Yesterday, I dropped Don off in a neighboring town around dinner time, where he caught a ride to the music festival with a fellow musician friend. When Don called me around 10 pm, he described a place where people were camped everywhere, where music was playing on three different stages, and where he most likely won’t get much sleep. But he’s around music and musicians and is looking forward to listening and learning and meeting new friends. It’s rather a big folk festival and it culminates with a performance from Judy Collins tomorrow evening. Both Don and I are big fans of her music and both of us have met her at different points in her career; I met her in the early seventies, Don met her more recently. She has the voice of an angel.
As always seems to be the case on the first night Don is away, it took me a long time to get to sleep last night, but I woke up at the same time I do every morning – early. So I’m a little bit sleep deprived.
The butterfly bush is in bloom.
But I got up, made some coffee, let Dame Scout out, and saw the male cat race off into the woods. Ever hopeful is that boy.
And then, instead of immediately turning my laptop on, I sat here and read for a couple of hours. Ahhh. It was simply wonderful. Windows open, birds chirping, the dull sound of traffic on our road, Scoutie in the tunnel, and words making a whole new world come alive for me.
A good start to the day.
A tiny, tiny bee near the coneflowers.
A slow, laid-back day lies ahead, with reading, perhaps some work on the Top Secret Project (depends on my ‘tired’ level), and of course, taking care of Scout.
The other day, I stopped at the post office to check my mailbox there, something I hadn’t done in a while. There was a package waiting for me, and I thought to myself, “Ooooh! Someone sent me a present!”
And then I did a double-take. It was addressed to none other than Scout. Oh, it was sent in care of Don and me, but it was definitely for the Dame. When I told the guy behind the desk at the Post Office that is was for my dog, he laughed.
It was from a wonderful reader of this blog, Kathy.
So I brought the package home and helped Scout open it.
Oh boy! Well, Scout simply had to sample one right away. The verdict is in, Kathy. She loves them.
Scout took it upon herself to email Kathy and thank her. I don’t know how she manages to get on my computer, but that girl has some serious skills, so I put nothing past her.
I’ll say it officially here, as well. Thank you, Kathy! Scout loves her present and she was quite taken with the fact that the box had her name on it. xoxo.
I’m off to sip some more coffee.
Happy Saturday.
Great shot of the bee coming in for a landing. Love your photography! I’m still saving for that camera purchase. Enjoy your laid back summer day!
Thank you, Kathy! Enjoy your day.
Enjoy your day! Those no agenda days are simply meant to be completely appreciated. I’m going to show your bee picture to Woody. He will be so impressed as well as a bit jealous.
Eileen
Woody is a great photographer – if he’s a bit jealous, I’m humbled! Much love.
How old is your butterfly bush? Every time I plant one I get lots of blooms the first year and then it never comes back. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong??
It’s about 4 or 5 years old. Someone once told me you can cut them way back in the early spring and you’ll get even more blooms. It might be a solution? I haven’t done that, but I should because mine gets really woody and I think I could get more blooms if I cut it back.
Lovely way to start a Saturday! I enjoy the quiet mornings here so much. Charlie by my side as I read blogs and emails. Sip a cup of coffee and ease into my day. Next week I start my babysitting of the Grands. One week of both kiddos and then just Rosemary as Tiger goes back to school. I am so happy to be able to help out and keep Rosemary for them. She is a sweetheart but I know will wear her Grandma out! It’s OK, I’m very blessed. Enjoy your weekend, sounds like Don is! I love Judy Collins.
Hugs,
Linda
You are such a help to your daughter and her family, Linda! I know you love being with those adorable grandchildren, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Much love to you, my friend. Enjoy your quiet weekend before the babysitting begins!
Happy Saturday morning Claudia! Sounds like you have a wonderful day ahead of you. I love the voice of Judy Collins as well. I just returned from a trip to the Smokie Mountains with my parents, my sister and niece. We stayed at a fabulous hotel called The Inn at Christmas Place. They have nightly entertainment and one night a husband and wife group called the Pea Pickin’ Hearts were performing. She had a wonderfully “folksy” quality to her voice. Sounds like a group you and Don would like. They have a website, so check them out. I purchased a CD called “Up Yonder”. We listened to it several times on the 11 hour drive home, singing along with them at the top of our lungs! Enjoy your weekend.
Blessings from Lynda at Still Woods Farmhouse
Oh, I’ll definitely look into them and also pass the information on to Don. Thanks so much, Lynda. I’ve never been to the Smokies and I sure hope to change that someday!
Great way to start out your day! Enjoy! ;)
You too, Donnamae! Have a lovely Saturday.
