2022 Happy To Be Here

It is Thankful Wednesday!  My thankful things for today: I am thankful for canned soup. When leftovers aren't available it is one of the easiest meals I can make. This time of year it is a bonus because they are also a hot meal. As winter gets closer hot food becomes more appreciated. My after work meal today was tomato basil soup. I also had a toasted cheese sandwich to go with it (while I watched The Noel Diary ). This is definitely comfort food for me.   Another thing I am thankful for is that Zed very graciously fronted the money and bought me a new laptop. I'll pay him back when I can get to the bank… I have no idea where my checkbook is (I don't remember the last time I wrote a check).  Which leads me to being thankful for the technology that we have nowadays that makes it possible for me to buy things without a checkbook. Online banking and debit cards are very useful things. Nanni! Because I wanted a picture. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Pray

The first day of my work week is over and I made it through. Only four more days to go. Yay! My other happy thing for today is that I did some weaving. About two more inches, all background, got added to the project. I was hoping for more but sleep is calling me.   This may be a week full of short posts. ☮ 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 King , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Another day of waking up before my alarm clock and going to bed later than I wanted. Hopefully that means I will get to sleep easily when I finally rest my weary head. It was a good day. Keziah and I spent some time at the studio, she is still there. My work week starts tonight so I couldn’t stay. Here are some happy things: At the studio this morning I pulled out the latch hook that I didn't quite finish earlier this year. I've finally started putting on the backing. What I got done seemed to go quickly.  The back looks good... While I was sitting hand sewing the backing, Keziah was busy sewing with the serger. She talks to it. Sweet, loving talk to keep it working well. It is pleasant to listen to and makes the rumbling sound of the machine seem a little less harsh.  When I sit down for lunch at home I like to watch something. Today I decided to just start going through all the corny Christmas shows that Netflix keeps suggesting. I started watching Falling For Chri

Laughter hasn’t been coming easily for me lately. I’ve been looking for comedies to watch. I’m finding it interesting how many movies are listed as a comedy that I end up crying during. Sometimes it is a happy cry, but not always. It makes me happy to hear other people laugh. Other things I am happy for today: While out this morning a friend had a mild seizure. Keziah spent the day with them at the ER. It was a little scary. I’m happy that medical treatment has helped and they are feeling somewhat better.   Yesterday when I wove my back hurt. Today I found a position that didn’t hurt and I got a fair amount woven. I have a deadline to get this done by so I am feeling a little more confident that I might be able to finish it. The cats were so cute today grooming each other! ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Finished listening to: Blue Lily, Lily Blue , by Maggie Stie

My grandson, Gideon, has been trying to learn magic tricks with cards. He struggles with the slight of hand, and knows it. I admire that he is trying. He also tries to invent new card games. Other happy things from today: My friend, Amy, had a craft afternoon at her house today for just a few people. Most of us had weaving projects. I didn't get as much done as I wanted, but made some good progress on my loom. It was also good to spend time with friends.  Later, at home the family had leftovers from Thanksgiving, including pie for dessert. The pies are almost gone and I have enjoyed them while we've had them.  We also watched a movie together. Spider-Man: No Way Home was a really good movie that Keziah and I had seen, but Gideon and Zed had not. There was laughter in the beginning of the movie and tears at the end. I like that we watch things together and often discuss them after. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations t

When I was young, a day spent in my pajamas watching movies was like being luxurious. Now it feels like I am being lazy. There has to be a balance in there somewhere. Today that balance included watching part of a movie on my phone while I did the dishes and curling up on the couch to finish it. Later another movie while I paced getting steps in. These were happy parts of my day.  A few other things included: It was a low key day. I spent some of it at the studio. I did a small amount of weaving.  Hopefully I'll be able to concentrate and get that pattern I started, done tomorrow. Some friends visited. One of the things I like about my friends is the way they sometimes describe themselves. My favorite quote from the day is, "I'm chaotic neutral, of course I'd do that." Using a term from Dungeon and Dragons to describe themself made me happy. Two more of my pottery pieces are complete.  I really like how they came out.  I have two others that have been bis

