The List Goes On and On

Oh my, running behind again. It's that lazy factor that keeps raising its ugly head.  And now that it's cold and snowy, it causes me to just snuggle in my cozy chair and do absolutely nothing....maybe read or play a little Spider Solitaire...I did mention that is an addiction, right!?

And speaking of snow, we finally scored a decent amount, one that at least stuck to the trees and bushes. We have had snow but it has always been so light and fluffy that in my mind it wasn't quite photographable. I know that skiers prefer this texture but we photographers like that wet, sticky snow that clings to branches aka "heart attack snow". So #13 on my list of happies, is a good thick wet layer of snow.  Following with that my #14 happy is my neighbor with his "large" snowblower". It makes me very happy when I hear that snowblower roar and know that my driveway and sidewalks will be clear. He calls it his toy, I call it my savior.

Yesterday, after a very pleasant morning at Bible Study and a trip to Trader Joe's (I'll tell you about that later) I drove to the Riverwalk to wander and grab some photos of our pretty snow. I wore my heavy coat, but man, by the time I got back to the car I was a little icicle. Looked at the temp on my car thermometer and it was 17...no wonder my hands and fingers were stiff.  #15 is our lovely Riverwalk. Our city fathers have developed this beautiful walk along the DuPage River that is lovely any time of the year.

I know in my last post I mentioned something that was not on my happy list and that was my boob smashing event. Well, #16 is that I'm happy that my mammogram was normal....whew, that's always good to hear.

OK, so after Bible Study and before I drove to the Riverwalk I shopped at Trader Joe's for the necessities...flowers and a bottle of Villa Alena Moscato.  I guess I better mention that Villa Alena Moscato is my favorite wine, and yes it makes me happy....#17. I picked up a few other items, but what was prominent in my cart was a beautiful bouquet of pink roses and a double bunch of  deep pink tulips. As I was checking out, the cashier (male) asked if these were for Valentine's Day and did I have a sweetheart to share them with... Uh, no my sweetie passed away in September. Following was..."I'm so sorry, hope you are OK.."  I assured him that I was fine, he suffered a long time, he's in a better place etc. Now, here comes the "18, he asks me to follow him on my way out the door, he runs over to the flower section and picks up this absolutely beautiful orchid, presents it to me and wishes me well. Now who does that, except Trader Joe's. I am convinced the employees are given permission to share kindness to their customers.  That's not the only time I have been gifted by a TJ's employee, I've been given a bag of their dark chocolate peanut butter cups, a can of their delicious toffee at Christmas time, and when in Arizona the cashier gave me a TJ's shopping bag with Arizona emblazoned on the front.

I'm headed to Arizona in March for 10 days. I almost decided not to go this year because I am leaving on a Riverboat Cruise to the Netherlands March 25th....tulip time with 3 girlfriends. But I so enjoy feeling the warmth and sunshine and visiting with friends that I decided, what the hey, and booked my flight this week. Visiting Arizona is a definite happy #19. How could I pass up this...

Today I'm heading to the movies to see "The Phantom Thread" with Daniel Day Lewis. Later today, more snow is on the way, so our movie and dinner will come early.

Saturday is The Out of Chicago Winter Conference" in Joliet.....a definite #20. I have made lots of photography friends through this group and always look forward to learning and reuniting with good friends. More about this next week. And PS I broke down and ordered a new Nikon D850 camera this past week. Supposed to be phenomenal. I'm sure it will make my top #75.

Have a great and safe weekend all...

Until next time.....

Happy Post #8 - #12

Look at that tongue....Cinder isn't a tongue wagger unless she gets really hot and today was that day. She loves the sunshine but being almost all black her little body heats up pretty quickly. Today the sun was shining, the birds were out and about and Cinder was enjoying every last light beam she could handle before she became so hot that the tongue began to reveal itself. She would eventually give it up and jump off the couch to land where the beams weren't streaming. Very shortly tho, she would be back in that sunlight, basking again. Please don't remind me she needs a good groom, I know, she knows, and the groomers know. It's coming.  Cinder basking in the sun with tongue out is my #8 on the happy list.

Now you do realize that this list of 75 things that make me happy are in no particular order...please keep that in mind as my brain wanders through this list.

Yesterday 6 of us girls went to see "The Shape of Water". Have you seen it? All I'm going to say is the writer/director has quite the imagination. I did think both Sally Hawkins and Richard Jenkins were outstanding in their roles. Just a heads-up, you may come out of that movie theater with a big hmmmm. It's quite a journey.