What a great shot of the bee and the coneflowers…you just get better all the time Claudia…I also love days when I can just lounge around and do whatever I’m in the mood for at the moment…Big Judy Collins fan here…I think I had all her albums when I was younger…That must be some huge festival…That was so sweet of Kathy to send treats for Scout…I bet she was really excited…Enjoy your leisurely weekend alone…even though I know you are missing him…
I’m missing him, but it’s only for two days. He’s having a good time – I just heard from him this morning. Have a great weekend, Nancy.
What a wonderful beginning to the day. Hope the rest of the weekend is as calm and special.
Thank you, Wendy – you, too!
New to your blog! Love your home, your style. :)
Thank you, Kailani! Welcome!
Judy Collins is amazing. She did a benefit in 2004 where I was executive director of a nonprofit organization providing services for women and families seeking recovery from trauma and addiction. I greeted her at the airport and hung out with her during the drive from San Francisco to Marin, where the event was held. She was totally grounded, accessible and charming, telling me about her experiences and other musicians in California and the Bay Area back in the day. She came not to perform but to give a talk at our annual dinner about her own recovery. But she did sing Amazing Grace a’capella and it was magical. She did the benefit for no fee….expenses only. The woman is a joy and a gift to us all.
What a wonderful memory! She is so gracious and kind. You’re right, she is a gift to us all!
Chicken meatballs! I don’t blame Scout – I’d be excited to receive those too. Although I think Scout’s are a little different from the kind I’d like to get, I’m sure they’re delicious and she certainly deserves all the treats she can get. Enjoy the rest of your quiet solitary weekend. Time for some deep relaxation and midsummer battery re-charging. Take yourself a little nap this afternoon in all that wonderful country quiet. We had a dazzling lightning display last night over the Lake – and today’s cooler weather is so welcome after last week :>)
It’s a bit cooler here and less humid – but it’s still hot! Have a great weekend.
I say it often and I will say it again, bloggers really are the nicest people – and so are their pets!! xx
They are, indeed, Amy!
You take the most amazing pictures. I love the flowers and bee picture, so much detail.
Oh, thank you, Kathleen!
I’m sure you are enjoying your day. And you said the windows are open, so I hope that means that you had a break in the humidity. We need rain so badly! Madison, which is only about 25 miles away, got over an inch on Monday and we did not have a drop. I am getting a bit weary of dragging the hose around the yard every day. (But I don’t have to shovel anything, so I am still grateful!!)
Enjoy your time for the rest of the day!! OH!! Judy Collins,,,,,,, I think I may have slept under the stars for that, too! However, if it was on the ground, I wouldn’t be able to get up and moving in the morning!!! Ah, youth! It really is wasted on the young, isn’t it?? :-)
LOVE~LOVE~LOVE the first shot of the butterfly bush. LOVE your camera’s abilities…I am thinking of a upgrade…BECAUSE OF YOUR PHOTOS!!!!! Gosh darn you!!! I know it is because of your abilities also!!! I have 3 butterfly bushes, 2 in the back and 1 in the front. They have a heavenly scent. I have 2 purples and 1 delicate yellow. Our CA drought is doing a number on them…we can’t water. I sneak some!!!! shhh! don’t tell!!!!
Addie
“Ever hopeful is that boy” You are a wizard with words. That made me laugh out loud.
Your day sounds fabulous. Nothing like reading to sooth the soul
You and Scout enjoy your down time :)
Sometimes it does a person good to have a day just to themselves.
I love my husband but I know when he retires, and we’re together all day long for the first time ever, continuously, we’ll have a big adjustment period because I’m quite a solitary sort of person (kinda like you, Claudia…chatty, yet…) with quiet projects, very comfortable with my alone time (been like that since I was a kid), whereas my husband has to be doing something every minute, crashes around a bit making a lot of noise, always has to have the TV or music on (even in the car); always has to be doing something which requires, I dunno, commotion! I worry a bit as to how it’s all gonna go. I actually, personally, know of a woman who felt like she’d go nuts once her husband was retired and couldn’t really settle down to a routine after working at a full-time paid job all of his life; she returned to the workplace and figures it’s what is saving her marriage. Seriously. (This was something I never saw with my own parents. They were so compatible, it was as if they were born of the same mold and living with such a sane rhythm their entire married life…no guesswork; just so comfortable. And easy.)
I’m feeling a little melancholy because my cousin just informed me that she and her husband are getting divorced…after 35 years. Clueless, I couldn’t be in more shock. If ever there’d been two people so joined at the hip since they were teens…