I’m especially grateful today for a kind and gentle neighbor who offered daycare for Wren for four hours while I had to drive to an appointment. Wren got to socialize with her little doggie neighbors and learn how to be in a new situation, while I got to drive there and back and attend to my appointment without any concerns for her welfare. She’s anxious when I leave her home alone and that makes me anxious to get home.

I am grateful for a kind speech pathologist with a sense of humor, and for the optimistic evaluation she offered on a health concern. She gave me some exercises and recommendations to help me observe and investigate so I can determine if and what any next step might be. It’s a long story.

I’m grateful for both those things which put me in a relaxed and pleasant mood so I felt comfortable stopping at Afton’s for a few minutes to peruse little plants and pick up a few seed packets and more bags of organic garden soil for some raised beds that remain to be filled. I’m grateful for this cheery plant nursery conveniently located on the way home, and for the kind and pleasant staff. I’m grateful I made it out into the world and back with no drama (it’s the smallest things these days!), and got home in time for another glorious sunset with pink alpenglow on fresh mountain snow, and a peach and blue Renaissance sky.