Snow

It snowed today but not enough to slow things down much at work. I have to admit I was hoping to take the day off. My happy things for today:

• The snow is pretty. It has taken me most of the winter to feel this way, and now I do.

• I did something different today and had lunch at the table with Zed and Gideon. We don't usually end up eating at the same time and I usually watch something by myself. It was nice to share a meal with my family.

☮

Currently listening to: The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner

Finished reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Happy Monday

Some happy things from today:

• While exploring comedies to watch on Paramount + I found a different sort of show, Drunk History. It contains snippets of reenactments of historic events told by someone who is drunk. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but it was interesting. I learned a few things, but don’t worry, I don’t trust it completely.
• For lunch today Zed and Gideon made one of the meals they got from Hello Fresh. I adjusted my portion a little because I don’t care for mayonnaise, other than that it was pretty good. Last night’s meal from there was also good. Meal planning is one of the places where this family struggles. Hello Fresh is certainly helping relieve some of that.
• A few days ago I went shopping… hungry. This is never a good thing. I ended up buying cookie dough that could be baked or eaten raw. It’s gone now, I enjoyed every raw bite.

Winston!

☮

Finished listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently listening to: The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Slow Day

It was a slow day. Here are some happy things:

• The cold I have has almost run its course. The symptoms have all lessened, except that I am still very tired. Maybe I'm just letting myself get more sleep.
• I'm really enjoying the two books I'm currently reading. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan, is an historical fiction. The story revolves around some women during World War II in England. I like how the author puts in details about the rationing and food laws from the time.
• Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn, is a modern day fairy tale aimed at teens and young adults. It follows the life of a teenager who is a descendant of the Grimm brothers. She is cursed to finish their fairy tales with possibly deadly outcomes. It is the first in a five book series (maybe five so far?) that, according to Amazon, I purchased back in 2015 for my Kindle app. Well, at least I am finally reading it!

Sunset

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Some Seeds Planted

Some happy things from this Friday:

• Despite the cold (both the temperature and the virus) I went shopping this morning. My main goal was to buy some seed starting coconut coir, but I picked up some groceries too. At home I planted some flat leafed parsley, thyme, peppermint, basil and curly leafed parsley. All the seed packets are from previous years so there is no saying whether they will grow or not. It feels good to try. They also aren't as warm as they should be, but I will remain hopeful.

• TF, Gideon, and I played Minecraft tonight. Zed joined us too! We are enjoying exploring this new world.

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

National Tortilla Chip Day

In the near future, I'm hopeful to have this cold behind me. Until then I'm going to try to take it easy. Next week I'm hoping the weather will cooperate and I will feel like spending time outside again. My happy things for today are the simple ones:

• I wandered in circles around the inside of the house and got my step count in.  Occasionally this included bobbing and weaving with Gideon as he paced as well.
• I figured out something for dinner and made it for the family.
• There was an online meeting that I attended and got to see some friends virtually.
• There was a lot of listening to my book, some reading, and one movie.

Bright day after yesterday's snow.

Last remnants of the sunset.

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Oh, Baby!

Today’s happy things:

• Zed and I were talking and he asked me what day it was. I told him that I thought it was February 23rd and then confirmed. I also thought that it might be someone’s birthday. He agreed that it had to be at least one person’s birthday somewhere. We chuckled. Later, I checked Facebook and it turns out that my friend had her baby today. It is indeed someone’s birthday today, a little bundle of joy! This is the second of three people I know having babies this season.
• It snowed so there was very little to do at work. I came home early and had a nice nap.
• White hot chocolate.

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Ash Wednesday

Happy things from today:

• Somehow, the last few weeks I've been able to find happy things at work. Things other than my work week is two-thirds of the way over. Today for our lunch break they served waffles and pancakes. I assume this has to do with yesterday being Pancake Tuesday. They even had real maple syrup and fruit to go with them.
• Yesterday's Pancake Tuesday means that today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. I'm not doing anything special for Lent this year. Interestingly, that alone makes me happy.
• As a member of the Safety Committee I got to be what they are calling a Safety Champion today. Every day a few people are chosen to walk around during the pick and stage process at work and offer to help lift heavy boxes or push the carts– things to be helpful and promote safety. It was a busy time and I enjoyed having that brief interaction with the people to help them out. The time seemed to go faster too which was nice.
• The cold medication I took today seemed to help relieve any major symptoms. Yay!
• Before Keziah left to visit her dad, she gave Gideon and I a late Valentine's Day gift.  Gideon got the chocolates and I get the box.  The back story is that I am portrayed as a llama occasionally in a comic strip that a friend puts together.  

