August is a glorious month. Yes, it’s the last month of summer, bringing with it wistfulness and reflection back on all the things that one could have done this summer (like, say, painting my dining room, revamping my fall courses, reading at least twelve books, taking up parasailing– okay, not that last one). But it’s also the month of perfect ripeness (like the fresh tomatoes I ate today), perfect blue skies and blue water (like what I enjoyed at Lake Huron this week) and perfect leisurely company– like the FIFI Bloggers BBQ, held at Samantha’s house on Saturday.
Here we all are, well-fed and feeling very convivial:
Samantha hosted us at her place in Guelph, and folks came from all over Ontario for the party. I had made plans a while ago to combine a trip from Boston to my friend Norah’s rental cottage in Goderich on Lake Huron with a weekend visit to Guelph to visit with Samantha, Sarah, Kathleen (Sam’s mom), her in-town kids, resident animals and any neighbors who stopped by.
This week was one of near-perfect relaxed activity:
- swimming in Lake Huron
- walking on the lakefront boardwalk in Goderich
- drawing the trees and flowers of the area in my journal
- hanging out with Sam, Sarah, and the fam
- dog walking and farmers’ market purchasing
- prepping for and enjoying a yummy potluck BBQ meal
But the best part was seeing folks I hadn’t laid eyes on in a while and also meeting some of the bloggers I’d never seen in person. Diane met all of us for the first time in the flesh– thanks so much for coming, Diane!
We shared stories, bubbly beverages of all sorts, yummy salads brimming with the best produce Ontario has to offer, and loads of other treats brought by folks. Not to play favorites, but Diane’s just-picked fresh cherry tomatoes will go down as some of the best I’ve ever had.
Like you, we bloggers have gotten to know each other through our writing. But there’s nothing like sharing space, food, hugs and laughs together. preferably in someone’s leafy green backyard. Don’t you agree?
This is the second year we’ve met as a group. Not everyone was available– this is just the reality of complex full lives– but I’ve gotten to see just about everyone in the past two years. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to do a repeat event next August.
Now, all we have to do is either a) find a way to transport our Newfoundland bloggers Martha and Christine here next year; or b) ROAD TRIP TO THE ROCK (which is supposedly a nickname for Newfoundland, according to Google; my apologies if this is wrong). Anyway, you get the idea.
I hope all of you, dear readers, are enjoying the last half of August, including (especially?) the tomatoes.
