boundary wars

I visited an old house with a neighbor this morning. We were the first of the day and left as a crowd of other prospective buyers assembled. We thought the large fireplace in a first floor room signified a kitchen then discovered an even larger fireplace below that in the basement, accessible from a small set of stairs hidden from view, which we interpreted as where servants were meant to prepare food for and out of sight of the property owners.

I finished the chili I made Friday night and walked with the dogs before and after the tour. We scheduled our house visit early enough that I had time to prepare for a group hike I had scheduled for this afternoon. Eleven participants including myself plus two guides passed through six nature preserves over six miles in about two and a half hours. We met horses at one of the preserves that currently operates as an equestrian farm. I remarked how tranquil and private that space felt, and the lead guide explained how a neighboring lot had been bought at auction by developers who are planning to clear part of the tree line walling the property to make way for new housing. I arrived home around sunset then ate and napped with the dogs. I made a spicy chai and fixed a plate of cookies for the three of us then settled in to watch the Eagles game.