A Love Letter to My Windows - My Happy List Tuesday

Being thankful for the every day things in my life is a practice I want to be more adept at doing, or should I say being?

This week I want to give a shout out to my windows. 

These windows are such a blessing. They bring the outside in and have been such a joy to look out in every season. The snow falling, the trees in bud, the blue summer sky, the colors of autumn - I experience all of these more fully because of the marvel of these windows. Birds fly by and stop to perch in the trees outside. During some seasons the birds feast on fermented berries of the cherry tree and then fly, drunken, into them. The wind moves things, the trees, scattering leaves and, sometimes, the birds themselves. 

But most of all it's the light that I revel in. The light that streams through them illuminating my world. Window sills seem a wonderful place to store glass. The light traveling through sends rays of lightness into the room. The reflections of cut glass dance merrily on the wall at certain times of day. You can't take these things for granted, but receive them as gifts when they come. I know they sometimes come when I am not there to receive them. Sometimes I unable to humor them. Mostly, though, I see them as reminders to accept joy and be aware of the moments of beauty. 

I am spoilt by these windows and their beauty. How I will ever bear to live anywhere else? For this season, these windows are my joy. I intend to soak in their light and the life they bring with them.  

For more My Happy List Tuesday posts click the icon below.

Memories - My First Take a Word Challenge

Over at Take a Word, the challenge is to create a piece of art that reflects the word of the week. I discovered the blog last week and thought I'd give it a try. I had a great idea, but then I found this watercolor postcard I painted of my daughter when she was 8 or 9 years old. It brought back so many memories. 

Sowing Positivity

If you haven't visited the Kind Over Matter website, make sure you get over there and check it out. It is a storehouse of positivity. You just can't help smiling and feeling a little lighter when you visit.

Several months ago, I printed out these free compliment tear off sheets. Wednesday I finally got around to taking them over to the laundry room and tacking them up. I was nearly shaking with delight, wondering who might take one of those inspirations. 

Today I was walking by and stuck my head in. This is what I saw - a bunch of them are missing. That made my day. 

Want to spread some joy? Give compliments to someone who needs them? You can get yours at the freebie section of Kind Over Matter.

Thanks, Amanda, for creating such wonderful ways to spread joy. 

My Happy List

When I visited Ricki Treleaven's blog during the Mad Tea Party blog hop, I discovered her My Happy List Tuesday event. It struck a chord in me and I decided to give it a go. If you have been following my blog from the beginning, you will know that I started this blog as a way of appreciating the delightful parts of life and encouraging myself to go after them with more gusto. Ricki's event seems like a great way to keep the practice of being aware present in my day to day life.

Rules:

1.   Grab my delightful button coding for your post above.

2.   Link-up a happy post.

3.   Visit other bloggers and enjoy!

Actually, I found that there were so many things I could put on this post. As I have always wanted a more visual blog, I stuck to things I had pictures of. Here is my first list of three.

1.     Camera Happy Dragonfly

This beautiful dragonfly was buzzing all around. I pulled out my phone thinking I’d be too late, yet the dragonfly flew circles around me until I had a good shot.

2.     Pink Laundry

Yes, this really is what my laundry looks like each week. We sort our clothes into whites, darks and pinks. Seeing all that pink folded up makes my heart sing. It doesn’t take much, does it? 

3. The Beauty of Blogs

I've come across many blogs over the years. blogs I've meant to follow. And I did. I placed their name and URL in my Google Reader which I then promptly forgot to check. With the demise of GR, I had to find another solution and I did in spade. Feedly, Digg Reader, Blog Lovin' - how's a girl to choose? I chose them all. 

Through the act of switching over, I started looking at blogs again. I n spare moments, I'd sneak a peak at something beautiful - some thing just because it inspired me. I'm grateful to the blogging community for providing such a haven of visual delight, good reading and, sometimes, affirmation. This week, I'm all about being happy to revisit blogs I've neglected and searching for new ones through Artful Blogging, a favorite source of inspiration. 

Thanks, Ricki, for the opportunity to join My Happy List.

Post Tea Party Musings

A week ago Vanessa threw the 6th Mad Tea Party and I joined in. It was my first time to join this kind of event. It was so much fun to put together our own photo shoot and enjoy the tea. There was even more fun to enjoy in blog hopping and finding new sources of inspiration. Thanks to everyone who visited me and left comments. It was a great week.

Yet, all good things must yield to other things. The party must be cleaned up. The dishes washed and put away. Some of my tea things are hand wash and some can shower in the dishwasher.

Mad Tea Party

I thought I saw a white rabbit wearing glasses and carrying a pocket watch run by this way.

Here it is! The watch!

I think I’ll follow him down the hole to give his watch back.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I’m the March Hare. Let me show you the way” he replied.

Once down the hole he grabbed a hat and said 
“Here we are at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. 
Have a cup or three.”

The March Hare ate and ran. He left quite a mess behind.

I turned and saw a caterpillar who asked me who I was.

When I looked around there was the Mad Hatter having tea with the white rabbit I had seen before. They left in a hurry and told me to meet them in the garden when I had finished my tea.

I drank some tea and grew so small I wondered if I’d shrink out of existence.

When I ate this cake I grew tall again. I almost ate too much.

Finally, here’s the key to the lovely garden. I’m just big enough to use it now.

I’m in the lovely rose garden at last.

I hope you enjoyed my Mad Tea Party. 

Lynda

Credits:
This post was made as part of the Mad Tea Party frivolity hosted by 
Please go visit her amazing Mad Tea Party and the blogs of other 

Model:
Madeleine Ooka
as Alice
you can see more of her work on her blog

Sir Fernly
as
The March Hare

Late to the party

I noticed this morning that people have come to join my Mad Tea Party. I'm hoping you'll come back later this afternoon when it is posted. The tea is not yet brewed. I cannot wait to start visiting all the tea parties going on today. Here's just a peek for you.

Time for a Tea Party – a Mad Tea Party

Years ago I read about The Mad Tea Party blog event sponsored by Vannessa at  A FancifulTwist in Artful Blogging Magazine. I’ll admit, I was enchanted. The photos I saw were vibrant, creative, sparkling, entrancing. I was smitten.

When Google Reader retired and I switched over to DiggReader, I ended up catching up on some blog reading. There it was, The Mad TeaParty Invitation on Vannessa’s blog. And it was only one week away. With my already busy schedule would I be crazy to fit it in? Yes, well, maybe. Am I going to try? Of course! I may not come close to creating the kind of vision I saw others post in years past, but you have to start somewhere. So this is the year.

Saturday, look forward to a crazy tea filled post from me.