1. Being able to share my writing, having kind and gentle readers interested in what I have to say, readers who appreciate and share it.

2. Ringo feeling better. We had to take him to the emergency vet on Monday (since it was Memorial Day, our regular vet was closed). He had a wonky belly because he’s a puppy and they eat gross stuff, but he’s doing much better now.

3. Sam continuing to do well. Him recovering is one of the best things that has ever happened.

Because this…

4. Having our land line disconnected. What led up to it was a total nightmare (line shorting out every time it rained, cops coming to our house twice because the line dialed 911 and hung up as it shorted out, no one who worked for Century Link being helpful or nice or even human, and delay after delay getting it “fixed”), but I’m glad it’s over now.

All the storms are also causing the river to flood.

5. Good friends, online and “in real life.”

Bonus Joy: laughing with Eric, and the first strawberries from our garden.

1. After two days of rain (and thunder and tornado warnings), everything is so green, so lush.

2. My purple irises, gifted to me over the years from various friends as their gardens overflowed, are crazy with blooms, mad with spring.

3. Ringo is learning to lounge. After about four mornings in a row of it, before we go on a walk, we have to admit he might be growing up a little.

5. Sam and Ringo, both healthy and in total like with each other.

Bonus Joy(s): Summer vacation.

• At 11:11 am standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter listening to Gabrielle Aplin sing “Home” while both dogs eat, Ringo his lunch and Sam a small snack so he doesn’t feel left out. The window over the sink behind me is open and a breeze is blowing in the smell of the lilacs.

• Sitting on the back step listening to my 27 Powers mix, wearing shorts and a tank top, Ringo playing with his pink dinosaur toy, Sam napping in the sun, and the breeze blowing the smell of the lilacs all over the yard.

• Ringo smells the treats in my pocket, nudges the spot with his nose, sits and waits for some.

• Ringo moves out into the sun, at the edge of the patio, butt in the grass, and lounges, watching me write, sniffing at the air when the breeze blows. Sam is next to me in the shade, a single foot stretched into the sun.

• Watching Ringo roll up a pill bug with his nose and then play with it like it is the tiniest ball in the world.

• Thinking about Eric and one second later getting a text from him, “How’s it going?”

• The dogs side by side in the yard, rolling in the grass and making a noise that almost sounds like laughing.

• How happy Eric gets when he makes me laugh.

• Feeling content, no where I need to be and nothing to do.

• After an hour and a half training class, Ringo going crazy and running circles around the back of the car, barking at the carpet.

• Sam being able to stay home by himself without being crated and being a good boy.

• How Sam waits to get into bed with us until right before the alarm goes off, how his tail thumps when he thinks you are awake.

• All the pictures of peonies in my Instagram feed.

• The sky this morning.