It’s the weekend!

We’re celebrating our anniversary and having a little more time on the island before heading home on Sunday. Fingers crossed for one more beach day.

Enjoy your weekend! Can you believe it’s September?

Tom and I spend a lot of weekend time in a set of comfy outdoor chairs in the backyard. We carry out the cushions for our weekend morning coffees and evening cocktails. We watch the world go by. The world of our backyard, that is. Chickadees flit past our faces as they fly from the trees to the feeders in a straight line that almost brushes their feathers against our noses. Hummingbirds rest on a thin tree branch above us or on the clothesline, before buzzing to the sugar water. They chase each other across the yard and we wonder if they are being territorial or just playing tag. Rabbits come out to trim the lawn. Turkeys round the house and gobble disappointedly when they realize that we are sitting there. They boldly own the yard when we are in the house, but they are less willing to take it over when we are sitting there.

Last weekend, it was dark as we sipped our drinks. We heard a rustling in the rhododendron behind us. Fearing a skunk, we clapped our hands and made a lot of noise. It got quiet. Last night I spied a fat skunk eating bird seed under the feeder. I opened the door and clapped. The skunk scurried over to the rhododendron bush, seeming to confirm that it liked to hang around there. I’ll be looking over my shoulder as I sit in my chair tomorrow night!

Here are a few items for your perusal this weekend.

• Maternal Instinct Is a Myth That Men Created — Interesting article about the history of  the concept of “maternal instinct.” (The York Times)
• Farmers Market Run — Coveteur is checking out what people are wearing at Farmers Markets. (Coveteur)
• I’m staying up too late every night reading another Emily Henry book. I’m really enjoying Book Lovers. (Bookshop.org)
• Considering Going Gray? Here’s One Woman’s 20-Month Photolog of Doing Just That — This is a great photo essay about tossing out the hair color and going gray. (PureWow)
• Going Gray — My essay isn’t as glamorous, but I’m quite happy with my move to gray. (Sea Salt and Sailor Stripes)
• Hot Honey Glazed Salmon With Coconut Crunch — My mouth is watering over this recipe. (Camille Styles)
• Yogurt Peach Cake — Celebrating peaches with a little cake. (Sea Salt and Sailor Stripes)
• Goodness: Her diamond ring fell in the ocean. A stranger hunted for days, then found it. — A love story about a lost family heirloom and someone with the determination to find it. (The Washington Post)

About the photo: The tall ship Alabama at sail on an overcast afternoon, Martha’s Vineyard.