yeah I totally agree with you about the new coffee shop downtown I finally tried it last weekend and the pour-over was really smooth not acidic at all which is rare I think they source their beans from a small roaster upstate the place has a nice vibe too exposed brick and lots of plants makes it feel cozy even when it's busy I sat by the window and read for a couple hours honestly could have stayed all day the only downside is the parking situation there's like three spots out front so you might have to circle around for a bit but it's worth it let me know if you want to go together sometime I'm free next Saturday morning and we can grab a table before the rush hits also have you tried their almond croissant I heard it's incredible but they run out fast so we should go early

the other thing I wanted to mention is that book you lent me last month I finally finished it last night and I really enjoyed the way the author wove together the different character arcs it reminded me a bit of that novel we read for book club two years ago I'm planning to start the sequel this weekend if you want to borrow it when I'm done just let me know I'll drop it off at your place after I finish

also I'm thinking about signing up for that pottery class at the community center the one you mentioned the instructor comes highly recommended and they have evening sessions which would work perfectly with my schedule

so I finally finished setting up the new garden beds in the backyard it took way longer than I expected because the soil was so compacted but I mixed in some compost and perlite to lighten it up I planted tomatoes basil and peppers on one side and some flowers on the other to attract pollinators the whole project started because I wanted fresh herbs for cooking but it kind of spiraled from there anyway the seedlings are already starting to pop through which is exciting I've been watering them every evening and so far so good my neighbor said I should add a thin layer of mulch to keep the moisture in so I might try that this weekend if you have any tips for keeping squirrels away I'm all ears they've been eyeing the tomatoes like it's their personal buffet

the other thing I wanted to tell you is that I finally registered for that photography workshop at the art center the one with the outdoor portion in the botanical gardens it's a Saturday morning session for six weeks and I'm a little nervous because I only have a basic camera but the instructor said that's totally fine they'll cover composition and lighting fundamentals first before getting into gear specifics I'll let you know how the first class goes maybe we can do a photo walk together after I learn a few tricks

also I tried that pasta recipe you sent me last week and it turned out great I added a bit of lemon zest at the end which really brightened it up