I love having houseguests come to stay at Smallpeace. However, it’s such an intimate setting (translation: one bathroom) that only the most flexible, easygoing friends get the invite. Or at least get the invite twice. You learn a lot about the annoying habits of high-maintenance people when you spend a weekend together in rural isolation. But more on those kinds of stories later.
Nevertheless, houseguests, as many cultures believe, are a blessing on your home and your family. So they should be treated accordingly. We already know we have nothing to worry about with M & MK, our affable, longstanding friends from Chicago. Happily married for many years, they seem to compliment each other beautifully, and seem to agree with our recipe for a fabulous weekend.
To make them feel welcome, I’m scrambling to gather a few new books to leave stacked by their bedside, along with some fresh cut flowers of course.
Photo by Mary Carroll of inasoftlight.blogspot.com
We are well stocked on wine, but tomorrow will be a whirlwind of shopping and cleaning, as we haven’t been to the cottage since before Irene. Meanwhile, there are dinner reservations to be made at the Old Chatham Country Store Cafe and activities to be planned. A trip to the Columbia County Fair for some local color, perhaps? Or a cultural daytrip to Williamstown to see the British and French landscape exhibition at the Clark Museum? So much to choose from.
By the way, what are you doing this weekend? Join us at Smallpeace!
Smallpeace 
There is an exhibit at the Clark that is a must-see. El Anatsui, a “sculptor” (inadequate descriptor) from Ghana, whose “tapestries” (again inadequate) are displayed at the new Tadao Ando-designed Stone Hill Center at the Clark. Absolutely bowled me over, much more than the Pisarro. Here’s my post, so you can see if you’d like to check it out before it leaves:
http://touch2touch.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/life-and-art-ever-changing/
Thank you for this. Great resource.