Days and Nights

 One good thing about my life lately is that I have so few things I HAVE to do.  The summer will be different, but if I'm up for a couple of hours in the afternoons when the girls are here or available for Mah Jongg games twice a week, I can plan my days just like I want. I can also take a quick nap when I want to, but the problem starts when my naps turn into what I think is bedtime.  

I had been out and active and walking and cleaning for a big part of the week, so I was ready for some rest.  About 8:30 or so of what I thought was the next day, I heard vacuuming and noise and sounds of cleaning from Elise.  It surprised me, because she's not an early riser, but she was up and cleaning all the hard floors - vacuuming, mopping, discussing cleaners, etc.  I felt a little grumpy about being awakened and involved, so I just got a cup of coffee and went to read over some books I had ordered for the girls for the summer and see if I wanted to keep them all.  I heard people outside on the sidewalk talking and laughing and figured it was people headed to work or school (forgetting it was Saturday - in my mind).  I got deeply engrossed in my reading and note-taking and spent at least an hour doing that when I looked up at my window and noticed it was dark - very dark. The light finally came on in my brain that it was still the same day I went to bed.  

I feel totally out of it when things like that happen, but I've allowed it, and really there's nobody it bothers.  I do like the fact that I have 8 more hours to do what I want to (hopefully sleep some more).  I've tried being on more of a schedule, but I just don't sleep that well from around 3 a.m to 6, so I'm always off at some point. 

From the time I was 20 and married and working and then having children and then still working until age 70, I never seemed to have enough time.  So now that I have it, I'm treasuring it and just enjoying it, no matter if it's day or night.  I think it might be healthier to have a regular schedule, but I'm not sure how I can do that, so I'll just go with the occasional senior moment and laugh about it - more than an occasional moment lately.  

So now I have my time back, I'll post the pictures of my afternoon with Kate on Thursday and then practice Mah Jongg a little.  I have a new audio book that I should be able to keep awake for.  I have sheets to wash, but I'll take pity on Elise and my neighbors and wait until the morning.  I have several blogs and columns I read and neighborhood news.  I wish I would sew or do anything practical, but I'm not able to force myself to do much in such a small shared space.  

Anyway, after hanging out a bit after school on Thursday and having some conversation about what we should do, we decided to walk downtown to the gem shop so Kate could spend the birthday money Aunt CC had given her.  Gray was less enthusiastic but still wanted to go and maybe stop by the library and get something cold to drink.  As we started down the sidewalk, Emily called and said she was working in town and was just leaving the coffee shop where she had been on a phone meeting since the remodeling has started on the clinic.  

She actually saw us walking, and pulled into a side street.  We stood at her window talking and irritated one man and blocked a UPS truck briefly, so she pulled into our alley and Gray decided to go home with her and hang out and relax.  Kate is just the best companion when we're walking.  She watches those dangerous sidewalk eruptions for me and holds my hand crossing the street!  It's fun being an only child sometimes too, and going to her favorite shop was enough to make her day.  

We found the Earthlight Rocks, Gems, and Minerals shop open, and entered her wonderland. 

I've never known much about crystals and gems or learned to appreciate them, but both girls can spend as much time in there as they're given, just touching and admiring and exclaiming over the pretty things.  They don't get to go often enough with their parents because of the amount of time they want to spend each time, and children under 18 aren't allowed without a grownup.  I think I read that, but I may be wrong.  I'll have to check.  I would not let children loose in my shop with that many little rocks and jewels to admire  

There are two locations for this shop, one in Kirkland and one here in Snoqualmie.   I'm not a real jewelry person either, but I did find some necklaces I liked.

She immediately went to the kid's area and found a frog that she fell in love with.  She went back in a few minutes to claim it and never let it go.  Funny how the craziest-looking things win someone's heart.  

We did a lot of looking and discussing of bracelets and pendants, just beautiful crystals and stones.  She loved touching every one of them.  We checked out the amber necklaces that Elise had shown an interest in and sent her some pictures.  She's pretty much as obsessed at Kate is, and I'll have to let the two of them go together next time.  

The necklaces I liked but would probably forget to wear.  Such pretty colors.

Sweet girl.  She's so polite and well informed about the things she's looking at.  I learned a lot.  She knew just how much she had to spend and came within a few dollars of estimating correctly.

She settled on 3 bracelets in patterns of black and gold and the frog plus one more thing that she loved - a disk with a hole in the middle.  Bracelets are in a picture below.

I'm not sure she would ever have wanted to leave if I hadn't finally sat down on a bench to rest, and she decided she was ready for her mango smoothie a couple of doors down at the Sno Thai Cafe.

She put her order into the kiosk - no stranger to kiosk ordering - and had time for the allowed free Pac Man games.  She said if she ever opened a restaurant, she would have machines that no one would have to pay for, and kids could play all they wanted.

Such a sweet guy.  I don't go in there enough to know his name, but he took great pains with her smoothie and even gave her a little bag of cotton candy.  

I got a taste or two of that smoothie, and it was perfection!  Just what was needed on a warm spring day.  I've had their regular food a couple of times, and it was delicious.  We're lucky to have them in town - both of these businesses.  This is right across the street from her DMW class building and a block from the new clinic Emily is working so hard to open by July.  Of course, the town is only three blocks, so everything is right there within walking distance of the apartment, including the library.

What could be better than this?  Her 3 new bracelets that she loves, her mango smoothie, and her froggie in the bag! We saw 2 little girls and their grandmother coming out of the gem store who had been in there when we were leaving.  We stopped and let them show off their purchases and had a sweet little conversation.

As we turned the corner to go back to the apartment, I spotted my new friend Helen sitting on her porch crocheting.  We stopped and talked for a few minutes.  She has a nice place that is bright and gets some morning sunshine. I'm envious of that.  She has a granddaughter in third grade, I think.  I was thankful to finally get home and rest a little, but it was a perfect amount of walking that was needed.  What a good day.