sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

July 17, 2026


asking to be let out, first day jitters allayed, and off the bench
posted by soe 1:50 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Hearing that Mugsy, my parents’ shy cat who’s been living in a single room since moving in with them in March, finally wants to explore the rest of the house. (It should be noted that the kitten, Pickle, does NOT consider this a beautiful thing and tracks her progress into what he considers his territory.)

2. The first day of summer coaching goes well. We have 20 kids and multiple volunteer coaches, the temps stay south of 90°, and the smoke from the wildfires is still to our north.

3. The new laptop Rudi gave me for Christmas finally gets to come off the sideline when Microsoft announces that my old one (which has been having battery challenges) will no longer run Word. Transferring the files from one to the other takes time but happens seamlessly, even going so far as to keep my web browser tabs open.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

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July 10, 2026


released, katie, and celebrations
posted by soe 9:19 am

July 4th Fireworks

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. My dear friend getting to go home from the hospital

2. A team baby shower with really cute volleyball-themed onesies

3. Fireworks on back-to-back nights

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

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July 3, 2026


old friends, “a favor,” and control (of sorts)
posted by soe 1:53 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. John, Nicole, and Juliet were in town and we got to spend a lot of time with them. We visited museums, hung out, ate, listened to music, and caught up with Michael, Julia, and Sarah for an indoor picnic.

2. I have been asked to water a couple plots of gardeners who are away for the holiday. I have decided that responsibility includes harvesting anything that ripens during that time (since it would otherwise be eaten by the local fauna).

3. Air conditioning, because today hit 102 on the thermometer and felt like 113.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

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June 26, 2026


teamwork, cone, and doing the auntie thing
posted by soe 1:35 am

Mitchell Park Movie Night

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Four of the guys and I pull off a well-played victory over the undefeated team at the top of our league. It cements our spot at number three and pumps us all up.

2. After a couple hours of playing volleyball on a hot Saturday afternoon, I drop my net off at home and continue down the street to the ice cream parlor, where they have my favorite flavor in. They warn me it will be a while until it’s next back.

3. Juliet has been at a dance camp in Maryland and we go up to watch her troupe’s performance. She’s one of the youngest kids, but holds her own in their modern performance, which reinterprets “The Pink Elephants on Parade” from Fantasia.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

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June 19, 2026


beach day, baby ducks, and sit & talk
posted by soe 1:31 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

June 2026 Beach Day

1. Our first beach day of the year

2. Ducklings at Constitution Gardens (safe from the bleaching next door)

Constitution Garden Ducklings

3. A friend and I meet at the Dupont Circle fountain for an overdue catch-up.

Sunset in Dupont

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are 1 Comment.

June 12, 2026


blink, cold and green, and on to high school
posted by soe 1:44 am

Purple

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Fireflies in the park

2. Frozen Persian mint lemonade on a scorching afternoon

3. Nearly a dozen of the girls I coached graduated from 8th grade, and almost half of them took part in the ceremony, including Sadie, who sang a solo

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

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