2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 Happy Monday! It seems like this is the first Monday in a while that I have been able to spend time with Keziah.   We spent most of the morning chatting while she worked on her pottery.  Eventually I went to our studio and worked on Exchequer things.  Keziah is making some truly lovely things with pottery and it was fun to watch and occasionally hand her a tool or something. The Exchequer things didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.  I'm not used to the programs yet.  I'm not sure if the program has changed on the SCA side, or if it is what my laptop is choosing to open the programs with.  In the end, I was able to finish one of the things that were overdue.  Phew.  Many thanks go to my former protégé for double checking some things and letting me use her printer. To finish getting in some steps I wandered around the yard at our new place, while snow flurries fell from the sky, looking for signs of spring.  I found it!  The pr...

I fell asleep before finishing this again... Here are some happy things from Sunday: It turns out that many things have changed since the last time I was an Exchequer.  This morning I learned a few more things.  Yay, learning! The household finally had a meeting/gathering.  There were discussions about chores, septic system care, and things that we should have discussed when we moved in.  There just wasn't the time.  I'm glad we got to do this.  There have been so many pieces and moving parts with eleven people that having a gathering like this is important.  Then the dogs got loose.  One of them stayed close, the other ran off.  We all combed the neighborhood and some of the woods in the dark calling for the dog.  In the end, it was someone on the internet (local social media, I think) that enabled one of us to find the dog and get her safely home.  Super thankful and relieved for that. While in the area leading to the woods my lig...

 Happy Saturday: It was an event day.  I'm thankful to have been able to carpool to and from the event with a friend. Even when an event is not very far (this one was about 45 minutes) a traveling companion to talk with is nice. Morning sky. The two of us worked at the entrance gate for Garb Schola.  Between the two of us, we got to see everyone who was at the event.  There were classes, food, a fashion show, and Baronial Court where people were presented with accolades and awards. At Baronial Court I was presented with my very first Arts & Sciences award, the Lamp of Apollo.  Over the 40 ish years I have been in the SCA I have learned, taught, or done various art projects, mostly for myself, but also to create awards or make things for others.  I am not a master at weaving, sewing, embroidery, fingerloop braiding, or any other project I've worked on.  This award isn't about that, it is that I have done things within this and shared some of that wi...

 Spring! Happy Friday things: Flowers and plants are getting bigger, some of them anyway. Of the six tulips I'm trying to grow in water, two have produced roots and have been promoted to the window box in the kitchen. There are a couple things, probably tulips, getting bigger in the containers I have outside. The herbs are also getting bigger.  Yay! IronCross Shamrock Oxalis Tulips Bel and I spent some time cutting and sanding some boards. These are to be used in my room to hold backpacks. I'm looking forward to having them off the floor. Most of the afternoon and into the evening I worked with my friend on exchequer (treasurer) reports. Then we had an online meeting with some other friends and went over all the exchequer files to do a book review. It didn't go too bad, but it could have gone smoother. It is amazing how many little things I have forgotten concerning files and spreadsheets. There is a list of things for us to do by the end of April. It was a good l...

 Happy Thursday! Work is over for the week.  I will not be picking up another shift tomorrow or Saturday because I have plans to do other things.  I'm very tired and looking forward to a few days away from the job. After work I was invited to go out with a bunch of people from work, and I did.  We went to a nearby pizza place for ‘drunch’.  Since I would be driving home, I chose to not partake in the drinking part of the ‘drunch’.  I have some pretty strict rules for myself and when I choose to have alcohol. Anyhow, it was a good time.  I learned a bit about some of my coworkers and the patience of wait staff with loud groups of people.  I'm glad I went and may join them again another time. Productivity went out the window today.  I got a nap at home and I'm going to sleep again soon.  It was a good but tiring day.  Tomorrow will be busy.  One of the things I'm hoping to do is to put up some of the new lights that got delivered...

 Here are some happy things from today: It is Wednesday.  It was a weird day at work because some system was down somewhere.  We made it through and I have one day left to my week, yay! In an attempt to get a hold on the exchequer position I visited a friend after work.  We went over some of the money things from the most recent events and made lists of things to do.  We get together again on Friday to go through more of the paperwork.  Hopefully I will have had more sleep then.   There is a tree by the driveway.  I don't know what it is.  It has some kind of berry looking thing on it.  I want it to be cherries, but my limited internet search is implying crabapples.  I should have examined it closer.  I'm looking forward to learning what things are growing on this property.  ☮ Started listening to: Nettle & Bone , by T. Kingfisher Continued to read: A Trail Through Time , by Jodi Taylor.   Thank you for ...

IronCross Shamrock Oxalis  For  St. Patrick’s Day Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Here are some happy things from my day: There were not many problems in Problem Solve last night.  Things were steady, but not busy.  It was a nice change.  After that there also wasn’t too much to do in Hazardous Materials.  Then I had an assessment to be able to remain a Learning Ambassador, which I passed.  The shift ended with a Safety Committee meeting where we had pizza and talked about the safety culture and how to improve it.   New vest! The weather started out in the 50’s overnight and steadily got colder.  It is supposed to be in the teens tonight.  The point of this is that the snow is melting and parts of the yard can actually be seen now.  Even though it will be really cold tonight, there shouldn't be any precipitation.   Front Back... not all snow anymore. Wind blowing. ☮ Started listening to: Nettle & Bone , by T. Kingf...

