Friday, January 27, 2012

More Reasons to be Cheerful in January

This week has gone by in a blur. Overtime at work and a head cold took center stage, leaving very little room for cheerfulness (or cooking or housework or blog-reading). But today the sun shone, the work week came to an end (O happy day!), and the cold is on the mend. All of which has put me in a much better frame of mind for linking up with Planet Penny's Reasons to be Cheerful.

What's chirking me up at the moment:

1. The days are getting longer. My geranium, which has slept through December and most of January, is awake and blooming again. Hooray for more daylight hours!


And an osteospermum, which I couldn't bear to throw away after it somehow survived several frosts and a snowfall outside last autumn, is also sending out blossomy hints. (This plant is an annual, but it seemed so tenacious of life that I brought it in for overwintering, just to see how it would do.)


2. This smiling face, which belongs to J, one of my "honorary" kids from my babysitting years (I have no children of my own). J and his brother spent their early years in our home and are like family to us. Although J no longer needs a babysitter, he and his brother still visit regularly, and his mom and dad keep us involved in their lives.


Today is J's birthday, and since he's not my own child, I can say outright that he's a talented artist, a gifted Lego designer, and a cheerful, friendly, good-looking, intelligent guy. I should add that he loves crafts of every kind and is a true kindred spirit (in the picture he's holding a project we worked on when he and his brother came to visit in December - the Twiggy Star, courtesy of  Flowers & Home). Happy birthday, J! I'm so glad you're part of my life.

3. The sinus headache which has plagued me for days is finally GONE! I feel like a new woman. (Headaches destroy me, I'm sorry to say. They render me helpless and whiny. Just ask Mr. M.) As a cheerful corollary, the cold I caught from my co-worker is not nearly as bad as it might have been. I seem to have escaped the worst symptoms. (Grapeseed extract to the rescue.)

What's making you happy this week? Feel free to leave a cheerful comment here or at Planet Penny, or write a happy post of your own and link it up there.

A cheerful weekend to you all.

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12 comments:

  1. I love that you have a flower blooming in January!!! Oh, and that the sinus headache has been evicted. Last weekend I planted marigolds and Icelandic poppies in two pots that didn't do so well when I brought them in, and today I have shoots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. That J is quite a handsome fellow. I like the star he made. Actually it looks kind of delicious. :) Happy week and so glad the cold is better!

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  3. Glad you are feeling better now, I'm afraid I am dreadful when I have a streaming nose, I can deal with most things, but I complain bitterly when I stream, this tends to be allergy related so not infrequent unfortunately for my family!

    Your flowers are lovely, I do like geraniums and have always fancied having a sunny porch filled with geraniums, I love the sharp scent in the warmth.

    Happy birthday J!

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  4. It's lovely to see the flowers blooming as we get to the end of January. There's all sorts of Springiness in the air here, and I know it's a false hope and we could be plunged into Arctic weather next week but we have to enjoy while we can! How great to have a young crafter in the family, it's lovely to do things together.
    Have a wonderful weekend
    Penny xxx

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  5. Hoorah re headaches...Laughing Boy has sinus trouble so I know how rough you must have felt.

    SP

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  6. Happy Birthday to your cute friend!!!

    So glad the cold is better. Or... Should say.... So glad you are better. And the cold is less. ,-)

    Oooops, that won't fly with the Grammar Police, will it? -grin-

    I've found Echanicia and you have Grapeseed Extract. Must look that one up! In cold season, we need alllllllllll the help we can get!!!

    "Auntie" sezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

    “I live in two worlds. One is a world of books...........It’s a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything.”
    ~ Gilmore Girls

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  7. This has been such a warm January with loads of sunshine that I find myself smiling for no reason. This week my sewing went well and I finished a couple of projects and that made me happy. Last night my husband took me out dancing and though my feet now hurt that made me happy too.

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  8. The geranium is beautiful. May very well be one of my favorite flowers and you photograph it so well.

    J is adorable. Honorary children that are our children by choice are the awesome! He's lucky to have you as a friend and vice versa.

    Hoping your mend continues...have a good weekend.

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  9. How lovely that J comes to see you and 'play'. I wish I could borrow a child occasionally. Be well soon.

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  10. So glad you are feeling better, Sue, and happy belated birthday to J. The geranium is beautiful - I love that intense pinky purply shade. Good luck with the whatchamacallit flower that is sending forth promising growth. (Too lazy to scroll back up to see what it was called again - now that's lazy.)

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  11. What a cheerful bloom. I love the scent of geraniums too.
    J looks like a cheerful "bloom" and someone anybody would love to have around.
    Keep mending!

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  12. So happy to read that the cold is pulling it's punches and the headache is just a memory. And you have a geranium in flower ... I'd be happy too!

    Happy Birthday smiley J :D

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