Let it Rain!

I don't really mean that.  In fact, I am not looking forward to rain at all.  I technically haven't had my fill of snow yet.  But... with spring on the brain, I couldn't resist these..

Do you know I haven't ever had a pair of rain boots?  So this is a real treat!!  And I got them at an awesome price.  

One step better?  I didn't wait till spring to break them in.  I took them for their first romp tonight.  In the backyard.  Through the snow.  With the dog.  It was a blast!!   Please ignore the rain, dirt, and leaves already on them.  But, I had to show you how awesome they are!!

 

 

Breaking the seasonal rules = happiness!

Stocking up on things that will make the April showers amazing = happiness!

Finding new ways to have a blast with the dog in the backyard = happiness!!

What do your rain boots look like?

I'm craving...

I'm craving ....

Oh.  Well that too... who couldn't use a little Katie time?
...but what I meant to say was ... DIRT!!  

And spring!!  Which means bulbs!!! 

This is what we are growing... It's an amaryllis.  The last time I grew one of these I got the leaves to come in... then... nothing.  No flower stalk.  No pretty flower.  So, we'll see how this one goes! 
I'm still excited to think that it could some much needed color while we are surrounded by nothing but all snow and gray!

Oh and I have to tell you that after I brought this home I saw this my own little excitement peaking out from the melting snow...

SQUEEEEE!!!  Tulips and daffodils peaking up!  Katie is the one who found them and nearly dug them up on me.  I told them to hang in and have a nice sleep for a few more months.  

(I'm not sure if that means that I may have planted them too shallow?  Either way, those sweet little plants are doing their job... making me smile like a big silly kid!) 
Bet you can't wait for spring either!

Getting my hands covered in dirt = happiness!



Starting to see the results of planting nearly 400 bulbs at my new house = happiness!



Thinking about how lovely spring is going to be = happiness!

That hits the spot!

Snickers really does satisfy --cliche I know... but I haven't had one of these in ages... and man 'o man.. what a simple and happy treat!!

I don't normally like to take pictures of chew marks, but I figured you would forgive me.  Now seriously give in.  Go enjoy your favorite chocolaty treat and smile!!

Eating something oh so good that reminds you of awesome times = happiness!

Random Rules!

I've been tagged by the lovely Carrie from Carrie Goes to Kilimanjaro with the Kreativ Blogger Award.  Thanks Carrie!!

This means I get to treat you to seven random facts about me.

Here goes:

1. I have silly nicknames for my golden retriever, like Choo, Moldy Goldie, Katie-Lady, Clucky, and Moo-shu.  Katie humors me and responds to all of them!

2. Not matter how funky my mood is... a hike in the wilderness will always turn that right around.  Hiking... or walking.. or the outdoors makes me feel energized and alive!  I also got married at one of my favorite hiking spots with my Darlin' Mr. Happy!

3. I have an unnatural knack for watching the same movie over and over again... and laughing at all the same jokes... and enjoying the movie much like I did when I watched it the first time.  I am still stuck on watching the movie 300!

4. I could live off of soup! 

5. I haven't found my dream job yet, but I am guessing it has something to do with dogs or the ability to bring my dog to work with me.  I'm thinking forest ranger.  

6. I almost always have my camera with me.  You never know when you might come across something happy!

7. I have a love affair with mangoes!  Fresh mangoes, green mangoes, dried mangoes... I suck on the seed... I even like mango juice!  

I now get to pass this fun on to these lovely ladies.  Go ahead and post seven random facts about yourselves.  It's going to be fun to read what you have in store!

Susan over at 29 Black Street

Jientje from Heaven is in Belgium

Iva from Iva Messy

Courtney from In(side) the Loop

Sarah from Yes and Yes

Dog Done

Here is your third edition of happy for the day ... as promised!

It's Friday.
It was a long week.
Nothing fixes a long week better than the big doggy grin!  Here it comes...



She looks this way...

Then that way... with a half wink...

Then lands into a full out full teeth happy grin!!

That's how Friday's make me feel too!!  Especially Friday's that start off three day weekends!!  



Happy Friday my sweeties!!  May your weekend be starting off a nicely as mine is!!  Hope you get a nice visit from the relaxation fairy shortly!!

Saa-weet!

This was an experiment of candy and dogs that was fun and I would say somewhat successful!
I was at the gas station recently picking up some junk food for a football game and I saw they had gummi cherries!!  Whoot!  It was like a blast from the past... I love those things, so naturally I snagged a bag. 
Well, long story short I am going to admit to playing with my food... a little bit.  I mean, that's what gummi cherries are for, right?  Playing?  It's fun to break off the stem, or pull apart the cherries. 
As, I was playing...errr, umm... eating... Katie was naturally interested in what I was doing.  So, I started making goofball faces at her through the teenie tiny gap between the stems.  (I know I must be certifiable to be admitting this).
But look how cute she looks through gummi fruit!! 

I only got an eye that time.  Let me realign and see if I can do a better job.

There she is!!!!  Two eyes and her silly big black nose, but darn.  Now you can't see her smiling.  You know dogs smile, right?

Tee-heee.... there's my goofball!!  Full smile and all.  This is fun! 
I was having some trouble getting her to stand still.  As you can imagine it's a bit challenging to line up your dog's full smile through your gummi fruit while taking a picture. 
Mr. Happy thought it would helpful to ask her to hold still.  Katie gets very serious when listening to Mr. Happy give commands.  Just look at the change in my goofball...

