100 happy days :: day 100

there is something about the low, swampy wooded area at the end of our lake. the trees grow low and rather twisty, turny. even if it's raining or windy, it's always still and quiet there, a sense of waiting hanging in the air, but not a menacing one, more a kind of deep patience. and in the air, there is a vibration of primeval magic that you can feel, but which feels just out of reach, beyond your grasp, but still hanging there, almost tangible. it's in the green. it's in the quiet. it's how it's always still. one of those places where you just feel the magic. and you believe in it, even if you can't quite capture it. and my 100th happy day is a happiness that i have one of those places right here at home and i can go down there anytime and fill up my soul with magic.

* * *

and that's it, that was my 100 happy days project. it got me through a bit of a tough time and i think it really helped. it can be beneficial to take a moment to think about the little things that make you happy every day. doing it makes it a habit. one that i hope that i will continue even if i don't continue it as a post or a tweet. i think one of the things that i found is that often my moment of happiness was a moment of feeling grateful - for sunshine, for a beautiful view, for the time to take the back way, for cats, for a flower in bloom, for noticing in general.

but, in all honesty, it also felt a bit heavy at times. because not every day is filled with happiness. some days are hard and you just want them to be over. and i find myself generally feeling too earnest and righteous and not light-hearted and funny anymore. so maybe i need to find a new project that will help me find my way back to a lighter, more buoyant view of the world.

100 happy days :: day 99

the final coat of red paint on the kitchen floor.

another step in our long process.

we're getting there, slowly but surely.

100 happy days :: day 98

trying to take a fetching photo of my summery lunch when along comes frannie to help.

100 happy days :: day 97

lilacs.

they're my favorite flower.

my favorite scent.

and they're in their full glory right now.

tho' i swear this batch smells a little bit of cinnamon.

100 happy days :: day 96

sunshine at last.

man, have i missed it.

100 happy days :: day 95

coffee. tea. and instagram filters that make even my crap old kitchen look inviting.

100 happy days :: day 94

mystery planes. from ukrainian airlines. three of them, parked in billund. the grass is growing around them, so it seems that they're rather permanently parked there. the happy in this is the story that must be behind this. surely a story of the crumbling of the ukraine, which admittedly doesn't seem that happy, but there are much better stories. intrigues. eastern european oligarchs. airline pilots on the lam. ukrainian school children who escaped to legoland? the possibilities are endless.

100 happy days :: day 93

ginny's eyes are open.

and isn't she just a little lump of pure happiness?

100 happy days :: day 92

zoomed in, low light photo, but you get the idea.

there's an election on in denmark.

and lotte rod apparently selected her name from the porn name generator.

that seriously cracks me up.

i might be simple like that.

but that doesn't make it less hilarious.

100 happy days :: day 91

unexpected snail mail.

and polar bears.
it touches me more than i can say.

so much happy!

thank you, judith!

100 happy days :: day 90

i took a new way to drive the girls to school and spotted this.
what's not to love about someone thinking on a very grand scale?
out in the middle of nowhere.
worth stopping for a sneaky photo for sure.
and it totally makes me smile.
definitely a moment of happiness.

* * *

you have to read what my cousin is saying about her favorite places in europe.

hint:  one of them is right here at our place!

100 happy days :: day 89

dandelions.

100 happy days :: day 88

a walk in the evening sunshine, picking a few lilacs and hanging out in the garden with the cats, who also seemed happy to have some sunshine at last. a happy end to a not-so-happy day where i was down with a stomach bug. thank goodness for laptops and getting work done in pajamas. 

* * *

there's nothing funny about the slimy dugger case.

but this guardian piece might make you laugh,

just because it's so cleverly written.

* * *

mini cocktails. they're a thing.

* * *

i liked this piece on growing older and wiser (or not) from the house of edward.

* * *

it seems like the world is conspiring to try to talk me into running.

* * *

skopje has been "upgraded" and from what i can tell from the pictures, it doesn't look good.

100 happy days :: day 87

yet another work week shortened by holidays. that's always happy-making.

as is having a bit of time and inspiration for playing with minifigs in the garden.

bacon & ears taking a spin on the little red scooter.

i had a lot of help from various cats, who all thought i was there to hang out with them.

and in the end, i was.

100 happy days :: day 86

these well-aged oak posts.

they seem to me like they have stories to tell.

and stories definitely make me happy.

100 happy days :: day 85

it's a long holiday weekend here in denmark, the last of the spring holidays. our child is off to copenhagen for the weekend with her friends. as one does when one is 14. tho' it's still a bit chilly and working outside requires a heavy sweatshirt and scarf, we've been working in the garden (husband didn't wear a scarf). husband has once again changed up the greenhouse. this time, we used waffley plastic roofing as a covering and he built a back wall with repurposed wood he brought home from the harbor. me, i planted beans and onions and leeks and a couple of squash. in the greenhouse, there are now tomatoes and cucumbers and chilis and a couple of aubergine.

100 happy days :: day 84

teeny tiny kitten.
eyes almost open.
so much happy.

100 happy days :: day 83

two years ago today, frieda badida was born

she was molly's last kitten.

poor little molly was so tired by then that i had to gently wipe away the membrane so she could breathe.

i'm so glad i did.

she's quirky, sweet and wonderful.

and only occasionally expects to be let in the window at 4 a.m.

happy birthday frieda.

* * *

so many things tumbling in my mind to write about...ghosts, communing with the dead, what makes a good marriage (can you tell i'm listening to podcasts?), getting older, fears, plants, asparagus, peonies, gardening in general, memory, foxes, chickens, feathers all over the yard, buffy the vampire slayer, magic, painting, children becoming who they are, schools, whether it's ok to be the smart one, boarding school, summer holiday, content management systems, kittens...i could go on, but right now, it's all jumbled up. 

* * *

elvendale, not just where the LEGO elves hang out. 

100 happy days :: day 82

a delicate moment of serenity.

you grab the happy where you can.

100 happy days :: day 81

these are a selection of the little quotes and drawings i'm working on in the new kitchen. they will line the baseboards and have meaning for us in various ways...either because they are favorite sayings, or were said by our respective fathers or because they amuse us in some way. i've limited the palette to only black, red and a few gold or silver accents here and there, which has been both restrictive and a good thing. i love how they're turning out.