2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 June 26th It has been a long day.  Here are some happy things from it: Most people normally have five day work weeks.  I don't.  I have a three day thirty hour week.  This week I have a five day fifty hour week.  Only one more work day, then two days off.  I'm looking forward to those days off and the paycheck. Speaking of paychecks, I mentioned that I was told I would be getting a bonus for my five year work anniversary.  I did.  I'm happy with it, and I'm setting it aside for some upcoming expenses. Instead of fingerloop braiding again today I packed up some winter items and more things for the upcoming event.  I really want to rearrange my bedroom and these things will help me do that. Cats for the picture tax.  👇🐱 Mochi & Kayden. ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Faith , by T. Kingfisher. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

 June 25th Some happy things from today: Normally Thursdays are the last day of my work week.  This week Thursday marks three out of five days.  My work week is over halfway through!  Yay!  That said, work was a good balance of steady, with a few minutes of not enough thrown in to balance the oh my, we are swamped times.  😂 There was pizza after work so I didn't go home hungry. Now that I have figured out the fingerloop pattern I am going to try to make a bunch of them as potential token cords.  Hopefully it won't get too boring for you, the reader, or for me.  🤪 ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Faith , by T. Kingfisher. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

 June 24th My happy Wednesday things: When I arrived home from work, Mochi, one of the cats, was stretched out by the door.  She loves to be at the door to the point that I've had to push her out of the way to get by when my hands are full.   This position is not what I expected! 😂 Keziah and our friend/housemate are preparing to attend Market Days in Concord, NH to sell their art projects.  They set up in the backyard by the firehouse to get an idea of where to put things.  I'm excited for them and hope they do well. Kez Cottage Studios and Interior Aggression. After watching more videos on fingerloop braiding I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. The easiest way I can say is that I was taking the regular braid and going upside down AND backwards.  I was only supposed to go backwards.  Not that that matters.  I figured it out and made a cord!   The long dangly bits at the end I will probably cut off.   ☮ Continu...

 June 23rd It is going to be a long couple of weeks while I put in extra time at work.  Here are some happy things from today: My five year anniversary at work was officially on June 19th.  I wasn't scheduled that day, but I did do some extra hours.  I got an automated congratulations on my work app. Today a supervisor came over with congratulations and let me know that I should be getting a bonus.  Hopefully that will be on my next paycheck, I don't expect much.  I also got a new badge with an orange/gold-ish border. [Picture at the end because the app isn't behaving.] At home I was thrilled to see dirty dishes, plates specifically, in the sink.  I know, it sounds weird.  We still don't have a central table to have a meal at and most people bring their food to their room to eat.  We have been mostly out of plates for a little bit.  So, yes, I was happy to load the dishwasher with plates today.   I purchased some new storage co...

June 22nd Here are some happy things for today: Yesterday and last night I got a fair amount of sleep. This morning from around 8-9 AM I got a section of the lawn mowed. The lawn mower mostly stayed on this time. Last time I tried to mow, it didn't want to stay going.   I mowed part of the lawn! My next task was going to the studio. Keziah and I have been filling the minivan with things that should be at the studio. I got about half of the boxes out and up both flights of stairs before I decided the rest could wait for later. Then I rested until my former protégé/deputy treasurer arrived and we worked on SCA treasurer stuff. Hopefully I am caught up now. Before bed I got to talk with TF for a short time. It is always good to talk with her. I had hoped to get to Texas for a short visit, but that probably won't happen. So phone calls it is! ☮ Finished listening to: Paladin's Hope , by T. Kingfisher.  Started listening to: Paladin's Faith , by T. Kingfisher.  ...

 June 21st Happy things from today: More of my room got organized.  There are definitely things I'm just pushing to the side for another day, but I'm pleased with the little progress I'm making.  I also organized the cabinet I use in the second kitchen and claimed an empty shelf there for my food as well.  I tend to buy things in bulk, so one cabinet wasn't enough. Part of cleaning and organizing my room including packing for the camping event coming in a few weeks.  Most of my garb, bedding, tent, and archery equipment is ready to go.   There is supposed to be rain coming tomorrow so Amy and I decided to walk at Livingston Park today instead.  She has been visiting her family in the south and we haven't seen each other in a while.  It was great to catch up.  She showed me pictures of her three grandchildren.  The youngest one just celebrated his first birthday.  Such a lovely family.  Walking today didn't keep us out of t...

 June 20th Here are some happy things from today: Part of my room is neater.  I'd love to say that I got rid of a bunch of things.  Mostly,  I organized my headboard. I'm hoping for the energy to do more tomorrow.   When I moved a puzzle that I was given over the holidays I decided to open it and see what I might be up against.  The wooden pieces are very unique.  Some of them have some kind of design on both sides.  I look forward to doing this someday.  There was archery practice at Stephanie's today.  The very first arrow I shot hit the gold.  Unfortunately after that first round things went a little downhill for my shooting.  At some point I realized my arm was sore.  It was fun.  Some of the new people were there, but it wasn't as busy as the last time I went. The first round. My first shot with the other arrows removed. A picture of the ceramic piece I wrote about yesterday. ☮ Continued listening to: Paladi...

  Happy Juneteenth! For some odd reason (like I want to make more money) I worked about three hours this morning.  It was nice to be able to help out, but I was happy to get back home and go back to sleep while the sun rose. Today marks five years for being at that job/with that company. Here are some other happy things from today: Driving home from work the predawn sky was lovely.  Keziah had some boxes for me to sort through.  Bel helped and I was able to put some things into a box to donate as well as throw away some things.  Yay downsizing!   I don't remember where I got this. It was still in the box. I've decided to keep it and enjoy it for a little bit for now. I'm looking at it as a symbol of letting go of things. Keziah art from when she was twelve. She earned a third place ribbon at the Deerfield Fair. My mom used to work at Ames.  I placed this over Keziah's pottery area she is creating in the Firehouse building on the property. I paint...