Serious indeed.  But either way this was a fun fruity and gummi experience.  Can I describe an experience as gummi?  Katie doesn't seem to mind gummi experiences ;)

Enjoying another take on ways to make silly faces at your dog = happiness!

Finding new ways to play with your food and share it with world on the internet = happiness!

Flak-key!

Yesterday was a flaky kind of day for me.  Too busy... too tired... and I didn't have any pre-written blogs to post up quickly.  To make up for it I have three things for you today! 



Speaking of flakes.... Snowflakes are really pretty incredible when you think about it!  Each and every one supposedly is a different design.  So, since we have a ton of the stuff.. I got really close to see what I could find.  


As usual I was amazed!!  These were taken at night.. I can only imagine how much more you would be able to see with light reflecting off them.

I can't get over how delicate they seem.  How each one has so much personality and detail.  And my brain gets dizzy trying to think about how many snowflakes it must take to make up the mounds that we have hanging around.  


Sort of like how each of us is so different, but takes all of us to make up this crazy place called Earth!

Remembering we are all unique and special... much like these snowflakes = happiness!

Here is another time I took a close look at frozen things: Tiny Crystals

Show me the PINK!

I saw the most amazing sunrise this morning.  Had to share the snaps I took quickly before I boarded the car to work!

Gorgeous!!

Breathtaking!!

Fantastic!!

Inspiring!!

Can you tell it really started my day right? *sigh*

Wishing you happiness wherever you are!!

French baked

Homemade french fries rock my socks off!!  

This happy is two fold.  1. I love anything potatoes and as you can imagine french fries, drenched in ketchup, is extreme comfort food to me! 2. I have been on a major make my own kick... and being able to make my own french fries from real potatoes.. not a freezer bag... is too cool!

To start...I grabbed some potatoes!  The real kind.  The kind that grew in dirt.  The kind you want to give a nice scrube before you start.  Yup.. I used them with the skins on!

Did I mention yet that I got a Mandolin for Christmas?  It sounds like a fancy musical instrument doesn't it?  Well, aside from singing loudly in the car or making up a funny little ditty for Katie my musical talents are low.  So, I'm glad it's not a musical instrument.

It is instead a really fancy (and sharp) kitchen tool!  It slices in all shapes and thicknesses!  It even has a cross blade that lets me turn potatoes into french fry straws!  Here is a big pile of potato after meeting it's match with the Mandolin!  Mr. Happy went through four potatoes in about 1 minute after deciding he should save me from the sharp monster!

Purdy, aren't they?  MMmmhhmm!!  You see those skins in there too?  Delishious-ness!

Step 2.  I took the straws, slices, fry wedges.... and toss them in my ever popular gigantic clear bowl.  Added a little extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and cheyenne.  Come on.. fess up... you saw the cheyenne coming, right?  Then I gave it a stir.. and a toss with my hands. 

Bonus, doing the mixing with your hands leaves them nice and soft.  That's the olive oil working extra hard for you!  (Just don't put any of the pepper or cheyenne in your eyes!)

HEY!!  Where'd my homemade fries go? 

Oh, right.  They went on to the pan.  But, you see that extra little goop in the bottom of the bowl?  Be sure to drizzle that over your fries!  Lots of good flavor in that little goop!

See, told you they were safe in the pan!  Arrange them so they are mostly flat.  I use a little foil in the pan to make clean up easier.   Dang!  These looks so professional!

Oh.. another secret of mine.  Make a lot at once.  This way you can put some in a freezer bag and shove it in the freezer.  So, the next time you have a craving for homemade fries... it's as easy as opening the freezer and putting those little jobbies in the oven! 

Here are my extras in a freezer bag awaiting my next craving!  Oh.. and don't forget to write the oven temperature and cooking time on the bag so you don't have to look it up when you want to make them.  Good secret, right?

And voila!! Nummy... tummy tickling fries!  Let me tell you.. these didn't last long! 

So, I am thinking since I used the oven to make them.. they are French Baked instead of French Fried, right? 

Adding a little french baked into my dinner menu = happiness!

Also, having a huge glob of cold ketchup to dip my fries in = happiness!

The View

I may be tired of the snow.  But you can't deny that this doesn't look like a postcard.  One of those perfect postcards that you might pick up from a ski slope souvenir shop.  But really.... this is the view from my living room.  Lovely no?

When we found this house and saw the BIG windows... we knew it was the house for us.  It was seriously one of the major selling points.  And from September till the first snow all Mr. Happy could say was that he couldn't wait to see snow in the window.  Well.  It's here now.  

Katie is reading my mind perfectly.  It's all pretty.  But, can you make it go away now?  We're dying to see how the tulips come up... and see the birds frolic.  Heck.. I'd be happy right now to be able to go out without my super duper warm professional snowboard get up.  Yes... I'm dreaming of getting my hands in dirt.. but the dirt is frozen.  So, till it's warmer I will admire the view. 

She's pretty ain't she?


Admiring the cold, snowy, icy, gusty, freezing winter from the warmth of my living room = happiness!


Proving that all it really takes is prospective (and a warm place to view) to see something better in the winter wonderland = happiness!