Merry Christmas!

 When I was a kid there were little craft kits, I think called Shrink Its, that you could paint and then put in the oven and the design would shrink up and become hard to use as a magnet or key chain.  It used to bother me that people could only do whatever design was purchased and not freestyle something.  Apparently, now you can.  For Christmas Keziah got me some beautiful earrings from a local artist.  The artist paints and then shrinks the design down.  

A female and male cardinal.

I got lots of other things too.  Other happy things from Christmas day:

• Keziah was happy to get the air fryer that I won at work.  We had been looking into getting one when we thought the toaster oven broke (it was a circuit).  She also liked the attachment I got for her Kitchenaid.  I think a general reorganizing of the kitchen will need to happen soon.  
• Zed and Gideon got drones.  The weather was icy and rainy so it was not a good day to take them outside.  They used them inside instead.

• Microspikes were worn today when anyone went outside.  The roads were icy and so were the sidewalks.  There is beauty in ice.

• There was laughter and love in the house today.  We got to talk online with distant family and friends.  It was wonderful to see Bel and Folke through the wonders of modern technology.  

My hope for you, dear reader, is that something made you happy today and every day.  😊

🎄 ☮ 🎄

Currently reading: The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, by Eleanor Janega and Neil Max Emmanuel.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Happy Christmas Eve

 It is 3:30 AM on Christmas morning and I am just going to bed and writing my Christmas Eve Day blog.  Ah, the sleepless times of a Ms Claus.  After Gideon, Zed's mom, and I played at being members of the Claus family (we filled the stockings) I set out to clean the kitchen and wrap one last gift.  Here are some happy things from today:

• My big reason for cleaning the kitchen was to mop the floor.  It was time, but more importantly I purchased one of those mats that is supposed to make it easier to stand and I wanted to put it in front of the sink.  It obviously needed to go onto a clean surface.  Hopefully the family likes it when they wake up in the morning.
• I did work, but it was slow again so I left a little after nine this morning.  That gave me a little over an eight hour day instead of the eleven I was scheduled for.  Next week, when I get paid, I will not be happy, but this week I am glad I was able to leave early. 
• Christmas shopping is where I went after work.  There were just a few last minute ideas I had, including a new mop.  The store was not overly crowded and I didn't have to wait in line.  It was a rather pleasant trip for the day before Christmas.
• TF and I were able to have a nice long conversation about her son and his recent passing.  Tears, laughter, and love.  I remember when we met at a park in Texas.  We had just moved to the area and I had used the internet to find a homeschool park day for my kids.  I knew if I waited, I would procrastinate and not meet new people and then be miserable.  More importantly, my kids wouldn't meet new friends and they would be miserable.  So instead of unpacking, we went to the park.  Keziah and TF's son were almost the same age and Bel and her daughter were almost the same age.  They all got along great.  We only lived there a year and lost touch for a while after, I am so thankful that we didn't completely lose touch and our friendship is strong.  When the kids were little, TF's son and Keziah were almost a 'thing', but they were rather young, around eight years old at the time.  Keziah and her son turned 31 this year.
• We have a Christmas Eve tradition of giving Christmas books on Christmas Eve.  When my kids were little it was the one gift they could open before Christmas morning.  Keziah and Zed have continued this and so I got a new book.  

• The stockings are filled.  As a last minute thing I added some fairy lights.  I think it makes a nice touch.

☮

Currently listening to: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, as told to Jeff Guinn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Doctor

For a few different reasons I haven't had a regular 'yearly' physical in about two years. Today I started getting back on track and can now check that off my list of things to do. Yay!  I also had my flu shot. Other happy things for today:

• Keziah was kind enough to drive since I had worked all night prior to the appointment and my doctor is about 40 minutes away.   It was also good to have that ride time to talk with my daughter.
• The cold air made the clouds look like a soft  blanket that the sun shone through.  

☮

Currently listening to: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, as told to Jeff Guinn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

First Snow Cover of the Season

Yesterday's writer's block seems to have gone away today.  I set a timer and only wrote for a little over twenty minutes, and I wrote almost 600 words.   It is a matter of believing that I can do it at this point and then carving out the time to do so.  I have a little over 2,500 words to write by the end of the month to achieve my 11,000 word goal for NaNoWriMo.  Other happy things for today:

• Last night I stayed at my friend Amy's house.  The room I use when I visit there is dark and quiet.  I had a good sleep last night.  I even slept more than five hours.  For me that is almost a long time.
• Everyone is home.  I have enjoyed the quiet of the house, but I am happy that we are all together again.  Aesop had a good few days with a sitter and was very tired today.
• Leftovers.  Keziah and Zed brought back a bunch of food from their Thanksgiving with Zed's family.  Cranberry sauce is still probably my favorite.  Two days in a row.  Yum.
• It is snowing.  I'm not sure how happy I am about this.  It is the end of November so it is certainly time to start seeing more snow.  

