1. Morning walks. Ringo has been on light duty because of a muscle strain and a sore elbow so we are only going two miles in the morning, which allows us to go to a few places we don’t normally because there’s usually not enough trail. This morning it was Red Fox Meadows Natural Area, a really pretty spot right in the middle of town.

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2. Cancelled plans. I don’t always love the reasons (like a new mom who is so exhausted she feels sick) but I appreciate the space and ease that comes from taking something off my calendar.

3. Practice.  It’s a particular type of poetry some days.

4. Our garden. Right now, we are harvesting more zucchini, cucumbers, basil, and lettuce than we can eat, and I love it. I made this chocolate zucchini bread yesterday — so easy and so good.

5. My tiny family, my tiny house, my tiny life. I am so lucky.

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Bonus joy: a surprise massage, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna with Eric, training with Shelby, seeing Chloe’ and her family and feeding them, writing and hanging out with Calyx, lunch with Carrie, rain, the smell of cumin, cucumber salad, onion buns, gummy vitamins, naps, listening to podcasts while I cook, pay day, clean laundry, clean sheets, a big glass of clean cold water, vaccines, a/c, down blankets and pillows, fans, TV, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.

1. Our garden. I really should call it a habitat because when I say “garden” I’m guessing people imagine something manicured, controlled, and contained when what is actually out front is wild, chaotic, and filled with birds, bugs, and bees. Our current harvest is cucumbers, zucchini, basil, and lettuce. My favorite things are how much the bees love our flowers and the goldfinch love the sunflowers.

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2. The pool. I’ve been able to get back in more often and I love it so much.

3. Practice. Meditation in particular feels especially supportive right now.

4. Peach season. One of my favorite parts of summer. Ringo’s too. 🙂

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5. Reading. The time I am no longer spending on social media I’m using to read more and I’m really enjoying it. I just finished How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, and while it was a bit more academic than I’d hoped, it was really good.

6. My tiny family, my tiny house, my tiny life. It’s the final weeks of Eric’s summer break so we’ve been enjoying and appreciating this time together before he goes back to work. Ringo is on restriction because of a pulled muscle in his shoulder but we are confident he’ll heal with rest, and we have the best support from Teri, Lindsey, and Jess at Red Sage.

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Bonus joy: the huge murder of crows at the school this morning, gummy vitamins, sitting in the sauna with Eric, getting the laundry done before it gets hot, a/c, working out with Eric and Shelby, afternoon rain storms, writing and hanging out with Calyx, texting with Chloe’ and Mom and Chris, lunch with Carrie, birds at the feeder and in the bath, good neighbors and their dogs, having a tiny house that also allows for space to practice and work, sitting in the late afternoon shade of our backyard, naps, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.