting his anguish to meaningful change for our city’s transit infrastructure. I am grateful to our good friends who have stepped into the void in my absence and who have helped him process this huge loss. In the past three days, Rudi has helped with memorials, delivered remarks, spoken to the media, and planned legislation and activism, working to honor his friend and further his agenda of creating safe streets in D.C., and done it while hurting at his very core. I really couldn’t be more proud of the grace under which he has operated since learning of Dave’s death on Friday, but I am glad I’ll be home in a couple more days to help provide support on the ground.

Here in Connecticut things have been quiet, but pleasant (in between tears). My folks took me out for a pizza dinner on Friday. And then I came home and baked, which seems to be the way I channel grief.

On Saturday, Karen and I got together. We ate, strolled in the rain, read a picture book about a grumpy fish (The Pout-Pout Fish), and drank tasty hot beverages (most of which I managed not to slosh onto the floor). My parents and I ate a delicious dinner of roasted vegetables and watched Aquaman, which was better than I thought it would be.

Today, Dad and I made scones for breakfast. Mum and I identified the new bird visitor at their feeder (an Eastern Towhee). We listened to the Mets lose. I sorted out the order for the leftovers for the final stripe of my lightning shawl, with Mum’s assistance. And we had a delicious meal of chicken divan and strawberry cake for our Easter dinner.

Tears and laughter. Reflection and smiles. Music, knitting, and reading. The weekend contained it all. Oh, and chocolate, too.

How was your weekend?

Wishing the best of the spring season to you and your family, whether you celebrate Easter, Passover, or a generic Sunday!

Just as I was opening my blog, a single clap of thunder erupted overhead. Rain is now pouring down outside, and I am glad to be inside. Plus, I’m about to head to bed, and rainfall makes such peaceful sleeping most of the time. It does make me question how the weekend weather is going to play out, though (we definitely aren’t getting a blizzard like some of you, but rain is predicted for parts of both days). If the weather cooperates, this is what I’m hoping it includes:

• Participating in the cleanup day at the garden. I’d also like to plant the two strawberries I bought this week, pick violets, and put in some supports for my peas.
• Checking out the cherry blossom festival along the Anacostia waterfront.
• Listening to or watching baseball.
• Drinking strawberry daiquiris. I have a ton of frozen strawberries in the freezer and would love to clear out a bit of space. This is a delicious way to accomplish that. (Ooh! There’s more thunder!)
• Shopping at the farmers market. Milk and eggs are on my list.
• Baking. My first stab at macarons did not leave enough time for setting and cooking and this batter is not fond of refrigeration, so I’ll see about take two. Failed attempts are still delicious, even if not especially correct.
• Hitting up a library or two. I’d like to watch this overdue dvd and return it, and I finished the book that belongs to Virginia, so maybe I can make it over there to give it back, too. Also, I need to use a printer.
• Figuring out my taxes. Yes, this has been on my to-do list for literally months. Happily, this should be the final list it appears on this year.
• Washing my handknits.
• Eating grilled cheese and soup. (This is one for if it’s rainy.) Homemade tomato soup is another thing in our freezer. I’ll need to buy/make bread, though.
• Doing some tidying. I’m heading out of town next week and would like to leave the place a little less messy for Rudi and Corey.
• Knitting. Maybe I could get through picking up the stitches at the gusset of my sock or could work some on my lightning shawl.

How about you? What’s on your weekend agenda?

Today was a day for rest and relaxation.

I slept in and finished my book.

I soaked in the sun and did some knitting.

We went out for pizza and ate homemade cookies for dessert.

It was a good day.