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Cold

 Last week Keziah had a cold, then Gideon, now me.  Here are some happy things from today:

• Well, I'm not happy that there seems to be another varmint in the cellar that is eating the seeds and seedlings.  I am happy that I checked on them and I have moved the seedlings to the greenhouse on the porch.  Hopefully it won't be too cold for them.

• It snowed this morning.  For a little while I could look outside while at work and see clean white snow on all the trees and it was very pretty.   It was gone by the time I left work or I would have taken pictures.
• Keziah is on her way to Texas to spend some time with her father.  I'm glad that she has this opportunity.

☮

Currently listening to: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Memory Lane

Some memories for my happy things today:

• Another 15 minutes was spent going through a box. This is my slow progress towards downsizing.  The easy stuff seems to be the trash and things like a utility knife that have a place to go. There was also a rock I painted in 1973. It has a little snippet of my hair glued to it. I'll need to find a place to put that.

• My hair has been long most of my life. The shortest I remember it being was also in 1973. Before that was birth. In this box is my school picture from that year with my short haircut.

• Another thing I found is an autographed copy of the book Ten Years on the Rock Pile, by Lee Vincent. That book has seen better days but I might read it someday.

☮

Finished listening to: Here Goes Nothing, by Eamon McGrath

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Champion

Yesterday I forgot to mention something that made me happy. Zed went to an SCA event and was able to deliver all the bands I wove to someone who was willing to deliver the bands to the recipients. It wasn't as direct as I was hoping, but I'm grateful that he did this and that the champion bands are that much closer to the Champions.

Happy things from today:

• In my attempt at downsizing I spent 15 minutes going through a box and got a small bag of trash and things to get rid of. I also found our National Audubon Society book on mammals.

Bye, bye stuff!

• Zed and Keziah have started using HelloFresh a few times a week. Tonight we had the first meal, a parmesan chicken meal with carrots and couscous. It was pretty good.
• I took the time and subscribed to Paramount +.  More movies and TV shows to watch.  We will be able to watch the Star Trek shows again.

☮

Currently listening to: Here Goes Nothing, by Eamon McGrath

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Pluto

Some happy things from today:

• Gideon made me happy today by letting us know that today is the anniversary of the discovery of Pluto. Sometimes my grandson surprises me with what he finds out.
• TF and I worked on creating our wills today. I used a free website and put together the bare minimum needed to have it done. It, of course, isn't done until I look it over more and it is signed and stuff.  A will is not necessarily a happy thing but a beginning is good and I am happy that I got this far.
• Keziah introduced me to some YouTube programs by College Humor. Some tasteless but also some really funny stuff.  It is good to laugh.

Nanni!

☮

Finished listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Happy Random Acts of Kindness Day

Keziah, my adult daughter, has been sick with a cold and is having sciatica problems. Today she went to the doctor and now she is sleeping peacefully on some muscle relaxant that will hopefully help her pain go away. If my memory serves me, this same muscle relaxant put me to sleep for 24 hours when it was prescribed to me many, many years ago. I’m happy that she is taking care of this and is on the mend. Other happy things for today:

• The bands that I finished weaving recently I cut off the loom and hemmed today so they are now completely done and ready to be given to the people that earned them in September. One of them may get to their forever person tomorrow. I still need to figure out the other two.

• I checked on the seeds I planted and one of the marigold seeds has sprouted!

• TF, Gideon, and I played Minecraft. Perhaps this will become a routine again. We had fun exploring new places and finding resources to use in the game.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Family

Today's happy things:

• For reasons that I don't quite understand, putting on my new work safety vest showing that I am on the safety committee made me very happy. I didn't get it until the end of the day. It has pockets. After I ate I moved things around so I have things in my pockets and pins on the vest and my name badge displayed in a window pocket made just for that.  Next week will be the first time I'll wear it for a shift.  

• A few weeks ago I decided that I needed to look for things at work to be happy for. I think I should have done that a while ago. It has been a good thing so far. We are installing some automated processes at work and today I was trained a bit more on those. As with any new process, there will be a period of adjustment. I feel that this is going to make some parts of the job easier and some harder. I look forward to learning more about it.
• It is Thursday and because I don’t work tonight I take a nap and get up for dinner with the family. Keziah and Zed were away last weekend and then my work week started so this was the first time we all sat together for a meal in a long time. I’m really happy and grateful for the opportunity I have to live with one of my children and their family.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Work Stuff

For a little while today at work I was fast. Things just clicked and as I stowed items to the correct bins I moved swiftly and it showed in my productivity. It felt good. Other happy things from today:

• On Wednesdays there is a meeting of the Safety Committee. I have attended the last few in hopes that I could become a member. Today I was told that I could be a member and tomorrow I will get a new vest that has some green stripes to show that I am part of the committee.  One of the things I am supposed to do is notice when things are happening that aren't safe and say or do something.  Hopefully the right words will come and I won't fumble.
• Usually I open up a can of soup for my midday meal. The last few days there have been other options with some yummy leftovers in the house.  Today was an enchilada.  It has been a nice change.

