I’m out and about spring and summer more than any other time of the year. And there’s been plenty of that already this season.

After our annual girl spa week, came Kat’s birthday spree. Such fun for all of us! We make this a two-day/two-night deal so we don’t feel rushed and can have plenty of time to enjoy.

It’s me, Kat, Kayla, Laura and Sarah, and we meet up at the hotel—except for the birthday girl as she and Jason had a parent/teacher meeting. She catches up with us at the mall.

Shopping fun for all, but I think especially Kayla as the mall has several of her favorite shops. Some of mine, too, and I score here and there. Easy-breezy summer pants, a fun RuPaul tank for Pride month.

We have lunch with champagne. Hey nobody’s driving for a couple days! Seasons 52 has lots of good choices for vegetarians, gluten frees, and so on, so everybody’s happy.

More shopping!

Shopping with girls is a kind of Zen experience. Nobody rushes you, everyone’s into it. And you can count on a girl to tell you what works for you, and what doesn’t.

We call for the shuttle, and back to the hotel we go, to hang out, enjoy each other and our good shopping jobs. Room service dinner caps it off. Pretty early to bed as shopping’s work!

Then the big day we’ll spend with our friends at Saks in Chevy Chase. Up early to work out, shower and dress, and we’re off. Our Saks family sends a car for us, and the ride’s smooth on a really lovely morning where, somehow, we avoided rush hour traffic.

It’s so good to see everyone again! On the Club Level, we all have rooms with wardrobe selections curated for each of us. And mimosas! A Cucinelli fashion show! I’m a big admirer of Cucinelli, not only for his gorgeous designs, but his ethics and world view. A large portion of my closet in Cucinelli, not only because my girl Azita showcases his work for me, but because I love the lines and fabrics, the colors and workmanship.

We all go to our rooms for the trying on, the yeses, the nos—and wander into each other’s to show off an outfit or to see what others are trying on. Such fun, and boy, do I love seeing Kat so happy!

We have a beautiful lunch—everything is gorgeous. Flowers everywhere—and a whole selection for each of us to arrange as we like after. We have lovely entertainment. The beautiful voice and acoustic guitar of Jessica Allossery.

What a treat, and what a talent.

Another treat is Jared Lehr joins us. A jewelry designer—second generation, I believe—he creates pieces with the skill and creativity and unique beauty that speaks to me. Plus, he’s just a fun guy. (He brought along his adorable little rescue dog that just added to it.)

We play with flowers, and Saks Scott serenades us with his amazing voice on Impossible Dream. Wowzer. And Laura joins him to make it a duet. More Wowzer.

The Saks team gifts me with terrific garden presents. Apron, bag (with tools) elbow length garden gloves (especially handy when I’m deadheading and pruning roses.) I love this! So perfectly me! Needless to say, this gift has already been put to good use.

More trying on, some alterations, then a hunt for a purse for Kat. She knows just what she wants so we scour the bag department, bit by bit, until we find one that’s exactly right. That’s how girlfriends shop!

And I’m enchanted by a ring Jared shows me. I had no intention of buying any jewelry, but. It’s special, like an heirloom, and, well, it speaks to me. I end up buying a beautiful bracelet, too. It’s not my fault he designs such gorgeous pieces!

We say goodbye after a wonderful, happy day, and take our haul back to the hotel.

Room service again, and some time for each to show off what they’re taking home.

What a day.

Home again for reality and work, and that feels good, too.

Then, barely time to turn around and it’s family week at Nemacolin.

There are a lot of us, including friends who are family in Bill and Nicole—their older son is off at the beach, but their younger comes. Like Colt, he plays Lacrosse—and has been playing for several years. So they both bring their gear.

We’re back in the newly re-imagined Chateau, and it’s wonderful. It’s always special for me to have the grandkids for a good stretch of time like this. Everyone settles in, and the weather cooperates. Griffin has a bubble shooter for our patio. What’s more happy than bubbles? Except a week with family and friends that involves no cooking!

We eat, we hang, we play.

Mornings are for my workouts, and Jason and Griffin coming in for breakfast. A family run for Kayla, Colt and their mom, J.R hanging with Griffin over video games. Kat and Savanna (Logan’s girl) do an oil painting session.

Some wander about, some have treatments, some laze around and read, and we all gather together in the evenings.

A craft session (I think Griffin outdid me by a mile there), mini-golf where every one of us got a hole in one. Not sure how, but we did. Long walks, days in a cabana by the pool. Many swims for Griffin. Colt took him in several times. That is so sweet.

An amazing massage for me!

We have to fit in a foundation meeting, which brings in more friends with our fabulous staff, Morgan and Adonna. Kayla is now official staff as well. And we have our fancy dinner night—though Kayla, Logan, Colt, Brendan J.R. , Savanna and Griffin have their traditional kids’ night.

What happens at kids’ night stays at kids’ night.

Ropes course! Kat and Jason have foundation work—I think that was it—so I’m in charge of Griffin. He does pretty well on the kiddie course, though he says often it gets harder as he goes. He looks so cute!

Above the rest of the younger team are swinging, tight-roping, navigating way, way up there on possibly the hottest day of the decade. The resort staff brings them water, and they keep going. When Griffin’s finished, we sit in the shade, have some water, and watch.

It’s kind of harrowing!

The Amazing Kat has created an escape room. Jason, BW, Bill and Griffin skip this, but the rest of us are all in! Ridiculous fun, though some of the clues are really hard! I like that Logan, Savanna and I found a clue in invisible ink.

Lots of laughs, lots of headscratching.

We escaped, and I’m hoping this becomes an annual tradition.

A busy, chaotic, noisy week. Just perfect.

Home again. Needless to say Milo was insanely happy to see us (especially BW). Atticus was also happy, though his joy is less crazy.

I’m home until the end of July, and back at work—and that’s just fine with me. I love home, and this time of year love the gardens. Milo, fortunately, seems to have lost interest in pulling plants out of pots and digging. So much blooming out there. Every evening after work and workout, I take a walk around, and am always so delighted to see what’s blooming and thriving.

We finally got a good, drenching rain last night, and the gardens are happy about that. Me, too!

 Today’s sunny and the temps are climbing again. But as I write this at my kitchen counter, there’s a woodpecker at the suet feeder, and I can see Black-Eyed Susans blooming out another window.

Away is great, especially when it’s with people you love. But home’s home.

Nora

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More glimpses of the garden.