The white streaks are the snow falling.

Later, snow on the ground.

☮

Currently listening to: Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell, narrated by George Guidall.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

A Short List

 Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, today I felt much better.  I believe I just needed sleep.  Sleep makes for a nice happy thing for today.  Others include:

• The house is quiet.  The rest of the family is out and I will be going to sleep in a few minutes without the dog barking.  Nanni, the brown tabby, is asleep next to me and Winston, the orange tabby, is around somewhere; but they are generally quiet.  

Before Nanni fell asleep she was a little playful.

• Hugs and kisses from the family.
• I finished reading a book.

☮

Finished reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Veteran's Day

 There is a list at work for people who want to volunteer to go home early.  I added my name and only worked about an hour and a half.  I wanted to be able to visit with my friends before they left today.  As I walked into the parking lot I saw my chance to take a photo of the trees that line it.  They are a lovely color that the camera didn't quite capture.

When I got home I was going to try to write, instead I got almost four more hours of sleep!  That sleep helped me be more refreshed during the day.  Other happy things for today:

• My aunt came up from Massachusetts for a short visit.  It was great to see her.  Unfortunately I couldn't remember the mental list of family questions I have, maybe next time.
• We got the tour of the RV before our friends, Kimberly and Dennis, left with their son and his partner.  Tomorrow they board a train and head south.  

Milling about...

• Keziah and I had a nice walk with Aesop just after dark.  I'm happy he behaved well.  The last few walks I've had treats to help out and forgot them tonight.

☮

Thank you Veterans.

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Through the camera

 When I get home from work I am usually pretty tired.  Somedays I am able to push through to get other things accomplished.  This was not one of those days.  I fell asleep for a little while.  After that I was able to push through doing the dishes and taking a walk with Keziah, Gideon, and Aesop-the dog.  Other happy things for today include:

• Watching Gideon ride his scooter.  He is getting much better at it this summer, more confident.

• Our walk was along a bike trail that is alongside Interstate 89.  It seems like it should be a peaceful place but the cars are loud in some places.  Finding the entire trail is on my bucket list.  We've done this part before and it seems to have a definite beginning and ending.  Walking this today has reminded me that there are trails that stem from this one that could someday be explored.

Under the highway...

• Here are some pictures that highlight some happy things.

Keziah and Aesop.

Highway bridge.

Waterway.

I love how the black-eyed Susans are adorned by the oak leaves.

Trying to be artsy.

This vetch is a little different from what I have seen on our property.
Lens identifies this as crownvetch.  We have cow vetch.

Lens is split between this being white campion or night-flowering catchfly.
Had the flowers been open, it would be easier to tell the difference.

Family!!

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Happy National Rum Day (who knew?)

 After a few weeks of procrastinating I finally called Zappos about the shoes that I returned in July.  I get a credit from the company I work for to be able to purchase steel toed shoes.  The ones I got hurt my feet, I returned them, but the credit didn't return to my account.  I had to call to make that happen.  Making phone calls isn't my favorite thing to do.  I do like my toes though, so I made the call.  There were no problems, I just had to confirm who I am and wait a few minutes for all the things they had to do to make it happen.  The new shoes were ordered before I was off the call.  Tomorrow they should be at the house.  Other things I am happy about today:

• Yesterday Zed picked an apple from one of our trees.  While I was out today a message from him came in which he said that he and Gideon had tried the apple.  It was really good  and they are planning to pick more today.  I mowed around the trees a bit to help them out.  I broke the lawn mower again... well, a piece came off and I can't find it.  I look forward to trying an apple soon.
• My friend, Amy, met me at a park today and we walked around the pond three times.  It was really nice to see her again and catch up.  She brought us summer squash from her garden!
• At the park there is a small wetland area that is surrounded by the parking lot.  I could hear frogs so I got closer and tried to be patient until I saw some.  Yay frogs!

• For dinner I fried up some of the summer squash and had that with fresh cucumbers we got yesterday.  It was yummy.

