Wet Sunday/Dry Monday

 

For the third (or is it the fourth?) Sunday in a row, we had rain.  And make no mistake, this Sunday's rain wasn't just rain...it was RAIN.

While I am tired of Sunday rainstorms, this week I was particularly upset because our son was coming up to visit us for his 4 day fall "break."  He wasn't coming on Saturday (as I had hoped which was actually a gorgeous day), but Sunday morning.  This was the first time he was driving to our house in the Poconos and being the overly nervous mother, I said several prayers in church that morning and then watched (via app) as he made his way.  (Thankfully with no issues)

However because of the rain we/he couldn't do some of the things we had hoped.  (Like enjoy our backyard.)  We did, as a family, go to several antique stores where I find a couple of books that I was looking for.  (I'm a collector of the original Nancy Drew series, but also have Dana Girls, Cherry Ames, Connie Blair and Judy Bolton.  The latter of which I had the most of and was able to find two for a very reasonable price.)  We also got sopping wet, but...

Thankfully Monday (Indigenous People's Day) was sunnier (though not completely sunny) and warmer.  I had to work in the morning (remotely) and my son, being a young adult, slept in late.  (I know my idea of late and other peoples are a wide distance apart.)  Once he was up, he did what he's being dying to do...drive up to Skytop and paint.  (Skytop actually has several Plein Air Days, of which there is one this month, but it didn't line up with his school schedule.)  He went up just before noon and I planned to meet him later.

After I wrapped up work, I went up to find him.  I knew he'd be down by the lake, but that covers a lot of ground.  Thankfully he wasn't that far away.  I was able to "sneak up" on him and get the photo that you see at the top of this post.  Then I decided to take my own walk, but not around the lake this time.  Instead I walked down to the inn, taking photos on the way.

(Isn't that obvious?)  Then I walked back up to the lodge and did what I always do (and always will because I HAVE to), I sat on the South Porch and read.

Three o'clock is tea and cookie time at the lodge for guests.  I managed to finagle a cookie for my son and brought it down to him.  (Unlike me he isn't a big eater.  He hadn't had much for breakfast and had no lunch.)  This time he was expecting me (but not the cookie).  He was close to finishing, although he wasn't very happy with what he had.  (It was his first attempt here though...)  He thought he would need another hour and I told him I'd meet him back on the porch.

He was good on his word.  Carrying his still wet painting, he met me on the porch.  To celebrate, I went and got us some wine from the Library Lounge.  We sat and enjoyed the sun.  (It was actually pretty hot.)  As it got later, he brought the painting to his car and I returned the now empty glasses to the lounge.  (Because I don't believe in leaving my dirty dishes around.)  We met on the North porch and had our photo taken with the cute autumnal display they have up. (For just about every season they have some awesome displays, perfect for taking a family photo!  And that's what we've frequently done at Christmastime.)

He wanted to walk down to Leavitt Falls.  I walked with him.  We made a quick stop at the Inn, where we ran into a friend who works there, before going upstairs and checking out the art that is on display there.  We made our way down to the falls.  As around the other "upper" lake, the colors were spectacular.  My son went down to the falls and I headed back home.  My son followed shortly thereafter.

His brief break is almost over.  I really wish we had more time.  The colors here this year are amazing and I know he'd like to spend more time outdoors...painting, taking photographs (his are much better than mine here) and hiking around the area.  (There's so much to explore.)  Maybe next year?