Abblasen, run through the rain and coast is clear

- A decidedly un-sunny Sunday in which the afternoon was spent in slothful sofa-time, catching up on DVRd CBS Sunday Morning shows, with the wonderful opening theme music, "Abblasen" played by Wynton Marsalis.

- An exhilarating run through the rain with friend Ginny, both umbrella-less, and laughing as we reach our cars soaked.

- Putting away Sophie's nemesis, the vacuum cleaner. She emerges from behind the futon meowing her discontent and "is the coast clear?" I tell her I don't like it much either.

Ramble, scentful and funky space

- A river runs through it. View from the Cliff House on the Hiawassee River, July 2009. We took a ramble through the grounds and porches around this house for sale when we were there last.

- The savory smell of the rosemary flecked soap sitting on a shelf in my kitchen. I get a whiff of rosemary every time I lean over to pick up Sophie's water dish for refill. (Not wanting to use it for washing up just yet since it is so delightfully scentful.)

- Visiting a potential client who sells fine art out of a building that was once used to manufacture Arby's sauces. A huge vat in the center of the space has now been made into a conference room with a door cut-out and funky furniture and sculpture inside.

Tomato sandwich, vs. tomato pie and happy mail

- This lovely haul of tomatoes from co-worker Bobby's garden. We have a discussion about the best use of tomatoes and agree a tomato sandwich is the best of all. Fresh bread, slices of salted tomato and Duke's Mayonnaise, properly eaten while standing over the kitchen sink.

- vs. a yummy looking tomato pie recipe that I spotted on the Simply Recipes blog that I want to make. Bobby thinks that is a waste of good "home grown" tomatoes - so this might be Sherry's Produce stand tomato material. :)

- Looking in the mailbox and seeing just one happy item: a picture postcard from a vacationing friend who reports "sea air, sunshine, super views and soul-surrendering sensational simmerings of song and sacred silences."

The view, the square and the red hatters

- A lunch catch-up with friend Pat and enjoying the window view of the courthouse in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The courthouse was built in the "Romanesque" style in 1885 at a cost of $23,083, after the first one burned.

- Lawrenceville is a suburb of Atlanta where the courthouse square is full of antique shops and cafes. Our lunch at Sperata was delicious; my crab cakes and Pat's brie wrap - Yum. The coleslaw contained herbs from the garden in the back.

- While we lunch, watching a sea of laughing women wearing red hats and purple outfits file across the square and into the restaurant where a long table is set up just for them.

Messy fun, broad hint and exclamation

- To honor the new PBS Jim Henson childrens' show, Dinosaur Train, Georgia Public Broadcasting kicked it off with a fun Doughnuts and Dinosaurs day. Giant orange footprints continued down the hallway and along the walls to a train ride that included a doughnut upon boarding. Messy fun.

- Salad that includes yellow heirloom tomatoes from co-worker Bobby's garden. When I pause to tell him how much I enjoy the tomatoes, he says he'll bring me some more. A broad hint that worked! :)

- A client's excited exclamation, "That's exactly what I wanted!" She loved her red tag sale postcard on brown cover stock that will go out in the mail this week.

Follow the grain, contents and rear view

- This quote by Dr. Howard Thurman that I think means to be your own person, not what others expect you to be. The best thing: learning about someone I didn't know about before via Wikipedia.

- Friend Mary's 2 3/4 year-old Bella sporting a little silver purse with purple flowers. And showing me the contents: Cheerios.

- Wispy blue clouds against the sunrise pink sky, looking like marble in the rear view mirror. A beautiful start to an unseasonably cool morning.

Shining water, catching up and happy news

- This photo of the Hiawassee River that was taken during a July visit, jumping out while scrolling through other photos. Shining water on a summer morning.

- An unexpected visit from friend and cousin Susan and catching up on family news over plates of pasta and fruity iced tea at nearby Figo Pasta.

- Learning that a family member is expecting her second baby. In a state of disbelief, running four pregnancy tests before her husband suggests that the fourth one is probably correct. They are happy and will have two children 18 months apart in age.