1. Beautiful weather. It sure was making it hard to stay inside and work the past couple of days. Today is starting off gray and cooler, so that will make work a bit easier.

2. We saw a fox!!!! This is a terrible picture of her, but I had the dogs so didn’t want to get any closer, especially since she’s standing right next to her den. This is very exciting news because some kind of disease wiped out our fox population and there haven’t been any for about four years.

We used to see babies every spring and it was one of my favorite things, so I’m really glad to see them coming back. Here’s a few of the babies from one of the last litters four years ago.
3. Sam and Ringo. Sam had a rough start to the week. We found a tick on him, which led to a vet visit and new drugs and anxiety for the humans. But, Sam did so good letting us take it off of him, letting the vet look him over, getting the bite site cleaned and taking medicine twice a day, and fingers crossed he seems to be doing okay. Ringo and I have been having a really great time in our Nose Work class. This time it’s “vehicles and containers,” and last week he amazed me by finding the hides so fast and waiting in the back of the car so patiently for his turn.

4. Eric. For kitchen counter love notes, cooking us food, taking my car to get the oil changed, washing and vacuuming my car, helping me stay calm even when he’s freaking out too, laughing with me.

5. Being able to maintain my sanity and my health. I’m so glad that with so much going on, I’ve been able to keep it together. I certainly don’t do this all by myself, have a ton of help and privilege.

Bonus joy: crispy Gala apples with peanut butter, good books, podcasts, everything turning green and blooming, being able to sit outside in the sun without getting too hot, this weird show Eric discovered on Netflix which makes me so happy (Samurai Gourmet), good people in good classes with me who are willing to show up and learn and practice, flowers in the bathroom, how brilliantly yellow the daffodils in my flowerbed are, clean water, getting all the laundry done, the internet, computer glasses.

1. Colorado sky. Sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s even real.

2. Morning walks with the dogs. Last week, we saw two baby beavers in the above pond. So tiny!

3. Being healthy and strong, and all the people and various practices that keep me that way.

4. Sweet Sam and Ringo Blue. Maybe you are tired of hearing me say this, but we really are in the golden years with these two — no one is old or dying or a baby, and no one is sick or hurt.

5. Flowers in the bathroom. This week Eric bought me lilies, and once they all bloomed, we barely had any counter space left!

6. Flowers in my garden. A friend sent me some daffodil bulbs last fall, so I bought some tulips and crocuses to add to the mix and even managed to get them all planted. By the time they came up and started blooming, I’d forgotten about them. It was such a wonderful surprise!

Bonus joy: a Falafel wrap from Whole Foods, a massage, clean sheets, a glass of cold clean water, the way Ringo stands next to me so close that one of his feet is on top of mine, the way Sam kisses me first before lying down next to me when he gets in bed in the morning, the way Eric and I can make each other laugh, postponing a conversation until I’m really ready to have it, the way the shamrock plant I have in my office at work leans into the sun so hard and fast that I have to turn her around twice a day just to keep her standing up straight.