We've been really busy, and I've been really grumpy, so I think it's time to step away from my life and do that exercise people always say is so good for you. There really are lots of good things I need to appreciate more:

Two big hot dogs (who frequently run over to the neighbor's where they become part of the 28-Paws Gang. Can you imagine having that many dogs in your house? It's surprisingly fun)
My neighbor, who has never once complained about two very big hot dogs turning up unexpectedly at any old time, including the middle of the night
Two happy hunting cats (who leave mice by the door, and occasionally inside the door too, just to tell me they love me)
One very, very, very, very old cat (who's not doing so well, and makes rather a mess in the house, so we keep putting him outside. Poor guy. He has, through no choice of his own, stuck by me all these years, and this is how we repay him.)
Three new pairs of pants for Calvin (I'm getting better at sewing!)
A romper made from an old grass-seed sack (this just makes me smile every time I look at it, even if it doesn't fit . . .)
Cherry tomatoes
The first gorgeous purple eggplant
Gladiolas! (we didn't get any of these in last year's drought)
Tea with honey
Fresh baked bread from my oven
The jam our farm worker share keeps bringing (strawberry first, then raspberry. Yum)
Our farm worker share!
Calvin's new hat
And the fabulous fun fabric it's made of—I love finding great fabrics. I'll do something with them all, someday.
Calvin's giggle (it's almost worth getting him overtired and slaphappy to hear that giggle nonstop)
Farmer Kari running my farm (Chris just hasn't realized it yet)
My dad coming to help just because I ask
My potted plants on the front porch (they turned out really well this year)
Apples on the apple trees, starting to show their colors
Little, perfect baby toes
A creaky old house that, at least from a distance, is still picturesque
Rocking chairs
Handmade stuffed toys
Really good food when I get a chance to cook
More ideas than I have time to act on
Hollyhocks (until the inevitable storm knocks 'em down, they're just gorgeous in the meadow)
That I have a chunk of land I can call a meadow
Tractors
My horseshoe collection, and everything else old and rusty and intriguing that I find in the ground (still love the half of a waffle iron).
My mother-in-law's paintings
Books
Motivated, inspiring people all around me
Fresh eggs (blue at that!)
Swinging
Napping with Calvin on the sofa
Sleeping with Calvin all night
Calvin