Happy?

Once again, it's time for Alphabe-Thursday with Jenny Matlock, and todays letter is "H" ... one heck of a letter don'tcha think?  I am behind this round, i didn't start until last week, but i do want to catch up and complete this round, I really missed doing it last round ... so look for A - F soon!  and oh, in case you are wondering, i had themes the last two rounds ... and this round is also a theme ... it's words that just resonate with me somehow or in some way.

This happened way back when .... when my daughter was about 3ish.  It was Grandpa's birthday ... I had dressed my wee girl up, shiny black patten Mary Jane's, white tights and a big flouncy blue dress and a blue bow on her crimped hair ... Grandpa was sitting in the family room, and when my daughter saw him she ran racing to him at full speed ... she stopped right in front of him and with the most enthusiasm i had seen in her she said a very loud "Happy to You!!!" ... She then clambered onto Grandpa's knee as we all kind of stood around laughing merrily!  It was so cute and funny as in her enthusiasm she had forgotten the word "Birthday."

Years later, the little quote "Happy to you" by my daughter, has become a family standard.  And every time my daughter says it to someone I can easily recall that scene of almost 20 years ago and it always makes me happy ... yes always!!!

Recently we had a "happy to you" moment ... just see the pictures below!  This moment made me so very happy ... it was a blast and I felt like a kid again.

awe, yes ... a carousel ride ... what a wonderful "happy!"

this is a wooden 1912 C.W. Parker carousel, fully restored and it is just gorgeous, and i am Happy on my favourite horse!

Hayley, riding Valiant, and trying to take pictures of me ... lol!

Vivienne, my favourite horse ... usually my daughter rides her, but this time I hopped on.

Valiant, directly ahead of Vivienne ... my daughter rode him this time.

I think this is Belle ...  isn't she a beauty?

and to complete the scene a 1925 fully restored Wurlitzer ... the tunes coming out of this could make even Scrooge happy!

My wish for all of you is a lifetime of "Happy to You's" ... Happy is such an amazing feeling ... so enjoy it, explore it and spread it around!
"Happy to you." ~ Hayley West

Saturday Centus ~ The Climb

okay, so i am really really late this week ...  but i figure it's better than not doing it at all (which is what i have been doing lately!)

And that darn Jenny!  This weeks was tough ... first we had to use a literary device, namely a cliffhanger, and on top of it we had to use the following prompt "hanging off a cliff."  and as usual, we had 100 words, plus the prompt words ... and I came in right on target at 104.  Here's my take ...

Hanging off a cliff  “keep moving” he thought, “don’t lose momentum,” as he dangled by two arms from the top of the cliff, a bead of sweat trickled into his eye, stinging.  A second passed in an hour, his arms began to shake.  “Focus!” he yelled at himself, knowing full well that his arms could only support his dead weight for a few more moments … he had underestimated the climb … a tragic mistake for any free style climber …he shifted his weight on to his right arm as his left hand searched for something other than sand and soil to grab onto.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting ... you know i love your comments!  Linking up to my favourite meme, Saturday Centus.  If you want to follow along, just click the Jenny button below!

Welcome Gentle Readers ...

Is it me, or is "gentle" one of those words that seems to be taking a back seat these days ... oh i can find lots of gentle's ... in the movies ... or in books ... and even quotes ... i just can't find the word in current culture ... it's rarely if ever, in the press,  the news, tv, radio and such ... It's not a term that I hear enough of ... and I long for it.  I long for a much gentler society, and much gentler world ...

Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.


Kent Nerburn


Gentle blossoms kissed by early spring snow (photo taken 2 years ago)

Coming to you from Alphabe-Thursdays at Jenny's.  Just click the link below to read other much more interesting G posts (there i go, not being as gentle to myself as i should) ... Just click on the Jenny button below.

The last year ...

the last year ... as in the past year .... has flown by ... sometimes i really do see the clocks melting and time warping and passing all too quickly.  What can I say ... life is beautiful ... the fact that we have life is amazing just in it's self  ... and then the fact that we are born in country's were the standard of living is relatively good is yet amazing even more ... i have a roof over my head ... i can visit a doctor or hospital when i need to ... I have food and clean water ...

I am blessed with a beautiful family and extended family ... and wonderful friends and some pretty amazing blog friends ...

I am further blessed with this little misfit dog ... Honey

the last year ... as in 2012 and the end of the Mayan Calendar ...  is it the end of the world?   or the world as we know it?  or did the Mayans just run out of room on their calendar???  I guess we won't know till the 22nd of next December ... but no matter what, I am looking forward to the day ... In fact I am planning an "end of the world" party for friends and family ... which will also be known as a "before Christmas get together!"

One thing I do know, is that I don't know what the future holds, but I am looking forward to it ... and moving forward with it ... as I hope you do.

Wishing you all a brilliant New Year!!!


Linking up to Alphabe-Thursday ...

Saturday Centus ~ The Season

Ah, Jenny .... I am so glad we got our 100 words plus the prompt words back.  This week's prompt is:  It doesn't have to be that way.  Here is my offering ...

“Jon, it doesn’t have to be that way”

He glared at her. “Are you kidding me Sam?  I’ve had the plans drawn up since May, it took me two months just to write the computer program and I’ve spend thousands on the electronics alone, so yes, it has to be that way.  I’m not going to let that jerk Sanderson outshine me again.  This is going to be a red, white and blue Christmas that will blow away his pathetic, done before, lollypop lane display”

“But driving two towns over just for one string of lights?”  “Tis the season” she muttered to herself.  

I hope you all can click on the Jenny Button below and join us in our weekly short short stories!!!

December Daily .... errrrr

Well I wanted to a December Daily post, actually series of posts, but you know how it is ... life gets in the way ... and I'm not great at committing to things .... at least not recently ...

 I haven't really been that crafty ... I've spent a lot of time out of the craft room, but in November, I helped my daughter decorate for her "Movember" party!  I made this cute little mustache bunting for the wall!

 and I stuck mustaches to sticks .... okay, i did a lot more than that, made mustache decorations for the house .... big ones, little ones, all shapes and sizes ... it was fun!

 and now that December is here, I have decked the halls ... the first decorations out of the box were my two moose's ... or is that meese???  I made these guys about 20 years ago, and they still look cute!

 and the sun has been setting much earlier ...  it makes me long for soup and stews and cuddly blankets

 and i have  been busy, making cards ...

lots of cards ... which are happily off to friends and family ...

I hope you are happily busy getting ready  ... tis the season!

Saturday Centus - 16

I'm back ... yes ... after a couple of weeks of silence i am back and ready to post ... and there is no better way than to start off with a centus.

This week, dear tricky, dastardly Ms Jenny has challenged us to use 16 words ... it must be autobiographical and it must be about ourself at the age of 16.   Here goes nothing ...

At 16

      I lost you

             and I lost me

The road back,

            hard

   and lonely

Writing that was surprisingly difficult ...  and in my mind "at 17" by Janis Ian is playing in the background ...  well, off to grab a fresh cup of coffee, and read about others at 16 ... come join us!