Saturdays by the River

The picture was taken at Bart's, well actually The Beanery, a long time eatery next to the Farmington River. It's a town institution and the present owners are definitely not getting rich from profits and keeping the place open is surely a labor of love. The mural was painted by Jan Dagenhart, (in the black shirt on the right). We were celebrating a visit from our youngest quilting friend, Amanda (black shirt under the red car) who was up from Texas. The rest of the gang are some of the regulars who meet for coffee just about every Saturday morning. 

 When the weather is good we meet outdoors...sometimes at the picnic tables but mostly in lawn chairs that we bring along and set up in the shade of some rather young trees so that we can face the river  and watch the chipmunks scurry in and out of the stone walls.

 

I am not sure exactly when we started doing the regularly. I think it was soon after I started working at the hospital and was required to work every other weekend. After the layoff from Philips, the change to a hospital job was stressful. I was thankful to start a new job immediately as I was too young for Medicare, too old for other group policies, (I was told that since I was older than 64 1/2 no one would sell me a policy) and too cheap to pay COBRA.  The hospital does offer insurance to part timers so I jumped at the job.  Working weekends was nothing new. During all but the last few years we provided a 24/7 service but this being a new job...well it was different.

 

Spending a few relaxing hours each Saturday morning with my friends set the tone for a calmer weekend.



 

 We bring along knitting or hand sewing or projects that might need advice. We plan projects, workshops or the day's errands. We chat with the dog walkers and watch canoes and kayaks and kids poling by on boards. We've had our cars washed and drooled at the aroma of Bear's Barbeque. Most of us don't take the time to just sit down in our own yards. Even if you try, you spot a weed or something annoying to attend to. The phone rings or you just remembered you need to._____
By the river it's just that. Sitting. Enjoying.    No Subjunctive....just the present tense....a place we spend far too little time.

I love these ladies. They are indeed family.  We would drive each other mad should we actually live together, but a kinder, more helpful, creative group need not be wished for. I hope to include some of our activities as we go on here.

And you know what? I have ANOTHER Saturday group that shares history. Some of them made their appearance back when I started writing this in 2011.   More about that great group soon1