Hopeful Thoughts of Spring

Today the sun is shining brightly and temps have climbed higher than they have in the past several weeks.

Spring (and hope) are in the air!

Last weekend, a quick run into a  Dollar General store turned up some beyond adorable paper plates for Easter.

Shown at the top of this post, and to the left, is the little bunny with a pink bow around her neck and flowers along her side.

Yes, these are paper plates and my local grands will love them. (If not, at least Grammie does! ha ha ha)  

Then, while looking for two dining room chairs in a Goodwill store, these bunny napkins just about catapulted into my shopping cart.

They cost 99 (sweet) cents!

There were no chairs but the darling bunny napkins now have a new home.

So, come on spring.  

We are definitely getting ready for you around here.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, formerly United Nation's Day.

Established in 1975, its purpose is to "raise awareness of the issues impacting women all over the world." 

My heart goes out to women in countries where they do not have a voice, where beatings are accepted, and where education is just a dream.

I also weep for the women in refugee camps, in war zones, and anywhere else where they see children suffering.  

It is with deep gratitude that women where I reside have freedom and the ability to make their own decisions. 

It's not a perfect society, by any means, but it is better than in many parts of the world.

Women have struggled, throughout the decades, to earn the right to vote, among others.  

We cannot stop moving forward in education, in the workforce, and in life, in general.

We certainly must think of women who are still suffering, still attempting to earn the right to just live in peace.

So this day, there is a lot to think about and a lot to be thankful for.

Hurray, More Light Is On Its Way

 Hurray, this coming weekend Daylight Saving Time begins in the United States and Canada.

Saturday night we will turn our clocks forward one hour.

Okay, so we'll lose an hour of sleep but we will also get more light every night!

It also brings us closer to spring which means fresh air, flowers, tossing the winter coats blissfully into closets, birdies and ice cream, and being free at last of scraping ice off car windshields.

Yippah!  Thank goodness for Daylight Saving Time.

Plan Happiness

With all the chaos and wretchedness going on in the world, it's easy to slip into negativity and sadness.

Luckily, we don't have to stay there.

When darkness starts to pull me under its toxic spell, there are numerous things to do that will make me happy.

One can make a list of things that bring happiness and  keep it handy.

First of all, I love to BAKE. 

Most of the items baked are given away and that's okay.  Whether it's  a cake, cookies, or something else, the act of baking brings me joy. Plus, the oven's heat helps warm up the apartment.

Costume jewelry always makes me smile. Every day, regardless if I go out or not, earrings are worn and sometimes necklaces, bracelets, and rings, too. 

Home decorating is definitely one of the things that make the "happy" list.  For every season, and all the time between, the apartment is decorated and the dollhouse, too!

Grandchildren will never be off my happy-making list. They are all so precious.  Just today, a little grandson texted me in the early morning to say he was worried about a math test. Quickly, I told him I'd pray that he'd do well and encouraged him not to worry. That was all before breakfast!

Flowers are a 100 percent guaranteed happy-maker. Any kind, any color, any bouquet---- all bring immense happiness and appreciation.

Food has got to make the list. Let's face it. I love to eat food from almost every cuisine and then some. Two binge foods are ice cream and potato chips.

Thrift store shopping is another wonderful way to bring a smile to my lips. From the minute I walk into the door of a shop until it's time to pay up and leave with new treasures, my heart beats faster and a happy feeling jumps inside my heart.

So there is just a smattering of things that help me plan happiness.  

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SURE FIRE WAYS TO FEEL HAPPINESS?

The Sound of Birds Is a Sign of Spring

Listening to the singing of birds makes hearts happy.

Colors (pink for me) add to the joy of life.

So when I saw the adorable pink bird shown in today's post, she had to come home with me.

Today snow is falling again and a lousy mixture of snow, slush, and ice is predicted for tonight but I'm not going to let it weigh heavily on my heart.

Just a couple of days ago, while depositing two garbage bags in the apartment complex dumpster, birdsong reached my ears.

In a leafless nearby tree, there was a group of robins!

It took every ounce of restraint to keep from screaming a welcome at the top of my lungs. 

The red (or orange) breasted robin is a harbinger of spring!  

Yes, less than three weeks away, spring will be here,  sooner than we think. (We all hope.)

Never was I so happy to be depositing trash into the big bin since I could look at robins and hear their precious chirping at the same time!

In the meantime, I'll rest my eyes on the little pink bird that doesn't sing but still brings joy, just by sitting on the kitchen counter.