2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 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!

 June 11th Some happy things from today: Perhaps it was yesterday's realization of how little sleep I tend to get.  Perhaps it was sheer exhaustion.  Either way I was able to get just over eight hours of sleep even with getting up for nature's call more than once.  My back was sore and my eyes still burned, but I got more than eight hours of sleep! Concerning the interim safety position I applied for, the rumor is that they are down to three candidates and I am one of them. In the yard I noticed what Google Lens thinks is some kind of spiraea, perhaps Reeve's spiraea.  On the side of the driveway are some multiflora. Spiraea. Multiflora  ☮ 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!

 June 10th Happy Wednesday things: First... unhappy that I got very little sleep last night.  Google Health now has all of my information from FitBit.  There was no choice.  Anyhow, according the app, I have had one day of at least eight hours of sleep in the last week.  For the last year, I have 64 days with at least eight hours of sleep.  I'm sure I slept without my FitBit on occasion, but not much.  All that said, I almost fell asleep on my feet today.  My happy is that I made it through my entire shift.  It would have been easy to use some of my unpaid time to go home and sleep. At home, Bel was working on the pool.  Some of the household went swimming and into the pool to clean it better. More of the peonies have opened.  There are also some bush sized cinquefoils that are starting to bloom. Peonies.  Cinquefoil. ☮ Continued listening to: Paladin's Hope , by T. Kingfisher.  Continued to read: No Time Like the Past , b...

 June 9th Some happy things for a tired Tuesday: Work was busy so it went by fast.  Since I worked about 11.5 hours, I'm glad it went by fast! My interview for the Interim Safety position I applied for was today.  Despite being really tired, I think it went well.  Now it is in the hands of the decision makers.   Corvidae showed me a cool thing her aloe plant is doing.  At one point the middle part of the plant broke off, now there is a new part starting to grow. ☮ 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!

 June 8th Some happy Monday things: In the DIY Craft & Thrift store closing saga, enough people came by the house this morning that I didn't need to help unload the UHaul.  I did still help for a little while.  There will be more things to do as they sort through things and then turn the store into a non-profit.  These things can be done over time, the rush is over… at least until it is time to reopen.  Phew! Around the house Bel taught me a little about what they have been doing to get the pool working.  The water was gross when we uncovered it earlier this spring.  Bel has done quite a bit to get it cleaned up and there have been obstacles in the way.  I've only been able to make suggestions so far.  I think there is some definite anticipation about getting to use the pool.  🏊‍♀️ While walking around the pool I found that the pansies have grown and are beautiful.  They mostly surround a blueberry bush!  And there are peo...