Thursday Thirteen #2

(This image provided by Samulli.)

I took a walk today around the lake by our apartment. I love these walks for a couple reasons. First of all, it's great to just get outside and enjoy the area while getting a little exercise. But it also provides me with about 45 minutes of uninterrupted thinking. Among other things, today I took the time to appreciate some of those simple little things in life that make me happy. These are things that don't take much (if any) effort on my part, and these are things that cost me nothing. So for today's Thursday Thirteen, I have a list of:

13 Simple Pleasures

1. Seeing Shawn every day. After spending close to 3 years with him traveling back and forth between Seattle and Colorado, I can't help but smile every time he walks through the door after coming home from work.
2. Drinking coffee while still in my pajamas. I know that having that relaxed, quiet time in the morning isn't going to last, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can!
3. Reading my friends' status updates on Facebook. I love that a silly little website like Facebook allows me to feel connected to my friends who are spread out all over the country.
4. Touching a rock and feeling the sun's warmth. This is especially true on a cool day. I completely understand why snakes like to sun themselves on rocks.
5. Noticing very small flowers. Today, I noticed that some bushes near the apartment complex entrance have begun to bloom. They're tiny, but they're there. I also love the itty bitty alpine flowers that grow near the summit of the mountains where we hike in Colorado.
6. The smell of pine trees. Ponderosa pines are my favorite, but most varieties smell pretty darn good. The smell is especially good after a rain.
7. Breathing in cold air when I'm bundled up enough to stay warm. This is most noticeable on snowshoeing days!
8. Appreciating unique scenery wherever I go. Shawn and I agree that we miss the beauty of Colorado. However, Washington is beautiful, too! It's just different...different landscape, different climate, different varieties of trees and bushes. We see things here that we'll never see in Colorado.
9. The salty/fishy smell of Puget Sound. This might sound strange, but I love that smell. It lets me know that I'm close to the water, and I like to think about what's out there beyond what I can see.
10. The familiar prayers of Mass. Part of what drew me to the Catholic Church is the ritual. I love knowing that it doesn't matter where I am, if I go to Mass, I'll know the prayers. They may even be in a different language, but they're there.
11. Hearing from a friend. It doesn't matter if it's a phone call, an email, or a comment on my Facebook status (or this blog!)...I just love hearing from friends unexpectedly.
12. Watching snow fall. Watching the snow flakes fall to the ground always gives me a feeling of calm and peace. Unless I know I have to drive in it soon...but let's focus on the positive, shall we?
13. The sound of dirt and rocks under my feet when I'm walking outside. I'll admit that I wasn't a huge nature lover before I met Shawn. But I really, honestly do enjoy being outside. And there's something satisfying about this sound...whether I'm hiking up a mountain with Shawn or walking down the side of a street alone.