Category: Happiness

After several weeks of having a washing machine that was slowly failing, Hubby and I spent all day Friday researching machines via the Internet and Consumer Reports. We pretty much settled on a top rated LG top loading machine. At first I was a little reluctant because I have had a front loader for a while. However, the reviews from actual users, gave this machine high marks.

On Saturday we went off to Lowes and looked at this machine as well as the front loader I had also read about. Frankly, I liked the top loader better and now, after running 4 loads of laundry, I can report, this machine is totally awesome!

It is quiet and the clothes come out CLEAN! Really, my old machine has been failing for sometime, I just was too crazy to admit it, and go and get a new one.

I guess I was overly attached to the old machine. I’d had it for nearly 16 years! Tonight, I must admit, I don’t even miss it! I know, I am a fickle woman!

I also must point out, that this is the fourth major appliance in less than a year. Yes, we bought all new appliances when we built the house and right now, the dryer is the last of the lot. I’m hoping it will last a wee bit longer.

So here I am, feeling fabulous about the purchase of an appliance. There is something so grown up about that, don’t you think?

After several weeks of trying to find a house/doggy sitter so Hubby and I could go on vacation, I was becoming increasingly nervous. You see, we had a free cruise to use before the end of the year and unless I found that special “Angel”, we were stuck.

Both Hubby and I need the vacation. We’ve had sort of a tiring year. And I found one cruise at Thanksgiving that would be perfect. You see Mandy, Matt and Savannah always spend Thanksgiving with his family.

Then we found her! We’ve known her for a while, and known her family and she is happy to come and work for us! Oh, be still my heart!

So we will be heading to the Caribbean, Hubby and me, and we will have 10 days of rest, relaxation and sunshine.

Best of all, it is on the new “Royal Princess”!

I promise to get my picture taken with “Princess Kate’s” picture!

I was feeling pretty happy today, thus I got a lot done. The dreaded dusting, the washing of counters, cooking up Lili’s food, and making more spaghetti sauce from my garden full of tomatoes.

I watched a few movies, tried to get interested in sporting events, but that just didn’t happen. So I made Hubby a nice dinner and believe it or not we watched a Doris Day movie (with James Garner) and now Hubs is watching “Planet of the Apes”. It’s not one of my favorite movies, that’s for sure.

I am hoping to get Lili bathed tomorrow, after that it’s a go round with my rug cleaner. All I can smell is dog, and that is upsetting.

Now here is a funny story. I’ve been telling hubby to close the half bathroom door in the puppy room. Well, last night he forgot, or I forgot, anyway, the door stayed open. This morning when I got up I found shredded magazines all over the puppy room.

Looks like she had fun!

Okay, it was back to the Market Basket Grocery Store this week. There I was standing in front of the Mexican food section looking for Peach Salsa, (my new passion) when I heard the most wonderful, and the happiest giggles around. The giggles appeared to belong to a small female child, although I couldn’t see them in the next isle.
I finally found Neuman’s Own Peach Salsa, and then went back to retrieve Hubby from the meat counter before our grocery bill resembled the National Debt! As I turned the corner there they were. Three blonde haired, blue eyed pixies in two shopping carts being pulled through the grocery store by their good natured, no, great natured Dad! He asked them what they liked for a treat and they said, “Kwaft Macroni & Cheese!!” And he went over and got 6 boxes. “How come we need so much Daddy?” one of the girls asked. “Cause you’re really good girls!!!” he answered.
I asked if they were triplets. They were all about the same size, all looked nearly identical. But no a set of twins and a single. So I said, “Oh twins and a spare!” And he laughed. “Why’d she say I was a spare Daddy?” echoed the little girl. “Cause I’m lucky to have all three of you!”
It turns out that the happy laughing family was giving the Mom of the family a break. I saw them and heard them as Dad pulled them wildly through the rest of the store. And I thought how lucky these three girls were to have such a wonderful warm, fun Daddy who gave his wife a break, and the girls the best gift of all, a fun day at the grocery store with the man who gave them life.

Now that’s happiness!!!

Okay Everyone, let’s dance!

I was sitting here today thinking about one of my favorite foods. Peanut butter! Smooth or crunchy, their is nothing like the incredible deliciousness of that salty, sweet taste of peanuts!

My first recollection of peanut butter was when Mom would make peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches! Oh be still my heart! There is nothing quite like a PB & Fluff sandwich!

I carried one of these in my lunch bag many times when I went to school as a youth. I never complained about it either. How could one complain about perfection. Especially when one could eat it with a cold carton of fresh milk!

A few times I had peanut butter with grape jelly. Now that’s my second favorite way to eat peanut butter. Store bought grape jelly is good, but later in my life when I learned to make my own Concord Grape Jelly, I learned what true nirvana was!