 June 18th My short list of happy things from today: The official work week is over.  I'm contemplating picking up a couple hours tomorrow.  At this time, I'm looking forward to the weekend. A short storm came through a little bit ago.  The sky darkened, the wind blew strong, and then rain started to fall.  It was quite lovely while it lasted.  Then the sun came out again.  It was much like what my Aunt Marjorie would have called a ‘clearing shower.’  Technically it wasn't one though because we are still expecting a more severe storm. Just before the short storm I was walking out to the chickens to talk with Bel.  The leaves were blowing and curled up on some of the trees anticipating the rain.  Anyhow, I noticed that many more flowers were blooming on the Catalpa tree. The Catalpa is the one on left over Bel and the chickens.  I think the one to the right of it is also a Catalpa tree but not quite on the same bloom cycle.  I'l...

 Happy things from today: Next week will be a full five day work week.  I'm really glad that this work week is two-thirds over.  I'm already thinking about the weekend and making lists of things to do. The plant life I saw today that made me smile are the daisies.  They are just a happy flower to me. The plant life I saw that I am pleasantly surprised about are the orange hawkweed/devil's paintbrush.  They are in the same picture as the daisies. The plant life that I saw and had to ask Google Lens 'what is this' are the Catalpa trees.  I looked across the field at the large trees and noticed the flowers.  Then went to investigate.  If I am correct, it looks as though there will be many more flowers soon on the trees.  I read enough about the trees to find that the best use seems to be providing shade.  In this case, the shade is for the chickens.  ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Hope , by T. Kingfisher.  Continued to read: ...

June 16th Here are some happy things from today: This one is kind of weird.  I remembered to trim my nails before going to work last night.  When they get too long, they get in my way and break, often in a painful way.  I'm happy I thought to cut them. It was a fast paced work night.  I worked almost twelve hours and it didn't feel like more than ten.  😅  My step count is just under 18,000 for the day so I guess I moved around a bunch.  Some plants I noticed today in the yard include what Google Lens thinks is a Deutzia crenata or Crenate pride-of-rochester.  It is a deciduous shrub and the bees seem to like it. Another plant Google Lens thinks is a primrose.  It is a volunteer in a place that I will most likely need to pull or relocate near the whorled loosestrife.  I'll need to pull or move some of that as well.  I'm already behind on lawn maintenance here, but I'm enjoying learning about some of what is growing.  The last p...

June 15th Here are some happy Monday highlights to my day: The start to my day (after trying to avoid the start for a while 😏 ) included cleaning and some unpacking.  It was a good, productive start. Somewhere around lunchtime Zed, Gideon, and I had a fascinating conversation about Star Trek and the Prime Directive.  Now I want to start watching the show again.  😄 I ended my day with a walk that included enough deer flies, mosquitoes, and ticks that I took a shower when I got home. I'm still happy I went for the walk, maybe next time I'll remember insect repellent! 😂 A few weeks ago I went for a walk and turned around before I wanted to because it was getting late.  Today's walk I continued along that trail.  There were other turns I could have taken. The one I chose led to places where I actually lost the trail.  Thankfully the Gaia App helped me find it again.  I should have taken more pictures.  Here are what I have: This is where I entere...

 June 14th Here are some happy things from today: One of the NY Times games that I sometimes play is called Letter Boxed .  I'm not going to try and explain it all right now.  However, the goal is to create words with the letters provided.  In this case it suggested trying to finish it in six words or less.  I finished it in two words.  I'm pleased with that result. One of the people in our household turned 17 today.  To prepare for the birthday gathering I tried doing more cleaning of and around the pool.  In the process I spotted a frog.  Another household member helped me to re-home the little guy to a tree.  That seemed appropriate since Google Lens identified it as a tree frog. There was also a lovely butterfly fluttering around.   There is purple cow vetch growing near the tree where we put the frog. Most of the rest of my day involved cleaning or relaxing.  I didn't attend the party for very long.  I'm trying t...

 June 13th Some happy Saturday things: One of the things I wanted to do was mow the lawn.  Very little was mowed.  The mower kept stalling.  Eventually I gave up.  However, it is a gas mower and I was able to pull the rope to start it.  We have a battery one that is still at the other house.  I'm happy I could start that gas one though, hopefully we will figure out the problem. Bel taught me some about the pool maintenance today.  We spent some time trying to clean it more.  I did a bunch of pool vacuuming.  It still doesn't look clean, but the water tests that Bel is using say it is clean enough.  Hopefully I'll remember what I was taught tomorrow.  Most of the day I feel like I spent trying not to melt.  My bedroom got to 89° F today.  Before I went to bed (where I promptly fell asleep before finishing this) the temperature was down some thankfully.   ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Hope , by T. Kingfi...

 June 12th Some happy things from today: Keziah and Bel went strawberry picking with a friend this morning.  Fresh berries on my morning cereal was a lovely treat. Bel and I went for a nice short walk in Concord today.  It was buggy in the woods but not in the open.  The river was pretty.  When I sat back down in the car I noticed some kind of a little inch worm on me.  I set it free on a leaf. Canada geese.  Google Lens has this as being some kind of serviceberry. The inchworm. I found a strawberry patch in the yard.  It is, unfortunately, where the dogs play.  Maybe we can move some of the plants in the fall. Strawberries  Whorled loosestrife. ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Hope , by T. Kingfisher.  Continued to read: No Time Like the Past , by Jodi Taylor.  Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!