Thursday

I'm up just before sunrise. Quick check on cats, speedy refill of the feeding station for the cheepers. All good.

Then a shout up to Ed: wake up, we need to hit the road!

No time for breakfast. Ed has an appointment. In Janesville. A revisit to his eye surgeon. I quickly dump some coffee in a mug, scoop up a bag of granola for lap munching, and we're off.

It's a pleasant and easy drive, just under an hour, though of course, once there, we have a lot of waiting before us. He needs a corrective procedure so there is, too, the wait afterwards. 

Thank goodness for comfortable and spacious waiting rooms.

Done.

But so long as we're in Janesville, shouldn't we at least taste the city's good stuff? Where's the nearest well regarded coffee shop? Last time I was here for Ed's eye surgery (3 years ago) we were on the eve of the pandemic and I walked around the river's edge, stopping at a place that was modestly okay. And no, I'm not fussy, though places lose me if they still serve coffee in styrofoam cups and if pastries are singularly wrapped in plastic. 

We drive over to a cafe called Havana Coffee. By now I'm starved for decadent anything. A place that reaches to Cuba for its name has to be adventurous and bold, don't you think?

Good sandwich for Ed, okay danish for me.

We are past the noon hour by the time we leave Janesville.

A quick turn around at the farmhouse and I'm off to pick up Snowdrop.

As usual, our best conversations take place during the car ride. I ask her if she had any squabbles with her friend during recess (there had been some disagreement earlier on about the value of being a mermaid every day in their various pretend games: one girl thought no, the other yes). She considers this and then says -- no, not today. Actually I dont really know what the word squabbles means but I'm very good at knowing words that I don't know. 

Yes you are.

I pick up Taigu Noodles for supper. There is not a single noodle in our take out boxes (by choice) but it remains our favorite Chinese food in town. 

The full moon this month came last night. The Cold Moon. But today's lunar display could not be lovelier: orange initially, then brightening on the ascent. May it shine brightly on you as well tonight.