After straining something in my arm on Wednesday, I took a little break from CrossFit and then ended up coming down with a little cold on Saturday, so I took the weekend even easier than usual. We spent a lot of time on the back deck in the morning with coffee, read books and fell asleep by the pool in the backyard, actually sat down to drink tea, and really only ventured downtown for 9:00 mass and breakfast afterward on Sunday.

I'm still not feeling that great, but my brother, mom, and I are headed to Charlottesville this morning so we can pack up a few things that are still in the apartment there. We'll make all the food and coffee stops that are necessary when one visits, and then we'll be back to Roanoke on Tuesday afternoon! Hopefully Dad and Rocky won't miss us too much.

It is so nice being home with my family. Now I just need Rob to come back!

How was your weekend? Who watched True Blood last night?

Happy Monday, friends. 

Almost four years ago, I started a blog and had no idea what I was going to get out of it. I wrote, but no one really read. Then, later, people did read, and there were times when I would question myself. Do people care? Is it appropriate for one to put so much of their life on the internet? Is it worth reading? Is this a waste of time, a hobby, or something much more?

But then you meet three girls who also blog and take pictures of everything and want something much, much more out of life. You meet them and keep in touch for six months and then it's June and you're all sitting on your back porch together, laughing until you cry, and suddenly you realize that these are some of your very best friends.

It is definitely something much more.

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Here are fourteen.

Jenna, Whitney, me, and Melissa

I have to really thank my mom and dad from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to invite into their home three people who, six months ago, were strangers; for keeping us full of delicious food and margaritas and wine; for gassing up the boat and taking us for a spin; and for generally being the thoroughly generous people whom I love so much.

And then there's my brother, who made creme brulee from scratch and drove us around and catered to our every whim. You are a wonderful brother and I love you, Sean. 

My heart feels so full and I am now not just missing a tall man in China, but three girls miles north of me, as well.

[The taste of summer: a spinach and berry salad, taken May 2012.]

My lovely friends Jenna, Melissa, and Whitney are just an hour away, and when they get here, we are going to have this amazing weekend that we have been planning for months! We'll be at the lake until Sunday, and then we're swinging by Para in Charlottesville for some of those pistachio milk lattes that I can't stop talking about on our way to Blogger Blitz DC!

Lots of cocktails, good food, pool and lake time are on the itinerary, as well as a tour around all my favorite Roanoke spots. I feel like they're all some college boyfriend coming to meet my family for the first time--I'm so excited to introduce them to everyone and show them around!

Talk to you later! Anyone else going to be at Blogger Blitz on Sunday?