All that sparkles

Snow is something we had a lot of for the last few weeks.  We had a storm that brought us about 8 inches... and then second was a dud coming in around 3 inches. 

It was nice because it meant having a white Christmas which really makes the day festive and keeps the dog from getting muddy.  (A dog covered in snow is much more welcome in my house than one covered in mud!)

Then with the blink of an eye it all melted.  I mean ALL of it.  I admit I was happy to see the grass again and feel the squish of the ground under my shoes, but at the same time I am already wishing to have the snow back. 

Snow can be a pain... the shovelling, driving in snow can stink, and being stuck in the house because of snow isn't my favorite.  But when you look at snow from a different angle it can bring happiness.  (You knew that's where I was going with this... didn't you?)  Go ahead... roll your eyes.   But, I stand by what I said.... snow = happiness!  Let me show you how.

First of all with all of these dark east coast nights, (drive to work in the dark and return in the dark) you have to find a reason to begin to appreciate the snow in the dark.  It may be a strech, but just look at how pretty snow can look under a flood light in the dark.

It sparkles!!  Like diamonds!! 

Here's another one... how can you say that sparkles don't make you happy?  I bet you are already coming to believe me even if only a tiny bit more. 

Remember a few months ago we were talking about leaves and raking and jumping in leaf piles?  Where have all the leaves gone?  I'm still not sure what leaves do for the winter, but this one looks stunning on a background of sparkling snow with a drop of ice on it!  Stunning!

Of course this snow adventure comes with one snow loving dog.  Dogs (and this one in particular) never cease to amaze me.  Katie really can find the fun in anything.  She is like my teacher.  I say snow... blah!  She says snow... wheee!!  So, me being the looking for happy lady that I am, decided to put the two of us outside in the snow to figure out what that happy looked like.  She really makes snow look good!

As our snow playdate went on we ran around and chased leaves, all the while looking for snow tracks.  I warmed up tremendulsy from all the sillyness!  And I found that deep appreciation for all things snow that I know I had as a kid.  We even found some tracks (so hard to not have Katie stomp them before I snapped a photo -- trust me they didn't last much beyond this picture).  Looks like they may be kitty tracks?

So, next time the weather man promises snow, I bet I will be more whee! as I think about how much fun I will have with Katie after the storm exploring a winter wonderland!

Apple stinkin pie

There is something about apple pie that always makes me happy.  From the moment I pick out the apples and all the way through to putting that first bite of warm pie in my tummy. 

I made an apple pie on request for Thanksgiving (yes I realize that was already eons ago) and snapped a few pictures along the way.

So here is a feast for your eyes... apple pie... happy style!

Any apple pie starts with -- you guessed it -- apples!  I like to use 2-3 types of apples to give my pies flavor, texture, and tartness.

Pictures here are granny smiths and cortlands.  Just look at that tiny reflection!

You have to take the skins off the apples.  I peel my with a peeler all at once.  Then I core and quarter the apples.  At this point it becomes hard to tell which ones were which.  I decided to do something a little special with this pie and slice the quarters with the slicer for uniform pie pieces. 

Something about putting all those slices in the shell... made this amazing slice.  Well.. I'll tell you more about that when we get there.

Once all the apples are sliced they end up in a big bowl and I begin to sweet and spice them.  Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper (remember I told you before I spice everything), and a pinch of salt.  Yup, that's basically it.  Then give the slices a toss to mix it all up.  And dump the apples in the pie crust. 

Crust... that's a whole other thing.  The one pictured uses butter and crisco... plus it's a cheddar crust.  Cheddar cheese just makes apples dance in your mouth!  Yes, I actually put shredded cheddar into the crust.  Heavenly!

Just look at that mound of delicious tart and spicy apples.  Happy yet?

Keeping in mind this was a fancy pie... I had to make a lattice top and fancy forked edges. 

Here's a little peak at those apples all nestled into their crusty home which is about to be warm and golden!  I think you can see the cheddar bits in the crust too!

Then for an extra surprise... brush the crust with water and then sprinkle sugar on that.  
Uh huh.. I know you are getting happier just thinking about making or eating one of these!  Do you see that sugar?

