* ANOTHER SURPRISE IN THE SKY *

I think more than my love of clouds, is my love of hot air balloons!

They are so majestic.

I really need a camera that will take clear 

and close-up pictures of far-away objects. 

Five balloons floated silently over our neighborhood

 a couple of evenings ago. 

These are the only pictures I got that are half-way decent.

Although I didn't get great pictures, I experienced pure joy in looking up and watching the surprise overhead. 

* SIMPLE JOYS - HAPPINESS - LAUGHTER *

Today really felt like Saturday to me and I have no idea why. Maybe because I haven't been keeping my "usual routine!" (and if you believe that, you don't know me very well!)

And now....Sharing some simple joys......

 

 

 

Some of you will remember my small collection of statues with books.

I got this adorable little girl at Dollar Tree!

 

Ahh, yes life is good. (most of the time!)

 I love to take pictures of all kinds of things,
especially when sunlight is part of it.

Isn't it more fun to have homemade iced tea in a pretty,
 hand painted, glass pitcher?
This was a birthday gift many years ago,
 from my friend Kathy Y who shares my birth date!



One of my favorite walking trails from 2009

 

 

 This is a small (approx. 8" square) canvas print from (I think) Hobby Lobby

(the colors are actually more vibrant than this shows)

Mmm, making homemade bread the Old-Fashioned way,

 not in a bread machine, but in the oven!
(I must confess, I haven't done this in YEARS,
but just the thought of it brings wonderful memories
and the aroma of freshly baked bread.)

My beautiful, ceramic, much treasured chicken cookie jar -

I'm so glad I have this photo because a couple of years ago

 it stood proudly on the top shelf of my baker's shelf....until one day

when I was dusting everything....and her head fell off!

Can you envision it?? A chicken who lost her head?

I still have all the pieces because The Ronald said he can put

it back together....but I'm not sure....SO, at least I have this photo!

 

 

 This picture always cracks me up!

That's my son, Mark, and me "driving" some kind of
game at Chuckie Cheese's. I could fill a small photo book with
all the wacky faces I've made that have been captured on film!

 

 

 

(Guess which one of the 3 I am!)



Don't you wish you could do this

 with two of your girlfriends?!



I bought this little lady at Dollar Tree in 2010.

I wrote about her on my blog saying,

"Doesn't it look like she's scratching her butt??"

 

Ahh, I love candles but definitely not

 all of the fifty million scents that are available!



Coffee mugs that are unique, pretty, cute, and/or with sayings on them.

(Oh my gosh! Look at the spots on my table/desk! Or should I say, DON'T look!)

Last but not least, I can't possibly write about joy, happiness,

 and laughter without including a picture of our sweet, beloved Vern!

 

~~~

Welcome to my two newest followers Medeia Sharif and Sia Mckye. I hope you'll both stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

~~~

Okay....So, these are just a few of the simple things in life that give me joy and/or make me laugh. What about you? What brings you joy?

* A Sigh of Joy, Relief, Happiness, Disbelief, Pride *

What could I possibly mean?

I'm amazed and relieved that I finally sent my memoir off to my editor around midnight last night. How completely mind-boggling it is to write or speak those words! I'll post updates as I know of them. 

This is me during the years of writing my memoir.

(No, that is not an earring, it is the doorknob behind me)

Image: courtesy of Google

I also felt like this woman sometimes.

Image: courtesy of Google

And this woman sometimes, too!

Image: courtesy of Google

I extend my sincerest Thank-You to all of you who've helped me along the way, by your friendship and your words of encouragement. There are way too many to even try to mention by name....but I think you know who you are! ☺

** And to all of you that I owe e-mails and/or snail mail, I hope to start getting caught up on those now, too.....Well, actually that would be AFTER I clean house for our Saturday's Family Thanksgiving!!...And  I could possibly use a gentle reminder, too! **

   

Natalie Merchant - "Thank You"

If I could sing, I would sing this song to you! Actually that IS me singing. I dubbed my voice over the You Tube video! Nawww, I'm just kiddin'!

"To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence." -- Mark Twain


"Eighty percent of success is showing up." -- Woody Allen