Last weekend of January, 2019 – egads!  Where did the time go?  We packed this weekend with fun, from the moment we finished work on Friday evening until Sunday night.  On Friday, I headed home from work a little early – my reward to myself for several late nights last week, writing a 35 page long brief.  (50 pages if you count the statement of facts.)  Steve and I had big plans: a tour and tasting at Port City Brewing Company, our local craft brewery.  It’s just a few minutes from our house, but we’d never been there (blame the kids).  The tour was really interesting, and the tasting was fun – I’m not a beer person, but I liked everything I tried, and loved one.  On Saturday, Peanut and I slipped away for a girls’ date – lunch out in Germantown, Maryland, followed by a performance of Angelina Ballerina: The Musical at Black Rock Center for the Arts.  I love planning these mother-daughter excursions and I think Peanut felt very special.  (Nugget is such a mama’s boy that he is basically glued to my side when I’m with him, and so taking Peanut off on her own is a nice way for us to connect.)  On Sunday, we had fun hiking plans – Great Falls (our favorite) with Zan and Paul (our favorites).  We checked out the falls, hiked upriver to look at an eagle’s aerie, and got generally covered in mud.  It was lovely.  When we got home, we spent the afternoon hanging out at home.  Steve did laundry (necessary after the Great Falls mud bath) while I batch cooked the week’s meals.  The house is trashed, but at least the fridge is stocked.  And now another week dawns.  Let’s go get it!

Reading.  It was a productive reading week!  I finished up The House of Special Purpose, which had to go back to the library – I was out of renewals.  Liked it.  It was fun and engaging, as long as you suspended disbelief about the history.  Next I blew through two short, restful reads – The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2018 (yes, 2018 – there were recipes and nature writing in it, okay?) and Lagom (the next hygge?).  Ended the weekend cuddled up in bed with Swimming With Giants – there’s nothing like some cetacean love to chase away the Sunday scaries.

Watching.  Well, this weekend I watched – from the front row, no less! – as Angelina Mouseling and her friends at the Camembert Academy sang and danced their way to a performance for the legendary prima ballerina Serena Silvertail.  Angelina Ballerina: The Musical was adorable, and Peanut loved every second.  (Literally.  After the show, I asked her what her favorite part was, and she breathlessly replied: “ALL OF IT.”)

Listening.  Lots and lots and lots of podcasts.  Peanut is interested in the southern resident orcas (I adopted one for her class) so she and I got caught up on all the news via A-Pod…cast for Killer Whales on our way to Germantown and back.  As for the other highlights of the week, that had to be Frank rapping “A puppy is a puppy is a puppy” on The Librarian Is In podcast’s tribute to Mary Oliver (sob).

Making.  Another batch cooking extravaganza!  Sliced cucumbers; a double batch of quinoa; goddess broccoli; cabbage soup with chickpeas; stewed cinnamon apples; cucumber-cilantro juice (don’t knock it ’til you try it); and a stir-fry of tofu, mushrooms and mixed greens.  Plus unpictured pomodori al forno (yes, again).  We will be eating well this week.

Anticipating.  I have another busy week coming up at work, with four deadlines hanging over me.  I’m really looking forward to having them all in the rearview, so I can relax a bit and get organized again – both at home and at work.

Blogging.  I’ll have my January in books for you on Wednesday, and on Friday I’ll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy to share what’s saving my life this winter.  Check in with me then!

Loving.  Hiking with friends is always a treat!  Zan and I were trying to remember when was the last time our families got out for a hike together – we know it was when we all lived in Buffalo, so it’s been years.  How can that be?  Clearly we can’t let that much time go by without hitting the trails together again.  But the long hiatus notwithstanding, I’m smiling over sweet memories of rambling through the woods on this surprisingly seasonable Sunday with friends that I cherish.  It’s the simple things in life, right?  Nothing better.

Asking.  What are you reading this week?