Three Things

1.  I have given up on the 52 Weeks of Happy project.  The remaining however-many weeks of the year will have to settle for Ho-Hum.  ;o)  Ok, ok.  But really-- what I learned from my attempt at 52WoH is that... having one more "assignment" / "obligation" does not make me happy.  Which sort of defeats the purpose of 52WoH.  Which is why I called it off.  (Now, if I could just call off some of the other things that make me Not Happy... like having to clean the bathrooms, for instance...)


2.  Project 365 is still on!  (Believe it or not.)  The photos are all taken, and I don't even think I've missed one (yet).  Many of them are still sitting in the camera, waiting.  ...Oops.  However, one of these days I will process and post them all.  I might even get back into the habit of uploading them in a (slightly more) timely manner. 


3.  Google Reader is going away forever!!!  (Welp, that's it.  It's official.  Google really is Evil.)  I, obviously (or else I wouldn't care one way or the other), am among the apparently dwindling number of loyal users. We have until July to make other arrangements.  The only good thing about this is that maybe it will make me finally get my messy collection of RSS feeds under control.  (Maybe.)  No, but seriously, if I haven't read a given blog in two or three years, I'll definitely at least consider unsubscribing from it. 

Actually, truth be told, I'm kind of looking forward to doing some spring cleaning in the ol' blogroll. Getting it back in hand.  Teaching it who's boss.  Taking it to task.  I'm definitely in "organize and purge" mode, around the house, lately (and goodness knows I need to be).  A little tidying up on the computer wouldn't hurt, either.  Selecting and familiarizing myself with another RSS reader, on the other hand... not looking forward to that. 

52 Weeks of Happy (8/52)

I'm beginning to reconsider this whole (self-imposed) "writing assignment"... But since I'm already here, and because "better late than never" still holds true (I guess)...


Four Things That Made Me Happy This Last Week:


1.  A family get-together on Saturday.
It had been a while (Christmas) since I'd seen many of them, and in the meantime there had been a new addition to the family (Matthew).  I'm using the get-together as my excuse for why I didn't get around to writing this on Saturday, by the way.


2.  Getting to see another year (i.e. turning a year older).
Well, at least I'm trying to look at it positively.  Once we're past our late teens/early twenties, most of us decide that we'd just as soon not continue aging.  But since getting older is better than the alternative (as they say (g))... On the plus side, I was spoiled with gifts.  ;o)  (Thank you again, those of you reading!)


3.  Kicking the ants out of our yard.
I know, it's a weird one for this list... but the truth is, I'm having a hard time remembering specific things from last week... Unless you want to hear about gifts-- crochet books, wax melts, etc.  (g) 

Last week, I put out the second round of ant poison.  (Yes, "kicking them out of the yard" is a euphemism for... heartlessly poisoning them.  Sorry, but you just can't reason with ants.)  The first time around didn't entirely knock them all out, so a few new beds had popped up around the lawn.  I hope that this next effort keeps them at bay for a bit longer. 


4.  Yummy pizza.  
Donald brought home a birthday pizza from Vitoli's.  (I've mentioned them on one of these lists before.  Also: A "birthday pizza" is just like a regular pizza, only it arrives on your birthday so that you don't have to bother about supper.  Highly recommended! ;o))  It was absolutely delicious, as always.  Now I need to get outside, this week, and work off some of the extra calories!  Both the yard and my waistline would benefit. 

52 Weeks of Happy (7/52)

Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week:


1.  Reading.
I'm going at a snail's pace through my current book, since I generally only read while exercising, these days, and, um, I haven't been as consistent about that as I ought, but Tish is growing on me.  The book Donald and I are reading, Feet of Clay, has been amusing, too.  There's nothing like slipping into another world for half an hour or so-- especially when it's a well-ordered world with the kind of author you can trust to supply a satisfying conclusion with all the threads of the story tied into a nice, neat bow.  Yes, please, and thank you kindly!


2.  A new crochet project in new colors.
This one will be a variety of different 12" blocks.  There's no chance to get bored when you crochet each pattern only once!  It keeps you on your toes.  (I know; I mention crochet a lot in these "what made me happy" entries-- but it's one of the things that most consistently make me happy, lately...)


3.  Homemade sugar cookies. 
I don't make them very often-- once or twice a year, maybe-- and that's probably definitely a good thing, because they never last long.  I end up eating (much) more than my share of them.  So while it made me happy to have a batch of them to enjoy, this week, I'm also happy that-- as of this afternoon-- they're gone.  No more guilty craving for one more cookie.  ;o)


4.  Favorite TV shows.
(For instance, Community, which finally returned with new episodes a week or so ago.)   It sounds kind of shallow, somehow, which is silly.  Why is feeling happy about a TV show so different from feeling happy about books?  Turning on the TV and relaxing on the couch (with a crochet project in hand) at the end of the day is a real treat.  Nothin' wrong with a little escapism... (Or a whole heapin' lot of it, as the case may be, what with books and TV and so on and so forth.)


