It’s been one of those weeks…

I contemplated offering you a list with items like “A car so uninteresting that when vandals break in, they don’t even bother to take the spare change.”

HOWEVER…

Except for those really crappy things that seem to be arriving daily this week, a lot of lovely things actually occurred. It would be a shame to give short shrift to those just because some others made faces at me.

So I give you instead, three really beautiful things from my past week:

1. Gramma turned 90 on Monday, but we all agree that the math must be a little funky because 90 is ancient and Gramma is not. I mean, she’s old, but she’s not old. We celebrated with a family party on Sunday that brought nearly 20 of her loved ones together for a buffet dinner that Mum spent a full week cooking up from scratch. Mum also created these great poster collages with photos from nine decades of Gramma’s life that everyone just poured over, and Dad compiled a soundtrack that he burned to cd as a memento for all the guests.

2. Saturday afternoon, I drove out to Rhode Island to have a long overdue lunch with Karen and to meet the newest member of her household. Livia is two months old this week, and I was delighted to finally get to make her darling acquaintance. I also got to spend some time with my favorite toddler, Marshall, who was all flirty and adorable.

3. Samoas can get you through any number of crises, and some days it’s imperative to eat one before breakfast. I’m glad it’s Girl Scout cookie season and that we are acquainted with parents of Brownies.

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

It’s Thursday once more [actually, now it’s Friday; I meant to finish this post last night on the drive north, but didn’t get the chance. Oops!], which means it’s time for three beautiful things from the past week:

1. Daffodils were sighted on the walk home last night and crocuses this afternoon.

2. Rudi and I got to see the Low Anthem, an energetic and instrumentally gifted quartet who sound like the offspring of Arcade Fire and Union Station, last Thursday night at the old Sixth and I Synagogue. The venue was lovely, a random woman gave us her spare ticket while we were waiting in line to buy ours, and the concert was fantastic. You can listen to a stream of the show from NPR here. And if you are able to catch them when they perform near you, make sure you do.

3. Friday afternoon, Susan texted me to invite me over to her place for happy hour, offering me water and wheat thins and a wee little guy instead of beer and peanuts and crowds. Was there even a choice? I spent several hours hanging out with her and Holden and Phillip (after he arrived home from work). It was the best happy hour I’ve had in ages.

How about you? What was beautiful in your world this week?

1. I wear a brand new pair of polka-dotted socks that have arrived from Grey Kitten via SockDreams. Because they have cashmere and angora in them, even at the end of the day, my feet still feel like they’re being gently hugged.

2. The greens of spring bulbs have pushed their way through the earth to say that warm weather is just around the corner. I’ve seen signs of daffodils, croci, hyacinths, and tulips just in my neighborhood.

3. Rudi and I celebrate my finally getting a weekend on Monday by heading to Georgetown. After buying some spices at a new shop, we head to our favorite bakery, Baked & Wired, where my hot chocolate comes in a parfait glass.

In a week that’s been filled with visits, emails, phone calls, cards, and packages, it was hard to narrow it down to a mere three beautiful things. But I did:

1. Macy’s has new window displays up advertising its wedding registries. When I saw the 12th Street window proclaiming its registries were open to all couples, I was pleased. But when I saw their 13th Street window had two female mannequins together against a backdrop of all permutations of betrothed couples, I was really impressed. Go Macy’s!

2. In at least three of the trees in the park next to the Historical Society, wind chimes dangle in the warm breeze.

3. Sitting in Pete’s Apizza, surrounded by the people here in D.C. I like the best, I feel one of those rare moments of peace. It does not feel dissimilar from slipping into a perfectly warm bath or being embraced by a loved one after a long absence.

Those are just three of my beautiful things during this birthday week. How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I buy three reasonably priced bouquets of flowers at Trader Joe’s — purpley blue irises, pink tulips, and little yellow roses — and squeeze them all into a vase to brighten up our kitchen.

2. The next day, I also buy a pot of hyacinths at the farmers’ market. Still furled up tight, the buds have only a hint of color. I can either buy one that will be pale or one that will be dark. I choose the darker hued and watch the plant grow each day. Tuesday morning, it’s obvious the plants will be fuchsia. Wednesday morning, the first flowers are out. That afternoon, I moved the plant from my windowsill to my desk where I could inhale its gorgeous scent. By this morning, the second bulb’s first floret had popped open.

3. The dvd of The Bishop’s Wife that I requested from another branch of the library back during the holidays finally shows up. I spend a pleasant Friday evening with my knitting and David Niven, Cary Grant, and Loretta Young.

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

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time to look back at three beautiful things from the past week. Here are mine:

1. After being lit in Christmas colors back in December (for the first time, I’m pretty sure), the turrets of the building north of Franklin Square are seasonally appropriate once again this week, bedecked in white and red for Valentine’s Day.

2. Twice this last week, I’ve walked home from work wearing inadequate clothing for the temperatures. Feeling the warmth come seeping back into my limbs after I reach the Burrow is delightful.

3. A bag of clementines make the kitchen smell particularly nice.

So, how about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?