Independence Day Recap

Arienne, Occidental
Originally uploaded by suzipaw

Nothing like a two-day work week. Doesn't that make more sense--working two days and off for five rather than the other way around?

I started last Wednesday neatening up for mother in law's arrival and paused to take Veronica to the vet. She's had some strange little bumps that spread to her ears and had definitely withdrawn a bit recently, eschewing my lap and even her twice-daily forays to the kitchen for tuna! It turned out to be nothing more than a flea allergy. I guess between the proximity to the dog and her five minute grass nibbles in the back 40, the fleas had conquered. So while it was a fairly straightforward visit, I did find out that it had been so long since she's been to the vet that they'd put her file in storage. And we did some bloodwork just to see if there were other issues to be aware of--and there aren't. She has the vitals of a feline 16 years her junior, apparently.

Arienne arrived just as I was finishing the household chores, good timing. M arrived soon after. It was a pleasant reunion. The next day M went off to work and we visited the Luther Burbank Home before meeting him in Occidental, a sweet little rural village, for lunch. He went back to work and we continued sightseeing, taking in the Charles M. Schulz Museum, pausing on our way out to watch the ice skaters do the hokey pokey. Ah, memories of my Girl Scout rollerskating badge. Dinner was enhanced by veggies from Jay hand delivered by niece Felicia when she came over for dinner on Tuesday.

Friday we made our way up to Mom and Don's in time for a late lunch. We went into town in time to enjoy the art gallery opening where Mom's pottery was on display, made a dinner of the reception food, then wandered down to the Wharf to claim a spot on the rocky beach to watch the fireworks later. Other friends joined us as the evening lengthened. I drank beer named for Point Arena, admired art cars, ate pizza, danced, hugged a few friends I hadn't seen for ages, and settled back onto the rocks in time to watch the pyrotechnics shooting from the end of the pier. Many we saw, many exploded behind the fog, illuminating the sky in warrior shades, all eliciting oohs and ahhs. I especially appreciated the funk soundtrack after years of the "patriotic" tunes played during the show in Santa Rosa. We made our way back to Main Street and thence home with the hundreds of others.

After a lazy Saturday morning, we went our separate ways, Mom and I to the parade, M and his mom to the lighthouse, a place she had been wanting to visit for years. It was a brief but enjoyable display along the main drag, holding up Highway One traffic in both directions, part of its charm. My friend Liz came back to the house for a lunch and a chat. After she left, the mellowness continued. I retired to the TV room to click between "Road House" and "Return of the Jedi" while M prepared cookies and molasses bread in the kitchen. Heaven! Followed by yet another meal of garden grown veggies (and for the carnivores, a first sample of the grass fed beef quarter we went in on, to much acclaim) and a fairly early bedtime.

Sunday was another day infused with relaxation, enforced by low coastal clouds and the baking up of the bread and cinnamon rolls M had kneaded up the day before. We took our leave of Mom and Don just after lunch, Rex our Sunday blues incarnate, sighing and sulking in the backseat, then curling in a tight wakeful ball on the bed when we got home. We had a nice last dinner with Arienne and called it an early night.

Back to the gym and work for me. Arienne is on the road home. And I'm looking forward to another evening with Felicia later this week, and hopefully more home improvement projects this weekend in the form of prepping for the countertops. If our contractor is still free.

Hope your fourth was good too!