BONUS.  Not getting hit by a meteorite.
Can something that didn't happen count? (g)  Sure, why not?  I'm thankful and very happy that the world is still turning in its usual way, with no cataclysmic calamities to complain of.  Seriously, though, these "little things" have a wonderful way of making you stop and take stock of your life.  There are major problems in the world, but it could be so much worse. 


Hm.  I think at least certain elements of these "52 Weeks" entries are beginning to sound like a broken record.  (Crafts, food, weather, gardening, books.)  I guess the same small things make me happy on a regular basis... Or maybe I'm just not good at remembering the other things.  I'll keep up with 52 Weeks, though.  It can't hurt, and we're only seven weeks into the project.

52 Weeks of Happy (6/52)

Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week: 

1.  Getting "stuff" done in the yard.
There's still tons more to do, but we're making some progress.  We've dealt with the drainage for the sink in the garage.  We did a little more leveling of the soil around the garage-- which also involved hauling it around in the wheelbarrow and filling in holes and dips around the property.  I pulled out a couple of shrubs that didn't survive a transplant last year-- and then replaced one of them.  We made a few plans for what needs to happen next.  ...And more.  I need to keep the momentum going into next week, if possible.


2.  Waking to the sound of rain on the roof.
Not a heavy, stormy, please-don't-blow-the-roof-off rain.  No thunder that requires getting out of bed to unplug things.  And at an early enough hour that you don't have to get up and go about the day, yet, but can wake just enough to enjoy that cozy sound, snuggle deeper under the covers, and drift back to sleep.


3.  Flowers opening up.
As much as I complain about summer, no-one's complete immune to those first signs of summer.  Flowers and new green leaves popping up around the garden are things to enjoy.  (I only wish the weeds and wasps wouldn't be coming back, too.)


4.  Homemade chicken soup.
I could probably make it even better, next time, but it was still pretty good, I thought, and certainly healthier and more frugal than the store-bought, canned kind. 

52 Weeks of Happy (5/52)

Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week: 

1.  The safe arrival of a new baby in the family.
Baby Matthew was born on Monday (I believe).  He's the son of my cousin Jonathan and his wife, Lindsey, which would make him... my first cousin once removed?  (I think... (g))  He's the first grandchild for my aunt and uncle and only the second great-grandchild (first boy) for my grandparents. 


2.  Scented wax.
I received an electric wax melter for Christmas and have been enjoying it ever since.  I love the fact that you can just turn it on and off without bothering with matches or candles-- and since there's no open flame, it's safer to use than my old tea-light wax melters.  The "Scent of the Week" at our house was Pure White Woods (by Better Homes & Gardens-- probably available at your local Walmart (g)). 


3.  Completing the afghan.
I'm so glad it's done!!  Now I want to start something else-- of course-- but I've been giving my hand a little bit of a rest first.  I think I may have tired it out with all that sawing on Thursday... (I was clearing some unwanted trees and shrubs just outside our yard.)


4.  The Last of the Dr. Pepper.
Yes, I've been drinking colas again-- since the holiday season or so.  I plan to (at least temporarily) kick the can again, because all that extra sugar isn't going to help me lose weight and be healthier-- but in the meantime, gosh, Dr. Pepper is just so good!  I'm savoring these last few cans.  ;o) 

52 Weeks of Happy (4/52)

Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week: 


1.  Good deals.
This week brought good deals on clothing, decorative plants for the garden, thrift-store sweaters for felting and unraveling, and more.  Finding a bargain is always a mood-lifter!


2.  Making progress on the afghan.
I'm still not finished-- just not putting in enough crochet-time every evening for that-- but I did finish attaching all the whole hexagons, and I'm on to crocheting in the 10 half-hexagons I need to even out two sides of the blanket.  It sometimes feels like I'm crawling on this project, but the end is in sight.


3.  Open windows.
Three days this weeks, the weather has been warm and nice enough for us to open some of the windows.  Having them open again has literally been a breath of fresh air!  (Downside: Trixie barks noticeably more when the windows are open, because she can hear more little noises/dogs barking/etc.)


4.  Rediscovering music.
The mp3-player surprised me by playing some music that I hadn't listened to for a long while.   ("The North Wind Blew South", by Headless Heroes, for instance.)  I'm glad to be reminded.  I think it's time to rearrange the contents of the mp3-player, one of these days.

52 Weeks of Happy (3/52)

(Almost forgot about this, and I'm only three weeks in.  Doesn't bode well for the future of "52 Weeks"...)


Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week: 


1.  Going to the Duck Pond.
Donald and I went to the "duck pond" (in one of the parks beside the pier in Fairhope) one afternoon this week.  I was surprised how many birds there were.  The whole area was bustling with activity (ducks, geese, Canada geese-- and a heron and a squirrel, too).  It was a very nice place.  Plenty of things to photograph, birds moving, interacting with one another and quacking, etc.  I'd definitely like to stop by again. 


