Beautiful Things

| January 25, 2026

2026 January 8

  • Birthday cake mix
  • Mochi doughnuts
  • Fog that’s so thick you can’t see the houses on the other side of the road

2026 January 7

  • The sound of water at the dock
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • The way the moss sways in the live oaks on my parents‘ street.

2026 January 6, Tuesday

  • Areas without streetlights
  • Electronic pianos
  • Pizza delivery services
  • Spending time with parents and siblings as an adult
  • Thoughtfully animated movies and shows

2026 January 3

  • Fireworks
  • The sound of birds in the morning
  • Warm, heavy rain
  • Playing in the rain
  • Air conditioning
  • My mom’s extra large pressure cooker

2025 December 20

  • Ironed bed sheets
  • Fresh cookies
  • Smooth-writing pens
  • Local art supply stores

2025 December 17

  • public parks
  • Sunlight on the lake
  • The large selection of pastries in the city

2025 December 16

  • Fresh pressed juice
  • Evergreens in the snow
  • Soft brioche

2025 December 13

  • I have a working washing machine!
  • I have all the little comforts and luxuries that I have ever wanted, like a pc to play games on, a washing machine and dryer, an e-reader, enough art supplies to satisfy my creative urges, a garden, city amenities, a gym membership, clothes I feel comfortable and confident in, a dishwasher, and an over the sink drying rack.

2025 December 12, Friday

  • We have a microwave. Didn’t have one for several years.
  • Public libraries
  • Big, fat, perfect snowflakes that glitter like shards of glass.

2025 December 10

  • Miniature train displays in local shop windows.
  • It’s relatively easy to fly and see family (not cheap, but not as expensive as it could be).

2025 December 8

  • The daycare folks complimented the consistently tasty-looking snacks that I pack for S—.
  • The grocery store is walking distance away, even in winter.
  • Pears and papayas are a good price.
  • Every Saturday and Wednesday, the local farmer’s market is up.
  • The local farmer’s market is actually a farmer’s market and not an expensive-craft-doodad market.

2025 December 7, Sunday

  • My son can now say “I love mama”, and says so freely and randomly
  • The hot water heater works.
  • My new warm snow boots. (Steger Arctic model)
  • My time alone when L— takes our son to church and play dates.
  • I am able to participate in a local choir.
  • L— is always trying, and never gives up on our relationship.

2025 November 20

  • S— wants to help me feel better when I’m sad
  • The oven works
  • I can mooch off of my parents Netflix account on a bad day

2025 November 7

  • S— helped me plant garlic in the hay-covered field, handing me a new clove for each hole I made with my favourite walking stick. It’s a lovely, sunny day.
  • The gym has 2 hour childcare.