Happy Thanksgiving!! It was a work day (night?) for me. Because of the holiday, I only had to work until 8:45 this morning instead of 11:50. For some reason, I don't have to work the extra day of Friday this week.  They changed my schedule.  Other things that I am happy for today are: They served us breakfast burritos at work today. Every so often they bring in some outside food for the employees. Being a picky eater, I don't always choose to partake. Today I did and chose an egg, cheese, and potato burrito. It was pretty good.  Hearing from family and friends is always a happy occurrence.  I'm happy to say that my youngest is doing fine today, we texted.  My oldest is also fine, we had a quick call when I couldn't find the cinnamon. In the afternoon, after a short nap, I visited my friend, Amy and her son for a Thanksgiving meal- vegan style. I don't care for mushrooms, so I skipped the turkey substitute, the rest was delicious. I like the vegan green bea

It's thankful Wednesday! It is the day before Thanksgiving, the official day of the year for people to be thankful. Isn't it great that we have a day just to show thanks? Here are some things I am thankful for today and always: Family. I love my family, even the relatives that I don't get along well with. The immediate family that I live with though, they are awesome. We look out for each other.  I miss my youngest who is away.  Friends. I am blessed with many friends, some that are chosen family. I see or talk with some much more than others, but they are all special and hold a place in my heart.   Pets. They are an extension of the family. They comfort us, entertain us, and need us. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: Blue Lily, Lily Blue , by Maggie Stiefvater. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

There has been a Java course that I was working on in an attempt to get into a technical course and position through the company I work for. I had just about given up on it because I would not be able to finish it prior to the January 8th deadline. That deadline was just extended to May. I’m not sure whether I am going to take advantage of this or not, but I am happy that there is an option. My other happy things for today are apples. There are so many things that can be done with apples. Today, Keziah is making an apple pie. I’m not sure if I will get any of this pie or not, but there is something about just knowing that it will be made that makes me nostalgic... all the sweet cinnamon goodness. I used to try to make the perfect pie crust. I don’t think I ever quite managed it, but that didn't stop anyone from eating the pies. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Cur

The closer that winter comes, the more I feel I am losing my fight with depression.  The medication does not seem to be helping anymore.  As the holiday season gets closer, I remind myself of the reasons that I write this blog. The obvious one is to have a way to let others know about my day. The big one is to force myself into finding things to be happy for. Today, one of those happy things is that Keziah and I had a long talk about some things that I need to do to help with the depression. Follow-through will be hard. Baby steps today that are my happy things include: Paying bills that I had forgotten. I think I'm caught up now, phew. I took some time and found some things to get rid of. One box was ready to go but for some reason is still hanging around. That and two books that I don't want to hang onto. These things still need to get out of the house, but they are out of my room. There was also some random trash and recycling that went away. Another happy thing is

It was a busy day filled with family and friends... and I should have taken more pictures. Here are some happy things from today: Cousins on my dad's side of the family had a small get together this morning. It was really nice to see them for a little while. It had been over a year since we had seen some people. Since we were in the area at this point, we also visited the cemetery where my parents are buried. Today was my mom’s birthday. Next up we had a baby shower to go to. There were games, my favorite was trying to figure out which children's book title that emojis described. There are some that I hadn’t heard of, but it was fun. The parents-to-be got a pile of wonderful gifts and everyone seemed to have a great time. After the shower Keziah, Zed and Gideon had another small party to go to. I went for a walk at the mall with my friend, Amy who was also at the baby shower.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture

When I set out to walk the five miles to the studio today, I really didn't want to make the walk. I made arrangements with Zed to pick me up along the way. He didn't and that is okay. Somewhere along the walk, after picking up lunch, I started feeling better.  Other happy things from today include: Keziah was at the studio helping a friend work on a new gown. Other friends came to visit as well. It was good. Eventually I hit that time of day when I get tired and all I could do was put my head on the table and nap.  Before the nap I made some earrings. This is not something I am great at, but I think they came out nice.   I also did a small amount of weaving. My brain wasn't where it needed to be to do more than about an inch and my back started to hurt. I didn’t find a comfortable weaving position. Still glad that progress was made. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joa

