Short Weeks with Long Weekends are the best

I'm unsure what's better, 3 day weeks or 4 day weekend. Whichever it is, it should be the norm; this 5 day week and 2 day weekend is for the birds.

I can't complain much, even my short week last week was pretty great. Monday I walked to Woolworth's on 5th and enjoyed lunch with my friend & business partner Katie. I finally got to meet her sister who was in from Marin, California for vacation. Katie and I have been good friends since 2005/6. When we met while she was starting up another business and I was in Real Estate marketing. I've heard about her west coast family for ages and never had the chance to meet up. Having Katie finally living within walking distance is amazing. Monday they had already started setting stages up downtown.

Tuesday was hard. It was a busy workday with lots of meetings for both of us. By the time we both got off work we were pretty spent. While making dinner we had our evening made. The Shriner's Parade, which we hadn't heard about, came right by the house! It was very very cool to see.

Wednesday, I had a massage and took the opportunity to get us prepared for the holiday weekend. I had lunch on my own (one of my favorites), enjoyed a massage, got groceries for the holiday, and picked Daniel up from work. We unloaded groceries then headed to pottery. I learned the tree box I made last week had the lid crack while being fired. June patched it and we'll find out this week if it lived. I made two smaller tree boxes, hopefully they all live. I had made a snake mug last semester and it was with all of my things that were ready to glaze. Turns out it had only bone dried and had never been fired. Attempting to glaze it turned it back to mud. Ooops.

We came home from pottery and Daniel put the brisket in the slow cooker while I started pitting cherries. He finished the brisket prep long before I finished the cherries and helped with those. After the cherries were on the stove I stared blueberries too. I wanted all my pie filling complete before the holiday actually arrived. Before going to bed after midnight we were well on our way to a gourmet independence day.

Thursday, I got up first and started baked potato salad. I had the potatoes cooked before nine. I got my red, white, and blue pie underway too. Cherry red, Blueberry blue, with whipped topping for white. I had 52 stars on the pie, because I believe Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico should be fully represented states. I also made two tiny pies to represent welcoming all refugees into our country. Equal representation honors our past and our future, from Plymouth Rock to Ellis Island to the Rio Grande.

We were very sad that we couldn't make the drive to Monticello on the holiday to celebrate Daniel's brother Jeff and our new sis-in-law Debbie. We are very happy for them, and so glad they had so many people to celebrate with. The photos we've seen show it was a beautiful wedding.

Friday, Daniel had a doctor appointment and I went along for the ride. I'm glad I did because I found two amazing outfits at TJ Maxx. I haven't had a successful TJ Maxx clothing trip in years, maybe a decade. Have they upped their game, or am I just really liking clothes this year? My shopping habits these past few months definitely make me wonder.  After his appointment and my shopping we enjoyed a lunch date at Nashville Jam. Daniel had a shopping spree at what might be his favorite store in town too, Patel Brothers, the international grocer. It was a pretty great day.

Saturday we took a 10.4 mile family bike ride in Shelby Bottoms. Magnus seems to really enjoy his wagon now that there is a fan involved. He also loves all the attention he gets from other riders and walkers. I do think he wishes there was a little more shade in the wagon though.

After our bike ride Saturday, Daniel and I worked on a project we've been tinkering with. We completed a feature we didn't think would be possible just a few iterations ago. We added a second technology for the needed functionality. After some further testing and another version you will have a case study at C&E Design.

To celebrate our accomplishments of the day we enjoyed a late dinner at a new restaurant in the neighborhood we had been eyeing up, Cafe Intermezzo. I have never had anything so delicious as a Croque Monsieur at 9pm after a bike ride. It was an absolutely delicious meal and I can assure you we will be returning.

Sunday was a day of resting together in the house, after having so much fun for the last several days. It was needed. It's why all weekends should be four days, three to play and one to rest.