Not much news but I did have a few nice summery photos to share!
There was a very tall Russian Elm in the alley behind us in Chicago and it fell down last week – shockingly causing almost no damage! The tree was removed and now we have a view through several lots that we didn’t before.
Why go to key west when there are sunsets like these over Augusta Boulevard?
We drove to Sawyer Thursday evening, arriving at my favorite time of day, civil dusk.
I searched through recent blog entries and can’t believe I haven’t written about civil dusk before! I talk about it all the time. Here’s a handy diagram that shows the three stages of dusk: civil, nautical and astronomical. The first stage of dusk is civil dusk (named this because there is still enough light to carry out civil activities). Civil dusk reminds me of the good things about Fall – like a little bonus at the end of the day / summer to be enjoyed.
Friday we worked then took the stand up paddle board to the beach after dinner. We arrived 45 mins before sunset but shortly after arriving the sun ‘set’ behind this bank of clouds. It was still very bright and warm, with great water conditions for SUP!
Saturday morning on the way to yoga I saw this art piece at the local antique store and nabbed it on the way back.
Saturday afternoon our friend Emily arrived and we had dinner then walked to the beach.
We walked, I swam, it was lovely. Water is a very pleasant 72 F / 22 C.
Sunday morning we decided to visit the local town of Baroda. There’s a lovely small downtown street, with nice paintings filling in some wall coating gaps quite charmingly on one storefront.
There’s a shop called Baroda Soda that was closed but had a nice set of notes and a picture posted. We want to come back when they’re open. Emily also thought up a great idea – we should open a cheese store called Baroda Burrata. I love the idea and would also like to run (or maybe just shop at) a roadside stand with all the ingredients for a Greek salad or caprese. So many ideas!
We ate brunch at a very nice place called The Local. My omelette was huge, this is what I brought home (later food!) The semi circle is a cinnamon roll French toast. Pretty amazing!
We then drove to Lavender Bliss lavender farm in Bridgeman. The lavender has all been harvested for the season so we cut flowers instead. The greenhouse there is so nice.
We then went to the Harbert Antique Mall, and it was at this point in the day both the outside temp and my credit card heat raised considerably! 😂 There are these hoops lined up outside which reminded me of the challenge in The Odyssey where Penelope lines up axes and Odysseys, disguised as a beggar, shoots an arrow straight through them. Take that, usurping suitors! I’ve caught odyssey fever (like lots of people this summer!) and am reading it for the first time since reading a very good children’s edition to Miles a couple of years 😂 ago. Sooo good!
Inside, John found the perfect piece for the nook outside his office. It has a key to twist and the Ferris wheel (invented in Chicago btw!) will rotate.
This French botanical shed was tempting for Emily as a doghouse and us for a deer proof vegetable garden. But we all resisted even checking the price or thinking seriously about it.
We got a few other items that will make more sense once framed or situated so will cover those in the future. Emily was heading back to Chicago so we said goodbye to her and we went to Three Oaks to a new bookstore called Wind & Stars. Sounds similar to the Winding Stair in Dublin, doesn’t it? It’s a really good bookstore and I got what I was looking for!
Back in Sawyer I put some of the cut flowers into a milk bottle (from the antiques mall)
And others into a glass. A storm came in and right now it’s dark, with rain and lightning / thunder!
Hoping now that the storm will move on so we can swim and have a sunset tonight and enjoy the rest of the weekend before, as all days begin in The Odyssey, rosy-fingered Dawn wakes us tomorrow morning!
Oh and I’m sorry that comments were closed for the birthday post. I’m telling you, the blog has been a real odyssey lately! I opened comments again and you should be able to comment on the birthday post but no pressure to go back now to do so. Comments should be open here too. 🤞
I’m going to leave a test comment after completely forgetting to tell you that I couldn’t comment on the birthday post which looked like lots of fun.
Lovely pics and updates there. Rory and I have just finished listening to the Iliad on audio book as we drive to activities. Now onto the Odyssey!