Day 23: Happiness is:

Spending time at WLBK 1360 with Terry Ryan and Scott Zak.

Terry Ryan at the Boards

The pay-off of a silly wager.

Several staff members from the DeKalb Public Library came over to Sycamore Public Library to grill us lunch after the DHS football team lost to SHS football in the local cross town classic. Patrick brought the grill and Dee brought the food. Veggie burgers, hamburgers, and hot dogs were grilled for everyone.

Edith and Darcy

Sitting down to lunch is a great way to get to know one another. It's an opportunity to talk and laugh. It has been suggested that we have a grill day at least once a year. I think that's a great idea. We don't even need to wager as far as I'm concerned.

Happiness is being social.

Day 22: Happiness is:

Deciding what to do in the Pumpkin Fest Parade.

Taking off your dress shoes at the end of a long day.

Making a Bacon, spinach and tomato sandwich for dinner.

The bacon is nitrate free already cooked from Trader Joe's. I heat it up and add spinach and grape tomatoes from my garden. In the upper left is the yummy muskmelon that also came from the garden.


And happiness is going to bed when you are tired.

Lady's eyes are aglow

There are other things that make me happy through the day. My plan was to make this a photo journal of daily happiness so some moments have not been included because they did not come with a photograph.  Things like: This morning I sat with my coffee looking out at the morning light, Bear in my lap, and Lily and Mitsy next to me. That was a peaceful happy moment. On the way home from a meeting in Warrenville, I stopped to take a photograph of a farm and stopped again on my way home from work. Those are pleasing happy moments. Mostly these days those stops make me happy because I stop. I stop to take the photo, my version of stopping to smell the roses. Yes, those stops came with photos, but the images sit on my camera waiting for me to download them.)

What do you stop for and why? What pleases you so much that you will be a few minutes late for work or a little later getting home?

Day 21: Happiness is:

Getting home after a long day. Unwinding with a Blue Moon, and going to bed.

This was one of those days that wasn't really bad, it just is nice to be at the end of it.

I send prayers and peace to Candi and her family and to Diane and her family. May you find happiness in your memories and always feel the love that is meant for you.

Day 20: Happiness is:

Walking downtown Sycamore on a breezy sunny afternoon.

Greetings from Sycamore

Yes, I was shooting the clouds

Happiness is finding fun stuff for painting with light at the Dollar Store.

Happiness is taking notice of the little things in life. Running into people you haven't seen in a while.

Or Stopping to photograph the early morning fog on your way to work.

Or the streams of light through the trees and smoke on your way home.

Happiness is whatever you want it to be. What was your Happy moment today? Did you take time to notice it and enjoy it?

More birthdays, no pictures. Happy Birthday to Haley. Twenty years old today.

Day 19: Happiness is:

Having Patti show up in my office with a mum plant and a taffy apple from the Confectionery. Thank you. I didn't have to leave for lunch, just ate left over potato chips, a taffy apple and a piece of cheese. (Don't worry, I didn't take any pictures of my lunch.) I do have to say that one should not try to cut a taffy apple with a flexible plastic knife.

Happiness is after a tasty but somewhat lacking in substance lunch, the Molcahete, guacamole and a $1.99 Margarita from Los Rancheros with my husband.

When we walked in one of the waiters said hello and asked if we were there for the Molcahete. I guess we have it fairly often.

Happiness is being in good company and having friends who light up your day.

Day 18: Happiness is:

Spending the day any way you want. It was rainy and dreary outside, so I watched Project Runway, The Bears game, and Dinner for Schmucks.

If you haven't seen the movie, I recommend it. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd play off of each other fabulously. Barry (Steve Carell) is a lonely man who works for the IRS and makes mousterpieces with dead mice that he preserves and uses in his creative displays. Tim (Paul Rudd) works for a financial firm and wants to move up to the seventh floor. His opportunity for success requires that he bring an "extraordinary" person to a dinner at his bosses house. When he hits Barry with his car (no injuries), his prayers seem to be answered. That is until he and Barry begin to spend time together. There's a little schmuck in all of us. It's what makes us unique and fun to be around. OK, this description doesn't even begin to explain how funny and quirky this movie is. It makes me laugh and laughter equals happiness.

I finished a birthday movie for Toni. John put it on a DVD.

Made more Tomato Tortilla Soup for the freezer and Sloppy Bombay Joe's for dinner.

Oregano and Thai Basil

Garden Fresh Tomatoes

 

Onion and Jalapeno Peppers

Ready for the Cold Weather

Happiness is spending a rainy day in your sweats doing the things you enjoy. Laughter, good food, and doing something for a friend.