What's your daily simple joy?

[Sun-Moon]

Mine is having frothy milk in my coffee every morning. Lived 40 years without knowing the simple joy of warm frothy milk until a trip to Switzerland. Bought a small froth machine as soon as I got home. ☕️

[marble falls]

1. Feeding the cats, washing the dishes by hand, reading DU while waiting for my wife to get up so I can grind the coffee..

... life is magical with ritual.

[markie]

10. as an atheist going to seminary

I found the most enlightening class I took was "The Transformative Power of Ritual"

[Woodwizard]

2. Hearing my cat bat something across the floor at 5 am

Reminding me it is time to get up. He will also jiggle the dresser drawer handles if nothing handy to smack around.

[NJCher]

29. I like the sound of kitty paws

Hitting the floor as he jumps off the bed.

I laughed at the idea of your cat resorting to jiggling the bureau drawer handles. Cute little nut.

[Groundhawg]

3. A pour of good rye whiskey

[markie]

4. going out

to greet my chickens, open the coop door and let free range for the day....

[tonkatoy8888]

5. Two things

Coffee and the NY Times crossword first thing in the morning.

Cooking dinner while drinking a couple of beers and listening to music. Right now, I'm working my way through the operas of Handel. For opera/orchestral music lovers I highly recommend Julius Caesar.

[Drum]

7. I couldn't agree more on Handel's Julius Caesar...

I was in an opera production of it, and it was a month of glorious rehearsals and performances. Priceless.

[Redleg]

9. I saw a production of this at the University of Nebraska

some time in the late 90s. It was wonderful. One of our college staff people had a leading role and she was fantastic.

[tonkatoy8888]

12. A recommendation

Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Moulds, conductor

A surprisingly special orchestra and the cast is phenomenal. Especially countertenor Ayren Nussbaum-Cohen and soprano Amanda Forsythe.

[Sun-Moon]

16. I love how this thread

Morphed into Operas!

Nephew is a tenor and it really is good to see the topic be discussed..

[ultralite001]

6. Coffee...

The rattle of beans in the grinder
The “wur” as they grind
The set up of the carafe
The aroma of freshly ground beans added to the filter
The scent as water creates the “bloom”
The tinkle as the dark magic liquid is produced
The excitement while stirring the slurry in a favorite mug
The satisfaction pouring the coffee
The comfort w/ that first sip, first whiff, first swallow
For one moment, all is right w/ the world + I can do anything…

[Redleg]

8. Coffee in the morning

I can't start my day without it. I do have a hand frother that I use on weekends when I have a bit more time to relax and really enjoy my coffee.

[TommieMommy]

11. Hugging my cat, feeding my cats and watching the squirrels

[Mad_Dem_X]

13. Spending time with my dog

and, of course, coffee.

[lucca18]

14. Having coffee in the morning, while waiting for "Rusty the squirrel" to stop by for his breakfast of walnuts!

I open the sliding glass door, he sticks his head in, and I hand him a walnut.
He climbs up the arbor to eat the walnut, and then comes down for more!
❤️

[Skittles]

19. my mum had a squirrel like that she named Basil

once when she was busy and Basil was at the front door, I gave him a walnut as she instructed.......then I yelled to her, HE'S STILL HERE and she said, "WELL YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM MORE THAN ONE, HE'S A BLOODY SQUIRREL"! (yes mum was a Brit)

[lucca18]

20. Love that!

[AllaN01Bear]

15. i have many. just being alive is one of them and running my model trains is another.

[electric_blue68]

17. I enjoy (when not overcast) the sunset from my window and....

Last edited Fri Jan 16, 2026, 02:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Long post, but it was wonderful, and soothing (as I wait for this to happen again) to recall this Nature's procession.
.
Our ALP has a sweet, tree filled backyard (within a enclosure of buildings on a super block) including 3 flowering trees: 2 kanzan cherry trees, with the fancy, pink blossoms, and a white one idk what it is.

I'm on the 3rd floor facing the mid-upper tree crowns. I love watching the decidious (non-conferous) leaf buds swell. Having taken a zoomed photo last week - buds are still tight.The beautiful bright, even shiny light spring green of the new little leaves, slowly growing, turning a more "apple" green, then eventually over 2 months or so turning summer green. The sunlight glitrering on the leaves. I can catch a glimpse of the kanzan pink flowers at very lower corner of my right window, and see the white one across the yard.

As long as it's in the ?upper 50°s+, and not raining, or below ?93°-ish (not too humid) I'm out there on a bench under -the trees with a book, yarn work, even a bit of simple jewelry wire working for the very least a half hour, more often 1 - 2 hours. Also taking photos, too. Who'd have guessed I'd have a backyard in my later life! 🥰🌳🌳🌲🌳 It is glorious!

But now (just remembered) I have a *New Summer Ritual*. Something prompted me to think about fireflies last summer. Ah, I think my sister told me of seeing them in her right outside, big park.

