2022 Happy To Be Here

Happy Halloween! It is a beautiful day here and I hope that the trick or treat people are able to make the most of it. I plan to be sleeping. Some happy things from today: Since walking to ceramics was out of the question today (no ride home), I went for a short walk before class. It hadn't warmed up much yet, but the sun was showing the promise of the rising temperatures.  In ceramics class we learned glazing. I had a rundown of glazing a week or two ago when Kiaya and I stayed after. I actually put glaze on two of my pieces today. They don't look like much now, but that should improve once they are fired.   Outside of class there are some really tall yellow flowers that according to Lens is a sawtooth sunflower. I'm trying to enjoy all the bits of color I can. Sooner than I want, everything will be white and shades of gray. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Boryse

It was a beautiful day so I spent some time outside in the yard mowing. This had the added benefit of picking up some of the many leaves that have fallen. I mostly tried to take it easy today. My other happy thing was getting outside for a walk. The fresh air was nice and the sunset was lovely. ☮ Currently reading:  Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to:  The Dream Thieves , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Today was the Crown Tournament for the East Kingdom. This is where there are rattan fights to determine the next Royalty for the East. My happy things for today start with carpooling. I was able to ride along with someone else to the SCA event. This meant company during the drive to Maine and that I wasn't the one driving. It was great to get to know the lady who drove better. She is one of many nice people in my Barony. From my viewer standpoint, Crown Tournament seemed to go well. Unfortunately, none of the fantastic fighters who originate from my Barony won the day. I am pleased with the winner, though. They have been Royals three times before and have done so well in the past.  The event made the local news . During the court that was held many people were given awards they earned. I was especially pleased when a friend that has always been helpful to me and Stonemarche when needed received their award for service to the Kingdom.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Mir

It has been a long day. There are many things I should have done more of, like classwork and dishes. It was a rather relaxing day though. At least I got plenty of sleep. Other happy things for today: It is soon to be voting time and the political signs are dotting the roadways. It is also soon to be Halloween and there are some signs for that too. And so I have to chuckle when passing one section where the signs are political, political, SCARY, political, political. They all fit together so well. 😉 There were three things I needed at the grocery store: milk, vanilla ice cream (maybe need was a strong word?), and dinner. At least the dinner was fairly healthy? My friend Amy and I met for a walk today. We used to meet on Mondays but lately I have had ceramics. It was a lovely walk at Livingston Park with ducks on the pond and still some foliage to reflect on the water. I watched too much Netflix and finished watching the Merlin series. Now that will not be what distracts m

Thursday is the last day of my work week (usually). I am so happy that my weekend is here. Thursday also seems to be a day I have a hard time getting to sleep. I’m hoping for better today. Here are some other little things I am happy for: I noticed that my folding camp chair was left out in the rain, folded. I’m happy I noticed this so that it can be dry before I want to use it this weekend. Some friends shared this video . This guy is always so happy and really seems to love what he is doing. More foliage! It is still autumn afterall. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Dream Thieves , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Thankful Wednesday. It has been a long time since I forgot to practice DuoLingo. Even with the few times I forgot and the program let me keep my streak, 1400 days is a lot. Unfortunately, practice and learning are two different things and I still have ways to go. I'm thankful for being able to learn this way.   I finished listening to The Raven Boys on the way home from work today. It didn't end the way I expected. What this means is that this is part of a series. I'm very thankful that the next book in the series is available so I can start listening on my way into work. I really enjoyed the book. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Finished listening to: The Raven Boys , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Keziah, Zed, and Gideon have arrived safely to Keziah's father's house in Texas.  For the technology that got them there safely and that which carried the message to me of their arrival I am thankful.  I'm sure they will have a fabulous time.  Other happy things from today: There are some trees outside of work that are bright with color.  I should look at them closer someday to see what kind they are. We had been trying to watch Rings of Power as a family.  We weren't able to complete it together before the rest of the family left for Texas.  I finished it after work today.  I really enjoyed the series and I look forward to where it goes from here.  I must say that I haven't read The Silmarillion which the series is loosely based on. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Raven Boys , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part o

For the last few days Gideon has been so excited. They are going to Texas tomorrow and he is looking forward to the trip and seeing his grandfather. They haven't seen each other since before Covid hit. I've been to Texas three times and seen him since the last time they went. It is great to see my grandson so happy.  Not that he isn't a happy child, he is, but he has been over the top!  Other happy things for me today: I walked some of the way to ceramics class. Keziah picked me up so we would be on time. There is a small river I cross over that I stopped to take a picture of. The colors are pretty there. I like the textures that can be seen below the water. In ceramics class we learned how to trim the bowls we made last week. Mine was thick so I took a bunch off. It is less thick now, and I like the look of it. Upside-down bowl. Two of my pieces have been bisque fired so far. Next week we go over glazing techniques. The sycamore tree near the studio has lost mo

