A Fairy Dog!

As I came home from shopping, Andrea and Justin greeted me at the door with their dog Sadie dressed in a pink tutu and fairy wings! I laughed out loud! It was hysterical. Nice cap to a busy day. Felt like singing "I've been working on the railroad" today as I dug with my pic axe and shovel a drainage ditch for better water drainage. I haven't been able to do much exercise and so I guess yard work will be my cardio each day. A couple of hours each day and I'll be so buff by the end of the year! It gives me joy to see changes I make with my own steam. It is amazing how much joy you can have when you look at it the right way! The yard is going to be amazing come spring. I'm revamping it all winter, as long as the rain gives me a few sunny days. I'll know if my drainage system works, although it isn't quite done, but the rain was pouring down tonight and it should help to alleviate some of the water in the yard. Very nice productive day. :)

Memories from my childhood = JOY!

Cloudy and cool outside just begged for a bowl of hot tomato soup, just like when growing up! A toast of homemade bread, mug of Nestle's quik and I feel transported back in time, sitting at my mom's kitchen table. Haven't had that meal in years but it reminds me of mom and my great childhood and great family! I miss you mom! Lovely memories = JOY!

Many joyful moments in a great day!

I practiced with my Chime Choir this morning, getting ready for our Christmas programs. It is a surefire way to prevent Alzheimer's! Very tricky and complex, but remarkably rewarding and joyful! Brings Christmas that much closer, which I LOVE! I then had a fun lunch with my grandson Cayden and my friend Cheri at Jacks Urban Eats. Yummy salad and good company that stayed with me through a grueling workout in the yard! My yard has a big drainage problem, along with overwatering neighbors which presents ground soaked 3 feet deep. I decided to take the project on myself, since I haven't been able to get out and exercise recently, and so pick axed 25 feet of space through sopping wet dirt to create a space for a drain pipe. I actually love working in the yard, so that was joyful. Just wish I had an automatic wipe for my face! I sweat mostly in my face and my hands were pretty muddy, so I got a dishtowel wrapped around my neck and used my wrist to wipe it across my face about every two minutes! It helped and I didn't quite get done, but got a huge start on the project. Trying to finish it before the rain starts tomorrow night. I know it will feel great to get it finished. My home is humming with children playing, Cayden doing homework, Brad playing "hide and zeek" and the happy sounds of a busy, joyful noise!

The joy of a great review!

I have the first review posted for A Gift Named Jennie! Five stars! LOL I appreciate my friend who read and posted quickly, but also appreciate her sweet words. There isn't many things that feel so good as to know that something very dear to your heart brought someone else joy.

Old age doesn't stop from doing things you love!

Today I spent most of the day in my backyard. For someone else this may be considered drudgery and WORK. I worked for my Master Gardener's certification in Oregon in 1999. Over the years since I have enjoyed knowing more about what I love, the growing of beauty. My body doesn't like me to do all the digging and scraping and pounding, suggesting I might want to do more gentle activities. My yard has been calling me for quite a while, and my husband has listened to his body suggesting to leave yard work for others to do. So I took it upon myself to ignore the aches and pains and remember the joy that comes from a cleaned, weeded garden, getting it ready to be winterized; the joy of moving something you dislike out of the yard to get ready to plant potted citrus fruit in the ground. One thing I know about myself is that when I start a project I don't want to quit until it is finished, no matter what is in the way (aches and pains, mostly). My husband suggested tonight that I take it easy, don't try to do it all in one week. He really doesn't realize how hard that is for me. I have Peonies to plant and bulbs to insert for spring beauty and I have to wait for some good top soil! Patience has always been a virtue and usually one of my strengths, but when a project is on the drawing board, patience takes a back seat! I told him I can wait--I'll probably have to plant without the topsoil. But life goes on and little events like today continue to bring me joy and happiness.