As I have indicated in previous posts, after working extensively on Maya and the Book of Everything for the past few months and then being busy with all the folderol of the holidays, I have been oh so tired. Add an inner ear infection, and I decided it was time to have a little vacation.
For Clif and me, vacations are very modest, and mostly include simple pleasures. We don’t go anywhere special. We just enjoy what’s around us and plan small, special treats.
On Monday, we went to Lucky Gardens in Hallowell and had a tasty lunch of Chinese food. Here is the view from the deck at Lucky’s, as it is known locally.
On Tuesday, I went to visit my friend Beth and her granddaughter Piper. I was so enthralled with watching Piper play that I forgot to take pictures of her. Darn! Piper will be three in March, and her imagination has begun to blossom. She sang, she fed her dolls and stuffed animals, and she listened to their heartbeats with a toy stethoscope. This brought back sweet memories of when my daughters were young. I would often pause from my housework and listen to them play as they came up with various scenarios for their toys. The imaginary life of children is so rich and full.
On Wednesday, I went to visit my friend Mary Jane so that I could meet her new puppy Charley, a Russian Bolonka. Little Charley is as cute as a button, and he made us laugh as he frisked with his toys. Mary Jane hasn’t even had him a week, but there is already a strong, loving bond between them, and it was beautiful to see.
For lunch, Clif and I went to Mia Lina’s, right in town, and had some of their delicious Lina bread—-bread with melted cheese to be dipped into a tangy tomato sauce.
Tonight we’ll be going to a movie––20th Century Women—with our friends Alice and Joel. It’s always a treat to go to Railroad Square Cinema and see a movie with friends.
It is good to work hard. Lord knows as a Franco American, I come from an industrious ethnic group that scorns laziness. But sometimes, especially as we get older, we need to rest. As my friend Diane put it, “Time to pamper yourself and stay in low gear for a while.”
Good advice! Soon, I’ll be ready to get back into the swing of things, to work at promoting Maya and the Book of Everything and to continue writing the sequel, Library Lost.
But for now, I’m staying in low gear.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Enjoy the rest of your staycation!! 🙂 They’re a good thing to have every so often.
Thanks, Shannon!
Always good to ‘sharpen the saw.’ Enjoy your respite!
Thanks, Eliza! Nearly ready to get back to work.
Enjoy your rest, it is so good for the soul :o)
Many thanks!
So glad there’s a sequel – and with a title! That makes it seem like it’s coming sooner. Loved that Maya book. Wondering . . . If I were to send you a sticker and a self addressed envelope – would you send me an autograph?
It would be my great pleasure, and no self addressed envelope is necessary!
Perfect times to restore body, mind and spirit! Xo Johanna
Yes, yes!
Sounds like you had a marvelous ‘staycation.’ 🙂
I did indeed!
You always have wonderful powers of observation and description. That is why I like your writing so much.
Aw, thanks so much, Beth!
Your staycation sounds awesome and much needed (ps – Your friend’s puppy sure is beautiful!). Rest is important, and helps us do our best work. Enjoy! 😊
Thanks, Carina! I’m ready to get back to work.
Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that we all need regular r&r. I hope you are feeling recharged. I have been thinking of you lately with Trump’s health insurance charade and hope that you aren’t stressing too much.
I am feeling recharged, with both politics and literature! As for health care. Holy guacamole! Sometimes I feel ready to face what might come, and other times, especially first thing in the morning, I feel nothing but panic.
Low gear is a good thing – you can’t go flat out all the time.
So true!
So good to take time for yourself and rebalance the scales. And that cheesy bread! Making me feel a bit peckish 😀
It was tasty!