Long weekend: update

Spent the weekend at the cottage, which was a good thing to do. Sailed once, went canoeing once, swam lots, read lots, ate lots. Was somewhat antisocial. Took several books out of book purgatory and over to the book exchange at the barn; I did retrieve three that I decided I do still want in my life, so book purgatory/quarantine has been successful.

Saw quite a few birds -- the usual ducks, mallards and mergansers, now getting very big; a ruby-throated hummingbird (not ruby-throated at all as she was a girl); kingfisher; crows, of course; and most notably, a cormorant, which landed quite high up in a pine tree and caused us all much bemusement. The little mergansers are very cute -- they swim along with their heads underwater, and when they spot a fish they go tearing along the water in pursuit. The mallards are cute too, but not as active. Saw two chipmunks, and others saw the mink, but I missed it.

Came down last night with my parents. Wretchedly hot in the city still. I eventually got to sleep by reminiscing about (1) times I have frozen my little toes off in Quebec City and similar in winter, no matter how many layers you have on it doesn't help, cheekbones start to freeze in the wind, etc.; (2) times I have been damp and cold, boots slightly leaking, damp at neck and wrists, fine drizzle with cutting wind, hair stuck to face, fingers stiff, skin prone to cracking. Suddenly a little balmy heat doesn't seem so bad. (Reminiscing about times I have been even hotter than this was not helpful, I discovered.)

Read this week: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (surprise!). Specials. Firethorn. Night Watch (I am mildly tempted to have a go at reading ALL books called Night Watch -- there are many). The Sharing Knife: Legacy.

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I forgot! Jen and John and I went to the Dreaded Outlet Mall at 89 and 400 Saturday morning. Which normally I don't like to do, but I did want to look for shoes. I didn't actually find shoes, but I did discover that Mexx clothes work really well on me -- I bought a pair of black pants and 2 T-shirts and 3 blouses and a camisole, most of which will be good for work, and on which I spent a lot of money but also saved a lot of money. Outlet malls are funny that way. I also bought a Bodum travel press in preparation for England, where my coffee experiences have not been stellar up to now. (I will happily drink strong tea with milk and sugar, but it's not quite the same as coffee.) And two more wine glasses because I can't resist 'em so now I have 4, which is a better number.

I resisted a lot of stuff too. Damn, but the Paderno outlet was tempting!

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I also forgot to mention that while I was gone, the flowering maple and the pot of parsley in my kitchen wilted horrendously. (Did not discover this until this morning.) The basil, oddly enough, was fine, and the rosemary never lets on it's stressed until it's half dead anyway.

I watered everything and am hoping for the best. Bad windowbox gardener! bad! (Should probably have planted the flowering maple in any case, poor thing. If it survives perhaps I'll do so.)