Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 38: Lazy evenings in our backyard…and space for a crowded table

Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 38: Lazy evenings in our backyard...and space for a crowded table...

Tonight, I am grateful that with every passing day it means we are one step farther from fringed winter weather and one step closer to lazy warm glowy evenings spent in our backyard. I always wanted a backyard space way way more than I wanted an actual house...and I really really really love our little house. There is absolutely nothing spectacular about this little house sitting on top of a modest little patch of dirt in a wonky little spot of this city and I'm totally okay with that. What I love most is that it is private and quiet-ish...at least on night's when our ratty neighborhood garage band is off playing a gig somewhere. This little space is the perfect size for both our happy little trio as well as a full blown neighborhood party. It's a mix of thick green grass and dark black bark and a fortifying concrete patio and its ours...or in 25 years it will be ours. Our humble backyard happy place is lined with flowers and trees and if I'm lucky one day flowering trees all a glow thanks to the flick of a switch and a few carefully placed strings of warm white twinkly lights. This is my favorite place and I live out side for about nine months each year. Our patio. Our furniture. Burke's grill. Sarah Kate's hula hoops, scooters and squirt guns. And my beloved flowers. Lots of meals shared with families and neighbors and friends. Neighborhood gatherings open and close the season. Ping pong patio parties in our flip flops and jamies. And lots of quiet evenings with just the three of us talking through our day, enjoying icy drinks and slurping endless popsicles. This is my sacred place with my sacred people and I am so very grateful that spring is coming.

The Highwoman have a song called "Crowded Table" and it is everything I think and feel and hope for our little home and our little backyard and the little lives we are creating. Give it a listen and deep breaths knowing spring will eventually come. Tonight, endlessly grateful knowing that winter's eventually end and warm summer night are heading our way and in our backyard and in our hearts we are creating space for a very crowded table.