It’s the Thursday before a long weekend and if that’s not a reason to count the beautiful things that have led up to today, I don’t know what is. Here are three from the past week:

1. A young girl and her mother out for a stroll are sitting on a wall, taking a break. The girl has clearly brought her stuffed dog out to stretch his legs too, since he’s on his leash — a navy blue tie.

2. A storm is coming. You can feel the electricity in the air. It’s almost as invigorating as being at the ocean.

3. Knowing that it’s supposed to cloud over sometime in the afternoon, I head to the park early (for me), taking my thermos of tea and (late) breakfast with me. I get several hours sitting at a picnic table reading before I’ve usually left the Burrow.

And, while strictly this isn’t beautiful, because it made me cry, its beauty lies in its perfection. A line from Sherlock: “I was so alone, and I owe you so much.” Friendship summarized in agonizing clarity.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Some magnolias blooming right now have flowers the size of plates.

2. I sit on the roof and blow bubbles. (This is an old bottle and I clearly need to add a little soap to get them to last longer.)

3. Rudi and I take his birthday off and spend a lovely day poking around the zoo and trying a new-to-us restaurant.

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

I’m so confused. I keep thinking that today is Wednesday, but it’s not. So I’ll share three beautiful things with you, right on schedule:

1. Okay, so the dentist visit itself was not beautiful, but I have learned the way to manage my anxiety about these semi-annual appointments is to make an afternoon of it. After the exam was over, I wandered through the Eastern market shops, moseyed through a bookstore, and bought some bubbles. Then I stopped by the library to pick up a couple books and the kitchen store to buy some popsicle molds (to go with the book I bought last month). Then I took myself out for a milkshake (with fresh strawberries) and a homemade PopTart (blueberry cheesecake), bought a couple macarons to take home for dessert, and hung out in a park knitting and reading. Almost makes the dental cleaning worthwhile, wouldn’t you say?

2. Sherlock is back.

3. We stumbled upon musical performances from The Keegan Theatre as we were crossing Dupont Circle. I don’t know what show the Irish folk singer was with (An Irish Carol seems a likely contender), but he was excellent.

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

We’re in the round of Sock Madness where large numbers of competitors really start being eliminated, so I’m knitting frantically, but not optimistically, along. Luckily, I’m also learning a new technique at the same time, so it’s exciting as well as stressful.

However, it’s not just sock knitting all the time around here. There are also beautiful things tucked in here and there to help keep me upbeat. Here are just three of them from the last week:

1. Rudi and I pack a Thermos of tea and some cookies (maple syrup pecan shortbread) to take with us to the garden. We snack on them as we dig, water, plant, and harvest. Spring eating at its best.

2. I purchase a peony. It is a swollen, hot pink bud on Sunday. Each day it opens a bit more until this morning it is a gigantic, pale pink, crepe paper blossom as big as my head. Such a cheerful addition to the kitchen!

3. Five ducklings paddle along the canal with their parents. Periodically, they stray a bit too far from mama, and then they have to wind themselves up, pull out all the stops, and speed along on the surface of the water to catch up.

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

I just finished the most recent round of Sock Madness. I believe I have advanced to the next round, but won’t know for sure until the organizers wake up in the morning.

While I bask in the glow of a freshly completed pair of socks on Rudi’s feet, let me also reflect back on three beautiful things from the past week:

1. Along with much of the East Coast, D.C. has been experiencing a drought that has brought with it the danger of wildfires. This past week, we’ve had rain. Blessed wet rain.

2. I pass through Franklin Square on the same afternoon as its lawns have been mowed. You’d be surprised how infrequently you smell cut grass in the city.

3. The new washing machine and dryer for our building were delivered Monday, and our landlord surprised us with rolls of quarters. We have washed loads and loads (literally) of clothing and linens. It’s nice to see piles of clean wash, rather than an overflowing laundry basket. And it’s also equally nice not to have count pairs of underwear to see if handwashing is necessary.

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

It’s Thursday, so it must be time to report on three beautiful things. I covered a bunch in yesterday’s post, but there are always more to consider. Here are three new ones:

1. We pass a young boy whose bloodied arm is wrapped in gauze. He capers up the sidewalk at a good pace, his superhero cape flapping in the breeze behind him.

2. The bottom half of a bathing suit, when you have forgotten to handwash a pair of underwear in time for work. (The building’s new washing machine is due to arrive on Monday after nearly a month of being broken. It can’t come soon enough!)

3. Our friend Michael has written a play called The Cortical Titanic, which he hopes to put on this fall. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking, on Saturday, he hosted the first fundraiser, which featured a lecture, readings of two scenes from the play, educational materials, and noshes. It was a lovely way to pass a Saturday evening.

And a bonus one, from Michael’s fundraiser:

4. I broke out the red shoes I bought for the ball we went to after the Presidential Inauguration three years ago. They’re cherry red patent leather with three-inch heels and a Mary Jane strap, and I love them. So, apparently, did everyone else, because I got compliments from friends and strangers alike.