It has been a relaxing, unproductive day. As I prepare to rest for the night I am suddenly having the panic thoughts of all the things I should have done. In the end, it was a good self care sort of day. My big accomplishment are some of my happy things: Dishes, many dishes were cleaned. Music was listened to and part of a movie watched while washing dishes. The rest of the movie was watched while I paced to get my step count in. I went out and got my seasonal flu shot. I've been forgetting. No problems, other than a long wait, or side effects from getting that vaccine yet. There was a Google meeting this evening for our local SCA group. Keziah and I attended. I got there early enough to be able to visit with a few friends before the meeting started. One other thing that I almost forgot, I put new sheets on my bed and I am looking forward to going to sleep with what I hope is new comfort. I put a hole in the old sheet set about a week ago that kept getting bigger. Winston

Yesterday I got the official word that mandatory extended time is starting next week. I will be working four or five days a week until Christmas. Suddenly, this is my last weekend to get things done. I'm not sure if this will change how I blog or not. Here are some happy things: At work they play music loudly and there is machinery making noise. This makes it hard for me to hear what goes on around me. What I saw though were some other employees laughing over something. Sometimes you don't have to be part of something for it to make you happy too, sometimes you just need to witness it.   Rather than the normal movies or shows we tend to watch, tonight was comedy sketch night. Zed and Keziah found shorts from shows like Saturday Night Live to end the evening with a laugh.  Keziah got her hair cut today and got some new gnome frames for her glasses. I had her take some selfies for the blog.  So cute! ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Af

It is Thankful Wednesday! Here are a few thankful things: Today I am thankful for leftovers. Leftovers take so much of the brain work out of eating. This is especially useful when I am very tired from working all night. Today the leftover was pasta.  I am thankful for online gift registries. Keziah and I were able to order gifts for an upcoming baby shower without being together by browsing the gift registry at the same time and talking on the phone.  I am also grateful that that part of the task is done and I don't have to think about it anymore. One person I am eternally grateful for is my son-in-law, Zed (he let me take a picture of him working). I am thankful to him for letting me live with him, Keziah, and Gideon. He is a wonderful husband for Keziah and father for Gideon. He puts love and a sense of humor into all our lives. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko.

The first snowfall is expected late tonight, just in time for me to go to work. It is supposed to turn into rain before the precipitation is over. I’m not ready. I’m going to do my best to enjoy what I can of this winter, but it will be hard this year. Some happy things from today: Overhearing Gideon, my grandson, practice German I was reminded to practice Spanish.  It is day 1420 on DuoLingo for me! Last week I put an application in for a different position at the company where I work. One of the managers came up to me and told me that the application looked good and she seemed excited for me to have applied. It was thoughtful and kind for her to have done this, I appreciate it. I have the faintest of memories that crept in about milkweed. I think I remember spray painting the empty pods gold with my mom and making Christmas decorations out of them? ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , J

There were many years that I didn't go to see a dentist. Now that I have insurance I try to go every six months as recommended. Today was my six month check-up and cleaning. I don't like going to the dentist. I do like how my teeth feel after they have been professionally cleaned. That is what I focus on as I sit in that chair, how nice they will feel when it is all over. Other happy things from today include: One more of my ceramic pieces is done. My bowl is ready for use. All the finished pieces. The three pieces I trimmed on Friday I decided to paint underglaze on. The piece that I put underglaze on previously has been bisque fired and I like how it looks. I have dipped that in a clear glaze and it is just waiting for another firing.  I forgot to take a picture of that one.   ☮ 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

Gideon is happy to be home. Today, watching his happy things made me happy. He opened the back door to watch and hear the rain falling better. He snuggled under many blankets on the comfy coach to get cozy. He snuggled up with the cat, Winston, (and Winston let him) for a few minutes. He came in from taking out the trash and was in love with the smell of fall. It is wonderful to see these joyful things viewed from the eyes of a child. ☮ 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.

