Five on Friday

It's one of the best days of the week - it's Friday once again! This week has felt so very long y'all... Having said that, onward to this week's Five on Friday!

One. Monday Malaise - I had rather grand plans to start doing my work out(s) at 6:00 in the morning on the weekdays this week...and Monday I dove into that with gusto. Monday afternoon at work I started to absolutely drag and while coffee helped, it only lasted about thirty minutes before things went progressively downhill. I ended up leaving work at 4:00 (picked up by my Momma) and when I left I couldn't get my arms and legs to work, I felt like I was going to pass out...it was not a good feeling.

I have absolutely no clue what the deal was but I was left with no energy for the next 24 hours and just felt positively wretched. I should mention that I've dealt with migraines before and I had an insane headache all day Monday as well - so maybe that was the culprit? I don't know - but I know Monday was rough and made the day...and the week as well...seem insanely long.

Two. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - If you have not heard about this movie, based on the best selling book from 2008...I am here to make it known to you! Look past the interesting title and watch this movie! I cannot tell you enough how absolutely wonderful this movie was - it is just perfection!

This movie is on Netflix and clocks in at about two hours but you will not realize that two hours have passed because the story is compelling, the casting is sublime and the whole thing is just beyond enjoyable. Go watch it!

Three. Crazy Rich Asians - I have so been looking forward to seeing this movie and I am going this weekend! So excited! I read the book a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it...when I found it was becoming a movie, I was immediately on board and it finally came out on Wednesday!

I'll be watching the movie at our local Alamo Drafthouse and they have a special menu just for Crazy Rich Asians - and I plan to take advantage of it! I can't decide whether I'll be sampling The Orchard Road or The Wet Market...but I will definitely be getting Mahjohg Cookies!

Four. Outlander Season Four - Finally...at last, at long last...yesterday Outlander announced that the fourth season will premiere on November 4th! When the fourth season premieres it will have been almost a full year - what is with all the shows I love having such long breaks between seasons? (I'm looking at you Game of Thrones)...

That means there are 79 days until Jamie, Claire and the rest of the cast are gracing our television sets once more. The Droughtlander will be over in (barely) less than 80 days - and if that's not reason enough to rejoice, I don't know what is.

Five. Weekend Plans - I've already mentioned one portion of my weekend, but I'll elaborate a bit further, how does that sound? I'm not entirely sure what my Friday evening holds but I know there will be dinner out somewhere... that's almost always a guarantee of any Friday evening at this season of my life. There may be some watching of Outlander, since I've introduced my Mom to the show... who knows? I plan to just relax!

I'll be sleeping in on Saturday and then in the afternoon, my friend Danielle and I are making our way to DC to get some refreshment at Ice Cream Jubilee and then onward to Nationals Park for Game of Thrones Night - where we'll hopefully snag one of those little figurines and maybe (fingers crossed) the Nationals will win the game? Then it's church and the movies on Sunday and probably a little more relaxing... I think the weekends are just never quite long enough. *sigh*

Watson Wednesday

My little sun worshiper - just taking in the rays this morning on the deck and living his best life.

Flowers & Films

A friend this morning just sent me the song "Manic Monday" and it couldn't be more true. I say that - it hasn't actually been all that hectic but there is just something about each and every Monday that makes it seem a bit manic. Today dawned early but not so bright because there was a thick layer of fog hovering over everything - the sun eventually broke through but now the rain (a near constant this summer) is starting as I type this.

My weekend got off to a bit of a later start than usual, en email situation at work meant that I wasn't out the door right at 5:00 but by 5:30 I was on my way out the door to meet up with my family for an outdoor concert, food trucks and perusing the gardens of the Glen Burnie House.

The Glen Burnie House is part of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and currently has an exhibit that features Lego sculptures throughout the gardens. As part of the evening's activities, you could stroll the gardens into the evening and view all the Lego sculptures. I took plenty of pictures...of course!

I have toured the house and gardens once before - but obviously the Lego sculptures were not in place then. I'd hoped it wouldn't be quite as warm doing the exploring this time around but with the late exit from work, I didn't have time to change and so I ended up walking around the gardens in jeans and I was a sweaty mess by the time we finished our walk! Blegh. Is anyone else thoroughly ready for Fall???

There were food trucks parked in a circle, providing all manner of delicious eats but because it was so warm outside, I had to stick with the simple convenience of getting a Chick Fil A sandwich. It just seemed like the easier option - and it came with a chocolate chip cookie, so there is no way that wasn't the best choice. In my humble opinion.

The meal was good (who doesn't love Chick Fil A - right?) and the music was excellent - the group was called Soul Expressions and they were fabulous. They encouraged everyone to dance and I was in stitches watching some people "movin and shakin" to the music...especially one woman who'd probably visited the hard cider booth one too many times. It was a fun and unique way to spend a Friday night and I'm so glad I took the time to go meet up with my family and enjoy some gardens, Legos and a little night music.

I passed the rest of Friday night watching a portion of Horrible Bosses (that movie is never not funny...) and finishing up Crazy Rich Asians before turning in for the night. I enjoyed sleeping in on Saturday and enjoying my coffee before getting ready for the day. Saturday was the day of the movies - I saw Christopher Robin around lunch time, interspersed the afternoon with some shopping, watching baseball and lounging around before heading back to the theater to see The Spy Who Dumped Me around dinner time.

I got much too excited about spotting Christmas decorations being put out in Hobby Lobby - I just can't help but get excited though; September through December have always been my favorite months of the year. There is just something about the arrival of Autumn, the change in the weather and the onslaught of holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas - each one unique and different and filled with excitement all it's own. My friend Danielle and I sipped Cotton Candy Martinis before laughing more than I've laughed in a good while at a movie - The Spy Who Dumped Me was absolutely hilarious and a great way to end my Saturday.

Sunday was a slow day - which is always nice. After church we had a less than stellar meal at The Green Turtle..it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible, you know how those meals go. After lunch my Mom cut some roses for the house and Watson was very interested in the bright blooms we'd brought indoors...he took some time to stop and smell the roses, as it were.

I took a very short afternoon nap and then watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Netflix - a movie I would definitely recommend to anyone and everyone! The story was touching and everyone played their part to perfection! I did the usual Sunday afternoon things - prepared for the week ahead, did some reading, a little walking around the neighborhood with the dog - all good things. After my traditional Sunday evening meal of pizza and a bubble bath, I watched some Nationals baseball, watched the new episode of Sharp Objects and brought the weekend to a close.

I think Watson's face accurately represents how I feel on Sunday afternoon when I think about Monday coming... the Sunday Scaries are real y'all. But hey, at least we've almost survived Monday - right?