Day 591: Curtain Call

We've lived here for 2 1/2 years and I haven't hung any curtains.

Gasp!

In my defense, all but one of our windows have beautiful wood blinds and I just really like the look of them and see no reason to cover them up.

But the basement window has no blinds.  And it's our guest room.  So, it kind of needs some coverage.  We've been using a fuzzy blanket hung with binder clips.

Classy.  It's the only way we do things around here.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if I wanted some curtains she was replacing--not because they were worn out, but because she wanted a new color scheme.  She actually decorates her house.  Weird.

So, I took them.

Today, I hung them.

And all was right with the world.

They make me very happy.  So, it was my Joyful Moment.  And every time I look at them, it's repeated.  Along with a sigh of relief.

Because we have a guest coming and I wanted to have curtains for her.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that are repeatable!

Day 590: On The Mend

Once again, I've decided it's time to rearrange the way I organize and structure my life.  Thanks to my mom for some great ideas!

As a natural consequence, I've had the productivity bug all week.

Which, I guess has only been two days.  But with how much I've accomplished (and how little I've slept),  it feels like a lot more.

Hence, today's Joyful Moment.  I can see my sewing table again!  TA-DA!!!

Okay, I actually started on my mending last week.  And I may, or may not have thrown out several items of my mending when there was a clothing/scrap drive a few weeks ago for a local shelter.

But, the point is, I finished up my mending pile today!!!  One of the things in there has actually been in the mending pile since before we moved here 2 1/2 years ago.  Sad, I know.

But look back up at that picture.  There is absolutely nothing sad about that.

Except maybe the big stack of "parenting" CD's given to me by my chiropractor (after my kids ran around crazy in his office one day last year) that I know I'm never going to listen to.  So, for some reason, my sewing table has been their designated resting place.

But back to the sewing table and the Joy looking at it elicits.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that have been at least 3 years in coming!

Day 589: Rosemary Makes Me Happy

Truthfully, rosemary + butter makes me happy, but that doesn't sound good coming from a self-proclaimed "health nut".

It's delicious, though.

Especially, when baked up in the amazing goodness of a focaccia bread.  And, now that I'm thinking about it, there was no butter in this bread.  Just yummy olive oil.  Which is super healthy, right?

Anyway, this was part of the Joyful Moment that was our dinner tonight.  I was going to take a picture of it all on a plate, once it was served, but I got so excited--I forgot.

The rests of dinner was this amazing steak salad.  It's delicious.  And, aside from the steak, UBER healthy.

Because I'm Health Nut, in case you didn't know.

Wishing you all nutty Joyful Moments!

Day 588: Not The Way I Like To Remember

I've kind of been dreading today.  Because I knew that THEY would have us commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by dredging up all the horrible awfulness that was that day.  As if reshowing the images and footage and the tragedy is the best way to deal with what happened 10 years after the fact.

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I disagree.  I was pondering a better way to honor those who died and those who sacrificed so much on that day as I made dinner tonight.  And I decided that, in my opinion, we should commemorate the day by returning to that feeling of union and brotherly love that came about in the aftermath.  The patriotism and the concern for our fellowman, you know?

So, that's what I'm going to do.  I'm not sure how to go about it yet, but from now on, I want to organize a service project that gets us out into the community.  I want to involve everyone regardless of race, religion, or whatever and do something good in our community.  Something to remind us of that whole "united we stand" business.

Anyway, sorry for the rant.

Moving onto Joyful Moments.  The first was when I woke up this morning and realized that I'd slept better than I have in several several weeks.  This was especially appreciated because I have been battling a painful cold the last few days.

And then came a Joyful Moment of seeing my good friend in her new cowboy boots.  She won them from a contest over at Pioneer Woman's website.  They're amazing.  And she looked fabulous in them.  And really really happy to be wearing them.  Which was what made it a Joyful Moment for me.

It's good to see one's friends being happy.

And my final Joyful Moment was making peace with some unpleasant feelings I've been harboring for the last little while.  Peace knocking out unpleasantness is pretty much a natural Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all a day of peace with a few great Joyful Moments in between!

Day 587: AWEsome

Yesterday, as I sliced the last cucumber from our garden for Little M to munch on, I was a little sad because I never got to make more pickles.

And then I went to the garden to check on our one tomato still growing, and it's a long story, but I wound up coming back inside with this:

So, you can bet your bottom dollar I made me some pickles today.  Just to give you an idea of their size, that tomato is an average-sized tomato.  One and a half of those cucumber bad boys gave me four jars of pickles.  What?!  Yeah.  And it was a Joyful Moment.

But not as much as watch Little M at his first soccer clinic.  Look at their tiny little shin guards!  WAY to cute.  Joyful Moment, for real.

And then there was this.

Almost two weeks ago, I caught two LARGE caterpillars eating up my carrot tops in my garden.  So, I brought them in and plopped them in a jar for the kids to see.  And boy did those caterpillars eat!  But only for a couple days.  Because then they made their chrysalises (chrysali?) and went about napping and transforming.

And then this beauty unfolded today.  I was grateful for the flowers I received earlier in the week, so he had something pretty to sit on for a little while.  Then he flew off prematurely and I thought he was going to die, lost in our house, but we located him and set him free.

And all was right in the world.

Honestly, I think I may have been more excited about this whole process than the kids.  I've never successfully hatched a butterfly before and it was really amazing and interesting to watch.  And the other one is still sleeping and transforming, so we get to do it again!

In case you haven't guessed, that was all a Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all beautiful Joyful Moments of transformation!

Day 586: It's Been A Little While

Since I posted about a Joyful Moment found in just being with Baby B.

But this afternoon the kids were off at TaeKwonDo and he and I had the house to ourselves.  And he was in one of those super sweet giggly moods that little kids get in.  It was his nap time, but he was just so fun I had a difficult time putting him to bed.

He's in that super independent phase that toddlers hit, so the opportunity to just be together doesn't happen all the time any more.  Making it all the more of Joyful Moment today.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments in one of those super sweet giggly moods!

Day 585: I Get A Little Help From My Friends

I went and saw "The Help" with some girlfriends tonight.  The wisdom in this choice is debatable, since I'm coming down with a cold and it was kind of late.

But then, I'm pretty sure I've read about studies that say that hanging out with your fabulous girlfriends boosts health and immunity.

I know through personal experience that it does provide Joyful Moments, however.

It was a good movie, too.

But on the way home I found myself thinking that maybe I should find friends who act our age.

I'd sure get more sleep.

But life would probably be a lot more boring.

These are the decisions I have to deal with.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that bring you good health, one way or another!