Yes, peanut butter is good with just about everything. Including things like banana!

That was Elvis Presley’s favorite way to eat peanut butter, and granted, in a pinch I’ve been known to eat it that way too.

Always served of course, with a glass of fresh, cold milk!

I worked at the annual Greek Festival yesterday. I watched people come through the baked goods line, and listened as they talked to each other.

I saw young families, old married couples, and single people. I witnessed life. The very basics of this crazy world we live in.

I think the thing that made the biggest impression was how people love. Families coming by me, smiling, asking each other if they wanted this or that, husbands that snuck in a lemon bar or two, and the way these people related to each other

It was love. Everyone was happy today. I suppose it was the splendid weather we had, but in any case, there were no grouchy customers.

I saw several old friends, one family specifically, that made me feel so elated to see them. It had been about two years since I saw them, and it just made my day.

Hubby got his usual lamb shanks for lunch with rice, salad, roll and spanakopita. I decided to get a little of this and a little of that, enjoying the Pastitsio, the stuffed grape leaves, Greek salad, and the spanakopita as well.

I saw faces of love, beautiful faces. They were not Hollywood beautiful, yet these people loved each other, saw the beauty in the face of their loved one.

Suddenly, I felt beautiful too. Despite my scars, I am loved by my family. I am beautiful!

Rain. Slowly falling most of Saturday. Despite the mist, and fog and wind, my cousins Janet and Dave came up and we went to a Street craft fair. We were armed with umbrellas and jacket, and we were lucky enough to walk through, buying a few items, before returning home to my house, to warm up.

I had started a pot roast in a slow oven, and as it cooked the house was filled with delightful smells.

We weren’t back too long before the skies opened up and we were getting fairly heavy rain. But, it didn’t matter as we were safely inside with fresh hot cups of tea!

We all talked and laughed and even saw the last 20 minutes of the movie, “Babe” about the pig who becomes a sheep herding pig boarder collie.

Dinner came out amazingly well, and I had a fresh layers of strawberries and creme cake and additional strawberries over the top. It was yummy!

It’s later in the evening now. Janet and Dave have gone and the rain is pouring down. The dogs are quiet, Hubby is reading his email and I’m thinking how very lucky I am to have so many loving people around me!

Happy Sunday Everyone! I’m having a simply delightful weekend! It all started on Saturday when I went into Walmart and found a really comfortable sunhat for $7.95!

I sort of like the way it dips down on either side of my face, and it really does fit my fat wide head. I am thinking I could even wrap a scarf around it to dress it up. Today however, it went perfectly with my pants and top.

Then Hubby and I went to lunch at our favorite Chinese/Japanese/Korean Restaurant. I usually have the Sesame Shrimp, but today I decided to have the lunch version of a Pupu Platter. Teriyaki Chicken, Chicken Fingers, Crab Rangoons and pork fried rice. Because we were having a lunch special, we also got Hot & Sour Soup and an Egg Roll. In fact there was so much food that I could only eat half my meal. The rest I brought home for Hubby’s lunch on Sunday!

After lunch we went to Lowe’s to look at garden plants, but found that they were very highly priced. So, we went off to Agway Garden Centers. There we found our tomato plants, eggplant plants, and pepper plants! Best of all, they were $1.99 for a 6-pack flat! At Lowe’s one very unhealthy plant was $3.95! So we felt pretty pleased about that.

We got home in time to see the Preakness Horse race, after which I made a steak and potato salad and peas for our dinner. I mean, today was just one of those great days all around!

I saw a pair of crazy Beetles outside today doing what comes naturally, this time of year, and I looked them up, as I couldn’t ever recall seeing a Beetle like that.

I was amazed to find out that this Beetle is actually a “Fire Fly”!

Moonrise Kingdom was playing on the movie channel, and although I did not like it when I saw it a couple of years ago, I found that this time, watching it through the eyes of a child, that I really enjoyed it. It is definitely a quirky movie, but very well done!

In the evening, Hubby and I watched another episode of “The Civil War” done by Mill Creek Productions. It was a $5.99 DVD we got at Walmart some time back and surprisingly, it is really well done, both historically and visually.

Sunday will be gardening day, as I need to re-pot the plants we bought today and get them ready for planting in the big garden, the first week of June. The patio pot tomatoes and eggplants will just go in their big pots. I’ll do 6 tomato plants and 6 eggplants. The rest of the seedlings will go into the big garden.

Today would have been my former Father In-laws birthday. He was a good man, and I really do miss him. Both he and my former Mother In-law were very good to me.

So, as I sit here in Saturday night, I am happy with how the day went.