I made soup today. It was a lentil soup with carrots and onions and garlic and swiss chard, topped with minted yogurt. While it was simmering, I went out for my first run in about ten months. (I’ve gained about 5 pounds since I quit smoking 40 days ago, and I don’t like how those five pounds feel. They’ve got to go!)
I took it easy – ran a minute, walked a minute, ran a minute, and so on – along a bike path that goes through a meadow at the Experimental Farm. The meadow smelled good. Then I came home, feeling very pleased with myself, only to feel doubly pleased with myself when I walked through the door and smelled the soup simmering on the stove.
I felt so damned virtuous making soup and going for a run!
Speaking of virtue and things that smell good, check this out:
You wrote:
“I felt so damned virtuous making soup and going for a run!”
I love that virtuous feeling too! I get it by biking or walking everywhere and used to be almost unbearably smug when I commuted by bike, back before I got canned.
I don’t think that’s why I got the boot, however. 
I love making soup in the Fall but today is HOT! So I think I’ll wait until it is cooler.
Julia, I get that virtuous feeling from doing certain kinds of housework too, like decluttering. It feels so good, it’s almost worth doing something like that every day. (But we wouldn’t want to risk wearing it out.) Anyway, I’m sure you’re right, they might have found your virtuousness unbearable at the office, but it’s not exactly a firing offence. 😉
I totally agree about making soup in the Fall. Got any good recipes?