2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 Happy final day of September 2026.   Last night we had a family meeting outside with a fire.  I'm still processing that.  However, until it got too dark to get it right, I whittled one of my broken arrows.  In hindsight I should have just used a pencil sharpener.  😂  The goal is to somehow attach the arrow to the mailbox, maybe with reflective paint, to make it easier to find the driveway. In order to still sleep before work, I used some time off and went late to work today.  It is amazing how much better things go when I have had a good sleep! Instead of more markers, I doodled some Zentangle with a colored pencil.  It was my intention to use lots of colors, but I just kept going with the light blue.  It is practice for whatever I do tomorrow.  ☮ Continued to read: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? , by Jodi Taylor. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things.

 Happy Michaelmas!  Here are some happy things from my day: There are some tables I have been hoping to get for the Hazardous Materials cage.  The ones in the cage have had a wooden top (pressed wood chips sort of thing).  That wood doesn't seem to clean well or some random chemical has made it kind of yucky.  New tables were put into Problem Solve and one of those old ones is now in Hazardous Materials.  They are stainless steel so much easier to clean.  I was only able to get one of the tables because there is electricity attached to the second wooden table so it has to stay.  Still, I'm happy with the one stainless steel.  After a brief rest at home I had some lunch and headed to the studio.  The friend that introduced me to Michaelmas traditions had some goose pate to share with friends.  I honestly don't care for the taste of goose, but I'll eat it on Michaelmas and feed that ancient tradition.  They let me bring some home...

 Some happy things from today: This morning I had a lovely conversation with Zed.  He is trying to start a business and it is fun hearing him talk about all the ideas and ways to make it work. I went to the studio for a little while.  I have a bunch of vinyl and tried to sew some up similar to my wallet.  I used an X-acto knife so my precision was off, but the concept seems to work.  It was a fun little side craft. The report I worked on last night is in the mail.  One thing off my plate! Weird cat... ☮ Finished listening to: Kiss the Ground , by Josh Tickell. Continued to read: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? , by Jodi Taylor. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things.

It was basically impossible for me to stay awake last night to write.  My brain pretty much shut down.  Here are some happy things from Sunday: The goals for the day were to spend as much time cleaning my room as possible before completing the report for the SCA that is due this week.  Happily I can say that I went through a good third-ish of my room organizing, rearranging, and carpet sweeping as I did.  However, the boxes to go through are many and there is a long way to go.  Progress was made including getting enough of my desk cleared off that it is somewhat usable again.  It was not a day that many things were purged, but it was a start. There was a lovely break in my day when TF called with some happy news and we continued to talk, as we do, for quite a while.  I wasn't as productive while on the phone, but was able to bring my bedroom work almost to a close so I could start the report soon after. While bringing some recycling outside I noticed o...

 Some happy things from today: Stephanie picked me up bright and early to go to an SCA event in Maine, Harvest Moon.  There is a large storm coming up the coast, but it took its time getting here.  There was some rain in the beginning of the drive and then it cleared up.  We had a lovely drive to the event site.    We went to the event for the archery tournament and it did not disappoint.  The targets were themed after Alice in Wonderland.  The wind was exceptionally strong, I had a hard time staying still when I tried to aim and shoot the targets.  I came in last (or close to it) and still qualified for the semi-finals.  When it was time to shoot, my arm and neck were aching and I didn't even manage to hit the target.  It was still a lot of fun. Stephanie advanced in the finals further than I did.  In the end, another friend won.  We got to spend some time with some of our friends.  One of my protégés was there too....

 Some happy Friday things: In preparation for October and what I hope will bring some kind of art, I bought an inexpensive sketch book.  It claims to be good for drawing and painting.  I look forward to putting that to the test. While attempting to clean and organize my room at least a little, I stepped outside to clean the filter from the window AC.  There are so many things that I notice differently depending on the season.  This morning I was looking up to see a maple tree shining with brightly colored red and green leaves.  It stands out quite beautifully with an oak tree behind it.  When I went inside I had Alexa play The Trees by Rush.  The first stanza in the song is sort of what I was looking at.  Because these are by the driveway and not a forest, the maple gets a bit more sunlight.   In the morning Bel and I got to spend some time together getting things from the old house.  Yep, it still isn't emptied.  That is...