Pop it in the oven... let the crust brown and the filling getting bubbly.  I use a bit of foil to keep the edges from burning.  Once you get it out of the oven -- have your Thanksgiving golden guard your now prized pie while it cools outside (drives your neighbors nuts) in the autumn air.

The finished pie looked something like this.  A bit extra brown in some spots (ok burnt)... at this point I am still getting used to the oven in the new house, but the way we were eating it... you would have thought it was the most amazing thing we ever ate. 

Flaky light crust... touch of sugar hits your tongue quickly followed by those spicy apples I talked about so much.  Some of us put whoopsie cream on top as my grandpa would have said (that's whipped cream for those you who didn't follow).

All of us found ourselves smiling!

I would like to offer that a specially made apple pie = happiness!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with laughs and smiles!

Hope you find yourself happy and passed out under the tree tonight from all the joy:

Music to your ears!

Today a huge smile was on my face on my drive in to work. 

Sounds crazy ... I know. 

But, I'll share a little secret with you.... ready?

... for me hitting the right music on the way in makes all the difference in my day. 

Their is a party music station that has been kinda bad lately;  but not this morning.  This morning the DJ was mixing through a bunch of old party-dance classics... and then some how worked Offspring into the mix.  Fantastic!!

I had the radio loud... my shoulders bopping... and that big silly grin on my face.  I must have been a sight to other drivers.  When I got a funny stare, I just mouthed, "don't come too much closer.... happiness is contagious!" 

Ha!  Ok, so I really didn't mouth that to other drivers, but that would have been funny to do, right?

Today:  Happiness = good tunes to start your day with a smile!

Music sure to put a smile on my face:  Sublime, Live, Dave Matthews, and that Sweet Home Alabama song.  Oh and that song about Pouring Sugar... that's good stuff!!

Recharge!

Ahhh... vacation.  Time to recharge, sleep in, and find new ways to reach happiness!

I took a much needed break to do this and man 'o man am I back!  I have some pretty neat things to share with you too!

So, what does recharging look like?  Let me dig through some photos and see if you agree that they are the definition of recharging....

Here... we... go!

Recharging is seeing a row of kissing balls and thinking about how much you want to smooch!

Recharging is drinking a cold one in the sunshine!

Recharging probably means a lot of different to each of us.  It's funny too... my idea of recharging my batteries is mingling in a huge room full of funny, smiling people!  Ok, I'll take them even if they aren't funny.

One last try at it.

Recharging is your favorite goldie with a tiny little ribbon-bow around her head!

Tell me the last one doesn't recharge you and I send a doc over pronto... to check your head.

Ya, she melts me every time!!

And I've got plenty more where that came from! 

Glad to be back :)

Hike some more

Now that it's snowing today, I am thinking even more about how I am already missing hiking!  Here are a few more pictures from what seems like the last hike of the season. 

The water was very high during the hike... and how cute are those little bubbles?

Hee hee.... it's a Katie shadow.  Just look how happy her tail looks being outside and on an adventure with her parents!



*Sigh* Hiking will be missed till spring, but in the meanwhile we can satisfy ourselves with snowball fights, frozen pond walks, and hot cocoa by a fire!

Hut Hut Hike

Ok, maybe not the kind of hike you thought you were coming to see. 
But, it was such a pretty day.  And honestly their is nothing in the world like a walk in the woods with my dog and husband to clear my head, refresh my energy, and put a huge goofy smile on my face!
This was a the path which started us on our mini adventure!  Just look at those cliffs!!

Couldn't resist the tree twins!

Of all the times I have been hiking at Sam's Point.  I have taken a million and five pictures of these signs and this is the first one that I absolutely adore! 
Good sunlight.
Good contrast of colors. 
Bright beautiful sky in the background!

This was along the way of the loop that we were doing.  It was a bit on the wet side, but this is one of the places we take Katie to play in the water. 
She was a bit bummed that we weren't taking her, but quickly got over it!

Doesn't this look like a mini bonzai tree?  I know I have seen this tree a million and five times, but for some reason it really stood out to me this time. 

So lush and green again the naked trees?

Or maybe it was the azure color of the water which made the difference?

Either way... it's inpiriring and flat out gorgeous!