Winston!

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night I fell asleep easily. Unfortunately, I didn't stay asleep. I woke up about two hours early and couldn't get back to sleep. Here are some happy things from today:

• I didn't fall asleep at work. There was definitely some occasional zoning out, but I didn't fall over where I stood and that is a good thing.
• Zed, my son-in-law, gave me flowers for Valentine's Day. They are made out of wood.  I haven't seen them, but I know he got some for his mom too.

• Any sleep I get today will be a good thing.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Too Many Goals

If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that I play Pokémon Go. There are goals that the game sets to earn points and in game prizes. There is one that I have not been able to reach for months and months and I reached that today. It was making five great throws in a row. Apparently I don't throw the balls straight enough or something. Today I managed this feat and it made me happy.

Other happy things from today:  

• For about 15 minutes or so I went through a random box. I'm not good at getting rid of things, but I ended up with a small pile of trash and recycling before I gave up. A few years ago I went through a box a day to get rid of things during Lent. I wasn't working then and had more time. There was momentum that I have lost and need to get back. Tiny steps.

• Last night I finished reading Fallen on my Kindle app. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one.  I found another book on the Kindle that I started a while back and started reading it again from the beginning.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Finished reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

Currently reading: Unenchanted, by Chanda Hahn

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

Seeds

Last year I tried to garden and I wasn't able to follow-thru. This year, we'll see. Today I started some geraniums and marigolds from seed. I set up a light and plant heating pad in the basement. 

Then I had a nap and dreamed of there being critter problems like last year that ate everything. As far as I know, we don’t have the same critters as last year so maybe things will have a good beginning. Other happy things from today:

• Someone asked for an image of my SCA device. I found the banners that we forgot to even look for before the event a few weeks ago. 

• This may seem small, but I have managed to make a meal every night for Gideon and myself (and sometimes others) since his parents are away. I really thought I would cave and order out for pizza or something. 
• Tomorrow is my last antibiotic (see last Wednesday) and I am feeling a lot better.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Minecraft

It has been a few months since TF and I played Minecraft. It was a thing we tried to do every Friday night. For a variety of reasons (overtime, the holidays, a new computer) I haven’t been able to play. With the help of Gideon, I was able to download the game onto my new computer.  Other happy things from today:

• This evening, Gideon, TF and I played Minecraft. We are in a new world compared to the last time we played. Everything is new again as there have been updates and we started fresh. The new world is very pretty. The makers have added coral and other details to add to the environment.
• It was chilly in the house today and I turned on the gas fireplace. It was a nice cozy area to read in. Winston, the orange tabby, tends to get a little too close though.

Sunset!

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Downsized a Little

It has been a while since I have tried to go through boxes and downsize. Today I sort of went through two. Neither got emptied, but a small dent was made in them both before I felt too overwhelmed to continue. It was a small but good step. Other happy things from today:

• The weaving that I have been working on is done. I need to cut them off the loom and hem them. I'm so happy that this project is nearing the end. Now to work on them for next time so they are complete before the end of this summer.

• Keziah and Zed left yesterday to go to Rhode Island to get our friend's RV inspected. We have been RV-sitting for a little over a year now and the inspection was overdue. It needed a few things but has now passed the inspection and is ready to roll when our friends return from overseas in April.
• Keziah and Zed returned the RV to home, had dinner with Gideon and I, and have left again for a weekend to themselves. It was good to see them and be able to make dinner for the family.
• Gideon and I practiced with flashcards.  It was fun.  I timed him.  Ideally he will do them faster next time.  

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Goals

For a little while today I considered giving up on my 10,000 step a day goal. I didn't. After a short nap I felt at least better enough to pace again. I've reached at least 10,000 steps every day since August 13, 2020. Other happy things from today:

• My grandson, Gideon, has been trying to fix his computer most of the afternoon. He's eleven. I'm so impressed. It is also fun when he does a happy dance when he figures things out.
• Speaking of dancing… while pacing Gideon and I came face to face at a doorway. He started doing some dance moves and I did my best to join him for a moment, laughing.
• The weaving I've been working on is almost done. I feel like I'm playing thread chicken with what is left of weft threads on the shuttle. I only have about two and a half inches left to weave and I think there will be enough.

