Morning, friends! How were your weekends? I’m sad to see the back of this one. Since starting my new job I don’t dread Mondays the way I used to (a good sign!) but all the same, we had so much fun over Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday morning, Nugget and I had a kayaking date at Fletcher’s Cove, our favorite paddling spot (just upriver from Georgetown). Steve and Peanut were off brunching in Old Town while Nugget and I tackled the mighty Potomac. The current was especially strong on Saturday – so much so that the boathouse employee told me that by the afternoon he probably wouldn’t be letting folks out on the river anymore; we were glad we were there in the morning, before it got too hairy. We made good distance considering the current, and we saw a bunch of different birds – success! After turning in our kayak, we changed out of our river clothes and into some more respectable shorts and t-shirts, and had our own brunch date in Georgetown, followed by bike shopping. Nugget wanted to check out the next size up in mountain bikes – for his wish list, fam. I promised him a stop in a couple of bike shops, but sternly told him “I am not buying any bikes today, buddy, so don’t ask.” Famous last words? On a whim, we stuck our heads in the Bicycle Pro Shop on M Street – a Georgetown institution – and they randomly, serendipitously, had a Specialized Rockhopper Sport, size XS, color papaya – the very bike I’ve been gazing soulfully at online for over a year, which has been sold out everywhere. So after swearing up and down that I was REALLY NOT BUYING ANY BIKES TODAY, Nugget and I found ourselves wheeling the Rockhopper down M Street, back to the car and home to the mountain bike capital of Northern Virginia. Saw that coming a mile away.

Since kayaking, brunch and bike shopping (and a play date later in the afternoon, I didn’t even mention that) were apparently not enough for one weekend, I ran around all Sunday working off excess energy – starting with a 5K at 6:30 a.m. (hey, I was up), followed by a hike at our local favorite, Riverbend Park, and then Nugget and Mommy’s Excellent Adventures continued with our first trail ride. We hit a section of Difficult Run and Nugget was a total champ – riding over rocks and roots, down hills and through puddles (we were both whooping out loud at the puddles). We finished the ride caked in mud – our legs, our tires, and our bike frames – and delighted. We’re already planning next weekend’s ride.

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Reading. Kind of a slow reading week – ’tis the season. I’m always full of big plans to read late into the bright summer evenings, and I always find myself scrolling through pictures and reliving the adventures of the week instead. But I have turned some pages. Mid-week, I finished up The Kitchen Front – it’s already back at the library. Then I took a break on the library stack and polished off a back issue of Slightly Foxed (always so good). Now it’s back to it; as of press time I’m about three-quarters of the way through Ready Player Two. It’s fun and all, but not as enthralling as its predecessor, Ready Player One. I have a few more library deadlines looming, so it’ll be another week or two before I can get back to my own shelves, but I’m looking forward to that (and I really am making an effort to be more disciplined about the holds queue).

Watching. Still working our way through Miss Marple on Britbox (I love it; Steve seems to be tolerating it okay). And with the kids, we’ve had a fun week over two Disneynature films – Dolphin Reef and Elephant. I loved them both. Did you know that Elephant is narrated by Duchess Meghan? Mind officially blown. Also, it was wonderful.

Listening. I’m trying to remember if I put in any podcast or audiobook time this week; if I did, it wasn’t memorable. It was another music-heavy week, particularly The New Pornographers again. I’ve been listening to “Chump Change” on repeat.

Moving. Very busy week! Three runs, several long evening walks, a hike, and a muddy trail ride on my new treasure. (Nugget and I are mulling over names for the new bike. We’re leaning toward “Adventure Annie,” Annie for short. Validation welcome.) I’ve been on a mission to get a sixty-day streak of 10,000 steps a day; I found myself looping the couch or calling relatives just to have an excuse to pace around the living room with my phone, but today will be day 10, so I’m on my way.

Making. Um, nothing much? My dishwasher is broken – again, and have I mentioned lately how sick I am of renting? – so we’ve been eating ALL the takeout and doing basically no cooking. I did make the aforementioned several phone calls. The highlight was to my BFF, Rebecca, on Thursday evening. She is starting her own law firm, and this week is the big launch! I’m so excited for her; we’ve spent hours going over all the details over the phone over the past few months. So, making – phone calls, yes, lots of them.

Blogging. Getting back to post-pandemic planning with my medium-sized goals on Wednesday, and musing on a year living in the exurbs (I can’t believe it’s been a whole year) on Friday.

Loving. Did you know that the Duchess of Cornwall has a bookstagram? The handle is duchessofcornwallsreadingroom, and I can’t get enough. Camilla recommends the Cazalet Chronicles, A Gentleman in Moscow, The Secret Commonwealth, Swallows and Amazons – basically, she has impeccable taste. Apparently there’s also a show in which Camilla interviews authors and talks about books? I have to find a way to stream this.

Asking. What are you reading this week?