1. Morning walks. We had lots of company this week: a single deer, two mama deer with two babies each (twins!), an owl, a bald eagle, and two very friendly pigs. Getting up so early in the morning we can really see the turn towards fall, have had to dig out our headlamps. The good news is that means we never miss a sunrise.

2. Good friends. I am especially grateful for them as a highly sensitive introvert who prefers being at home alone. With my friends, I’m seen, heard, accepted, loved, and cheered up — so so so lucky. 

3. Good food. Eric made another peach gallate, and I made pasta slaw, broccoli slaw, potato salad, taco beans, bran muffins with dried raspberries, and chocolate zucchini bread. The best thing is that we have close friends nearby who we can share with, so I can make a lot of various things without having to worry about how we are going to eat all this food.

4. Reading. It really is my first love.

5. My tiny family, tiny life, tiny home. I was sitting in the backyard this morning thinking for the thousandth time how much I love where we live, that we are here together. 

Bonus joy: cooking and baking, chopping and mixing, clean laundry, clean sheets on the bed, a warm shower, how soft the fur on Ringo’s shoulders is, bird song, bees, peaches, grapes, soft bread, pickles, sitting on the back step with Eric just after the sunset watching the bats fly around our yard, that even though our preferences can be so different there are certain shows Eric and I both like and enjoy watching together (right now it’s Homicide Hunter), clearing up a pile of clutter, naps, that corner of the couch, afternoon rainstorms on a hot day, hanging out with Chloe’ and Hendrix and Carrie and Calyx, texting with my mom and brother, listening to podcasts, the hydromassage chair and pool and sauna at the gym (in that order), vaccines and masks, refrigeration and a/c, our neighbor’s four dogs with their reflective collars, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.