Another sunny and warm day, unseasonably so for early November. It was another quiet day, with only a visit from the project manager to review the upcoming work in the master bath and the final punch list in the basement. These guys feel like family now. We bid farewell to the storage pod, which had been taking up space in the driveway extension since mid-July. Happy to have had it and even happier to see it go.

Logged off work early to go for another walk in my local happy place, the farm park. Said hello to the sheep, the piglets, a billy goat, and a handsome cockerel. I also noticed what I think is a swamp white oak with three forks that I don’t recall noticing before in the millions of times I’ve walked the track around the park. I’m sure I’ve seen it, but today it stood out. Happened upon a baby snake with a side injury and which probably won’t make it through the night. I set it aside off the track, laying it down in some leaves in case it stood a chance of survival—if it wasn’t already dead, the poor mite. After the walk, I went to my sister’s house to do a few more household chores while they continue to recover from their injuries.

This evening I penned a letter to friends in the UK who lost their son to suicide a few months ago (we only just found out). I’ve been meaning to write this letter for the past few weeks, but what does one say to parents whose beautiful adult child saw no way out of deep depression? Do words really offer comfort? I’m still so disturbed by this event; I can’t imagine how they must feel.

Today’s gratitude: for the sunshine and for life.