Yesterday I forgot a very important thing that I was happy about. Two of my champions showed up just to represent during court. I was thrilled. My exhaustion from the day left me with a poor memory. Some happy things from today: There is a line from Simon & Garfunkel’s song "The Dangling Conversation", “And we note our place with book markers/That measure what we've lost”. As I came closer to finishing two different works of fiction these lines kept crossing my mind. There are points in storytelling that have an anticipatory excitement. It could be a "Whodunnit?" type anticipation or something else, but with good writing, it is there. As books reveal that information, excitement can dwindle and the book soon ends. I'm not sure if that is what Paul Simon meant by those lyrics, maybe he meant time, but I’m looking at it as the loss of that anticipatory excitement. I finished reading The Three Miss Margarets by Louise Shaffer today. It was a

We had an SCA event today to celebrate the Barony being 35. I think I did better with people than the last event, but I still need to work on it. We also chose our new Arts and Sciences Champion. It is always a difficult choice, but there can be only one. There were three entrants, so at least the options weren't overwhelming. There were also three judges, so at least I didn't need to have to make the decision on my own. These don't look like much in the picture. They are lovely beaded headdresses made to  resemble 15th century (I think) Italian. Tablet weaving. Embroidery. In case you are curious, the tablet woven person is the new A&S Champion. Other happy things from today: There is a guild, the Dabbler's Guild, within our Barony that had a lovely hands-on display. People could try a few different types of crafts including weaving, sprang, and kumihimo. The event was small but space was made for the fighters. I got to watch them for a few minutes. It is a

When I walked into work and saw that they placed me where I tend to have the most aches, I signed up to get voluntary time off. 25 minutes later I was out of there and heading home to do class work. After that, I tried to nap but couldn't. Instead I did dishes and cleaned the kitchen a little. Here are some other happy things from today: I left home just before the sun rose so I brought a flashlight. It wasn't dark, but the flashlight made me feel better.  Walking to the studio this morning in the brisk morning air I realized that these walks will be ending once the snow falls. There will not be enough room to safely walk some of the streets to get there. Plus the possibility of ice makes it just a bad idea. A nice talk with our studio friend and I am told which sidewalks are best to walk on near the studio come winter.  Walking over the Merrimack River there are definitely trees that are more empty than colorful. The beauty still lingers as it reflects on the water.

One more night this week to work. I haven't decided if I'm going to try to get out early or not. It will depend on how I'm feeling. I’m experiencing a lot of aches from work and I am hopeful that sleep will make that better. My other happy thing for today is geraniums. I got them in over the weekend and put them in the open greenhouse on the porch. This protected them from last night’s frost. If I remember, I will get them ready to overwinter this weekend. For now I’m happy there are still some blooms. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Raven Boys , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Thankful Wednesday! Today I am thankful to be living in a part of the world where there are so many different types of trees that bring so many colors in the fall. There is more to life than foliage. I'm also thankful for the generosity of people. Recently someone offered us another car. I'm fairly certain we won't be getting it, but it is a wonderful offer. Then there is the class I am trying to work on to learn Java. If I can complete it and do well on the exam in January, I might get accepted into the next class, through work. This could open up some more opportunities. I'm thankful for this. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Raven Boys , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy and thankful things. Stay safe.

Some happy things: First I must say that I am happy I made it through work last night. I couldn't get to sleep and was tired. At lunch break, I tried to nap for five minutes and that seemed to help. Another happy thing for today is that autumn colors seem to be lasting or at least cycling through nicely even with all the rain we have been getting. My daughter, Keziah, is so talented. She has made a clay piece that she carved a cat into.  Her hope is that she will make it into a small lamp.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Raven Boys , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Waking up early today didn't mean I was early for anything else, especially my bedtime. I did get some things accomplished and that was good. Here are some happy things from today: Before the end of the open enrollment period at work I remembered to look into my options. I'm still happy with my choice. In ceramics class I made a bowl!  More importantly, I was supposed to make a bowl.  This makes a total of four pieces so far. I trimmed two others today, one that I added a handle to. The first piece I made was bisque fired. It is so light weight and fragile feeling! Not the best cylinder.  Piece number three. A bowl, piece number four. A mug, I put the handle on and it is setting.  Piece number two. Piece number one after the first firing. It should be a cylinder. Almost every day that isn't a work day I consider letting my step goal streak go. Despite the streak, that is over two years, on non-work days I generally struggle to make the time to get in the steps. Goin

Here are some happy things from this beautiful autumn Sunday: Gideon sat by me while I was eating breakfast with a Mad Libs booklet, ready to play. How could I say no? Much giggling and laughter ensued when the character in the story had to save themself from quicksand with a 25 foot long piece of paper. When I am out for a walk and crossing a street I try to nod or wave at the drivers that let me pass. Today I chose to use my earbuds and listen to the book Keziah had recommended,  The Raven Boys, while I walked. I notice a car has stopped to let me by and I wave and see that they are waving me on excitedly. I didn't think much of it other than to try to move a little faster. They pull away and I notice as they drive by that it was Keziah, she stopped to pick me up and I just walked on by! She called a moment after I figured this out. The book was engrossing enough that I didn't see that it was my daughter behind the waving hands. We laughed and I thanked her again f