Yep. I've been a bit grousey here this summer. But, I'm on the uphill swing for a week-and-a-half now and creating and celebrating little pleasures have gone a long way in the mood elevation department. Little things like: sitting in the porch glider and staring at my yellow roses and the wild mint that's taking over my small patio garden; taking bike rides on the Harpeth River Greenway; and, when thirst, a need for summer quench and a sweet hankering calls, I head for the kitchen. And here's what I've come up with:

Roll one lemon (per glass) on the cutting board to soften. (I usually just make one per person. The pitcher is just for effect. 😉

Cut in two.

Squeeze. Let the seeds fall where they will.

A dropper full of liquid (calorie-less) Stevia natural herbal sweetner, available most anywhere in at least powdered form. Careful, it's very sweet. The Japanese have been using it medicinally forever. I discovered it 25 years ago. Now it's vogue and comes packaged in powdered form*. Nothing artificial, cancer-causing, diabetes making and as far as I know no slaves suffered in it's production. 

Cold, cold, chilled-in-the-fridge filtered H20.

Ice, optional.

Sit down. Sip. Be with someone you love (which can include just your lovely self).

Enjoy!

AHHHHhhhh!

*This post was modified late this morning, the day of its publication when a friend sent me a link that the powdered form I had mentioned (now deleted) is a mass-marketed, adulterized version of Stevia. To me, it seems like St. John's Wort or any other herb that becomes popularized. Corporate Monster Companies seize on the commerciality of the product and start bastardizing it to make it cheaper to produce. Be careful. As always read labels. Here's what I'm talking about. And the powdered brand I purchased at Whole Foods is SweetLeaf. Sigh.