Vacation Highlights

Mr. Happy and I took a recent vacation to a large 1800's Victorian bed and breakfast.  We're talking no TV, no radio, amazing food, and lots to do outside.

It's over a week later and I am still managing to hold on to that deeply relaxed and rejuvenated feeling!

Here are the highlights:

View from the balcony.  Took my breath away especially when the sun was coming up over the water in the morning.  Sleeping in held no value when there was such a beautiful world right out the window!

View of the Mohonk House from one of the high hiking trails.  (Looks like the hotel from "The Shining" doesn't it?  And the movie "Road to Wellville" starring Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Broderick was taped here in 1994)

This fire tower was the reward for one of the steeper hikes!  It was even more of a surprise to learn we could climb the interior stairs to the top and see all around!

View from the lake while on a row boat.

The fall setting made the already amazing views and scenery that much more seasonal!

Did a lot of kicking up my feet and taking it all in!

Ok, so this technically wasn't our honeymoon (we technically haven't had one yet), but I told the wait staff this was sort of our honeymoon and that I wanted to surprise Mr. Happy with a little something special.  They came out with candles on our dessert and sang us happy honeymoon!

All of the food was so delicious and this was the perfect sweet way to end our relaxing get away!

Tomorrow I will show you the greenhouse that we toured and all the divine plants and flowers we took in!

Alligator kind of Monday

Sometimes you look up and it's an alligator kind of Monday.

See ya later alligator,
after a while crocodile.

This week, I have a berry nice popscicle recipe, I will show you the crochet project I completed recently, and I am sure I have some doggy photos to make you smile! 

Hope your week is starting happily!

Take a Walk

Sometimes all you need is a walk to clear your mind and put you in a happy state of mind.

Mr. Happy and I walked on the Walkway's Across the Hudson River -- very cool stuff!! 

Here is the entrance to the converted railroad bridge.

It's official name is Walkway Over The Hudson.  I believe it is also a state park.

I had lots of unique photo opportunities.  I really like the contrast of what looks like a backward flag and the black chain link fence.

We kept marvelling at how it seemed like we were walking in the tree tops (since the bridge is so tall and the trees start waaaay below on the ground).

It was really a beautiful day for a walk.  Just look at this sky!

As we walked along we started to get a glimpse of the Hudson River.

Looking to the left was a park and another bridge.  Pretty stuff!

It never fails to impress me.... I live in such a pretty place.

Or I like the look of water.  Very calming.  It's pretty to see all the shades of blue together too!  The sky, water, clouds, and even land seems to have a blueish tone to it.

Another look at the bridge as we were nearing the center of the span.

(Not to take this lightly; I understand it's mean to help a potential jumper), but there are days that I could really really use this same type of sign in my office.

The center of the walkway held a plaque.

The plaque talked about the engineers who made this project happen.  Whoop whoop!!  Engineers!! 

Couldn't get enough of the bridge and the currents that you could see below it.

Flag in the wind.  Beautiful sight!

Where have you walked lately?

Did you notice that walking (and talking) can really clear you mind and let your frustrations fly away in the wind?

Blue Skies

What do you do when traffic is getting you down or stopped rather? 

Why, take pictures of the perfecting ahh-mazing blue sky above you.  Right?

And then realize how dirty your windshield is.  And push the button to lower the window to get a better shot.

And then notice how pretty a cloud looks.

These tree's are pretty, right?  Of course the reflection in the windshield makes me laugh.

May as well use a little stopped time to find a reason to smile!

Crank up a good song and take in the neat things around you.

Rainbow Spotting

On my way home yesterday and I spotted a rainbow!

Well it was less of a full rainbow... and more of a colorful spot in the sky.

Now, don't tell anyone, but I took these snaps while I was driving... I know -- shame on me! But I promise I just turned the camera on (which can do with one hand) and then just pushed the shudder button and hoped for the best.

No real aiming or anything. Not back for pictures from a moving car while driving!

When I see rainbows I automatically think of good luck, leprechauns, and pots of gold. Even at that I can't 100% put my finger on why, but rainbows do make me happy and I always feel special that I was able to see one!

As I kept driving home I started to loose the view of the rainbow because the sun was getting lower and the trees started blocking my special colorful friend.

I found myself day dreaming about colors. What color should I paint my craft room walls? What color should my kitchen be painted to compliment the red tile floor?

I still have no clue, but wouldn't it be cool if their was a color called rainbow? Then every time I saw those walls a big grin would come to my face!

Folks coming to the house may not get it, but I bet it would still make them smile!

Happy Spot Hump Day: Top of Slide Mountain

Climbing and finally reaching the top of Slide Mountain = happiness!
(making it back to the car was pretty cool too!)

As we bounced up the mountain we were surrounded by leafy trees and low brush as we walked up the loose stone trail. The trail had quite a bit of mountain water flowing over it. Walking along the trail sounded something like "splosh, splash, plop. splosh, splash, plop."

