Writer's Workshop- 10 Things That Make You HAPPY

From this week's assignment at Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop:
List ten things that make you HAPPY:
(in no particular order...)

1. Fresh brewed ice tea. with a piece of lemon. and sometimes, half a packet of the pink sugar package.

2. being with friends, in no hurry, and laughing, laughing, laughing.

3. a date with my husband. just us. anywhere.

4. my Life is Good long sleeve t-shirt.

5. Road trips.

6. clean sheets.

7. listening to my kids play nice.

8. my summer i-tunes disc.

9. worship. especially closing my eyes and listening to voices in harmony.

10. sunshine on my face.

You?

By Order of the Management

I discovered this artist in a gallery in Wilmington. Actually, his mom owns the gallery. It was fun to hear her brag on her son! His work is also available on Etsy.

I love the By Order of the Management series. I'd probably take one of each. And add a few of my own. Like, "if you can't be nice, you can just be quiet." And, "be kind to others." And, "lick and turn" (with a picture of an ice cream cone in the background...).

What are some of the things you say over and over, that could be added to the By Order of the Management series...?

Grandbaby

If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it! ~Hannah Whitall Smith

Back from 5 days spent with a delightful young man, our grandson, and his parents.

Oh the wonder of grandparenting!

Take my word for it- it is MUCH easier to be a first time grandma than to be a first time mom. That first time mom learning curve is awfully steep. So many unknowns. So many doubts. But by the time you get to grandparenting, being with a baby is like breathing; you just DO. The only thing that you really have to pay attention to is not being bossy to the parents! :-)

It was all blessing to hang out with our kids and grandbaby at the pace of life that comes with a newborn. It was hard to leave! See you soon, but surely not soon enough, guys!

Wilmington, NC

(otherwise known as "the post in which she does not gush about her grandson...")

I've been away this week, away from life with teens and pre-teens and sports and all that, to Babydom, Wilmington, North Carolina, home of our 1st grandbaby. Of course, the true purpose of the trip is to simply hang out with the A family. But, we did get in a few of the sights of Wilmington too.

We strolled the downtown area. The Pride of Baltimore was docked for the Memorial Day weekend. That's appropriate, because when I think "tall ships," I think Baltimore.


I took a picture of this building because it appealed to me. No other reason.

Wilmington has an on-going pedestrian art exhibition. The latest sculptures are really fun- guys created of driftwood, found in various places here and there.

There are some neat shopping areas, including an old warehouse with surprising courtyards and resting places.

A took me to a couple tasty local spots, like Port City Java (mmmm... goooood fresh brewed tea with REALLY good ice...) and Front Street Brewery (that was serving their spring brew for $1.99- too good to pass up...).

AND, we made it to the beach! I miss the beach! I love to jump through the waves, lay in the sun, watch people. If not for the pesky sand, the beach would be perfect... :-)

I'd say that Wilmington would be worth a trip even if you did not have an absolutely perfect little guy to visit there.

Simple- May 18

FOR TODAY, Monday, May 18, 2009...

Outside my window... full sun, tree branches swaying and the bright green leaves of spring blowing in a gusty wind.

I am thinking... this is the kind of day we look forward to in the middle of winter!

I am thankful for... healthy kids, a list mostly completed, good food to eat for dinner.

From the learning rooms... Esther, the end of the 20th century history, Longfellow.

From the kitchen... Indian food & spinach salad for dinner, oatmeal scotchie bars for dessert

I am wearing... brown roll-up capris, tan and orange blouse, sandals.

I am creating... lists. of things to do. a lot to do.

I am going... to Wilmington, NC tomorrow to visit grandbaby H and his folks!

I am reading... Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry.

I am hoping... for a good, uneventful, last night of classes at ESL this evening.

I am hearing... my son and a friend quiz each other on history, girls playing in the front yard, the front door squeaking open and shut, dog paws on the wood floor.

Around the house... kids. my five. and three neighbor kids. and a buddy that is riding with us to baseball practice.

One of my favorite things... warm oatmeal scotchies out o' the oven.

A few plans for the rest of the week: snuggling baby. being a nice grandma and a mom that's a blessing.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... my son playing ball. That's what we seem to have a lot of pictures of these days...

Check out more Simple Woman's Day Book entries...

Random Lists

tv shows that disturb me:

Groomer Has It

Toddlers & Tiaras

Half Ton Teen

must have's in the refrigerator:

cheddar cheese

tortillas

salsa

limeade

tasks that always take more time than you think they will:
making airline reservations

driving others

baking anything in my oven

states I will visit between May and August:

North Carolina (maybe SC too...)

Texas

Oklahoma

Washington

this weekend:

soccer

baseball

worship

Hannah- A Woman of Prayer

Megan at Half Pint House has posted thoughts and comments on the latest chapter of Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible. This post on Chapter 10 examines the example of Hannah. And what an example Hannah is!

Come and join the discussion.

(art credit: Hannah Prays to the Lord, etching by Marc Chagall)

Just what the doctor ordered...

"...the exception, dark chocolate. As far as I'm concerned, you can eat dark chocolate every day..."

Dr. Nancy Snyderman, TODAY Show, "Diet Myths Revealed"

love Dr. Nancy...

Pretty Picture

The final "pretty picture" from the Hubble space telescope's longest running optical camera...

Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these stars,
the One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power
not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

(photo credit to HubbleSite News Center)

A Different Sort of Earmark...

A historian is suggesting that perhaps Van Gogh didn't cut off his own ear, but lost it in a fight with Paul Gaugin.

Van Gogh might be one of those characters that I'd invite to that fictional "if you could invite any 5 people to dinner" party. So many questions I could think to ask him...

(art credit: Starry Starry Night by Van Gogh.
story credit: to Catherine Larson at The Point)

On the Road

“I’d buy one, but I have twins.” -Congressman Brian Baird of Washington referring to the two seater electric-hybrid Aptera Tuesday, at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.

This photo, and the quote, come from a new site, WORLD on the Road, from James Allen Walker, a photojournalist at WORLD magazine.

The site will include some of the "behind the scenes" and outtake photos of Walker's shoots, as well as his commentary. I'm a fan already. Check it out.

Flu Check

Found this site for those who are wondering if they might have the flu...

(courtesy of The Point, who credits one of my all-time-favorite-funny-guys Dave Barry)