1. Morning walks. I went along the river for part of our walk one day this week, and there were WAY too many mosquitoes. Just like everywhere, we’ve had the weirdest weather this summer. At this point in late July, there shouldn’t be that much water in the river, and things shouldn’t be as lush or as green. The above picture is one I took just after we watched a deer disappear into the brush on the other side of the river and just before we turned the corner and startled two more.

2. Curly hair cut. In the past four years, I’ve had a total of two haircuts, and really it would be more accurate to call them a “trim” because there was no real style there and I prefer to do as little maintenance as possible, wash and wear. As happens, my hair has been changing as my hormones and body do, and it had gotten more flat and fuzzy the way I was wearing it so I decided I wanted to get a haircut and learn a routine that would highlight my curls and lead to healthier hair. I can’t believe how much hair I let her cut off and am amazed I let her do layers but I’m more than happy with the results. Still don’t know if I’ll be able to make it look quite as nice as she did all the time but it feels so much better.

3. Little book and art libraries. Books and art, creativity and play and sharing, are so important and while it seems like the political world would prefer to burn it all to the ground, I’m happy that individual homes and humans in my neighborhoods are committed to keeping those precious things available and accessible.

4. Practice. If I could, I’d spend most of my days meditating, doing yoga, reading, and writing — but then who would do the laundry, go to the grocery store, pay the bills? Adulting is hard, being human is hard, and I’m not sure how I’d stay strong and sane without practice to support me.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I’m so grateful that currently everyone is healthy and happy.

Bonus joy: texting with Chloe’, texting in general (as an introvert, it may just be my preferred mode of communication), Ringo rolling in the grass, zucchini and tomatoes and basil from our garden, HRT, prescription glasses, birds at the feeder, sunflowers, the way green grass feels under my feet, naps, listening to podcasts, watching TV and movies, Aunt Monica’s taco salad, knowing that the choice to not do the thing was the right decision, my in-laws, other people’s kids and dogs, a plane ticket to Oregon to visit family and see the ocean, having the laundry done by 10 am, a/c that allows for baking and laundry even in the summertime, electric cars, bread, lemonade, clean water, clean air, other people’s gardens, good neighbors, poetry and poets, calendars, tape, glue stick, thrift stores, the produce section at the grocery store, not needing to be right, gummies, electric fans, soft clothes, a couch that is more than comfortable enough to spend the night on, the sound of Ringo coming down the hallway, his sighs and dream barks, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. Morning walks. It’s finally getting warm out there. We’ve had the weirdest summer, with only a couple of 90+ degree days so far when by now we usually have A LOT. We only just this week had to start watering the lawn in back and it’s the middle of JULY! We’ve had more rain and cooler temperatures but I am NOT complaining, especially considering what is happening in other places. I’m enjoying getting to walk more with Eric and love how quiet it is when we get out early. 

2. Ringo. I noticed the past few weeks I hadn’t taken very many pictures of him so this week I made up for it. One super cute thing he’s always done is find things on his walk and insist on carrying them home. Usually it’s toys and often they aren’t dog toys — like the Elmo he found this past week.

3. Good friends. I made art with Janice this week, swapped Instagram reels with Shellie, got to finally have lunch with Carrie, and just got back from hanging out with Chloe’ in her backyard with her dogs and her boys. I’m so grateful for all of them.

4. Teaching yoga. I subbed my Sunday morning class this morning, was in the front of the room instead of in back like usual, and I felt like I’d finally gotten my “groove” back when it comes to teaching. It’s probably not surprising how rusty and awkward you get after a four year break.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I probably wouldn’t mind if Eric stayed on vacation all the time. It’s just really nice to have him around more often, especially knowing he’s going to be extra busy in the fall.

Bonus joy: Aunt Monica’s taco salad, family group texts, birds at the feeder, the call of hummingbirds, the giant dragonfly eating mosquitoes in the front yard and the tiny jumping spider eating them inside the house, fans (the one at yoga this morning saved me while I was teaching), lemonade, being cleared to go back on my HRT, that even though our tastes can be very different Eric and I always manage to find something to watch together at night, being able to get books from the library to read on my Kindle without ever needing to even leave the house, good neighbors, dark chocolate covered walnuts, leftovers, naps, catching the murder beetles before they destroyed the clematis, not having as many grasshoppers so far this year, daisies, our whole house fan, my blue jellyfish tshirt, super soft tshirt fabric, buttons, stickers, green tea, pottery, music and musicians, listening to podcasts, clean sheets, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.