Greeting, dear readers! It’s the evening of another beautiful summer day and – even though it’s not much different from lots of other nice days – I am feeling particularly blessed. This day was just right.

The morning was cool with enough dew to keep my garden pots happy, even though I went out with a little extra water to top them up. The cucumber  has gone from a tiny four-inch seedling to a flowering vine in a week.  In a day or two that flower will give way to fruit. Now that’s what I call “fast food”! I’ll look forward to enjoying them with the squash and tomatoes as summer rounds to fall.
The rest of the day was similar: I spent my work day nudging forward several projects at an easy pace. Nobody got stressed and everyone went in the right direction. I even got time for a good lunch, chicken salad and veggies, packed at home, REMEMBERED, and enjoyed. There were interesting questions. There was enough time. And there was enough coffee and enough patience to go around. I got a sweet message from a family member in the middle of the day. Lagniappe!

In the evening I came home to happy pets with plenty of time to take the dogs for a walk and check the garden again before everyone got dinner. The air was light and cool and the dishes are done and it was the kind of day where nothing really happens, but it’s perfect anyway. Every small thing went right,  it had the simple beauty of a sparrow’s back – just brown from a distance, but soft and speckled and luciously detailed up close.

There is something to be said for a moment of complete contentment in the middle of all the stuff going on all around. Whatever else goes on, the cat still comes for his lap-time, and cucumber tendrils curl upwards in sweet spirals, and the dogs will look at you as if you are delivering the Nobel prize when you give them a treat. Life is Good. Just right.

Stay tuned for more on the Here’s a Quarter blog next week! As always, your thoughts and comments are always welcome – they are moderated (I know – adulting again), so they may take a little while to appear, but I read them all and appreciate that you were here. Thank you!

My new story collection is now available: Dog Days . I’d love to hear your thoughts if you check it out!