We passed a DEC ranger on the way up which lead me to day dream a bit on how he had the coolest job ever! He even had a fantastic, rugged, boy scout looking uniform with colorful patches and a professional looking ruck sack!

As we neared the top we started to see the sky (see yesterday's post)! That was an odd relief. It was only 2 1/2 miles of hiking to the top, but I think we went up 2500 feet which complicated matters and maybe made it feel longer? Or I am just a bit out of shape? Of course I could blame it on the water and loose stone we were walking on, right?

The top was fantastic! It did smell a bit like an incense stick, but it had a great open space with a large rocky cliff that made for a great picnic area. Spicy grilled chicken sandwiches and chex mix really hit the spot!

I have been hiking for as long as I can remember. Mr Happy and I even shared an 18 or 20 mile hike as our first date! But I'm stumped to think of another hike that gave me more satisfaction about reaching the top of a mountain. It sounds cheesy, but it was exhilarating to know I conquered that mountain! Who's ready to do it again?

Trees and Sky

Knowing you are near the top of the mountain because you can start to see the sky = happiness!

Climbing Slide Mountain was one heck of a climb. We sloshed through water, mud, and loose stone all the way to the top while at a steady angle almost like this / Honest it was steep! My legs were burning and their was no end in sight until we started to see the beautiful blue sky! What a relief!

I'll show you what the top looked like tomorrow!

Happy Spot Hump Day

Gazing up at a blue sky filled with fluffy careless clouds = happiness!

It's Wednesday and time to think about your happy spot. Today I am daydreaming about laying on a blanket in a field, or on a rock, or at a cliffs edge... and just daydreaming about what the clouds are shaped like.

The fun is not really knowing what you will see. Is it a rabbit, a bird, or a castle? Or how about a horse, or a sports car? Then as the cloud moseys on with the wind maybe the shape changes again?

What shapes do you see?

Hump Day Happy Spot

Closing your eyes and picturing a glorious sunset or sunrise unfolding in the sky before you = happiness!

It's Wednesday and time to think about your happy spot. Today my happy spot is Hessian Lake at a local State Park. I was there this past Friday for a great fireworks display. We got there in time to see the sun setting over the mountain and lake. Beautiful!! Go ahead work... just try and stress me out. It won't happen this week as I think about amazing sunsets I have seen.

One amazing sunset that is coming to mind is from my trip to Aruba last fall... you want to talk about AMAZING sunsets... they were absolutely breath taking. Strong pinks and red and oranges; dancing around the sky until the moment when the sun hit the water. *Sigh* Nope, just thinking about it melts the stress right out of my shoulders!

Where's your happy spot?

Fluffy Cloud

Remembering what a blue sky and big fluffy clouds look like = happiness!

Mr. Happy took this photo last weekend during the brief bit of sunshine that we had. Looking up at the gray sky today was making me bleh... but this photo reminds me how nice it was and gives me hope again!

Cheers to Friday and here's hoping you have a nice big blue sky where you are!

Happy Spot Hump Day

Closing my eyes and seeing one of my many happy spots in the middle of a meeting = happiness!

This was taken on a scenic viewing point along on the roads I travel frequently. A very lush and green view on to the Hudson river. And just look how darn cool those clouds looked!!

Ahh.... I am happier already just thinking about standing there!

Happy Spot Hump Day

Picturing your happy spot no matter what life throws at you = happiness!

This is another one of my happy spots! This lake is located along one of my favorite hikes at Sam's Point Preserve. The rocks are an intense red-orange, their are lots of places to dip your toe in the water, and when the sun is right this water looks deep ocean blue!

Definitely a spot I enjoy taking my dog for a swim. It would also be grand to have a few hours to read my book on a warm rock while looking over the lake!

Where's your happy spot?

Sterling Forest

Thinking of your happy spot when traffic, work, meetings, kids, neighbors find ways to get you to push your own buttons = happiness!

This, right now, is the happy spot that I think of when life is getting to be a lot to handle. This is a really cool fishing spot on the Orange Trail in Sterling Forest (for all you local NY'ers). It's serene, quiet, and breath taking. Thinking of this place helps me remember where my priorities are and my energy should be focused!

Evening Sky

Looking up at the sky to let you imagination wander after a long day = happiness!

Sometimes happiness is just a quick look away. Take a minute to look at what shape a cloud is.. is it a bunny or a firetruck.. or maybe to admire the contrast of the budding tree's against an evening sky. Feels good to slow down, doesn't it?

Dwarf Pines

Enjoying dwarf pines up close and personal on a sunny day = happiness!

This is another picture from my hike a few weekends ago to Sam's Point Preserve which is home to the rare dwarf pine. It's really something to be on top of a mountain surrounded by tree that make me feel tall!