My Weekend Escape - Day 2

I woke up this morning to the sound of Nadine's voice in the kitchen. I was still feeling tired but more lethargic. It's Saturday which means I go for a run but I really didn't want to go this morning. I lay in bed debating with myself, "To run or not to run." The blue skies told me it would be worth it. So I graced Nadine and Owen with my presence which is always a treat for everyone. Nadine has already made focaccia bread (from scratch) and to dough is rising on the oven. Owen is gearing up to make blueberry waffles (from scratch) and I want to go for my run even less at the thought of all this food. But none the less, I go for my run down to Sargent's Bay just a mile or so from the house. Sargent's Bay is a small provincial park that is as peaceful as it is beautiful and the trip is never complete unless I make it there. There is a piece of large drift wood that jets out the bay that has been there since I've been coming here. I like to lay there and ponder about the life. Today was no different only in that, frost covered the shaded sides the wood and which made lounging on it cold and wet. But I didn't mind. I listened to the waves lap along the shore and marveled at the clarity of the waters and simplicity of it all. I ran back home ready to dive in the waiting blueberry waffles with real Canadian maple syrup. Obviously, I had just been on a good run so justifying eating 2 waffles was very easy. There really was no second thought. We finished breakfast, put the focaccia bread in the oven to bake and went about getting ready for the day. We had a very busy day planned of errands, cooking and eating.
Nadine and I headed out to pick up a few things, including for me, the world's best granola for Wheatberries Bakery, which I make a purpose of picking up every visit. It is $8.00 for a 600g bag but worth every cent. Nadine and Owen were off to a dinner party in the evening and we needed to get dinner on for them to take. After our errands we made it home to start on the Roasted Harvest Vegetables Casserole, peeling and chopping a variety of winter root vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, potato, zucchini, turnips, broccoli and cauliflower, mixed with olive oil, rosemary and other herbs, the casserole is ready to go in the oven. Next, the hummus. Nadine whips up a batch of curried hummus (from scratch) which is the best hummus you'll ever have. Nadine and Owen head out the door with casserole in hand and the evening is mine to myself. The fire to roaring downstairs, my casserole is in the oven and the solitude and stillness is welcomingly palpable. I prop myself in front of the fire which brings me to now. I am more content than I have been in a very long time. I've had a day with the family, eaten great food, spent the morning sitting by the ocean, broke a good sweat, slept a good night's sleep, and been at peace with a lot of things. My heart is quiet, my mind is wondering at a leisure pace. I am in my element of heat by the fire and quiet solitude. The roasted harvest vegetable casserole, fococcia with curried hummus and smoked Gouda cheese made for a lovely dinner. I'll have a bowl granola for dessert and revel in the blessing that this day was.

I write about this weekend which presently seems inconsequential, but in the future, I want to remember this weekend. This weekend I was better than just ok. These days I had warmth, food, family, saw beauty in the trivial, took time to just sit by the water, cherished the time I had with my family, and created new memories. Because, I worry about those days where I won't remember these moments and their just become lost to the hustle and bustle of daily life. I always want to remember the smell of home baked bread with the slightest hint of rosemary lingering in the kitchen. I want to remember the sound of laughter at the stories Auntie Nadine and I share as we go for the long drive on country roads. I want to remember to warmth of the fireplace on my back, the feel of vegetables doused in olive oil, and the softness of clean sheets as I crawl into bed. I want to remember because I am very aware of the fleeting characteristics of life. I am aware that times changes, and we won't always have the opportunities to do what we want when we want it, so do what you want when you want now. Tomorrow, I will do just that, but for now, I'll bask in this moment and wait for tomorrow to come.