Things That Make Me Happy

Things that make me happy:

A friend recently told me nonchalantly that she was making a charcuterie spread for a party, and I had to stop the conversation and make her repeat herself.  Charcuterie was a word I had read many times before, but never had I ever heard it spoken.  Being the word-lover I am, I was smitten.  I immediately looked into its meaning further and a day or two later, created my own little take on a charcuterie spread. My family didn't care what it was called -- they just enjoyed eating it!

I have run across this quote many times over the years, and each time it gives me pause.  Each time I read it, I am reminded that my absolute most important job in this world is mothering my children.  Many other things vie for my attention (many, many other things!), but truly, my children are my most important work. 

When we left for our three-hour drive to our Thanksgiving celebration last week, our dear doggie was in the way back of the Expedition.  About mid-way through the trip, at my teenage son's urging, he made the leap over the seat and into the middle row.  He didn't have much space there, as there were already three people occupying that row.  He made do on the floor or on someone's lap and looked generally uncomfortable.  I was imaging he was regretting his choice to leave his seat in the way back.  But perhaps not.  Perhaps he was just biding his time to reach his true goal:  the front seat.  When my husband and a child got out to to use the restroom (it was a dire emergency and couldn't wait 45 more minutes!), Shadow made his move.  He wriggled into the driver's seat.  I thought it was pretty funny and left him there until my husband arrived.  We all laughed when he saw him, but a moment later, my husband had given the pooch a little shove into my seat and off we went.  So for the remaining 45 minutes of our trip, I had a 40-pound canine sitting next to me/on my lap.  It was Not Especially Enjoyable.

Our living room mantel, decked out for Christmas.  The silver and green sparkles make me happy.  I love having the lamps off in there and just enjoying the Christmas lights from the mantel and the little tree. 

AND - things that do not make me particularly happy:

When we arrived home after our Thanksgiving break, we found our fridge's water dispenser had been dripping (despite the fact that we had turned off the water in our house, like we always do!!), and there was a big puddle on the hard woods.  We have been drying them out and using a dehumidifier.  The jury is still out on their future. 

(You can see Shadow looking on. . .he is probably concerned about the availability of his treats, stored under the sink.)