Happy Things

Life has been a bit stressful - nothing new there

I figured it's time to mention a few things that are nice and help me remember that life is good!

1. Dogwoods! Our dogwoods are absolutely stunning this year. There are flower-covered branches right outside our bathroom window, so every morning, first thing I see when I look outside - dogwood flowers.

 

2. This was a great year for daffodils (well, every year seems to be a good year for daffodils) - so nice to see the blooms in the spring.

3. Azaleas started to bloom, too. 

4. Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson - I am less than half way in, but so far, I really like it. I've been looking for solid sci-fi and I am very excited to have found this author. I like it how he weaves the narrative using logical extension of current science. Using genetically-engineered fast-growing bamboo cultivated on the moon as a construction material instead of wood -yeah, I can buy into that. Monologues on the formation of the solar system, Earth, and Moon - yes please, especially as it send me down the rabbit hole of fact-checking. And so far, I like the cast of characters.

5. Bike ride with my husband - it's been almost a year since I've gone biking, so this was a bit painful. In the meantime, all 3 kids went to a nearby park to fly kites (possible because our son drives). Everyone had fun, and we did not have to deal with whining (looking at one child in particular, not naming any names). My husband did complain a bit - sort of - he is used to going fast, and I can't keep up, so he was forced to slow down (normally, he and E would be lightyears ahead, and the girls and I would be lagging behind). I told him this was supposed to be a social event - like a date - and not a workout.

6. Pawpaws. Because the flower are delightfully weird.

7. The smell of lilacs

Dear Reader, what's making you happy this week?