• Keziah has most of her crafty things in the apartment.  I went to see her there when I got home to just talk about stuff.  Sometimes it just hits me deep at how wonderful it is to be able to live with my daughter and her family.  I'd like to think that I show my appreciation often.  It is wonderful and I look forward to when my youngest, Bel, and their fiancee, Folke, are in the area again and we can all be together.  

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Good Dog

Thursdays are long.  After working all night I come home, nap for a bit, and then try to be human in the evening to have family time.  Instead of Star Trek or Doctor Who, we had friends over for a little SCA gathering to talk about the event we are having in a few weeks.  Ideally this will be another step toward the new pandemic normal.  The site tokens will be masks.  Other happy things for today:

• There was another observation of my performance at work today.  The person who did it was very impressed with how I organized in order to sort the packages.  I now have more swag bucks.  Eventually I will look at the things available to buy with the swag bucks to see what I want.

• We had two sets of friends over.  One had their two year old daughter along.  She and Aesop seemed to get along really well.  She decided that his crate was her little play house.  Very cute.

• Aesop loved playing with the other friends too.  

• It rained a little today.  The daylily was speckled with water.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.
    -This book was published in 1985.  I'm taking my time reading and haven't gotten too far yet.  Some of the information is definitely outdated as advances have been made with lighter weight materials and such.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Chosen Family

It was another day where I was tired.  Here are some happy things from today:

• The peaches are getting a little bigger.

• Last week I figured out how to get the audio files from my phone to play through the car stereo.  This means I get to listen to Podcasts again (Unlocking Us with Brene Brown) as well as my music mix.  Driving home tonight I was able to sing loudly to classic rock, not so classic rock, and folk music.
• Dinner tonight was at a restaurant with close friends who are chosen family, remembering a part of that chosen family. 
• That the adult children from that chosen family still consider me like another mom is a super special feeling.

❤☮❤

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Cats

 Today was my ninth day working in a warehouse.  I am tired and bruised.  I ache.  I also think I can feel more muscle tone.  Somehow I am able to pull the energy out of myself to do this job.  Because of the tireness, bruises, and aches, I am also thankful that work has been offering voluntary time off and I have been getting home an hour or so early a few times.  Yesterday I didn't sleep well and so I was especially happy to get out an hour early.  Other happy things for today:

• There is a list of six things that I try to do every day.  I was concerned that I wouldn't have the time or would forget now that I am working.  I am pleased to say that I have kept steady with doing all of them so far.  
• I took a nap when I got home from work.  That means that I got to have dinner with the family and we finished watching the first season of Shadow and Bone on Netflix.  It has some holes that Keziah, who has listened to the books, helped fill in, for those of us who haven't read them.  
• The cats must have had a busy day.  Sleeping on the couch they have not a care in the world.                                                                        

 

Nanni.

Nanni and Winston.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.

Cemetery Day-Too Many Pictures

 Before Memorial Day every year we plant geraniums on family graves.  That day was today.  Not everyone could join us, but we got the geraniums planted, cleaned off the stones that needed it, and got a much needed visit with family we haven't seen in a while.  Hugs are a wonderful thing.  Other happy things for today:

• Since I knew I would be gone all day, I started by taking a walk around the property and getting the pictures from the wildlife camera.  Here are some of the plants I saw and what Lens thinks they are...

Common Cinquefoil, it is getting larger.

Possibly a blackberry.

This is coming up as either whorled loosestrife or
northern bush honeysuckle.
I'll try to look for this again as it grows.

Ostrich Fern.

Fern.

This is supposed to be Geranium dissectum.

Just trees.

The witch tree.

The rhododendron.

Iris are starting to open.

• I saw some deer tracks on the property.

At least I think it is from a deer.
It looked like it in real life.

• Some highlights from the day...

Fairly new monument at one of the cemeteries.

This is at my aunt's house.
The tree has grown SO much.

Keziah and the reflection on those sunglasses!

Well water for the flowers.

Up it comes!

Beaver lodge.

Goose family.

On the way home a storm was rolling in.

We had a rainbow after the storm passed.

• We went out for lunch and ice cream.  😃
• There is a tiller in the back of the van.  It may not work, but we will find out fairly soon.
• For that 'just in case' reason I brought my pruning shears with me to the cemeteries.  I don't think we have ever needed them and didn't today.  However, there were some people that were planting flowers on a loved ones grave near where we were and they did need them.  Being helpful is one of those things that makes me happy.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Stay safe.  What things make you happy?