Full weekend, with just a little headspace

We decided late last Sunday night that we should take off work and spend our 100 degree Monday canning tomatoes with a campstove out on the deck. And no, we actually were not drunk.

We truly were not. But after spending the weekend hammering away on things that "had to be done" and having fun that was very important to be had, we realized there was a bushel of Roma tomatoes still staring at us. With very busy days and weekends lined up for the next while, we did what had to be done.

We got a head start on the boys, and before first light, started boiling jars in the late August cricket chorus, fog of sound. I quickly realized that there really arent many better reasons to capriciously decide to take a day of vacation than to embrace the season's heat and a surprise day at home with the whole family, to work on some good food for winter. Plus, getting a four day work week out of it was not a bad perk.

We didnt can THAT much, not enough to get us through: only 14 quarts. But, it was fun. It only took the morning to do, and the boys napped long and solid while Lesley and I worked (yes, we didn't take a whole day off) in the cooler, quiet house. Anyway we had to share this scene: This picture strikes me as tacky when I look at it now and I laugh at that. This supports our stance that appearance and image are pretty much meaningless. And especially when you are trying to can vegetables, play guitar, hold an infant, and play with/control a toddler with a water hose, a pool and a deck full of random objects to kick around, all before 8 in the morning.

Sunday was a watermelon festival downtown that we were looking forward to attending, but at the last minute, we decided to go to the cooler, less crowded river instead. This time we went into the city to one of the parks along the river. We go there sometimes, but only when we can get an early start to avoid the crowd. Typically we go to let Tsuga off leash and go berserk, but this time we left him to have a humans-only outing. We were reminded what an awesome feature of this city the James River is. What a low-key way to spend a summer day, and what an asset for city-dwellers and suburbanites. Since we find ourselves in one of these categories nowadays, we appreciate having a cool spot to hang out.We got to wade around and play in the water, and talk about footing and how rivers flow.
We got to check out TONS of dragonflies and damselflies.
We got to take breaks in the shade. Notice the ever-plump Heath taking it all in.
This is a regular spot for boating, fishing, swimming, fetching with dogs, drinking vodka before noon (Oh, did I type that?). You see a little of everything, but its a calm setting altogether.The weekend also held the (finally) installation of a big boy swing for Alder. Pa Pa made this swing for Alder way back, long ago, I think before Alder could even sit up. So, we have been waiting for the right time to hang it.

He LOVES it. He even asked me later that day, without prompting, if he could go swing in his "beautiful swing". I'd say that's a compliment Pa Pa, for a swing cut out of an old tire! Classic. Travis and I grew up with one just like it.
Love to you all. Thanks for reading.