Yesterday we were blessed not only with another summer-like day, but a visit from our dear friend, Katrina (Qanina). She's on spring break from grad school at Tufts University in Boston and her Pittsburgh family welcomed her home with open arms. Olive and I went to pick her up at her old house where she was staying, popped into Whole Foods for goodies for a picnic as well as ingredients for dinner later that evening. The three of us headed back to Highland Park and chose a quiet, secluded grassy expanse to spread our blanket, removed our shoes, applied sun screen (I'd spread olive oil all over my limbs earlier, which really did the trick; after countless hours spent outside I didn't get burned in the slightest), and happily chatted over a meal of blueberries, bread, and a couple of prepared salads that were wonderful - wheat berry Waldorf salad and a Mediterranean mix of kale, garbanzo beans, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes. Olive reveled in the chance to run barefoot through the dewy grass. She needed a nap so we went back to our house to let her rest while Kat and I sat on the front steps, enjoying the flowers. Shauna, our friend and former housemate of Kat's, also joined us for a while, then I got a call saying I didn't need to come to work that afternoon - splendid! Later in the evening I baked a couple of apple pies and popped a bunch of popcorn to take over to their house for dinner. A nice crowd showed up, as usual, making it feel very much like last summer where we'd regularly gather on the back patio around the picnic table, many mouths to be fed, neighbors wandering in to join in the meal. Olive delightedly played with the flock of rabbits that live there, then took her seat next to her beloved Qanina. She served as our entertainment for the evening, singing many variations of the Alphabet Song and other favorites, looking surprised when others also knew the words, but not once turning shy the way she sometimes does. She clearly felt at home with the group. All in all a perfect day!
Buggy and Shauna communing in the rabbit enclosure
Cornelius and Rob discussing animal pens
Waiting for the food!
Buggy with Shackleton, the house rabbit
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