A Midweek Supply Run and Some Client Notes

I needed to restock on some basics for my desk this week. The current notebooks were falling apart at the edges, and I wanted fresh pens that wouldn’t skip halfway through a client call. Ren reminded me the place downtown usually has what I need without much of a wait. I tossed my keys into the bowl by the door on the way out, the metal clinking against the spare change already there, and double-checked that my phone was charged because the last time the battery died right when I was trying to remember a fabric code.

The drive took me through Crestview Commons, which was busier than I expected for a Wednesday. A delivery truck was idling at the corner, its exhaust mixing with the smell of fresh asphalt from a recent patch job on the road. I found a spot right near the entrance and went straight to the stationery section. The fluorescent lights overhead hummed a little louder than usual, and the air smelled faintly of paper dust and the lemon cleaner they must have used on the floors that morning. They had the exact grid notebooks I like, plus a pack of fine-tip pens in black and blue. I grabbed two meters of that linen fabric sample too, since one of my clients mentioned wanting something similar for window treatments. The bolt was wedged between two stacks of cardstock, and pulling it free sent a small puff of lint into the air. Total came to under twenty dollars, which felt reasonable. On the way to the register I paused at the clearance bin and picked up a pack of sticky notes shaped like tiny houses, just because they made me smile.

After that I stopped at a cafe a couple blocks over. The door had one of those old brass bells that jingled when I pushed it open, and inside the tables were half full with people tapping on laptops or flipping through newspapers. The menu had a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of greens and their daily pie option. I went with the sandwich and added a slice of rowanberry pie to take home for later. The pie had a nice tart filling that paired well with the crust, though it was sweeter than I usually go for. I ate half the sandwich at the table and wrapped the rest for Ren, tucking the paper bag into my tote so it wouldn’t get squished by the notebooks. The greens were dressed with a light vinaigrette that had a faint garlic bite, and ate them first before the chicken cooled.

Back at home I sorted through the new supplies and made a quick list of fabrics to pull for an upcoming presentation. The linen should work for one project, but I might need to check the dye lot again before ordering more. My grandmother used to keep a similar system with labeled folders for every client, and it always seemed to save her time in the long run. I could almost hear her voice telling me to write the lot numbers in pencil first, in case they changed later. The afternoon was mostly emails and a short call with Lissa about her weekend plans. She mentioned trying to reorganize her closet, which reminded me I still have a box of old samples in the hall. I might tackle that this weekend if the weather stays mild. While we talked I wandered into the kitchen and poured a glass of water, noticing the way the afternoon light caught the dust on the windowsill.

Dinner was simple, just pasta with whatever vegetables were left in the fridge. It came together fast and didn’t require much cleanup. I spent the evening flipping through one of the new notebooks to sketch a couple layout ideas. Nothing final, just rough notes for now. The pen moved smoothly across the page, and every so often I paused to rub my thumb over the grid lines, liking the way the paper felt under my hand.

Tomorrow looks pretty open, so I might try to finish the fabric order early. The current batch of swatches is spread across the table, and keeping them sorted will help once the next round of revisions comes in. I nudged one of the swatches an inch to the left so the colors lined up better under the lamp.