Taking a Day Off

I took the day off from blogging yesterday.

It wasn't for lack of something to say; I can almost always write about something. Or nothing, which is infinitely more common on this page.

A dear friend came into town on Saturday evening, and on Sunday she chose to spend some of her short time in the area with us. I always feel privileged when someone who is in the area on a visit chooses to spend time with me. I remember coming in from Chicago, and there really didn't ever seem to be enough time to see everyone we wanted to see.

It was another wonderful low-key Sunday here. Talking, laughing, grilling, sipping iced tea, watching the kids swim and not much else. Sundays seem to be our day to just be. And I like it. No big parties, no elaborate menus, just friendship and throwing some food together.

My backyard and deck are my tiny little slices of paradise. I can “get away from it all” without driving to the wilderness. During the winter, we congregate in the kitchen, but during the summer, the deck in the back is our social place to be. Well, except when it's raining, because the rain usually blows from the back to the front, and we don't particularly enjoy getting pelted in the face with water. The front porch doesn't offer the same feeling of tranquility. There are cars going by, the people walking down the street, and they just detract from the Zen.

Each year, I fill my planter boxes (I mentioned this in a previous post) with annuals, and we're surrounded by bursts of color. It just adds to the feeling of paradise. This year, I didn't have it in me to do that, but I tried salad planters and herb gardens. Two kinds of lettuce, spinach, some herbs and spices. Until very recently, I didn't have the wherewithal to water them. Well, the planters are now full of withered, brown stuff. And now, it's kind of too late.

Next year, I think I'll go back to flowers.

This photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post.