Unlike the previous two weekends, this one was just two days. Amazing how short that feels, particularly when the workweek feels so stressful.

But it was filled with lots of good things:

On Friday, Karen and I spent several hours on the phone. Yes, we saw each other just last weekend. That’s part of the magic of our friendship.

Saturday, I spent some time outside in Georgetown. Spring flowers are starting to bloom. I discovered a bakery I like in Virginia had set up an outpost in the neighborhood back in November without my noticing and that another had closed just last week. I knit a bit and read.

On Sunday, I headed to the farmers market, where I bought the ingredients for a gardener’s pie (which Rudi turned into a delicious meal for us tonight). Then I ventured down to Lafayette Park next to the White House for a rally in support of Ukraine. I got a lesson in flags of the nations that broke away from the Soviet Union, saw lots of flowered headbands and embroidered clothes, and was overwhelmed by what a large Slavic expat community there is in the area. As always, moments of song were the most powerful, with a group of mostly older women singing at the back of the crowd, and the Ukranian national anthem brought the crowd to their knees in unison. A college-aged woman sobbed through an interview, and I suspect (but was too far away to confirm) that she was worried about family back home. My heart breaks for those in danger’s way — and those in safety who can only wait to hear that loved ones have survived another day. It puts any hardships in my own life in stark perspective.

How was your weekend?

See you on the other side of my birthday!

My birthday weekend has arrived. I’ve done no formal planning, short of taking Monday off from work. But here’s how I think I’ll spend at least some of the time:

My friend Neal and I are going to do something outside on Saturday. It’s still supposed to be ridiculously warm for February and he’s even more cautious about COVID than I am. So maybe we’ll explore Kingman Island or something like that.

I’ve got some books to read (I started four the other day in an effort to figure out which one would stick first) and some more to pick up at the library.

And I really want to do some baking. Some cookies or brownies or a cake… Since weather is expected tomorrow night, that’s probably a good time to make some comfort food.

On Sunday, it’ll start with the farmers market.

I’m thinking I might head over to Planet Word in the afternoon to see if I can score a day pass. It opened during the pandemic, and I have yet to add museums back into my repertoire. But it’s one devoted to language and that seems an appropriate gift to myself.

I’m going to plan on watching Around the World in Eighty Days and All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece on Sunday, plus some Olympics and a movie or two to stream (I caught Legally Blonde tonight) in the meantime. I might even pull the knitting out of the bag and work on it.

Monday, maybe Rudi and I will just head to the movies for the day. There are several things playing, and I’d like to think daytime movies aren’t too crowded. The zoo and the museums aren’t open on Mondays, so it’s either that or go for a drive. There will be pizza for supper and a stop for ice cream at some point, since you should never turn down free ice cream on your birthday.

What’s on your weekend agenda?

One of the things my parents gave us for Christmas was a smores maker that you can plug in. It’s a kitschy gift, but precisely the sort of thing that I adore. We didn’t get a chance to test it out during January, because while eating gooey chocolate and marshmallow sandwiches may make you feel better about a loved one’s demise, it’s tough to pack the cooker in your carry on.

Tonight, though, we were both home, neither of us had meetings or activities, and we’d had a healthy diet otherwise for the day, which meant overindulging for dessert was not only allowed, but encouraged.

In addition to the maker, my parents also outfitted us with our first few rounds of ingredients, including jumbo marshmallows. This makes eating a little more challenging as you’ve got to worry about leakage on all sides of your dessert, but also means you’re pretty content with two.

Thanks, Mum and Dad!

I didn’t get to everything I’d hoped to this weekend, but I did enough.

Most importantly, I spent time with friends every day.

I got outside into the sun both yesterday and today. Yesterday it was for a walk to Georgetown and today it was a bike ride over to NoMa to eat cupcakes with Sarah. I also spent time at the garden, putting my plot to bed. Much like with myself, I’m doing this far too closely to when I’ll need to wake it up (peas go in next month!), but better than not putting it to bed at all.

I went to the library, the grocery store, the hardware store, and a couple shops where I didn’t buy anything.

I got rid of the compost and picked up some produce and bread products at the farmers market.

I ate actual real food and not just cereal straight out of the box (that was Thursday night).

I didn’t do much cleaning or laundry, but I did deal with all the flood-related materials, and there’s now a gigantic bag of clean, dry towels just waiting for the next time we get two straight days of rain. And I’ve got a load of clothing ready to go into the wash tomorrow, when fewer of my neighbors will be queueing up for the machine.

While I spent a lot of time reading, I will not finish my book, Beth & Amy, before bed, much to my dismay.

Along with the book and the laundry, there are some other things that will trickle into this week, and that’s as it should be. I mean, I’ll need cookies to eat in the middle of the week, too.

How was your weekend?

It’s been a while since I’ve done a post sharing how I’m thinking about spending my weekend, but, to be fair, it’s been an unusual last month.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Have after-work drinks with a friend. (We got to give each other work advice and bolster each other’s self confidence.)
• Order Chinese food to eat during the Opening Ceremony rebroadcast of the Olympics. (The snow peas in ginger sauce, usually a household favorite, were a little lackluster, but the other dishes were delicious. And I’m looking forward to 1-2 more meals of leftovers.  I dozed off during the Olympic anthem, so I missed the cauldron being lit. I may see if Peacock, which comes with my internet service, has it on-demand so I can see the 20 minutes I missed.)
• Talk with friends online, on the phone, and in person. (This is going to be what gets me through.)
• Clean. (The tree may be out and the ornaments away, but my apartment is in shambles — all the moreso after the apartment flooded this afternoon — just your typical too much rain in two days flood.)
• Wash clothes and towels. (See the previous item for the latter. And Mount Laundry has started having avalanches, a sure sign we’re past time to deal with it.)
• Write a letter.
• Assemble the shelf I bought just before I left in January and find a spot for it. (I need to hit up the hardware store for one more pin to complete the task.)
• Bake a cake or cookies. (I love baking, but I don’t really do it a lot unless I’m home with Mum and Dad.)
• Knit. (The thinking part of the shawl is a dozen rows from being done and then I can just crank rows out without having to pay attention, which is what I need right now.)
• Read. (I have lots of good books out of the library and two more waiting for me to pick them up.)
• Send some cards. (I completely failed at Christmas cards this year, but I have some happy new year cards and some Valentine’s Day cards, and I’d like to think everyone will be delighted to get real mail in February.)
• Get outside during the daylight. (Pretty obvious, right?)

What are you hoping to do this weekend?