By Starre Vartan / Source: EcoChick

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It was the perfect day for a picnic; and my Lorena Canals all-cotton rug in the Diamonds pattern had just arrived. I took it down to the water and unrolled it. That’s Eld Inlet in the background, one of the “arms” of Washington’s Puget Sound that reaches into the land with tidal insistence. Made with natural dyes and just incredibly soft, the rug didn’t stink like chemicals and I could use it right away.

It’s also washable—in a regular (well, it needs to be big enough) washing machine. And yes, I washed it (later on, after I had used it awhile), and it came out beautifully; my only issue was that the fringe on the ends got tangled, and it took a little time to sort them out again. But it’s a beautifully handmade rug, so it was worth it.

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My cat Josephine, who was on the pier turned around to watch me, wondering what her crazy human was up to today!

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As the tide came in, I arranged the rug right on the bulkhead above the waves….and poured some dark red wine.

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Across the water from me, Mount Rainier was putting on a delightful show in the sunset light.

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I read for awhile in the fading light.

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When it got too dark to read, I lit my beeswax candle and enjoyed a glass of red wine, marveling at how soft the rug beneath me was. It was thick but flexible, like a very heavy blanket, and I wanted to roll myself up in it as it got chilly. But then the Washington Pinot Noir I was drinking kicked in and I was aglow from within.

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Above, birds flew across the Inlet, seeking a place to rest for the night.

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Sometimes it’s time well-spent to watch the summer light slowly fade.

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