1. Morning walks. Since Eric is off contract for the summer, the whole tiny family went on a few walks together this week. We are having to route mostly around the river, can’t walk the trails right next to it because with the snow melt coming down from the mountains, they are either muddy or completely under water. To compensate, it’s baby duck and goose season. They are so fluffy!

2. Vaccinations. Now that we have both of our COVID-19 shots, we’ve slowly been adding some things back into our routine. We started doing small group training at the gym with our favorite trainer Shelby and we went out to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant, the first one we’ve gone inside to sit down and eat in over 15 months. It was delicious and only mildly terrifying. I even have a haircut scheduled for next week, my first one in two years.

3. Our garden. The lilacs are in full bloom and the irises have started — first come the tiny yellow ones, then the larger bearded purple and then the white, and finally the tall spiky white Japanese variety that my friend Ann gave me from her garden the year she died. I have a peony memorial garden where I plant a new one every time I lose someone I love, and I had to add two more this season — a white one for Sam and a deep pink for Angela. Eric put in all the veggie plants he grew from seeds and we went to the nursery last week to pick up the last few things: some Japanese cucumbers, tomatoes, and a couple more strawberry plants.

4. Reading. Besides life, this is the greatest gift my parents gave me. Sure, my teachers and librarians helped, along with all the people who write and publish books, but my parents were the closest and most constant readers in my life, modeled the joy of reading, gave me access to the same for myself, and I will be forever grateful.

5. My tiny family, my tiny house, my tiny life. I sure do love it here.

Bonus joy: afternoon rain storms, sunshine, our whole house fan, my aqua aerobics friends, sitting in the sauna with Eric, training with Shelby, writing and hanging out with Calyx, texting with Chloe’, texting with Mom and Chris, Wild Writing, yoga, getting a few more things done that get us just a little bit closer to our trip to Oregon (Ringo’s annual exam and shots, maintenance on my car, motel reservations for the drive), the smell of lilacs, naps, watching TV, listening to podcasts, roasted sweet potatoes, clean laundry, a warm shower, a big glass of cold clean water, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.