1. Morning walks. I’m getting used to Eric going with us so I’m not going to like it when he has to go back to work. I’m amazed how few mosquitoes we have this year but glad because that means we can still go near the water, the ponds and the river. 

2. Mom. She yelled at one of her sisters this week (“don’t tell me what to do!”) and it was a surprise because her sister said she’s never heard Mom yell at anyone in her whole life. She’s really into her snacks and I like that for her because for most of her life she was so careful with what she ate, so hard on herself when she did allow herself a treat. At this stage in her life, I think she’s earned the right to all the chips, candy, cake, and cookies she wants. We are still, with my brother’s help, sending each other selfies, and she still remembers who we are. And, it’s still so hard.

3. Our garden. It’s been a few years since we’ve done much of anything new with it and we haven’t planted vegetables in a few years either — because “life” — and from year to year in any garden some things thrive and others fail no matter what you do, and this year there was an unfortunate situation where Eric was trying to get rid of a particular invasive plant in our front berm and accidentally got rid of some things we’d planted on purpose — and yet, there is so much life there still. (videos and images by Eric)

4. Practice. Making art, writing in the morning with a mug of tea and my HappyLight, doing yoga at Red Sage, meditating in my practice room, and writing with my Friday morning group.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Loving it here with them, as always. Eric made a strawberry pie yesterday and peaches are here, so he’s already planning a peach tart. We are going to our book club today and it’s been nice to read the same book once in a while. It’s been almost a full year that Ringo hasn’t had a wonky belly, has been healthy in that regard, and his arthritis seems to be holding steady — I’m so happy to have an older dog, especially an older him.

Bonus joy: books from the library on my Kindle, ice cream, magazines and scissors and glue stick, peaches, grocery shopping, a big glass of cold clean water, listening to Dateline on the radio while I cook, clean laundry, the yellow mums Eric got me still going, being able to start over as many times as necessary, being a bit nicer to myself, good TV (finally watched Four Seasons on Netflix and it was sweet, a wonderfully easy watch), listening to podcasts, making myself playlists with new music, sharing memes and reels with Shellie and Kari and Carrie, texting with Chloe’ and Chris, how my Facebook feed has been flooded all week with all things Andrea Gibson, Pilates, a physical therapy referral, therapy, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.