1. Morning walks. Just a normal week of walking with Ringo would have been so wonderful, after being away for a few weeks. Add to that the surge of fall color and cooler weather and I’m in my happiest place. It’s just so beautiful here in the fall.

Another sign of fall: this year’s whitetail babies have lost their spots. One of the mamas would walk right up to me if I let her, but I always have Ringo with me and don’t want her to be anymore trusting than she already is, so I move away once she gets too close.

2. Being home. I finally am settled enough that I know where I am when I wake up, and I’m so glad to be here.

3. Eric and I have been married for 31 years, celebrated our anniversary this week. This past year has been one of the hardest because I’ve needed to spend lots of time in Oregon navigating the loss of my dad and providing the care my mom now needs, and that’s meant I’ve been away from Eric more days this year than ever before, and that sucks. He’s my home, my soft place to land, my favorite. I’d happily spend another 31 years with him. 

4. Practice. This week, I was back practicing with the humans at Red Sage, and we had a special visitor: Teri’s new puppy. I think I’ve graduated into a whole new level of teaching ability because I was able to mostly keep it together and teach a coherent class, even with the distraction.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here.

Bonus joy: a fully stocked refrigerator, hoodies and wool socks, my infrared heating pad, small group training with Shelby and the gang, soup and a visit from Chloe’, texting with Chris, tiny brass animals, stickers, toast, plantain chips and dip (I thought I was over it, but no…), the smell of rabbitbrush, golden leaves falling in the breeze, the color of the ash trees, good books, good TV (I’m usually way late to the current popular stuff, but I watched Nobody Wants This, and it was really good), poetry and poets, music and musicians, making art just because, cancelled plans (even if I have FOMO after), Mt. Everest Café (I am currently obsessed, which is strange for a place that I’ve been eating for 20 years that hasn’t really changed), acupuncture, twinkle lights (tis the season!), writing in the morning with a hot mug of green tea, my weighted blanket, gummies, texting with Chris, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.