Our WOW (Women on Wednesdays) Bible Study began again in January after our holiday break. Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of "Bad Girls of the Bible" and what a hoot she is. There is a video with each lesson and her descriptions and tales are a complete delight. Being with like minded women each Wednesday is always a delight whatever we are studying, but having Liz Curtis Higgs as our study guide makes my #9 happy list.

#10 has to be blooming plants indoors in February. Right now it is 14 degrees outside, but my blooming cyclamen plant is toasty warm inside on my table next to my winter chair with a pile of books to read.. I say winter chair because in the good ole summertime my wicker chair on the backporch is my summer chair. Both are my "safe havens" my "nests" my "relaxing" spots and my, yes, my "napping" spots. A  short snooze in the afternoon with those winter rays warming me is my #11 happy thing.

And #12 is my granddaughter's blog Cooking.Cats.Charisma  Bailey has quite a sense of humor and she loves to cook. Combine those 2 elements and you get recipes and a chuckle to boot. Check her out, you'll enjoy her witticism.

So tomorrow is boob smashing day...aka mammogram. This does not go on my list as a happy thing, along with Dr's appointments, colonoscopies, and trips to the dentist.

Until next time.....

To Continue....

If I'm going to list 75 things that make me happy before March 10th I better get this list movin'. But first I want to give a little shout out to all those that still flip on their Christmas lights every night and have their crispy, brown-tipped "fresh" wreaths still hanging on their doors. It's over people....give it up. I'm bad, but not "end of January" bad. Our weekend was up in the 50's so there is no longer an excuse. OK, I'm done with the bitchin'.

After bemoaning the fact that I have been very sad and tied to my I-PAD for hours on end, I have actually been quite busy and have had little time for playing Spider Solitaire....oh I didn't mention that did I?!  Don't and I really mean don't start, it is a true time suck. I couldn't understand when many became so addicted to Candy Crush, but I'm probably worse with Spider Solitaire. Hour upon hour upon hour, I feel like I should stand in front of a circle of like minded people and admit that "I Am A Spider Solitaire Co-Holic."  Please tell me that there are others out there who have such addictions, it would truly make me feel less obsessive.

Friday was Chicago Symphony Orchestra night with a lovely group of women. We purchased season tickets (3 in total) and have enjoyed meeting for dinner at a delicious restaurant, imbibing in a glass of wine and consuming a delicious dinner along with sharing a decadent dessert prior to the concert. The concerts are a tremendous delight and expands my knowledge of classical musicians and their great works. So that becomes #3 in my makes me happy list....my CSO night with the ladies.

#4 has to be the simply wonderful movies I've seen lately. I've probably told this story before, but when I was a child, around 7-8 years old, we lived on a rather busy street. My Mother would help me cross the street and I would walk the 3 or 4 blocks by myself to our local movie theater, pay $.10 for a ticket and sit thru whatever movie was playing that week until my Dad would pick me up on his way home from work in the evening. That is where my love of movies began. We didn't have TV in those days, so the movies became my favorite entertainment as a child.  This year there have been some outstanding movies that I've seen, "Wonder", every school age child should see this, "The Post" a timely movie considering what has been perceived as "fake news", "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MO" omg Frances McDormand is such a bad-ass actress. "The Darkest Hour" another brilliant performance by Gary Oldman, Winston perfection. I did see "Get Out" early last year when it came out....I must be too old to appreciate this kind of story. Maybe if I saw it again, I would have a better reaction. "Lady Bird" was good, but I wouldn't call it the best. I watched "Mudbound" on Netflix and again, it was just OK. Plans are to see "The Shape of Water" on Wednesday.  Thank goodness I have girlfriends that love movies as much as I do.

#5 Doritos or Fritos Scoops (not picky) and and Tostitos Salsa Con Queso. I have to physically grab my grocery cart keeping both hands on the bar so as to not reach out and grab a bag and a jar of these 2 treats that are like a narcotic binge for me. But I admit there are times when the urge is greater than the struggle and I give in. And as long as the jar still has even a dribble left, I am in binging bliss.

Capturing the sweet Junco outside my window always makes me happy, so this is my #6 (see photo above)

And *7 is tulips from Trader Joe's....what a welcome sight during these grey days. So much joy for $4.99.

OK, only 68 more to go. And I have a little over a month so stay tuned for this continuing list.

Happy Monday, have a great week.

Until next time....