This past Friday was my first Friday off of my first week back at work. Most Fridays will just be me and baby, but this first was lucky because E was off school that day as well. We had big plans to go to a picnic with her school buddies downtown at a park, pick some more apples and hit a playground or two. But Friday was just as soggy as the Wednesday and Thursday before it so we cancelled those plans and looked indoors. We tried out a new coffee shop across from the park I like to walk around, and my coffee came out to me in a lovely little cup filled right to the brim and nearly too pretty to drink. Even the kid was impressed. She chowed down a croissant and then perched herself and her pointy little hat (the hat that draws admiring comments from everyone – thanks J!) at a seat by the window and drew in a notebook for an hour while the rain beat down outside. I had a lovely conversation with an older couple – both were deaf, but very easy to communicate with – and we talked of three-story renovations and city parks and coffee shops for nearly an hour while the baby stared at the copper painted tin ceiling as if she’d never seen anything quite so lovely. We reluctantly left the warmth of the cafe and jumped the puddles back to the car, holding our pant legs up out of the splash zone. We found our favorite table at the pottery shop empty, and picked this year’s ornaments out of the basket. The littlest one contributed to the paintfest by simply sleeping for two and a half hours while we painted in peace and quiet. Just about the most perfect rainy day. Looking forward to many more Fridays, rain or shine and soon to be snow. I know plenty of cozy little nooks all over this city, and little girls who are perfectly happy to hang out in them with me.