 Here are some happy things from today: It was an odd day for me at work.  I went from feeling great, to being dizzy and lightheaded, to feeling fine off and on over the ten hour work shift.  I'm happy that I finished the day.  I'm happy, weird as it may seem, that others noticed and one of them walked me to the new head of Safety which then had me sit and rest.  I rested until I was antsy to get back out to work.   At home, I did my dishes from work, ate, talked with Bel for a few minutes, and went to bed.  Twelve hours later and I got a little over nine hours of sleep according to the app with my FitBit.  I woke up a few times, but always still felt tired enough to go back to bed and try to sleep more.  Yay for sleep! While talking with Bel I took this picture.  I think it is one of the rhododendrons.  Or maybe it is two right next to each other?  Red, yellow, and green are dappled together. ☮ Continued listening to: Kis...

 Some happy things from today: After work I was good and didn't fall asleep right away.  I'm working at not taking a break in such a way that I might drift into a nap.  I think that is making it harder to sleep later on.  I'm trying to do my work dishes and move on to eating my meal.  I'm usually able to stay awake for a little bit after eating.  I'm still working on the best timing. My friend, TF, called and we had a nice talk about Minecraft, health, and archery.  As soon as I got off the phone with her I remembered that October is coming and with that the art challenges.  In previous years I have attempted Inktober and most recently Inktober-Tangles .  TF has done some of it as well.  I want to do one or both of these again this year.  More art in my life is good.  In November I hope to rewrite the story I put down after last November.   Keziah was working on her pottery when I saw her this afternoon.  She st...

 Some happy things for the first day of autumn: The work day came in like a lion and out like a lamb!  It still left me exhausted, but it generally does.  It was a good work day. When I went outside at home to look for some seasonal changes Zed was working on a lawn mower.  I ended up helping him with that for a little while.  That was fun.  Sometimes I am amazed by what I know about yard machinery.  Other times I'm amazed by what I don't know.  😂  Today I was able to identify a few things that I'm not sure I could have earlier this year. While writing this I walked around the house.  The fresh air is a perfect temperature for moving around.  There are chipmunks scurrying, crickets chirping, birds singing, and acorns falling.  It is helping me stay awake while I write. Some pictures from around the house: I should stop putting the question mark there, I'm pretty sure that is what the tree is.  I love the dappled way the l...

 Here are some happy things for this last day of summer: Bel was kind enough to get up early this morning and help me unload some things at the SCA storage unit.  The best part was just having some time to chit chat on the drive with my youngest.  Most of the day was taken over by working on the paperwork from the event this last weekend.  I made great strides.  It took longer than I would have liked because I forgot how to put together a gate list since the last time I held this position.  😂  We are also being audited by the organization so I had to get a bunch of files together for that.  That was due today so I'm glad I remembered.  With the seasonal change I have been able to occasionally enjoy something pumpkin spiced or fall themed.  In the grocery store today there was egg nog.  Of course I had to get some.  Yum!   Moon rising by the trees. ☮ Continued to read: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? , by Jodi Taylor. T...

 Happy things from today: It started to rain this morning while Gideon and I were working at the event gate.  We had some great conversations with some people who walked by, checked in one person, and then I had an idea.  We cleaned things up and put out a sign for the gate to be at our cabin.  This helped us be warmer which was great! During the Baronial Court I officially became the Baroness' Champion of Archery and received the regalia for the office.  Keziah was not able to attend and received most of her items yesterday for being the thrown weapons champion, except the ax.  I accepted the ax for her during court.  The picture (thanks to Gideon) has me with the tabard and arm guard as well as the arm band that all champions get a version of.  I'm also holding Keziah’s ax. After packing out in the rain I was exhausted driving home.  Gideon helped me stay awake by talking about science theory vs law.   The party that had been plan...

 Happy birthday to my son-in-law Zed!  Here are some other happy things from today: My first task for today was to open the gate.  Thankfully all the people who said they would volunteer were able and more!  Some friends stepped in to fill the empty slots so that I could shoot archery today.  I'm so thankful for the help with that today. Before lunch, I made it to the archery range and got my bow inspected and was able to practice shooting a little.  Then I walked back toward the cabin, checked in on the people working at the gate, and noticed one of my protégés across the field fencing.  It turns out he was finishing up a challenge for the Forester's Guild.  He fenced for eighteen minutes straight with no breaks.  Other fencers took turns fighting him so he could do this.  He did and I'm very proud of him. Lining up to fence. Exhaustion.  Messing around after. Then I made a sandwich and headed back to the archery range.  I wal...