Well. I don’t know about how the weekend went for you but for me that one just flew by. Sometimes I think the extra day off makes the weekend feel shorter instead of longer. AmIRight? Here’s a recap, with photos.

There was Friday with Jackie. He’s a fun companion, that’s for sure. I had to run an errand to Home Depot in addition to our regular grocery store trip and Jackie was all in for that. We got back to my house, had lunch (late) and then played until Grandpa got home. So fun.

There was Fondue Date Night for Friday Night Snacks this week. We dipped bread, pretzel nuggets, apples and asparagus into some really great cheese fondue. Delicious and warm and satisfying.

Saturday was spent crafting in the morning (I made myself a shirt for the season) and then in the afternoon we went furniture shopping. I’m happy to report success – we found a couch and two accent chairs that we really love and that we in the budget we had set – and not so happy to report that it will be 7 to 10 weeks until our special order (the chairs, not the couch) is ready for delivery.

All that shopping left us hungry and thirsty and we went out for a really nice dinner at a local place where I had been a month or so ago with Hannah but Dale hadn’t tried yet. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and the food (calamari and Brussels sprouts for apps and a shared plate of carbonara for dinner) was fantastic.

On Sunday we worked in the garden a bit – yanked out the finally dead geraniums and vinca and cut back the other things I hadn’t cut back last month. Dale raked. I came back inside and put on my Christmas movie shirt and the Hallmark Channel. We had a small plate of snacks and meat loaf for dinner. Comfort food season has arrived!

On Monday we walked in our local Veterans Day Parade. I was with my colleagues from town.

And Dale was with our fellow Kiwanians. It was a warm day and the crowds were enthusiastic and it felt great to honor our Veterans by doing this.

We went out to brunch after the parade, made a quick stop at the grocery store, and then spent the rest of the afternoon at home. I read for a bit (The Nickel Boys is excellent) and Dale stacked some firewood. We did some reorganizing in the mudroom together and then I made this sign with the Cricut. It’s perfect for how we love to combine November and December.

I made soup for dinner, we got caught up on TV and then went to bed pretty early because all that weekending really wore us out!

photo credit today goes to my talented friend Crystal of Crystal Clear Photography

One thousand flags stand proudly on our town common right now in honor of Veterans Day. These flags represent love and honor, sadness and grief, valor and bravery and other ideals. But they also represent people. Soldiers who left home, some who did not return, and some who did return as veterans.

Today we honor those veterans and I think this quote from Abraham Lincoln appropriately says why we should:

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.

Let us be the citizens who care for our brothers (and sisters) by honoring and thanking them, not just on Veterans Day, but on every day.

I had a very nice and super relaxing weekend, made especially so by the fact that I stayed in comfie clothes from Friday night right through until . . . well . . . right now because it’s about time to get ready for work.

Here’s my recap:

I met Jo-Ann for a great cappuccino and avocado toast on Friday morning. No picture of the avocado toast though, Mary! I had a meeting that morning and then spent the day running some errands, finishing The Water Dancer while reading on the deck, and puttering around.

There were Friday Night Snacks, of course. And the movie Dracula from 1931. Not scary. Pretty lame, in fact, but I suppose the newness of talkies needs to be considered when evaluating that one.

On Saturday Dale and I planted the bulbs I bought from White Flower Farm. Spring Me is much more ambitious than Fall Me and my enthusiasm resulted in an order of 100 assorted daffodils. Dale dug the holes and I planted them in and among the perennials in my front garden bed. I also took the opportunity to clean things up out there, cutting back the dead coneflowers and black eyed susans and doing some other trimming and weeding. I haven’t yanked the geraniums and vinca vine out of the window boxes yet as they are still blooming. And I saw that woolly bear caterpillar. My sources tell me that the wide brown band means a mild winter ahead. I’m ignoring other signs which indicate differently and just generally feeling hopeful.

I did some work with the cricut and made this tray as a donation to the raffle table at a craft fair where I work. I later decided there were too many bubbles in the vinyl and took it off and need to start over but at least I got a photo of it first. I also made a quick run to our local butcher for steaks for dinner. We enjoyed them with some garlic mashed potatoes, oven roasted acorn squash, and a new Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel. (don’t judge me)

I made eggs for breakfast on Sunday and we relaxed and ate and read the paper together. We had discussed possibly shopping for a new office chair for Dale but both agreed (without even discussing it) that the cold rain falling outside made staying home much more appealing. And that’s what we did.

I wound yarn for a new project. Dale built a fire.

We watched the Pats beat the Browns while enjoying delicious snacks.

It was a really wonderful weekend.

I know it’s hump day and all but with the Monday holiday and the book club posting yesterday I’m just now able to catch you up on my weekend. It’s not like it was a particularly epic weekend or anything, but it’s Wednesday and I’ve got to post about something so it might as well be the weekend.

Okay, so.

Friday. It was rainy and icky and I pretty much chilled at home other than a dash to the grocery store. I had to get stuff for snacks, of course, plus enough to carry us through until next week. I really make it a point to only grocery shop once a week.

The snacks were delicious and we had our first fire in the wood stove that night. It was great for ambiance and it took away the chill from all that cold rain, too.

Saturday. I went shopping at Home Goods with Jessica and Jackie. I’ve been on the look out for pillows and such to make our bedroom Christmas-y. I found a great red throw, as well as a new pillow, a Christmas shower curtain, a truck for Jackie, some napkins, placemats and a bunch of other stuff I probably didn’t need.

Dale and I went to see Downton Abbey in the late afternoon. The scenery was beautiful and I loved the set and costumes on the big screen. The story itself . . . it wasn’t disappointing but it wasn’t really a great movie, either. Honestly, it was more like watching a really long episode of the show. After the movie we went out for drinks, apps and music and had an all around nice evening.

Sunday. And Monday. I hibernated. I mean, did you see that I went out among the people almost all day Saturday? I earned two days of not leaving the house. Dale was working with the band both afternoons at a local farm for a fall festival and I hung out at home. I did some knitting. I listened to a book. I made quahog chowder and I baked chocolate chip cookies.

I did some crafting with the Cricut and I turned a plain white tray (that I got on the clearance rack at Home Goods) into this one personalized with our last name.

And I made a onesie for a friend to give as a gift.

Each day when Dale got home we were able to sit outside on the deck and have a cocktail before coming in to twinkle lights and snuggles on the couch.

It was a very good weekend.