Happy New Year's Eve!

 Here it is, my final blog of the year.  2021 has been a long year.  I wrote a little personal review of my year and posted it in my Odds and Ends blog.

Here are some happy things from today:

• For the last few weeks I have been moving around a bag I have that contains some coloring books and colored pencils.  Today I finally colored a little.  I find that coloring can be very relaxing and calming.  

Just a little bit of color so far.

• There are now five books that I am in the middle of 'reading'.  Two of them are misplaced, one sits on my bed (where I want them to be), one is an audiobook on my phone and the last I downloaded onto my phone's Kindle app this morning and read the first chapter.  Reading is good.  Finding the ones I misplaced would be better.  :) 
• I did a revamp of my bucket list.  I have been working on it off and on for a few weeks.  The link still works, but that links to a spreadsheet that organizes things better.  Ideally more things will be checked off in the coming year.  Or just go to the spreadsheet if you're interested.
• Keziah had a “Toast the New Year Jamboree” party to celebrate, in her words, “the God Janus, the Roman God of doors.” There was toast (or bread or crackers…) and jam (or jellies or compotes…) and brie (or other cheeses) as well as other things to eat. Not too many people came this year (pandemic). It made for a nice evening with a few friends. I learned a new game called Calico.

• This year the blog was Happy Footprints so it seemed fitting that I walk out back in the melting snow and get some pictures.

Probably a chipmunk or squirrel.

Turkey... in this case walking in two directions 
creating a star shape.

Deer.

Aesop, our dog.

• There were some other pretty views from the hill.

My 2022 year of happy things will be found at this address.  I thought about leaving Blogger, but I am rather used to this site and didn't make the time to explore others.  

Happy New Year!

☮

Currently reading: Faith Hacker, by James ‘Jim’ Wilcox.

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

Footprints in the Snow

Before I start on my list of happy things... A family member passed away from cancer today.  He was a fun loving, hard working person who will be missed.  Putting a smile on people's faces was something he liked to do.  

                                                                                              

There are three days left in November.  At the beginning of the month I set a goal to write 11,000 words this month for NaNoWriMo.  It isn't a lot of words.  I know of a teenager who hit the 50,000 word goal on Thanksgiving.  Today I wrote 1,159 words bringing my total so far to 9,585.  I'm not there yet, but I am very pleased with today's progress.  Other happy things for today:

• This morning I came up to clean my room and got distracted.  My room didn't get any neater.  I started looking for jobs again and got side tracked.  It was a lovely rabbit hole where I became a business professional and traveled to Spain.  I don't see this dream becoming a reality anytime soon.  It did give me some lovely ideas that I was able to write about for one of my NaNoWriMo stories.  Taking time to dream is important and can be a motivator.
• There is snow on the ground.  Somehow I thought it was going to melt away today.  It is November 27th, so the snow stayed.  The fresh snow brought footprints!

These are Aesop's pawprints.

Unknown print.

Deer print

Not sure, possibly a neighbor's cat.

• Aesop was very cute when I took him outside in the snow this morning.  He kept snuffling and eating the snow.  Happy dog!
• Zed and I took Aesop for a walk on the back property.  I have been avoiding the north side of the property since spring when the rains came making it hard to cross the little stream.  We walked the two loops that make up a mile.  It is still very wet, but winter boots kept my feet dry.

☮

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.

Mountain and River, Oh My!

 Somewhere along the road the rocky summit of Mount Chocorua seemed to start taunting me.  I could see it pop through the trees or hover over the road like a distant road block in front of me as I got closer to my destination.  My trip to REI took me past the mountain and the trails to it.  It reminded me that I was hoping to climb Mount Chocorua this year and didn't.  It was also beautiful.

Other happy things from today:

• I have new hiking shoes!  The trip to REI was for either new hiking shoes or hiking poles.  The nice employee must have pulled out six different pairs of shoes before I finally found some Merrell shoes that fit me the way I wanted.  I also got some EXOspikes that I hope will keep me from sliding around once things get slippery.
• I've been having a problem with the Bluetooth on my phone.  It will randomly turn off.  The road trip was almost two hours each way and it only turned off once.  Perhaps whatever is causing this problem is over.
• Before heading home I wanted to get my 10,000 steps in and reach my daily goal.  I found a trail, the Conway Rec Path, that was nearby.  

The trail followed the Saco River.  I set a timer so I could get out before dark and head home so I couldn't hike the whole thing.  It was a lovely walk.

Some trees had some interesting
growth patterns.

Saco River.

Proof of Life.

The rocks can be seen through the water
 and I thought it was pretty.

The branch on this tree starts in one direction
and then turns and goes the other way.
It has led a life full of turns.

Holes.

Sunset.

Foot Print.

Bridges.

• This morning Aesop, the dog, and Winston, the cat, almost got along for a little bit.

☮

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

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

Guy Fawkes Day

 The plan to work in the yard took a back seat to some other things today.  I did get out to the triangle part of the yard and added some more mulch, but it is not yet complete.  Keziah and I are going to an event tomorrow and will be gone all day so yard work will wait until Sunday.  I'm happy that some progress was made; other happy things today:

• First thing this morning I had a dentist appointment.  Until I find out otherwise, the dental insurance through work seems to have covered the entire visit-cleaning and full x-rays.  I'm good for another six months.
• I made a checklist of things to do and everything on there has been checked off.
• I got a nice picture of Gideon and Aesop snuggling on the couch.

• I worked on what will become a braided rug and got to my first color change.  

I'm thinking of calling the rug Sherbert.

• When going to get the SD card from the wildlife camera I saw some footprints in the mud.

Pretty sure it is from a deer.

• I've only written a little bit for NaNoWriMo so far today.  Only 111 words so far.  If I can stay awake, I'll do more writing before I go to sleep.

☮

Currently reading:  Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

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