1. Flowers in the bathroom. The ones from the Farmer’s Market this year have been making me so happy, are giving me goals for my own garden.

2. Moving my body. For years, I smashed myself to bits, and because I was younger and my body more forgiving; putting all those miles on, hammering the weights, spending hours and hours on the elliptical, and pushing through any pain was doable. In the past four years however, there’s been a distinct shift. I got help with my disordered eating and I experienced various injuries and illnesses, all of which made me reconsider my relationship with my body. In the past year, I’ve been more of an advocate for myself, got the kind of help and support I needed when I was hurting. I’ve also found some ways of moving that I absolutely adore and that do no harm.

3. The sweetest mail. I love writing this blog. It is so satisfying and such good writing practice. The fact that anyone reads it is a bonus. The fact that the people who read it are kind and gentle and supportive makes me so happy. And when they take time out of their lives to tell me they appreciate what I’m doing here, that’s just the best.

4. Our garden. We aren’t sure exactly why, but it hasn’t been quite as productive this year, (except for the bindweed, which has been prolific). Each year we add a little, change a little, fail a little, but it always makes me so happy. I would much rather have a chaos of flowers, fruit, veggies, weeds, bugs and bees than a perfect green lawn.

5. My tiny family. I am going to miss them so much when I have to go back to work.

Bonus joy: going to the movies with Eric, finally figuring out the source of the recurring issue with my knees (pes anserine tendonitis/bursitis, not really even my knees) and hopefully coming up with a better fix or at the very least method to manage it, water aerobics, Pilates, peach pie, sleeping in, good books, good TV (Queen Sugar and Insecure’s 2nd seasons are SO good), the cooler weather, Wild Writing, texting, a perfectly ripe avocado, sweet potato and black bean quesadillas with homemade tortillas.

1. My Golden Raintree is blooming. I planted her when we moved into this house almost 17 years ago. She was just a tiny twig. Now she is almost three times as tall as our house and has spawned multiple children.

2. Morning walks with Eric and the dogs. I’m on restriction right now cause my right knee is hurting me, but hopefully for only a few more days.

3. Pie season. Eric has mad skills, even cooks them on the grill so it doesn’t heat up the house too much.

4. Flowers in the bathroom. Bonus joy is these are from my favorite stall at the farmer’s market, Joan Kinney’s booth.

5. Ringo and Sam got baths, which also makes me grateful for Eric, who is so good at all the grooming and maintenance things.

Post bath: fluffy and tired

Bonus joy: Palisade Peach Noosa yogurt, aqua aerobics, getting a new furnace and our ducts cleaned (so much dog hair), yoga, how good Ringo did at his last nose work class, everyone healthy and mostly well, last minute plans to see a movie with a friend, said movie being just as good as I’d expected (The Big Sick, I highly recommend it), laughing with Eric, talking on the phone with my mom, texting, fresh peaches, cucumbers and basil from our garden, a cold glass of clean water.