In Spite Of The July Heat
My one birthday wish, fulfilled
Yesterday afternoon, I fell asleep with my feet tucked underneath me and my neck contorted on the loveseat in our living room. Amber sunlight glowed through the curtains and spiked the inside temperature by at least 10 degrees. Despite these imperfect sleeping conditions, I quickly passed out. We’d just spent the morning selling unwanted belongings at a neighborhood yard sale.
As we sat in the shade, people picked through our racks of clothing, tables of kitchen tools and home decor, and piles of more stuff. We met new neighbors, made some cash, and avoided the sun for as long as we could. But once our weather apps surpassed 90 degrees, we all agreed to call it a success, each of us packing up less than we had begun with.
In our hot living room, I woke up sweaty and thirsty with a sore neck. Afternoon naps always leave me feeling like I’ve just been under anesthesia. My head buzzes, and I’m not really sure where I am at first. How long had I slept for, I asked Steve. An hour? An hour and a half? Either way, the clock read 6:30 p.m., an hour past Kona’s dinnertime yet she was still passed out on the couch.
Before we knew it was going to be 100 degrees in Portland, the plan for the rest of my birthday weekend was to build an outdoor dining table. Steve had asked me weeks ago how I wanted to spend my birthday, and this was my one request. But we couldn’t have predicted the weather. After such a long day in the heat for the yard sale, I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend another long day in the heat. And having just woken up, I wasn’t sure I wanted to make the trip to Home Depot for supplies.
I’m up for it if you are, Steve assured me. It was enough to compel me to chug water, make a list of materials, and change into hardware store clothes. We snuck in right before close and reinvested our hard-earned yard sale money into lumber.
So this morning, we woke up early to the AC chilling the whole house. Outside temperatures were supposedly already 60 degrees. Steve, Kona, and I suited up for a quick run through the muggy air, and then we got to work. While Kona poked her nose in the grass, Steve and I unloaded 2x4s, 2x6s, and 4x4s from the Prius. We set up sawhorses in patches of shade and started assembling the tabletop.
I thought about my mom, who told me that one year for her birthday, she got a new driveway as a gift. I think she was around the same age I am now. I guess these are the kinds of things you start asking for once you reach your 30s.
Steve and I fell into an easy rhythm of drilling, clamping, screwing, measuring, and scooting farther into the shade as the sun moved higher in the sky. Sweaty and happy, I felt so at ease working with my hands and building something with him, knowing we’ll spend many years gathering around this table.
And in just about three hours, before it was too hot, we were practically done, with the rest of the day to nap, cool off, and recover. The table still needs epoxy in the knots, a thorough sanding, and weatherproof stain, but that can wait. Our plan is to have dinner out there tonight—and the next night and the next night.
Other things on my agenda for this upcoming week off work: a birthday dinner at a recommended restaurant, dips in the glittery river, an overnight on the Oregon Coast Trail, reading a book or two, sewing a sundress, a solo shopping date, breakfast on the porch, and morning runs while it’s still cool out.
Latest Stories
For Field Mag, I covered the highly anticipated opening of Snow Peak’s dreamy campground in Long Beach, Washington. The first point of differentiation from other campgrounds: leaving your car in the parking lot for the duration of your stay. The second point: the onsen-inspired Ofuro spa.
For Backpacker, I talked to five John Muir Trail thru-hikers about their favorite gear and rounded up a few cheap but delicious backpacking meals.
My Utah road trip guide for Via Magazine is up, featuring five routes through geographically different parts of the state. Thelma and Louise road trip, anyone?
And for this month’s edition of STUDIO VISITS, I interviewed Daren Todd, a multidisciplinary artist whose grief and intuition shapes his art. “I’m realizing maybe most of my practice is actually gravitational pull away from what I have to do towards what I want to do.”
July Mood
Monthly Shareables
Reading: You’re Safe Here by Leslie Stephens, a friend of a friend who writes
. It’s a sci-fi drama set in 2060 on a fleet of floating pods in the Pacific—what more do you need to know? I went to her book talk at Powell’s last week and it was such a treat to hear her talk about her writing process.Making: My only birthday wish was to have Steve’s help building this outdoor dining table, and we did it this morning. I still have to add some leg supports, fill in knots with epoxy, and stain it a pecan brown, but we can eat dinner at it!
Buying: Snagged these bright blue IKEA stools on Facebook Marketplace and used some birthday funds to splurge on these pink pants from Le Bon Shoppe. Next on our list of things to buy for the house: this Ty Williams print
Watching: We just finished the third season of The Bear, and I absolutely loved this quote from Chef Andrea Terry. “People often talk about restaurants as in: What’s the history of it? What’s the impact it’s making? Who has worked there previously? What awards have they won? What about their, quote, chef? I think what I’ve learned over the years, in all the places I’ve worked, is people don’t remember the food. Sorry! It’s the people they remember.”
Listening:
Preparing: A bed of arugula topped with cubed watermelon and avocado, torn fresh mozzarella, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and flakey salt. Eat and repeat.
Aw yay Amelia!! Thank you for the rec and SO HAPPY to have found your Substack!! Inviting myself over for lunch at your new table as soon as it cools off! :)