Keziah, Zed, and Gideon are home! I picked them up at the airport and we all went out for dinner once we got close to home so Zed’s mom could join us. It sounds like they had a lovely time in Texas. They got to go to the Austin Celtic Festival, a book fair, and a craft thrift type store. One of the interesting things that Keziah started doing with her father involved trying to make some kind of printing press like one from the middle ages. She might go back to work on that more by herself in a few months.  It sounds like they all had a good time. Having a full house again is my happy thing for the day. ☮ 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.

This morning my big errand was to take Keziah's van in to be inspected. It needs brakes real soon, but not so soon that it didn't pass inspection. Other happy things for today: Instead of waiting for the inspection I walked to the studio. The weather has been warmer than it probably should be for November. It was a nice walk, just about a mile from the shop that I got the van inspected at. I actually worked a little bit on my coursework. The cats were play-fighting. We have a tube for them that has the normal holes on either end and two along the sides to poke out of. Nanni was hiding inside of the tube, but her tail was wapping against the side of the tube or out one of the side holes. I found this funny and tried to get a picture of the tail. Last Friday I went to the studio and made some things on the pottery wheel. Today I went back and trimmed those things so that they may get ready to be bisque fired. I finally picked up my loom again and got a little over an inc

The job I have tends to be physically demanding. I’m happy to say that this last week didn’t seem too bad, the tasks I did varied more than usual. I’ve been asking to learn some other tasks for quite a while with no luck for various reasons. A job called Learning Ambassador has recently been opened and I put in a job application for that today. I’m not sure I even want the position, but I am sure that trying to get it was a good thing. My other happy thing for today is that I stayed up long enough to see the sunset. The time change last weekend made it a little easier for me and my weird sleep schedule.  I don’t work on Friday usually so I stayed up a little later on purpose to try to adjust my schedule a little for the weekend. ☮ 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. St

It is Thankful Wednesday. There are a few of my friends that are posting daily on Facebook for November things that they are thankful for. My Facebook memories remind me that I have done that before too. I'm thankful to be able to read them when I see them. Here are some things I am thankful for: The night was clear with a mostly full moon to guide me to the car last night. I heard from my friend in Texas today. We are both in a better headspace this week than we were last week. I am thankful for the happy memories I have of people that are no longer with us. Nanni was nice enough to pose so I could have a picture in today’s blog. ☮ 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.

It isn’t very often that I check Facebook while I am at work (never while working), but during my lunch break I did. What I found was that there was a total lunar eclipse. Sure enough, beyond the street lights I could see the faint redness of the eclipse. It was a pretty, happy thing for my morning. Other happy things from today include: I went out and voted. In preparation to watch Enola Holmes 2 , I rewatched Enola Holmes over the last two days. The main character, Enola, talks to the camera. I think it works for this movie, it doesn’t always. Rabbit tobacco, I remember when I identified it the first year we lived in this house. I wondered if it was rare. I see it all over the place now, it is not rare. It still makes me happy. ☮ 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

A day later, I am feeling a bit better about the Java classwork. It wasn’t just sleeping on it that helped. Sometime during the early morning when I couldn’t sleep any more, I found video tutorials to help guide with the actual course I am doing. It is helping to fill in the blanks that seem to be missing from the actual lesson. This is a very happy thing for me. It gives me some hope that I might be able to learn this afterall. Other happy things from today: In ceramics class two more of my pieces were bisque fired. I glazed them today. Hopefully they will be fired again before next Monday. The two pieces that I glazed last week were fired and they look good. The piece to the front is mine, not the one in the back. I was able to trim the piece I made last Monday and I used an underglaze on that one. I still have the three pieces I made on Friday last week to trim. They weren’t dry enough today.   Winston, the orange tabby, finally misses Keziah enough to not just come to