1. Morning walks. I spoke too soon about the mosquito population this summer. Monday was fine, just a few; and then just two days later, on the same route, there were more — clearly mosquito season is in force and we’ll need to reroute for a bit. Eric and I also noticed this week how brown things had gotten in the past few days — not surprising considering almost every day is over 90 degrees. And yet, with Eric on summer vacation, we get to walk together. Yesterday I mentioned we were reaching a spot on the trail where I always see deer, and just a few minutes later, Eric said, “Babies!,” a momma and her twins. A little later, one of the babies was wondering close by and I got a few pictures.

2. Books, reading and writing. I am on such a lucky streak right now with both what I’m reading and what I’m writing. One of these days, I’m going to write a post about all the good books I’ve read lately.

3. Palisade peaches, and a husband who not only bakes pies, but can do it on the grill in the heat of summer so the house doesn’t get too hot in the process.

4. Ringo, who continues to excel in his volunteer work as neighborhood watch and lost & found. This week he rescued a unicorn binky.

5. My tiny family, tiny house, tiny life. One night while Eric and I were making dinner, I told him that even though so many things were wrong in the world, so much suffering, the little life we have together is everything I ever wanted. He agreed.

Bonus joy: Asian cucumber salad, mini round ice cubes, compression gloves and ice packs and my hand massager, hydromassage, the sauna, the pool, the maple tree just outside my window, hummingbirds, herons, honeybees, dragonflies, bats, living in a neighborhood where if I step outside at dawn I will hear a rooster cock-a-doodle-doing, a/c, hanging out with Calyx, texting with Chloe’ and Mom and Chris, listening to music, naps, good TV and films, listening to podcasts, aqua aerobics, small group training, sunshine, shade, vaccines and masks, being able to email my doctor instead of needing to make an appointment (seriously, so many things can be handled without needing an office visit), taking a break from therapy because I’m doing so well (*knocks on wood*), being able to use an app or website to make appointments and get test results, being able to access and afford food and housing and healthcare and transportation, a washer and dryer in my house (y’all, I’m still traumatized from using public laundry rooms/mats all these years later), freezers and refrigerators, indoor plumbing and electricity, all three “local” dogs (Ringo, Rizzo, and Rex) in their respective yards barking at each other as the sun goes down, clean sheets, a warm or cold shower, magic, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep. 

1. Morning walks. With Eric on summer break and how much earlier he gets up than me (4:30 am compared to somewhere between 5 and 6 or even the occasional almost 7 am) and the need to get out and back before the heat, I only went once this week. It’s still one of my favorite things, and it’s probably better for you all, considering how many pictures I posted last week. 🙂

2. The gym. It’s one of the only places I’ve gone consistently since COVID-19 (or even before) and one of the places that does the most for my overall health and wellbeing. I’m grateful for how much Raintree has to offer and in particular for the humans that work and play there.

3. Good food. Eric made a strawberry pie, and I’ve been making lots of yummy salads — like this Asian Cucumber Salad and this Chinese Chicken Salad. This Crispy Teriyaki Cauliflower recipe is becoming a real favorite.

4. Reading. I am on a streak of REALLY good books, both nonfiction and fiction. Next up are these two.

5. My tiny family, tiny home, tiny life. I told Eric the other night while we were making dinner that even though the world is awful and difficult and confusing, our life together is actually so good and I’m so happy. He agrees.

Also, I recently purchased this hand massager (see picture below), as the arthritis in my hands has been particularly painful. Eric joked it looks like a waffle iron, one morning even moved it from the spot I keep it on the counter and replaced it with our actual waffle iron, (one of my favorite things about being married is all the inside jokes). We also keep cracking each other up because one of the three cautions about using it is “don’t use while driving.”

Bonus joy: a/c (supposed to be almost 100 degrees here tomorrow), having a dog who sleeps through the fireworks, trees, the hydromassage chair, the pool, the sauna, good TV, listening to podcasts, clean laundry, clean sheets, a warm or cold shower (depending on what’s going to feel best), privacy fences, flowers of all kinds, bees, hummingbird nests, swallowtail butterflies, The Sun Magazine, music, spiders, vaccines and masks, texting, a crisp gala apple, making each other laugh, yard time, peaches, fresh bread, therapy, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.