Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The airbnb that Rudi booked us turns out to be in the vicinity of one of Portland’s art districts and is a very walkable neck of the woods for our base of operations. It also includes a vegan bar that makes mocktails, so I got to spend my one dinner on my own in town in a particularly pleasant fashion.

2. On Monday, I got to see one of my favorite former coworkers at the concert and spend time catching up. It had been more than three months since I’d last seen her. Tonight, I got to see one of my dearest friends (whom I’ve known since college) and her family and spend time catching up. It has been more than a dozen years since I’d last seen her, and it was like no time had passed at all (except with her son, who is now in high school and absolutely delightful).

3. I’ve spent several weeks building a playlist for the volleyball team and finally got to unveil part of it on Tuesday. People were very enthusiastic.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. My dahlia has bloomed.

2. I had lunch with one friend and supper with another this week.

3. This was the first week of summer volleyball coaching. We had five kids show up, all of whom were very enthusiastic about playing and learning.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I bought a number of inexpensive plants while up in Connecticut a couple weeks back. On one of the hottest days of the year to date, Rudi helped me clear some extra space in the plot, so I could jam them all in. I finished planting on Sunday. I may add some beans and squash seeds, but otherwise I’m done with putting in plants until Labor Day.

2. Last July 4th, we got locked out of the Mall while waiting in line for the fireworks, so this year I got us moving earlier and we entered without issue. We sit on the river side of the Lincoln Memorial, which tends not to attract crowds, but offers great views.

3. The first corn on the cob of the season was actually pretty decent.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. As my friend Katie and I were cycling between our game and the bar, we passed through the grove next to the D.C. War Memorial, which was sprinkled with fireflies. When we emerged onto the Mall sidewalk, we were greeted with the most amazing sunset.

2. My favorite Nationals player, pitcher Sean Doolittle, is also a big reader, and he was invited by the Library of Congress to take part in a public chat with Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Rudi, my friend Sarah, and her friend all got tickets, but Rudi and I went early to tour the building, since Rudi had never been. As a special treat, the Reading Room was open to the public. You could hear the angels singing.

3. The gnats drove Rudi and me away from the Capitol Reflecting Pool and off the Mall. On Pennsylvania Avenue, the Mellon Fountain was running so briskly as to keep the bugs at bay. We rested next to it for a good 15 minutes, soaking in the cool air, before continuing our walk home.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Blueberry picking the day after a substantial rainfall is a very satisfying thing because it’s usually a relatively easy harvest. Apparently not many people want to go out in the mud.

2. I started listening to Aristotle and Dante Dive into the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz while driving out to the farm today. It’s read by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also read the first book.

3. I wore a pair of red wicking underwear under my oatmeal-colored shorts to play volleyball in and discovered that they turned significant patches of my shorts pink. Rudi took to them with some Oxiclean yesterday morning, and got the stains out for me.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The grove next to the District of Columbia War Memorial was filled with fireflies.

2. Our volleyball team made significant improvements as the season went on and ended up making the semi-finals. Then, after some snacks, we went on to win our opening match of the summer season.

3. We got the chance to preview Brian and Charles, a sweet movie about an awkward British tinkerer who invents a sentient robot. If you like stories about friendship and letting relationships grow, please track this one down.

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