Sat on the porch swing this morning and ate my breakfast of Tastykake powdered donuts. Love these donuts ‘cause FOUR of them are considered one serving, so you don’t have to feel piggish when you eat four of them. Oldest sister-in-law had invited me to go thrifting so I had to forgo my bagel and not so good cantaloupe and quickly wolf a few donuts with my scorching cup of coffee. After I fill my coffee cup in the mornings, I heat my coffee for 30 seconds in the microwave so it gets hot enough not to cool off while I’m pondering in the porch swing. This morning I hit three minutes instead of 30 seconds and the coffee was boiling when I got it out. If I hadn’t seen the bubbles I probably would have burned the devil out of my mouth.

Had a happy, cheerful phone call with my cousin while I was eating breakfast. Our widowhood has bonded us and we talk often. She had a deep love for her husband, too, and we support each other on sad days and talk about our husbands’ friendship with each other. Chief always said John was his favorite male relative. First time Chief said this we were standing around with my three brothers. Always makes me laugh! I scolded Chief and he said, “Well, it’s the truth!” Course that only made it worse. Oldest sister-in-law arrives to pick me up and I tell my cousin, “Oh, she’s here! I’ve got to go! I’ve got to find my phone! Don’t know where it is!” She laughs and says, “You’re talking on it!” My day has followed this trend!

At the thrift store I find a few trinkets I want to purchase but I can’t find the price on them. Oldest sister-in-law looks and she can’t see a price either. So off I go to check out thinking I’d hold the line up while the check out lady searches for a price. I set the pieces on the counter and tell the lady I can’t find the price tag on these two. She says there they are, points right to them! I had carried them both around in my hands with my thumbs over the price tags! Seriously, Shady Oaks is becoming a reality! We perused The Dollar Tree, too, and nothing got knocked off the display shelves. A first for us!

When I got back home, I returned to the porch after putting my purse up in my bedroom. I realized Alexa was still playing music from the 1970s. I had again called her Alexis! I think we should be able to call Alexa by our own name. I’d choose Odessa! Smile!! Man…I am an idjut today!

Back on the porch, I hung up my two new hummingbird feeders. Bought them today. Last year I put them up too late and didn’t have many visitors. Surely the scouts will find my feeders this year and bring their friends here. Did you know a group of hummingbirds is called a bouquet? I love that. Read, too, a flock of flamingos is called a flamboyance! That is such a fitting moniker for these beauteous creatures. When I sat down in the swing, cardinals and chickadees and one nuthatch were visiting the feeders. Saw a few purple finches and some goldfinches, too. My bird friends enjoy these dreary, gloomy days. Mother Nature is spitting rain. I can hear the symphony on the leaves, heavy drumbeats. Had a little flock of wrens arguing loudly around the porch. They were sitting on the scuppernong trellis and flying through the porch. Never seen more than one or two at a time. Read a flock of wrens is a charm. Wonder who made up these flock names? I believe I’d call a group of wrens a wench. They are noisy and boisterous. My kettle of vultures is no where to be seen. Must be roosting somewhere in the neighborhood.

I should be ashamed for always talking disparaging about technology, specifically since I’ve been using it all day. When I left the porch swing and came inside my granddaughter FaceTimed me and and we had a sweet chat. She calls me frequently and we enjoy visiting. She’s a precious child!

I’ve had a happy day and it was the little things and time with friends and family that made it pleasant. The most simple things bring the most happiness. For me, just sitting quietly in the porch swing and watching God’s songbirds brings me immense peace and joy. You know how a young child gets a great present at Christmas but they’d rather play and explore with the box before they play with the contents. The simplicity of the box becomes a castle. As I get older, the simple things seem to matter the most — family and people I love, my health, and my ability to think clearly.

I made a list of simple things in my life that bring me happiness — the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, talking with friends, a silver bracelet, sitting on the porch swing, a song bird, a hot bath, a letter in the mailbox, a pack of doublemint chewing gum, rain drops making music, a colorful sunset, dinner by candle light (Miss this so much since Chief died.), watching my grandchildren laugh, butter pecan ice cream, homegrown tomatoes, a beautiful table setting, fresh sheets on the bed…. What’s on your list?

Life can be simple but it gets complicated in the fast rush of today’s world. The simple things, if we do them together, can make a difference.