I have a few more pictures coming, but couldn't resist getting these posted as quick as I could!

Enjoy!  Be inspired!  Talk a hike!

Paint me in love

Lately, happiness has come to me in strange forms.  Well, not strange, but different.  Which is ok since it doesn't really matter what form happiness takes, right?  Just matters that you have a whole huge gob of it in your life.  Well, and you have to stop to enjoy and appreciate it... a lot!

So, what does happiness look like?

Well, a few days ago it looked like this:

Yup. 

Paint! 

After so many years of renting and many years before that of not really being able to paint my own room I have painted my first room in my house.  It's a magical. no wonderful. even maybe a fantastical thing!

The first room ended up being the kitchen.  Which is good stuff, since that's the heart of the home. 

The color picked was Natural Wicker. 

Not very daring.  Not very out there... but man it warms up the room.  And my kitchen has very intense and saturated red tiles for the floor.... which means I couldn't do anything too crazy on the walls.  (wait till you see the art work I find! -- going to be a whole other story since I haven't found it yet.)

I may have goofed off a little...

But you can't blame me, can you? 

It's funny too... since Mr. Happy walked in while I had this on the wall and I thought for sure I was caught.  But, I don't think he noticed it.  Heeheehee.  Sneaky of me, right?  Now that wall will say I love him... forever!  Romantic!  Happy!

I am lucky to have a husband who goes along with my crazy ideas.  He's pretty cool too!  

I think the color came out nicely and now that my arms don't feel like noodles any more I am ready to paint some more.

I think the next room will be the master bedroom. 

Bet you didn't think you could find happiness in a can?

Oh Deer

The country life is suiting us rather well so far.  It's been two months now in the new house.  And it's moments like the one I am about to share that make me very happy.  We have the privilege of sharing our property with lots of guests. 

Squirrels. Birds. Chipmunks. Skunks. And yes, deer.  (oh and I still think we may have coyotes... but Mr. Happy doesn't encourage my talk of coyotes.)

Ok, so I know the deer prance through our yard often.  Katie tells me so.  And, in the early morning I can sometimes see them having their breakfast. 

Look very closely in the middle of the photo -- they really blend in -- but you can see here this deer is looking right at me. 

In this one you can see the silhouette of two deer... a mom and baby... standing at the top of the rocks with the sky behind them.  Again, it takes a bit of focus, but well worth the patience to see them!

Alright, last one.  Here the momma is the only one standing now at the top of the rocks. 

It's incredible how trusting they were.  I initially saw them from inside and was amazed to see four of them roaming around.  They lingered, so I decided to try and quietly open the door to try and get a picture or two.  I opened the door... ever so slowly... and they didn't budge. 

I quietly tiptoed to the edge of the railing so that I could get a close up... and they didn't budge.

I watched them for a good 15 minutes in awe... and they didn't budge.

At this point Katie was inside demanding to come out.  demanding.  So, I decided it's ok if I make a bit of noise to move along the deer.  After all it is Katie's yard and all she wants to do is sniff them.  

So I clap a few times... and they don't budge.

I'm thinking, these are some crazy brave deer! 

So, I hoot and holler, and clap, and stomp.  I'm talking serious crazy mayhem type noise! (side note.  the neighbors must have seriously gotten a kick out of my show if they were around to watch.)... and yes the deer continued to ignore me. 

These aren't the skiddish fearful deer I have known growing up. I think I have a lot to learn about country deer. 

Almost seems like I can learn a lot from country deer too.  Maybe crazed hooting and hollering isn't the best manners in which to welcome a neighbor in my yard. 

Oh.  And just imagine the story the deer is telling.

Frosted

So, you know the drill by now.  I look around me constantly and try and find the happy things going on.  I snap a picture and then bring them here to share.  Well.  Once in a while I catch a picture just right and I think I blow my own mind.

Check out this dying mum flower from the morning I took pictures of the frost.  whhoooow.

We live in an ahhhmazing world, don't we?

This first one is by far my favorite, but these just make my jaw drop.  Something about the detail of the little crystals against the beautiful sunlight and the brilliant colors of the fading flowers.  Sometimes I truly just get lucky!

Promise you'll look around you next time your out and about?