 Monday morning brought to mind intentions.  I decided to try again and with this intention:  My intention for today is to laugh at things that I find frustrating.  Here are some happy things from today: Keziah and I went through some boxes and got some of her things unpacked.  I found two boxes of my things too, but haven't had the time to do anything with them.  😂 We let the four cats mingle some.  The picture is of Nanni and Kayden.  I'm not sure Nanni realized that the orange cat wasn't Winston.   Taking over the office of exchequer (treasurer) for the Barony has been a slow process.  Partly because I keep forgetting that I volunteered for it.  Also, I haven't had all the things I need to do the job.  I made a road trip and picked up some of them and I should have access to the electronic things soon.  Yay for steps forward! On the way home, I went shopping.  My feet have outgrown my cheap sneakers.  My...

 Happy Sunday things: There was a lovely sunrise this morning.   Last night there was a shift offered for this morning.  I didn't take it.  This morning, it was still there, so I did.  It was from 9:10 to 11:50 but I stayed until about 12:20.  The amount of energy I have when I go in at the end of the shift versus the beginning is amazing. My energy was mostly spent at work, though.   When I got home, all I wanted to do was rest.  Dishes got done.  The second dishwasher still seems to be working and has produced clean dishes.  This makes me very happy. The parsley has sprouted! For the first time in about a week I opened the window curtain in my bedroom.  The oxalis bulb I planted at the beginning of the month has sprouted!  It is an IronCross Shamrock Oxalis and it is up in time for St. Patrick's Day.   ☮ Started listening to: Dale Carnegie's 14-Day Worry Cure , by Dale Carnegie. Continued to read: A Trail ...

 Happy Pi Day!  To celebrate, I bought pies. 🥧  Here are some happy things from today: My father's side of the family are part Irish.  A cousin had a little St. Patrick's Day get-together this afternoon.  There was corned beef and cabbage as well as a lot of other foods.  Over twenty family members and friends were there.  It was nice to catch up with folks.  I didn't take many pictures.  Zed went with me so we had some good conversations during the drive there and back.  There has been so much going on lately I don't get to spend as much time with everyone.  I was able to spend time at Keziah’s store with her too.   A friend at Keziah’s store and I talked for a few minutes and she suggested that I should try to go for a walk by myself.  A little before dark, that is what I did.  She was right.  Just walking on the street, a much quieter street than where we used to live, and I could feel some tension I had...

 It has been 45 years to the day that I got my driver's license.  It was an eventful Friday the thirteenth in 1981.  My apologies if you have heard this story before. As I was preparing to back out of my spot with the state driving tester guy, an eighteen wheeler entered the parking lot, not fast, and couldn't make the turn.  He drove into the state vehicle that was parked in the aisle behind me.  Honestly, I don't think the truck was in the right place.  The state guy was not happy.  I still got my license though, so I was.  To celebrate, I didn't drive today, at all.  I stayed home and took turns being productive and restful.  Here are some other happy things: When we moved into this new house we were told that the dishwasher in the main kitchen leaked.  The water was off and we were busy moving so we didn't look into it more, until today.  Bel worked hard to pull the machine out from under the counter.  It was installed...

 March 12th Thursday's happy things: Yesterday there was a surprise inspection in Hazardous Materials.  I didn't know it was happening.  From what I understand, we did okay.  I feel like the area has gone through a lot of change over the last year or so, for the better.  I'm happy that the inspection went okay.   A while back I planted a bunch of bulbs and put them outside in storage containers.  Silly me, I didn't put any drainage into the containers.  When I saw them today, the snow had melted and there was at least four inches of water on top of the soil.  I did what I could to drill holes and pour off some of the water.  Hopefully it was enough.  I'll try to keep checking them over the weekend.  The good news is, some of the bulbs do seem to be growing.  🌷 Some of the seeds I planted are sprouting too.  The thyme, basil, and cilantro are up.  The parsley hasn't yet, but I'm hopeful.   ☮ Contin...

 11th of March Happy Wednesday!! Work last night was physical.  I'm really happy that someone helped me out at the beginning of the shift.  They were retraining and chose to take some of my load off in the process.  At the end of my shift I worked outside.  The fresh air made for a nice end to my workday. The good news at home is that my grandson Gideon is Student of the Month at his high school.  Names and such are blocked out in the picture.   ☮ Continued listening to: Yellow Bird , by Sierra Crane Murdoch. Continued to read: A Trail Through Time , by Jodi Taylor.   Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

 March 10th Here are some happy things from Tuesday: Work went amazingly well.  The Problem Solve Area wasn't as busy as usual.  When we got a bunch of carts that were all delivered to us that should have gone somewhere else, the supervisors sent other people over to take care of them.  Then the Hazardous Materials Area looked like I had days worth of work to do but I got it all done.   After work they fed us burgers and fries from Wendy's.  Burgers aren't usually my favorite, but free food that I don't hate, I eat.  😋   When I got home I fell asleep.  That was not part of my plan, but a full stomach and exhaustion was all it took.  The weather is beautiful.  Temps are in the 70's and it is almost too warm in the sun.  Some windows are open and things just seem nicer.  For a little while I just sat on the steps outside.   I can see parts of the yard! A little brook cutting through the ice. ☮ Continued ...

 March 9th Happy Monday things: It is truly starting to feel like spring, even with so much snow on the ground.  Keziah and I did some general cleaning up this morning and windows were opened.  The sun shone brightly and snow melted into small streams on the driveway.  The warm day made for a beautiful time to go out walking with a friend.  Amy and I met at Livingston Park to walk around the pond a few times.  Both of us remembered to bring our micro spikes and within five minutes we were sitting at a picnic table putting them on.  That helped to increase our safety and speed while we walked.  Amy and I haven't been able to get together for a bit and we had a nice visit. Things kept happening so I stayed up much too late for me on a work night so that Bel could cut my hair.  It has been about eleven months since my last haircut and I've been getting tired of hair on my face.  It is almost St. Patrick's Day and time to go green. ...