Recently read an interesting quote from the writings of Gertrude Stein: “Anything one does every day is important and imposing, and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.”

I’ve been thinking about things that I do every day. Taking Daisy out to her side yard in the morning might be important (for obvious reasons.) Not so sure about imposing. What elevates it is an appreciation of breathing the sharp, clean air of early morning in winter. Of watching Daisy raise her head and do the same. Taking her out becomes more opportunity than chore.

I spend an hour or two of early morning time in my little home office almost every day. Quiet time before the day begins in earnest. I have my computer and my books and a Keurig, sitting on a shelf. I generally write a blog during this time. Not sure how important that is in the great scheme of things, but it’s important to me, so I guess it qualifies.

I cook almost every day. For me, it’s much more than just providing a meal for the two of us or for our friends. It’s something I think about and read about and experiment with. It’s a creative outlet, and at times, even therapeutic. Kneading bread can be a very good thing.

The appreciation for where one lives is easy. I do appreciate our surroundings. The Cape is touched with a little bit of magic in all seasons. I took a picture of the bike path yesterday. Quiet now with snow piled along its sides. The air was crisp; the sky a brilliant blue. Beautiful in its stillness. Spring will come with its riot of birdsong and tangle of leaves and flowers, and the traffic will quicken on the path, but for now, it’s just perfect the way it is.