50 Things That Make Me Smile

What a wonderful weekend I had. Saturday evening friends and family came to help me celebrate my birthday and the party theme was rather hippish, since it was also the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. We had pizza from my favorite Italian restaurant and a wonderful Italian Cream Cake and Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato. All my favorite things !

The gifts were all wonderful and the evening was filled with good conversation and many laughs. The wee girls played so well together, it was great fun watching them interact.

I felt so blessed in so many ways. When it comes down to it, life is really about the people that love you and that you love...being friends with them, enjoying spending time together.

Sunday Emery and I did some work around the house. In the kitchen, we took the cabinet doors off where I keep my dishes, it gives the area over my sink a more open feel to it and now I am moving things around so that we can take down some cabinets so we can put in a kitchen window. When we put an addition on a few years ago, I lost my only kitchen window, so now we are ready to add a new window and I can't wait. Small changes that make a big difference.

I am one of those people that loves change and am always changing furniture around and painting rooms different colors.

On a totally different subject, this morning I was out doing chores and watering the herb garden and thought about what a simple joy this task is, when the water from the hose hits the plants, their wonderful scents explode into the air and fill the space around me with such good smells. Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Mint, Thai Basil, Germander, Lavender and a few others.

I have made it a habit to surround myself with the things I love the best in life, and this includes flowers and herbs and fresh veggies and fruits.
Every once in a while I make a list of 50 things that make me smile, that give me a good feeling and here is my list today. Its good to think about the things that make us smile !

1. Love

2. Emery

3. Our children

4. Our grandchildren

5. Roses

6. Birds singing

7. A clean house

8. Music

9. Picking fresh herbs from my garden

10. The idea of riding a bike with heels on

11. Stepping on the scale and seeing a weight loss

12. My new dishes

13. Champagne

14. Good coffee

15. Star gazing

16. Waking up each morning

17. Holding hands with Emery

18. Love notes

19. Mei-Ling calling me on the phone all by herself

20. Fresh flowers on the table

21. Incense burning

22. Coffee at my favorite cafe, sitting outside

23. The idea that autumn is on its way

24. Little kittens

25. Harry hopping in the car for a ride

26. Fluffy towels

27. A good bargain

28. Reading a good poem

29. Pink bicycles with a basket on the handlebars

30. Shopping with my girls

31. A cheery hello on the other end of the phone

32. Hollyhocks

33. Fresh asparagus from the garden

34. the scent of lavender on my pillow

35. Clouds

36. Bright sunsets

37. Massages

38. Speaking French

39. Beautiful lace

40. Finishing a pair of knitted socks

41. Facebook messages

42. The smell of a new car

43. Baby animals

44. Shopping for baby clothes

45. A snuggle from a toddler

46. A song on the radio that brings back good memories

47. Bare feet and grass heavy with dew

48. Birthday cake

49. Emery's cologne

50. Picket fence