As of today, the sun is setting at 7 here in D.C. I haven’t wrapped up work before that time all week, so I’m going to have to be very intentional starting this week to shut the computer at the time I’m supposed to, not at the time the work is actually done. (Because, to be honest, the work is never actually done.)

The weather is now pleasant enough to want to be out during daylight hours, so I’m going to need to get up earlier and try to get a walk or cup of tea in the park in before my workday begins. And then I’m going to need to scurry out to the garden or to the towpath for a bike ride or to the only cafe with evening hours on this side of town after it’s supposed to end. Because if I go straight through my favorite season without ever seeing the sun on weekdays, it’s going to be a huge problem.

I discovered a pull in my knitting tonight. It was on the wrong side, so conceivably I could have just stretched the fabric a little bit and then woven it under the stitches.

But instead I picked at the stitches with a spare needle, teasing the elongated loop in both directions until all the slack was gone.

It took more than an hour to accomplish, but I’m glad I took the time.

There’s a lesson there to apply to real life, where taking the time to relieve tiny increments of a major stressor eventually lead to the problem being solved. But that takes time and patience, and I really just want to weave in the threads and disguise the things that could take down the entire thing.

I am pleased to report that very few insurrection-friendly protestors arrived in D.C. this weekend, so mostly we were all able to live our lives as usual.

Yesterday I finished a book, returned things to two libraries, bought some doughnuts, and video-chatted with some friends.

Today I went to the farmers market (but too late for paw paws, chanterelles, baguettes, and milk), started a book I picked up from the library yesterday, and spent a couple hours at the garden (I planted lettuce, dill, and cilantro, as well as some fall seeds; harvested a bunch of things; trimmed lots of tomato plants; watered; and weeded).

In an effort to disentangle my life hours from my work hours, I thought I’d share that we’re planning to head to the movies on Wednesday and I have a volleyball doubleheader on Thursday night. I just need to make some plans for tomorrow, Tuesday, and Friday.

How was your weekend?

So, there are more right-wing nutjobs coming to D.C. this weekend. Expert analysts of the dark web suggest, unlike Jan. 6th, this time the rumors are more likely to be bigger than the turnout. But, they also warn that nutjobs be nutjobs, and there’s just no predicting what some of them will do.

Most of us who are staying put are planning to take precautions. I’ll probably save taking Metro across town until Sunday. And if I go out to Virginia to return my overdue library book, I’ll try to plan the ride out there for when delusional people will already be in the city to avoid interacting with them, rather than when they’re returning to their “safe” suburban hotels. If I go over to the H Street Festival, I’ll bike or take the bus. (Again, while insurrectionists may charter buses to bring them to the city, I have my doubts they’re going to hop on a Metrobus. Okay, maybe a Circulator.)

If I want to stay in the neighborhood, there’s a craft sale by Latinx makers, and I can walk to the library. And I can spend time in the garden.

If they institute a curfew, I’ve already got plans to video chat with friends. I had to postpone our usual call because I was headed to a ballgame, and they suggested this weekend as a replacement so we could hear about the first couple weeks of kindergarten. There are also National Book Festival talks online I could watch, but the problem is that I already spend too much time in front of a screen. Luckily, I don’t have to listen to talks about books — I can read them! And I can knit. And I can paint my nails (although not while I’m knitting).

Sunday is the farmers market. Paw paws are in season, and Rudi would probably be grateful if I got up early and went and bought him some. We’ll see. If there are some available at whatever time I get to the market, I’ll buy him some, but I’m not going to get up early to buy something I don’t eat. (It’s surprising how many fruits taste like bananas.) He is a grown adult and can plan to be around to buy paw paws if that’s a priority.

What’s on your to-do list for this.final weekend of summer?

Honestly, I’m feeling pretty unenthused about the weekend. (My computer says that’s not a word and suggests changing it to enthused. I’m working on it computer, I’m working on it.)

There’s a used book sale at the library over by Eastern Market, so maybe I’ll wander across town. It’s supposed to be a nice weekend weatherwise, so hopping on the bike would probably be a good thing. Plus, then I could bike by Fiesta D.C., the Latinx festival and see how crowded it is.

There’s a new book sale at one of our local indies, so Rudi and I may head up there tomorrow evening after he returns from his bike ride.

If nothing else, I can immerse myself in some books, and that never is a bad plan for a weekend. And my shawl is back to mosaic sections, so maybe I can move it along. I’d love to get it off the needles some day.

Sunday, there’s the farmers market, which last week felt super packed, so I should probably start getting up earlier to avoid the crowds. And it’s Adams Morgan Day, which is D.C.’s oldest neighborhood festival. Again, not loving the idea of crowds, but I think they’re working on taking better advantage of the parks.

This weekend is Subway Series part 2, so maybe I’ll stream some baseball. The Mets won the first game, which makes me happy.

And I should spend some time at the garden. My beans have not been the success I’d been hoping for, with the yardlong beans and my burgundy filets not really materializing. I have some pods on the lima beans, but they were awfully flat still last weekend. Fingers crossed they’ve filled out this week. It’s a good time to plant late fall crops, like lettuces, so I’ll dig into the bags and find my seed packets. After all, nothing’s more hopeful than a garden.

Today, I spent time at the farmers market, at the pool, and at the garden. I also fit in a nap on the couch, doing laundry, reading and eating pizza in the park, and talking to Karen on the phone.

I could get used to this…