A dog’s nose, nuzzled against you while you read. A wood-burning fireplace, crackling and popping as a log burns. A bowl of popcorn made the old fashioned way, in an old kettle on the top of the stove. A heavy rain beating down on the rooftop on a Saturday morning. An old black and white movie on television. A favorite sweatshirt, age weathered and permanently carrying the familiar scent of time. A pair of warm, fuzzy socks. Your favorite song on the radio. A baby’s laugh. Polished hardwood floors. A spritz of mom’s perfume. Macaroni and cheese. The quiet after a big storm. A hot bubble bath by candlelight. Almost anything by candlelight. Chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. Hand-knitted mittens. Hot chocolate on a cold night. A secret admirer. An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Homemade jelly on hot buttered toast. Breakfast in bed. An old-fashioned board game. The first snowfall of the season. The sound of frogs croaking in the distance. Flying a kite. Discovering your old teddy bear in a forgotten box. Remembering a time before the internet, and cell phones, and stores open on a Sunday.

I guess I was having one of those days. Nothing a few moments of recollection can’t cure. Just thinking of the simple things in life puts it all back into perspective for me. What about you? What simple pleasures do you absolutely love?