The Happy Book: Week 13

This week in The Happy Book, we are playing tourist in our own town. A killer cold kept me from going out with my camera as planned. Even with these older photos, I'd like to share some of my favorite places here in San Antonio.

The Alamo at night

I love how iconic and powerful this landmark seems lit up in the dark of downtown.

The Riverwalk

A stroll along the river never fails to lift my spirits and it is a perfect place to people-watch.

The McNay Art Museum

We live practically in the backyard of the McNay and love exploring the grounds on a Saturday morning.

Brackenridge Park

Whenever I head to the Y or the library or the university where Frank works I drive through the park. It is a beautiful place for a walk, or a run, or a picnic. I particularly enjoy getting a glimpse of the San Antonio River.

The Japanese Tea Gardens

This is our go-to place to take visitors to San Antonio.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way through The Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Week Twelve

This week in The Happy Book blogging group, we are thinking about shoes.

I'm kind of funny about shoes. I keep them stashed all over the house. Sandals and sneakers by the front door. More sandals and a beat up pair of "garden shoes" by the back door. Running shoes behind the couch.


These are the shoes that make me the happiest. I keep them tucked under the desk in my studio. I love Keds.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way through The Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Week Eight

I've been absent from the weekly happy roundup for a few weeks, not because of lack of happy, life has just been keeping me away from my desk.

I didn't have a chance to spread guerrilla happiness this week and I have been feeling a little blue but these two things really brightened my world this week and I couldn't resist sharing the happy.

We were boo-ed. This is a neighborhood game of secret halloween bombing. An anonymous bag of treats and this little paper ghosty was left on our doorstep, along with instructions to post our ghost and then boo two other houses.

We are down to a short list of who to boo and I think tonight's the night!

And behold, my spooky kitchen window...

The twinkle lights that have adorned this window since christmas went south last week and instead of just replacing the strand of white lights, I put up these purple ones. They cast a creepy glow over the kitchen at night.

Now tell me, what made you happy this week?

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way throughThe Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Week Four

I am at home with my feverish boy today on do-we-go-to-the-doctor-to-see-if-it-is-strep-or-not watch. It makes me happy to have the luxury of hanging out with him this morning, to be here to feel his forehead and listen to his sound effects while he plays with Legos.

I enjoyed thinking about dancing this week and realized I just don't dance often enough. If you only have time for one song, listen to Smooth. It is a song that makes me want to dance every single time I hear it.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way throughThe Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Week Three

This week's Happy Book assignment is all about gratitude and saying thank you. I spent the week trying to be conscious of all the thing I am grateful for and frankly, for a large portion of the week, I felt like a queen. Here are a few of the things I was grateful for this week:

tea, my evolving tribe, the rain that turned the yard aggressively green, words, music, clean sheets, inspiration, bacon, a sweet email from my old friend Alexa, the path of the moon, fresh vegetables, hope, cooler mornings, Liz-who cuts Max's hair, seltzer water, knitting, slightly sore muscles, a letter from Karen, file folders, candles, toast...

I went through an entire package of thank you notes and think that's something I want to do more often. Nothing makes you feel your life's abundance more than writing out a thank you.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way throughThe Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Assignment Two

This week our Happy Book assignment was a photo scavenger hunt with fourteen shiny words to capture with our cameras (or crayons or whatever) during the week. I loved the idea. I made copies of the list of words for my son and my husband. I thought we'd work on the list together during the week and then, life intervened.

Or should I say weather intervened, in the form of Tropical Storm Hermine which pounded us with rain and 60 mile per hour wind gusts. It threw my plans for the week into complete disarray.

I thought I wouldn't post at all. I was sad and disappointed.

And then, I downloaded some photos from last weekend and lo and behold, these beautiful shots of the sky from our backyard were there. (Sky was one of our scavenger hunt words.) I'd forgotten I'd taken them.

So in true The Next Chapter make-your-own-rules form, here's the part of the scavenger hunt I accomplished: sky.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way throughThe Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.

The Happy Book: Assignment One

A couple of years ago, I went out of town for a few days and my son sent a Lego mini-figure named Buzz along with me to keep me company. He generously loaned Buzz back to be my Happy Book companion this week.

Buzz was there when Max sat down to play his new cello for the first time.

We spent a lot of time at the kitchen table. Breakfast seemed to be his favorite meal!

We did some baking - cooking is very high on my happy list.

We spent some mornings outdoors. The promise of cooler weather is definitely making me happy.

Buzz & I had so much fun, we are knitting a pair of socks for Max, just to say thanks.

I'm taking part in The Next Chapter book blogging group, with the always wonderful Jamie Ridler. We are playing our way through The Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder. Our first assignment was to carry a mascot around with us for a week.

If you'd like to join in, you can find out more here.