Swords crossed.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Vagueness

Everything will be fine.  I'm going to attempt to not share too much information but still to share what I am happy for today.  My apologies for the vagueness.

• I'm happy that I was able to get an appointment to see the nurse practitioner within two hours of my phone call. 
• I'm happy that the pharmacy was able to fill the prescription.  
• I'm happy that nothing serious is wrong that antibiotics won't cure in a few days.  
• I'm happy that what I have isn't contagious.

Cats!

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Work

Happy things from today:

• For the first time in a long time they had me induct packages at work. I like to induct but thought I was slow at it. Today I was not slow. My count pretty much averaged along with the people that do this often.
• Gideon is taking an after school art class. I got to drop him off there today. Tomorrow I will find out what he made. Last week they made something out of metal… he told me but I can't think of it now.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Signs of Spring

My happy things from today:

• Winter is only just half over but I am looking for signs of spring. With temperatures in the low 40's today the melting snow smell was a nice sign of spring. Sure, there is plenty of time for more winter and snow. Today it was melting.
• Another thing that I'm looking at as a sign of spring is the Asian lady beetle that was flying around my room today. Yes, these are nuisance bugs in a house, but also a sign that spring will come.

• My friend Amy and I went for a nice walk along a rail trail. Parts of the paved trail were still very snowy and icy. Other parts were dry.  The stream alongside the trail was rushing with snowmelt. 

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Unproductive

It was supposed to be a productive day. It wasn't as productive as I had hoped for. Most of my happy things are what I got done:

• My accountability phone meeting with TF.
• Laundry, including my sheets.
• About three more inches are woven on the band.

• My step goal was reached by pacing.

My other happy thing for today:

• An upset stomach kept me moving slowly most of the afternoon. It was probably caused by the bag of popcorn I ate after lunch. Anyhow, the gingerbread ice cream I ate after dinner made me feel a lot better. I attribute that to the ginger being helpful at relieving upset stomachs.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Cold

At just before noon the unheated front enclosed porch was almost 70 degrees despite it being zero outside with a windchill making it feel like -22. The weather app on my phone has a picture of a sunflower. I fail to understand how a sunflower could thrive at this temperature, but it is a nice sign of things to come.  

Other happy things from today:

• It was a stay inside, lazy day.
• We have a propane fireplace in the living room that helped take away some of the chill in the house. I like being warm.
• After taking a break for the week I did a bunch of weaving again today. I'm getting closer to finishing it.

☮

Currently listening to: The Becoming, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

All About Gideon

Gideon turned eleven today. He is such a nice person. Here are some happy things from today that show that.

• Gideon and Keziah went out for breakfast and the shopping for new shoes. Gideon was happy to get shoes for his birthday. Is that something eleven year old kids like for their birthday?
• He set up a virtual game night with friends and family for his birthday party, no complaints, because the rest of us were so busy with work and last weekend's event.
• They went shopping for an ice cream cake. Keziah mentioned that I wouldn't be able to have any because ice cream cakes are generally chocolate, which I don't eat. I told him that was fine, the cake should be what he wants for his birthday, not me. They found a strawberry ice cream cake so I could have some. He wanted to share.

• TF called and asked me to give a hug and kiss on the cheek to Gideon for his birthday. He was happy to let me pass this on and wanted a hug and kiss from me too. My grandson is such a happy person.

☮

Finished listening to: The Awakening, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day!  Winter will be over in six weeks...or something like that.

Happy things from today:

• Thursdays can be hard. It is the last day of my work week and I tend to be more tired. I took a nap after work and was deep asleep when Zed woke me up for dinner. Tomorrow is Gideon’s birthday and tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate.
• Gideon chose IHOP. Breakfast for dinner is always a good thing.
• Gideon and I both needed to-go boxes. He said, “I am as stuffed as a teddy bear.”

☮

Currently listening to: The Awakening, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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

Happy February!

Most of my happy things today revolve around work… How weird is that?

• They are installing automated package sorters and I had training for that which meant a break from physical labor.  It was also fun to describe the process to Gideon and Keziah after work.
• Afterwards at work, the manager that has been advocating for me, asked about getting trained for Problem Solve and that was all it took. I did the computer training part today! Hopefully I will remember some of that training when the in person training starts.
• Then, there was a Safety Committee meeting and I applied to be part of that and went to the meeting. If I am going to keep this job I need changes, this is a start.
• It is February. One month closer to Spring.
• Gideon hugs!

☮

Currently listening to: The Awakening, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: Fallen, by E Prybylski

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