As expected, Thursday was the last day of our hot summer. After a hot day with warm wind on the beach with our friends, we woke up on Friday morning to a chilly fall morning. The days did warm up this weekend, but instead of hot by 10am, it was more like warm by 2pm. The earlier sunset and cooler temperatures are definitely a sign of days to come. Tonight after everyone was in bed, I snuck out for a big walk with Airlie in the cool evening air. It ws 8:30pm when I left our house to cruise into town and then up and around the lookout hill and it was already pitch dark when I left. It could have been midnight.
Our weekend without travel was exactly the opposite of what it could have been. Instead of spending 3-4 days in the car and breathing in the ocean air for a couple of new days, we spent our days doing a lot of nothing at home. Friday was our most ambitious day. I gathered up C & H, giving their mom D a couple of hours on her own and marched the kids up our local hike. They are all pros at this hike now, and the chatted all the way up and all the way down. We had a nice long snack break at the top and got some good photos. Later in the afternoon, after Papa had finished his day, our little family headed down to the soccer fields so that the boys could kick the ball around for an hour while Schmoo and I rode our bikes around the 5km lakefront pathway to the airport and back. We returned home for family dinner and an early night.
Saturday was our socializing day and it didn't get started really until noon. We made our way down to the local hippie market for a wander around. Papa headed off to pick up some groceries while the kids and I had lunch at the A&W and then visited the used bookstore. Our bookstore searching was cut short when Schmoo realized she had left her brand new purse behind at A&W, so back we went to recover it from their lost and found. The late afternoon and evening was spent out at our friends' house for dinner. Another laid back visit of watching the dads and kids run around playing soccer while the moms drank slushie dacquaris on the veranda. Their new french nanny joined us, uttering about 10 words all night.
A late night to bed actually meant a late morning today. Bean didn't come in to us until 8am this morning - a rare treat. We made our way to church after a summer away and returned home for some girl time / boy time in the afternoon. The boys watched a soccer game while Schmoo and I attempted a different bike ride, with less success than Friday's, before doing some shopping and heading home. We had another family supper and had everyone tucked in by 7:30pm.
The fruits of Papa's garden labours are close to fruition, but could really use another week or so of hot weather. He focussed on tomatoes this year, planting several different varieties and they've produced lots of fruit. We're just waiting for them to change colour so we can enjoy them!
The week ahead is a busy one. It feels like we could be starting school tomorrow, but another week of a slower pace will not be misused. We're filling it up with dentists and eye doctor visits, some playdates and month end. Our plans for the long weekend are still up in the air, but hopefully they will include some more friend time before the winds of change push us into the chaos of school life the following week.
1 comment:
It is always good to listen to your inner self. Sounds like the decision to remain in Nelson was a good one.
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