1. Brussels Sprouts on the grill. Seriously. If you hate them, this might change your mind. If you like them, you will be in heaven.

2. Tilda Swinton’s new movie I Am Love. She is fearless and fabulous.

3. Enough rainfall that I didn’t have to stand outside for the past few mornings with a garden hose attempting to keep my garden alive.

4. Having my kid come home from visiting his auxiliary family in Wahoo, Nebraska thrilled beyond belief about getting to do the sort of summer vacation things that we used to take for granted, like riding his bike with his friends to get ice cream all on their own, and watching a 4th of July parade and fireworks at the Wahoo Municipal Ball Field.

5. Packing for a vacation in Paradise.

6. This summer in particular.

You are looking at 50% of this year’s tomato crop. Somewhere on this property is a very full chipmunk with a price on his head. Enjoy your last days, fuzz head. I slipped an envelope with your picture in it to a hawk who has a knack for making guys like you disappear…

The fact that you will taste like home grown vine ripened tomato is a bonus for him.

Perhaps he will have a nice plate of pasta and a glass of Chianti to wash you down.

Sleep with one eye open you tomato thieving rodent.

This bee, or one who looks very much like him, hangs out in my garden all the time. He is either the world’s mellowest bee, or not quite bright. I seriously had the lens poked right up in his face. and he hardly moved, just waved a leg at me sort like a drunk at a party raising his umpteenth drink in salute right before he passes out and you draw on his face with a Sharpie.