A while back my meanderings led me to
e.beck.artist. I find her groovy-ness to be most extraordinary. Her lighthearted happy self is infectious - if ever my mood is marginal and I just crave a little somethin-smiley, all I have to do is swing on by and I most assuredly will be treated to a grin, a giggle and one of her most joyful creations. I dare you to take a look at her art and try to maintain a sourpuss mood ... bet you can't do it ... (and honestly, isn't that actually a really good thing?!?).
Anyway, she posted
Happy 100 back in March and I thought, haven't we all made this list at least once in our lives? ... which made me wonder where my list was ... and did I only have one list or are there dozens in random journals ... or are most of my lists wish lists and lists of things to accomplish / try / do in my lifetime ... and on and on ...
... when I read her list it made me grin and decide that I really ought make a new Happy 100, so here goes (and remember, this is a free-form-as-it-comes kind of thing and just because something may be listed at 83 doesn't neccessarily mean that it ranks that on the scale - if there is one - of happiness):
1) uber-spouse
2) critter (aka S.Butterfly)
3) Fern - (ex-circus puggle)
4) Sally - (silky cat)
5) the smell of lemons
6) or vanilla
7) painting
8) doodling
9) crocheting
10) finishing a blanket
11) stringing beads
12) coffee
13) chai latte's
14) Lizard (friend, not critter - though many a lizard has made me grin)
15) baking lemon poppy seed bread
16) giving away said lemon poppy seed bread
17) the pleasant surprise when peeps realize they really like that lemon poppy seed bread ...
18) mango's
19) smoked gouda, brie and baby swiss
20) paint brushes
21) plyers
22) my ruler (it's really cool - it's metal with a plastic raised ergonomic grip, a magnifyer and a cutter tool)
23) searching for sharks teeth and small pretty rocks out at Englewood beach
24) sushi
25) fondue (I prefer fundue, actually)
26) paper (all kinds)
27) Almost Famous
28) Love Actually
29) Pride and Prejudice (the newest version)
30) Sense and Sensability
31) Angel (the spin off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
32) softie fabrics
33) bamboo yarn
34) embroidery thread
35) Swarovski crystal beads
36) home-made gifts
37) the entire month of May
38) books that suck me in
39) knotting (aka macreme)
40) New Zealand
41) singing along with Natalie Merchant, Lisa Loeb, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLoughlin, Dido or a half dozen or so other female artists
42) S's sleep breathing
43) taking photographs
44) of animals, plants/flowers, buildings, people
45) orchids
46) sunflowers
47) plants with heart shaped leaves
48) beautiful gardens
49) my dragonfly coffee cup
50) the old glass "tea tray" (for beading)
51) the dark blue ceramic coffee cup with all the paintbrushes in it
52) refrigerator magnets
53) people that love their craft / create from that place of love
54) the night sky
55) sunsets
56) Tonto Natural Bridge
57) Sedona
58) my pillows
59) meteor showers
60) wishing on falling stars
61) Johnny Depp
62) Drew Barrymore
63) Prisma Color pencils
64) black and white photographs
65) suncatchers and windchimes
66) Hug-O-War (by Shel Silverstein)
67) The Princess Bride
68) Zotti (a stuffed bear I received from my Omi when I was nearly 12 I think - it's my traveling bear)
69) songs sung from the soul
70) The Beatles
71) two sided tape
72) meeting someone and speaking the same language
73) my pink sunglasses (currently missing, but I am hopeful they'll just turn up one day)
74) the sound of laughter
75) the sound of baby/small children laughter
76) a cool breeze and the warm sun
77) ginger
78) asparagus soup in a sourdough bread bowl
79) dark chocolate
80) the "I-love-you-more" fight(s)
81) receiving letters
82) sending letters
83) unexpected packages
84) good conversation
85) raspberry sorbet
86) Amimoto (local sushi restaraunt)
87) card and board games
88) the smell of garlic when it's promising a meal is soon to follow
89) shopping (online) at
Dick Blick,
Etsy and
Aunties Beads.
90) arts & crafts - all aspects ... seeing, discovering, learning about it and new techniques, watching someone's creation progress from idea to completion,
91) art books - both picture books and how-to's
92) Audrey Hepburn
93) Da Vinci, Monet, Sulumith Wolfing, Van Gogh, Henry Moore, Mattisse & 100's more artists that range from the masters to beginners and everything in between
94) coffee shops with outdoor seating and good people watching
95) fairies (and other magical beings)
96) folding paper cranes
97) softly scented candles burning
98) doors / doorways / garden gates
99) overflowing window boxes
100) other happy people
ok, so that was super easy to come up with 100 ... I bet I could think of 100 more without much effort and my smile would grow even bigger.
Your turn!