Sigh. Somehow Thursday got away from me. And most of Friday…

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Volleyball had a good run this week. Saturday, seven of us plus two spouses went out for Mexican food after volleyball all afternoon. It was the largest group we’ve mustered for a happy hour this year and it felt good to see a combination of new and old faces. The Saturday volleyball league is an interesting one with both highly skilled players and those who pursue the sport far more recreationally returning year after year, and we are protective of the “third space” we have built.

My team won back-to-back playoff games on Wednesday and followed it up with a lengthy dinner out. My friend Chris and I didn’t make it back to our neighborhoods until 11:30, which probably was more of a challenge for him, as he starts work at 7 a.m., than it was for my night owl self. I have promised the team homemade cookies for next week’s final day of the season, in addition to the freeze pops I bring on the really hot days.

And on Thursday, our coaching team won back-to-back games by forfeit, making it my easiest playoff run in years. (I have not promised them cookies for next week’s semis and finals, so please don’t tell them I play favorites.)

2. Because I’ve been negligent about weeding this year, the violet leaves have provided enough shade to keep my kale and salad greens flourishing long past when they normally would. I’m calling this a strategy, rather than laziness.

3. Eric is the last of us to turn 50 this year, and we managed to catch up for a chat earlier this week — our first in a year. It’s been a challenging 12 months in similar ways for both of us, and it felt good to talk through some of our coping strategies, as well as what we’re hoping for in the decade to come.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I pick our first ripe tomatoes of the year.

2. I walk home from tonight’s game with my fellow volleyball coach and we get to chat about things other than our charges.

3. After a couple rain-outs and a dire forecast, it finally seems like our Wednesday game is about to happen. But between vacations, illness, a last-minute rainstorm, protests, and work, our numbers start dwindling. But four of us (the youngest of whom turns 40 next month) remain undaunted. And we pull off a victory over a solid team of six 20-somethings that will go down in team lore. (In part because I will keep recounting it. There have to be perks to being captain.)

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday from That Artsy Reader Girl invites us to share the debuts we enjoyed — those first published works by authors that completely wowed us. Here are ten of mine:

1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
2. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
3. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
4. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
5. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
7. Me: Moth by Amber McBride
8. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
9. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
10. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

How about you? What debut novels have you loved?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The heat broke and today’s 90 degrees felt like being kissed by the gods. Playing volleyball was lovely and then I stayed outside to read in the park until late.

2. Rudi and I have been snacking on the chocolate he brought back from Europe.

3. Salsa made with a jalapeño from our garden.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Whoops. Lost track of days. Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Rudi returned home from his bike trip through the mountains of France.

2. My friend Sergio and I went out for supper after our volleyball game and got a chance to catch up on each other’s lives and what’s been on our minds lately.

3. Monday was the first concert of the summer at Fort Reno. It was hot and humid everywhere in the city, but that’s our point of highest elevation, so there’s often a breeze there when one can’t be found elsewhere. I bought ice cream and read my book while listening to a trio of bands, the last of which I would pay to hear again.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I painted my nails red, white, and blue with sparkles.

2. One of the girls I play volleyball with on Saturdays invited some of us to a cookout in Rock Creek Park. It rains, but we’re under a pavilion, and it’s nice to catch up in street clothes.

3. Three friends and I head to the ballgame on an unseasonably gorgeous July night. We all have fun and, as a bonus, the Mets score five runs in the top of the tenth to win the game.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?