hertreehouseblog

several years ago I started forcing myself to write down at least 3 good things from the day before heading to bed. some days were easier than others — some downright difficult, and I would resort to commenting on the color of paint in my room. as the years have gone on, I now find it difficult to stop at 3 a day, and usually find myself running out of space. at the end of the year, I like to pull out one item per day and compile my favorites — it’s my alternative to the dreaded christmas letter, which I refuse to impose on my friends. here is this year’s list — remember, there is always something worth getting out of bed to see and rewards in living to see another day.

reflections of clouds on Lake Anne – my nature photography framed on my walls – a letter from Aunt Judi – the morning moon – preparing for friends to come over – hot spiced cider –  Cuong walking Takoda for me – yoga by candlelight – getting a free parking space at metro – warm meusli on a cold morning – finding fruit juice sweetened dried cranberries – comfy and warm inside as it gets foggy and misty outside – walking Takoda to Lake Fairfax – houselights in the fog – raisins – friends remembering my birthday – Takoda resting his head on my leg – being home after a long day – whittling down the to-do list – purple and yellow flowers – old Chinese tea mugs from mom – clear night sky – saying hi to a neighbor – getting the trash out just in time – bird prints in the snow on the deck – lunch with Sharon – moonlight snowshoeing with Cuong – rainbow among the clouds – beautiful blue-sky sunny morning with birds singing – going to bed to the sound of rain – a star-filled sky – dinner, games, and birthdays with friends at Glory Days – being on time all day – a good stretch – a quiet day to catch up – lunch with friends at work – homemade ketchup – Takoda laying against me sleeping – birds at the feeder – NPR morning shows – an 8 mile run – warm enough to not need a hat – making banana bread – standing in a heavy snow under a street light and watching the flakes absorb me – morning songbirds on a snowy walk – playing with Takoda – waking with Reston Runners – not having to be anywhere – the house smelling wonderful from a day of baking – getting to bed on time – relaxing after work – watching favorite shows – sticking to my budget – a sleepy Takoda – guilting Takoda into taking his meds – peacefully still night – Cuong asking how Takoda was doing – coworkers asking how Takoda was doing – Takoda feeling better — super easy traffic – a clean house – a gathering of Robins in the front yard – resolving issues and being helpful at work – Takoda being safe and warm inside with me instead of still living on the street – afternoon nap on a snow day – Takoda barking at the snowman – calming silence – kids at the bus stop saying hi to Takoda – the surprise blessing of no internet for several hours – another beautiful day – warmer weather – getting approval for a project at work – daffodils in bloom – pink and purple clouds on a morning-blue sky – a good hair day – watching the Syracuse-Georgetown game – everything running on time – leg warmers – finishing 2 major projects on time – successfully juggling many tasks – taking a nap right after work – chatting with friends at work – sleeping in – Cuong joining me and Takoda for a walk to Lake Anne – finishing the Reston half marathon – watching Takoda dreaming – someone fixed my lantern for me out of the blue; don’t know who – the patterns on the sky of the bare tree tops – Syracuse beating Indiana – a quiet day to get stuff done – gardening – seeing the first spring toads – the first butterfly of spring – the sound of the water lapping the shore of Lake Anne – sun reflecting on the lake – chickens by the roadside – Forsythia in full bloom – Naked Pizza – checking in on my neighbor Polly – choosing the perfect day to take off work – biking to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms – bring-your-dog day with Reston Runners – first mommy-and-Takoda 5K race – sun-kissed face – the good in humanity at the Boston marathon – perfectly grilled zucchini – feeling competent – grilling on the deck – listening to the rain – seeing a Pilleated woodpecker just feet from me – nice neighbors – a thriving deck garden – Takoda guarding over me – shoulders to lean and cry on – a private room at