2.  Two slices of Vitolli's Pizza.
New York-style pizza.  Pepperoni and ham.  Cheese and tomato sauce.  Yum.  Definitely not a healthy, everyday sort of lunch, but an oh-so-delicious one.


3.  A Blunt Instrument, by Georgette Heyer.
That's the book I'm currently reading-- mostly while walking on the treadmill.  It's a light mystery with some wonderfully humorous and memorable characters.  I'm really enjoying it, so far, and I'm happy that the author wrote quite a few other books, so if this is representative of the quality of the bulk of her work, I'll have lots of fun reading ahead of me. 


4.  Cool, crisp air.
The humidity went away!  (Well, for a while, at least.)  Even if we somehow lost the ability to detect the temperature and humidity, ourselves, we'd be able to tell when there'd been a significant improvement in the weather, because Molly will suddenly want to stay outside and run around longer in the morning, rather than trying to break the world record for Speediest "Toileting" by a Cocker Spaniel.  ;o) 

52 Weeks of Happy (2/52)

(No "illustrations" this time, either.  It looks like I'll be doing well to even remember to write these weekly posts... and I'm already doing Project 365 this year, so let's call that good enough. (g))


Four Things That Made Me Happy This Week:

1.  Relaxing with a new crochet book.  Helpful hints, crisp and orderly lay-outs, pretty pictures, new motifs!  Ah, nothing like a new craft book (or two)!  I foresee many hours of happy browsing.


2.  Ibuprofen.  This is a weird one, maybe, but gosh, I appreciate that stuff.  It may take a little while to kick in, but once it does, it makes a world of difference in some of my occasional aches and pains.  I'm happy to live in a world with ibuprofen!


3.  Slow-cooker stew.  Or slow-cooker anything, really.  I love that feeling of accomplishment when I get it all set up and turned on in the morning... and the pleasant smells of cooking food wafting through the house later on... and then the utter joy of not having to figure out what's for supper in the evening.  ;o)  Sure, you may have to make a pot of rice or something to go along with the main dish, but the bulk of the work is already done.  (I really, really love not having to cook in the afternoon/evening.  Can you tell? (g))


4. Walking on the treadmill again.  It was the first time in far too long (though we take short walks outside fairly often, this time of the year).  It's amazing how little it takes to make you feel that you're on the right track.  I need to make it a habit again-- part of the usual routine-- but I did spend time doing yard work two days this week, and I'm counting that as exercise-ish, too.

I'm not going to tell myself I should really be running on the treadmill, because I pretty much hate running (because it makes my stomach hurt... because I push myself too hard, too fast... because I'm too much "all or nothing" when it comes to running).  Walking while reading a book, on the other hand, is something I actually enjoy.  If I enjoy something, I'm more likely to do it.  It's much better to get light exercise regularly than heavy exercise hardly ever, so in my case, walking is better than running.  (Any questions?  ;o))

52 Weeks of Happy (1/52)

I just saw this idea on someone else's blog (where she mentioned that she'd found it on another blog, via another blog, etc.), and it struck a chord. 

52 Weeks of Happy:
Every week of the year, write a post mentioning four things that made you happy.  They don't have to be big things; they don't have to be momentous things.  Just four things, each week, that made you happy.  (Photos or other illustrations are a plus.)

It seems like a good way to make yourself stop and appreciate the happiness in life. 

Since I just now saw this idea (and it's too dark/I'm too lazy to get up and scramble for photos right now), I'll have to do my best to muddle through for the first week-- without photos.

1.  Trixie lying in my lap.  She wasn't invited-- but as far as she's concerned, there's a standing invitation, so she doesn't let that stop her!  She doesn't do it that often (and if she did, it might become a nuisance), but this time she came purposefully of her own volition-- and it was pleasant to be cozied up with a warm Eskimo dog who so obviously wanted my attention.  Silly, sweet little dog!


2.  Working on my current crochet afghan.   I found out I wasn't so far along in it as I'd thought, but that's fine.  There's no deadline-- another happy thing. (g)  I always enjoy making motifs, playing around with color combinations, and getting into the rhythm of a memorized pattern. 


3. Sleeping in this morning.  I'm not always (or even usually) a "sleeping-in" person.  I tend to wake and want to get up right away (though I can and do get sleepy again later on), but occasionally it's nice to drowse, luxuriate in the warmth of bed, and retreat to just the outskirts of Dreamland...  (I really needed to catch up on some sleep, after waking up far too early on Friday!)


4. Playing Dominion: Prosperity with Donald.  It's always fun playing games with Donald-- who is simply the best game-playing partner a girl could hope for! :o)-- and breaking in a new one, like this, is extra-fun.  Especially because it was just "new enough".  We already knew most of the rules, since this is an expansion of a game we've had a while.  The differences were enough to make it interesting, but not so much that we had to struggle with a new set of rules.