My lime tree is budding … beautiful little white flowers that are the sign of tart sweet limes to come … the first from this small tree.

The way the jasmine flowers smell at night.

Dogs that come visiting.

Making paper beads.

The way the birds sound in the morning, right outside my window in the top of the Coco Palm, and the surf in the distance.

Lying on the roof at night, taking in the show of stars and moon, and listening to the surf in the distance a dull roar behind the special noise that the geckos make at night, and thinking nothing at all except for how lucky I am.

Friends stopping by.

Family Day … Sundays … cochineta from the man down the street if you get up early enough … reading a good book on the beach and watching Frederick fish and throw the ball for Buddy … a nap in the afternoon … locking the gate and turning off the cell phone … Seeing all the families on the beach with their tables and mountains of good food and kids and grandmothers and dogs and lots of laughter. Popcorn and an episode of Madmen before bedtime.

Sewing aprons with wildly beautiful fabric.

Getting my hands dirty in the garden and believing that talking to the plants really does make them happy and fruitful.

My children’s voices on the other end of the line.

Dreaming. Organizing. Smiling. Tasting.

Taking it all in.