the hospital – Cuong coming to visit me at the hospital – Kennedy (the 5 year old next door) making me a get well card – such wonderful neighbors – Sharon bringing me groceries and flowers – azalea’s blooming – friends checking in on me – a tiger swallowtail at the azalea – standing in the garden on a beautiful sunny day – flower buds on the tomatoes and broccoli – first goldfinch of the season – perfect lemon sherbert on my first try – peas with lemon and parsley – catching quick walkies with Takoda between rains – Takoda playing with his toys – afternoon thunderstorm – my broccoli actually looking like broccoli – evening frog chorus – Kennedy helping me weed the garden – being helpful at work – fresh herbs from the garden – getting a free book – a comfortable bed – peonies starting to bloom – fresh cut flower bouquet – several hours of quiet – watching the chipmunk on the deck – bright red cardinal on the garden stake – bluebird on a branch – frozen fruit pop soothing a sore throat – a heavy summer rainfall – walking Takoda to the bridge – hummingbird saying hello at the back door – getting a lot done – hiking with Takoda at Scott’s Run – chatting with Kennedy – old, soft t-shirt – discovering a new mountain biking trail – refreshing afternoon shower after a summer walk – blue jay on the tree – meeting new people at Reston Runners – fresh pineapple – reading the comics – a firefly walking up the patio door – getting some sun – a visit from a damselfly – listening to the rain and birds – strawberries from the farmer’s market – antipasta dinner – giving a jump to a nice couple in the garage – Cuong giving me a helping hand – frog chorus followed by songbird symphony – happening upon a huge pile of moving boxes up for grabs at the curb – walking around the garden atrium at the Gaylord – meeting new, interesting, friendly people – hanging out with friends playing games – a good laugh – dad enjoying his birthday tribute – getting a second wind – falling asleep on the sofa – a pair of bluebirds – chipmunks feeding on the tree seeds on the deck – long, early afternoon nap – the sun on my bare shoulders – the bus stop directly in front of my destination – sitting outside under a tree for lunch – changing into sweats after work – fresh fruit and a mango smoothie for a hot summer night – sweet juicy strawberries – frogs in the forest – soothing music – a musical piece titled “Becoming Takoda” – fireflies in the trees – walking to the hill to watch the fireworks – a baby praying mantis – a very light rain on my arms – barbecue at a friend’s – the smell of summer evening rain – silhouettes of trees on the evening sky – starting a blog – resolving issues at work – finally hearing the cicadas – the sound of rain – rosy glow of sunset on the deck – Takoda shadowing Cuong on the bridge – long afternoon nap – being able to work from home – candlelight on the wall – connecting with people around the globe – brief moments without pain – cicada shells hanging on trees – rescuing a praying mantis from a web – turning off the radio to listen to the frogs – fish tacos with mango salsa – successfully managing a day full of meetings – pain free moments – orange-sherbert clouds on a robin-blue sky behind green pine tree tops – peek-a-boo with Joseph – Kristen and Jim helping me move – Ann, Kurt, Joseph, Justin, Colleen, Cuong and Sharon helping me tirelessly with my move – a solid night’s sleep – swallowtail crossing the road – salamander on the deck – Leni and Charles bringing me dinner – easy-breezy at DMV (amazing!) – blue jay on the deck railing – warm shower after a long day – hearing an owl out back – an after work nap – a stocked refrigerator – finishing a project on time – brown rice pasta with bison marinara – clearing the boxes off the dining room table – Cuong joining me for the Reston Runner’s walk and keeping up with me and Charles – IKEA with Sharon – chatting with my new neighbor in the hallway – running in the pouring rain – fox calls out back – a group of kids on the bridge waving and shouting hello to the cars below – a soothing bedroom – getting a big hug from Kennedy after giving her my teddy bears – joining Cliff and Jim on the trail walk option with Reston Runners – white puffy clouds on the blue sky – all my laundry clean and put away – a grasshopper hopping from leaf to leaf – chatting with neighbors – getting chores done – open windows – games with friends – me time – the incredible volume of the frogs and crickets at night – new followers on my blog – lunch with the team at Mira Hibachi – walking the wooded trails with Takoda – afternoon trail run with Takoda – billy goats on the JFK trail – listening to NPR over pancakes and hot cocoa – finding a missing DVD – getting a spot in the local yoga class – downy woodpeckers on the deck – listening to good music – settling into my new place – volunteering the Reston triathlon – going to see Tig Notaro with Cuong and seeing Claire there – chatting with neighbors – finding a favorite CD that had been missing – quick soup and grilled cheese for dinner – a comfy chair – early autumn leaves floating on the stream – tasting fresh cider and grapes at the farmer’s market – exploring Reston trails with Cliff – morning rainstorm – my yoga teacher asking if I was a yoga teacher – considering getting certified as a yoga instructor – new puppies in the neighborhood – being serenaded by birds, frogs, cicadas, and crickets – Takoda recovering quickly from his snake bite – watching football – fresh sheets on the bed – writing poetry – friendly, helpful staff at Reston Hospital – many well wishers – having the strength to give myself shots in my belly – a relaxed, low-key evening – walking over to my old neighborhood to say hi and hearing that Polly is doing well – seeing 5 deer on the evening walk – listening to Thich Nhat Hanh – yoga class – Pandora music – Sharon calling to say hi and check on me – a bat flying overhead – making apple pie – listening to the water trickling over the rocks in the creek – little wrens visiting my deck and saying hi – my cookies being a hit at the potluck – successful meetings – giving Takoda a sneak rainfall bath – Anna’s cat Pogo – getting all my pictures hung – stove-popped popcorn with butter and salt – smiling – very nice kudos from a coworker – autumn colors – pine needles blanketing the paths – cool, crisp autumn morning walk with bubbling brooks, autumn colors, and leaves lining the trail edge – finishing my filing – just enough hot cocoa mix left for one more cup – laughing in yoga class – connecting with old friends – a beautiful sunset – a leaf-covered brook – playing with Takoda – all my to-dos done before the day is done – Takoda playing with his tennis ball – escaping traffic – having the windows open at bedtime – Takoda snoring – chatting with Claire during the Reston Runner’s walk – delicious lunch with Dad and Susan at Oyamel – yoga – voting – amazing sunset on the drive home – listening to the wind in the trees – Takoda waking himself up barking in his sleep – pumpkin pancakes – meeting one of my neighbors during a fire alarm – juicy ripe pear – dinner by candlelight – feeling beautiful – a warm home on a cool day – learning new technology – smell of a wood burning fireplace – stillness of Lake Anne – a meeting-free day – meeting new people – watching the sunrise – Takoda cuddling with Cuong – a relaxed day where everything falls in place – crewing JFK – post JFK brunch – Takoda and Daisy playing together – everyone doing what they were supposed to do at a 4-way stop – a very quiet work day – Reston Runners Turkey Trot with Cuong and Takoda – cooking Thanksgiving dinner with Sharon – Reston holiday parade – going to the Reston tree lighting with Cuong – a clean home to start the week – a comfy bed – a sense of belonging – quiet rustling of winter trees in a late evening breeze – staying in on a rainy day – deep afternoon nap – decorating for the holidays – stockings hung on my Cervelo – snow day – catching up with work friends at the holiday party – trying a new yoga routine – trail walk with Reston Runners in the morning snow – seeing the new Hobbit movie with Jim and Susan – cuddle time with Takoda – bison burger and sweet potato fries – the huge, bright moon – a friendly neighbor – getting the go-ahead to stop the warfarin – homemade chocolate chip cookies right from the oven – Solstice yoga by candlelight – the foot bridge at Lake Anne lit up in white Christmas lights – Christmas eve dinner with Cuong – Reston Runners Christmas day walk – Takoda looking for the pig in the tv – open source software – homemade pastries – swimming – pretty pink flowers – making eggplant lasagna – successfully creating a new cookie recipe