september 28, 2026

I woke up around 8:17 am, a little earlier than I had wanted, but it was the perfect time to get washed up and dressed for another morning stroll to a local coffee shoppe.

I gathered up some yarn I knew I'd not ever use again and put it in a cute basket. After gathering up my crazy morning hair into a half-hearted "ponytail" (though, it more resembled a bunny's tail). I brewed a cup of black vanilla chai and made my way out to the shoppe.

The walk was less of an event like my last stroll, but after quickly crossing the street, I walked into the bakery/coffee shoppe. The smells of raspberry, chocolate, and pumpkin spice swirled through the air, greeting me warmly.

I smiled and waved at the rosy cheeked baker and kind faced barista. I lifted my basket of yarn to show them what I brought as a gift to greet the day. To my delight, they squealed in surprise and looked at each other with excited faces. I guess they haven't gotten yarn donations in a while. My assumption was confirmed when I saw the unchanged basket of yarn beside an unoccupied sofa in the back seating area. The baker kindly urged me to take any yarn that caught my eye. I guess this was an unspoken "thank you" since I had practically replenished their crafting area.

After grabbing the 2 skeins of yarn I vowed to return for weeks ago, I purchased a raspberry cheesecake croissant and read for a bit. I wrote in my journal whilst sipping the tea I made earlier and half-listened to the older couples that sat at the surrounding tables. Talks of the recent storm up north, pumpkin cheesecake, and weird run-ins with neighbors filled the air. (Along with the loud hacking of an older gentleman after every long and audible slurp of his coffee...)

The pleasant exchanges up front picked up and the humming of the espresso machine unintentionally acted as an alarm, signaling to me that it was about time to finish up my tea and pastry and make my way back to my apartment to get ready for my class.

Mornings like these - chilly mornings that are slow and quiet, bring me a peace and joy that often gets lost in the busyness of a long day.

Just another week of warmer weather before autumn makes her official debut, and I'm so ready.