So, I went down at dusk. And, yes there were fireflies! Saw 2 of the 3 kinds (orange, yellow, or green) of color flashes. And I took a video! 🩷
Going to make sure I get out there every, or every other night (weather petmitting) to watch them. Nature's extra magic!

[NJCher]

32. Fireflies are magic

One time I was lost on a mountain trail while out for a run. It was dark and it was getting cold. I was dressed only in shorts and a T and felt desperate.

Some fireflies, about 50, I’d guess, formed a long line and escorted me to my car. I had the good sense to follow them.

That was decades ago. I have never forgotten it and still can see them in my mind.

I am so happy to hear how you are enjoying your back yard.

[electric_blue68]

38. Woah, some experience! Thanks to them!

Was this in NJ - the Ramapo Mts? Or elsewhere?

[NJCher]

42. High Point Mountain

Eom

[Rebl2]

18. My kitten

we adopted last year. We thought when our previous cat, who we loved so much, passed away, we would never get another cat. I am so glad that we did! She has been a joy and so different from the other cats we have had😊!

[justaprogressive]

21. of late my cat has adopted me

snuggles every night, bounces over the bed to see me etc.etc

[LogDog75]

22. Waking up early from a nap and going back to sleep

I usually take a 30 minute nap in the afternoon and I set my watch to vibrate to wake me up. Often, I'll wake up 10 minutes early and I take pleasure in resuming the nap for another 10 minutes.

[bif]

23. Having my cat climb under the covers with me and

my bowl of ice cream when I watch tv at night. And listening to Gustav Mahler.

[Aristus]

24. Coming home from work and changing out of my work clothes

and into my pajamas and bathrobe.

[Totally Tunsie]

25. Waking up whenever I choose to without an alarm clock blaring

and "sleeping in" on dark, rainy days.

Ahhhh, retirement!

[Hassler]

26. Reading the morning meditation, followed by 20 minutes of meditation

Then on to firing up the kettle for my french press coffee, while watching the dawn unfold. About 20 years and counting.

[duckworth969]

27. My three C's in the morning

Coffee, chocolate and classical music.

[Zackzzzz]

28. I do chocolate in my coffee with Bossa nova music.

[democrank]

30. My early morning ritual

Fire up the wood stoves

Sit with a cup of coffee

Send I’m-thinking-of-you messages to my daughter and son and to any friend who may need encouragement or support

Wait for daylight and enjoy whatever sights it offers: a woodpecker, church steeple, distant mountains, a worker’s truck, wood pile, sunrise or snowstorm.

Write a To-Do list

[fierywoman]

31. My (usually only one) cup of very strong drip coffee with heavy cream in it... and the

ritual that accompanies it.

[NJCher]

33. Join the waves

Of the universe.

I lie on my.bed until the wave hits me. Then I jump on. The feeling is spectacular. I tingle from head to toe. The rest of the day is all green lights.

[democrank]

34. I used to "jump on" every morning

then I turned 80….now it’s try with all my might to want to jump.

Here’s to your green lights….

[SamKnause]

35. First I feed the 2 stray cats that have decided this is their home.

I spend my days watching and listening to Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler during his solo career.

If I am not listening to music, I am watching every basketball game that I can find that Larry Bird played in.

I find myself with a big smile on my face enjoying all the things I am grateful for.

[SorellaLaBefana]

36. Predawn walkabouts with cats

Today we got a nice image of the Sombrero Galaxy, and saw distant fox eyes glowing in the night.

[lark]

37. Walking first thing when I get up in the am with my hubs and dog.

Feeding "our" feral kitty while on the walk, and seeing how healthy and shiny and funny she is. Sharing affection with our dog and cats

[Floyd R. Turbo]

39. My Pride and Joy:

[womanofthehills]

40. One of my dogs sleeps on my bed

As soon as I wake up, my dog starts stretching and gives me morning kisses. My other dog is usually still asleep on a different bed.

[Niagara]

41. Let me ponder a bit

1. Straight coffee from freshly ground coffee beans, no sugar, no creamer.


2. Unscented flameless candles. I can't describe the feeling of peace that the ambiance of these candles bring me.


3. Playing solitaire with a physical deck of cards in my hand. I like shuffling the cards as well. I can somewhat get my "fix" playing solitaire on my phone or PC but it just isn't the same.


3. Opening a physical book and reading. If I take a book out in public, I can't concentrate and there's too many distractions.


4. Music/television/movies/internet. I like to escape reality with all the things that I've listed.


5. Once spring arrives, I'll be feeding the hummingbirds and orioles again.


6. Trying new recipes and tweaking new recipes.


7. DU's trash can is a lifesaver. Although I might have taken my trash can list way too far because I couldn't find this thread while logged in!

[Vinca]

43. Watching the animals who turn up beneath my bird feeders after hours. I especially love the opossums.

I set up a covered "cafe" and put table scraps, apples and dry cat food out for them, too. No takers last night, but we had a pretty good snowfall.