The Essence of Happiness

Everyone's perception of happiness differs.

What something one person thinks brings happiness, another may have a totally opposite opinion.

For as many years back as remembered, it's been my joy to jot down and save inspirational sayings and quotes that cross my path.

One, that used to be on the back of a business card of H.C. Mattern, gives these things as the way to happiness:

1) Keep your heart free from hate

2) Your mind from worry

3) Live simply

4) Expect little

5) Give much

6) Fill your life with love

7) Scatter sunshine

8) Forget self

9) Think of others

10) Do as you would be done by

The author wrote, "Try this for a week and you will be surprised."

NOW, MAKE YOUR OWN LIST. WHAT IS YOUR OWN WAY TO HAPPINESS? 

New Month, New Day, New Life

Here we are on the first day of a new month, November.

One of the best aspects of this month is, of course, a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings on Thanksgiving Day.

But that is toward the end of November.

We, hopefully, have many days before that in which to live, love, and do our best.

The new life part of this post's message is simply that given a new month, and each new day, are proof positive that God isn't finished with us yet.

There is a reason we have been given a new day and month.

Perhaps it is to draw closer to God.

Or work harder at creating peace and boundaries in our lives.

Maybe we need to compliment more and complain less.

Whatever it is that you would like to acheive this month, just do it!

You will be sooooo happy, in the end, that you did it!

Bless each moment of our lives, Lord.  And thanks for giving us the gift of life. 

Happy Halloween

                This sweet kitty is the cover of a Halloween card.

On this Halloween holiday, thoughts go back to childhood days.

That holiday was always wonderfully exciting and fun. 

My sisters and I would start dressing in our costumes as soon as we got home for school.

         This witch potholder came from a thrift store bargain basement for 50 cents.

After all, trick or treating was something we looked forward to all year long!

Our Mom would remind us that it was still afternoon and we had to eat supper as well as wait for it to get dark before we could leave the house.

                        Here's another greeting card front.

Once we did, however, it was a full fledged blast. 

We had favorite houses to go to because we knew who gave the best treats from year to year. 

One was a neighbor who even made candy apples one year. Oh wow, that was a big treat!

We used either bags or pillowcases to collect the sweet loot.  

When we finally got home, we'd empty all those bags and pillowcases into piles on the living room floor.

We'd each save Snickers' bars for our Mom as those were her favorite.

By Halloween night, all the ghosts, goblins, and little witches would be full of sugar, brush our teeth, and head for bed.

Halloween was over until the next year with promises of more fun to come!

More Spooky Decor

One of the best parts of Halloween for some people is decorating.

The spooky holiday provides a perfect opportunity to have fun with ghosties, pumpkins, and hopefully, friendly witches.

The photos of decorations in today's post were snapped at another house in the community where I live.  

They are so cute, don't you think?  

I love the wreath against a lacy curtain on the front door.

DO YOU LIKE DECORATING FOR THE HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY?

Frosty Night Temps and Autumn Flowers

The first below 32 degree night we had meant "kaputsky" for the hanging begonia plant outside the apartment.

A sister gave me that beautiful begonia which also had a white flowered plant scattered among the profiently blooming begonia flowers.

There were dozens upon dozens of bright pink blooms for many weeks.

It was a truly beautiful plant that hung from a black wrought iron hook in the tiny strip of green grass in front of the apartment.

After the one frosty night, begonia looked terrible.  Dead stems and hanging leaves dangled in the breeze.

It was time to say "goodbye" begonia and white flowered plant. 

Not one to let an empty pot hang from the shepherd's hook, I quickly put a large bunch of  fall faux flowers into the pot.

I had bought the silk flowers for pennies at a church yard sale last summer.

A quick trip to the Dollar Tree turned up shiny gold and copper leafy stalks that sparkle and dazzle in the sun.

 They, too, were added to the former begonia pot soil.

The "new" plants look very colorful and festive. 

It can only be hoped the neighbors will enjoy seeing them throughout November.