For some unexplained reason, it seems to have taken longer and has been much more challenging to get through the past week. Not sure why that is. There hasn't been anything exceedingly different the past six days, than there normally would be.
But, nevertheless, today is Saturday. The start of the weekend. Although you might say Friday evening is the start of the weekend, let's not put too fine a spin on this here.
Saturday does tend to be the day for running errands or puttering around our "old homesteads."
In the warmer months, the first sound you might hear early on a Saturday morning would be the distant or not-so-distant sound of someone with a gas lawnmower fired up cutting their grass.
Saturdays are also the big day for farmers' markets.
In the city where I used to work before moving to Nova Scotia, there was a farmers' market every Saturday morning located on the grounds of City Hall. It was pretty extensive, covering the inside lobby; the outside forecourt, as well as the entire parking lot. The city would also close down one street beside City Hall to accommodate more vendors. I believe there, it had been written into the municipality's incorporation laws from 150 years ago(give or take), that the municipality(village back then) had to provide town space to accommodate a farmers' market.
To me, there is always something exciting about it being Saturday, especially in the summer. Not that there aren't neat and exciting things to do in the winter, but it pretty much goes without saying, there are certainly more opportunities in the warmer months. Back when we lived in the "old homestead" on the shore of Georgian Bay, Saturday was the day to check out those farmers' markets; outdoor art and craft exhibitions; visit quaint villages and hamlets; hike a neat location and then refuel at a country store/bakery.
One of our favourite Saturday "road trips" became known as "The Great Beaver Valley/Grey County Bakery Extravaganza." The day, which we usually combined with another outing, basically involved stopping at each of the great country bakeries in the Beaver Valley and portions of Grey County, and as you might guess - buying some of the locally produced fattening baked goods. What tended to make it special was we would only do it at most three times a year and usually if we were out in late November or early December, Christmas shopping in the area.
I don't know the number of times we ended up at the marinas or shores located in Owen Sound, Meaford, Parry Sound, or Thornbury, ON after being out for the day to watch a summer evening's sunset over the expansiveness of Georgian Bay.
I must begrudgingly admit, that since moving to Nova Scotia, we haven't had the same "Saturday fervor" as we might have had back in Ontario. Granted, our first few months tended to be pretty hectic, getting settled in and with those inevitable new "old homestead" decorating jobs(and yes - there are still a few to do).
Part of the problem we have now is, for the most part, the days all tend to be the same. When not having to go to work, it is hard to tell if it is Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday. I only know that it might be a weekday when the school bus picks up and drops off in front of the house beside us. So, we often sort of forget it is Saturday.
Secondly, we aren't really in tune yet, with what happens on the weekends in at least our area. We're not familiar with many of the regions, let's say within a 2-hour drive of where we live. Also, sourcing information on events and things like that, I do find slightly more challenging here.
In addition, as a couple, although we do tend to be spontaneous, we also tend simply to sit back and hope that an "adventure falls out of the sky." Which rarely happens.
Lastly and perhaps more importantly, I think we're not as intentional about getting out and about here, as compared to back in Ontario. I mentioned to Lynn before she came back from visiting her Mom, that we need to head out once every two weeks or something and simply pick a new place to visit and check out.
Today, however, we're heading to Halifax.
We're first hitting up Ikea - which on a Saturday can either work out to be a reasonable adventure or more of a crazy zoo-like experience. I think the art store downtown(Halifax) is also on the list. Some grocery shopping in Dartmouth is likely to make an appearance.
And finally, we will deliver the painting I sold to our daughter for her restaurant downtown. That part of the trip is very exciting. We'll likely catch dinner at her restaurant, as she won't be there until 5pm.
Saturday. Not where I thought the post would go, but perhaps not a bad itinerary and destination in the end.
What do your Saturdays usually entail?
--as always with love --
--- get outdoors; find inspiration; discover yourself ---
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