Late fall pleasures 3


Two simple pleasures happen in the late fall each year.  The first is the blooming of our Christmas cactus.  I can’t take any credit for this as my husband is the plant keeper in the family but I do communicate with this plant on a regular basis and am always delighted to see it bloom.  Last year, a cousin Christmas cactus joined our brood and it has a spot on the window sill above the kitchen sink.  It bloomed this year as well.  Here’s a photo of the original CC.


Alas, the blooms blazed for about two weeks and then slowly dropped off one-by-one.

The other late Fall pleasure for me is baking for Thanksgiving.  I only bake for holidays when there are other mouths to share the delectables and save me from my sweet tooth.  Here’s a photo of the last slice of apple pie that I saved for my husband.  (made it from scratch, including the crust.)  It’s not the prettiest pie but it was delicious.



He really likes apple pie.  Believe it or not, he cut this in half and offered the final piece to me.  Isn’t that nice? I declined and let him have the whole piece.

Small pleasures abound in the world.  I am trying to notice and thought I’d share with you.


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

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3 thoughts on “Late fall pleasures

  • Peggy

    I totally agree that life is filled with simple pleasures. I love your 2 examples Candelaria.
    Others that come to mind are:
    Having a good laugh
    Familiar smell
    Fresh, clean bed sheets
    A beautiful view
    Receiving an unexpected compliment
    Making someone smile

    Hope this fall brings you many more simple pleasures.
    Be well my friend. xxxxx

  • Candelaria

    Your list is great.  I enjoy everything on your list.  In the summer, I’ve tried to start changing my sheets every three days and what a difference it makes instead of once-a-week.  Taking a bath or a shower, slathering myself with lotion, and getting underneath some fresh sheets is so lovely.
    Thanks for taking the time to respond.