#100HappyDays :: Day 100

And, there it is.  100 days of finding happy moments even in the mundane.  I began this challenge as our Northern landscape was just beginning to bloom, and I end it now enjoying the beautiful aroma of late summer and first blushes of fall in early turning leaves.

#100HappyDays :: Day 99

A little daily quest that illustrates why this time of year rocks!

#100HappyDays :: Day 98

Soccer season has officially begun.  They have a team camp this week each night from 5:30- 8:30 pm.  When I went to pick Charles up last night, a combination of the still warm humid air, and the wet ground from our sudden afternoon storm, made conditions perfect for fog.  As I watched the boys finish practice, it was cool to watch their forms in the twilight morph in and out of the mist.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a morning person, up and getting my day started between 430-5 most days, so the soccer pick up was late for me.  I was glad to go and see all the parents that we have been on this club soccer journey with over the last four years, along with meeting some new.  When I turned to leave, I caught this sunset, a very happy spot at the end of a long day.

#100HappyDays :: Day 97

The wrap up before leaving on vacation this time of year is much like the furor prior to guests arriving.  We finished a massive harvest of beets, and carrots and the fall planting is taken care of.  We also processed 25 squash into six casseroles snug in the freezer for easy fall meals.  B also successfully combined two bee hives, but that craziness deserves its own post.  I love days where we accomplish a lot but still have time to leisurely bar-b-cue with the kids and enjoy the late summer/early fall foliage that is just beginning to peak through.

#100HappyDays :: Day 96

This week, Fall soccer starts.  Charlie has a team camp all week (at least until we head out of town), and then next week is the official start to practices.  A handful of the boys participated in a  3 v. 3 soccer tournament yesterday.  A good experience and a great warm up for them to get their heads and bodies back in the game.  The kids doing what they love makes for a happy day every time.

#100HappyDays :: Day 95

A kitten finally sprung from the fixator in her leg.  Maybe I would get a better picture if we could get her to sit still!  Notice the bell around her neck, it is the only way we can keep track of her, she is that fast!  I guess four weeks in a kennel results in masses of pent up kitten energy.  Happy that we now get to see her personality unleashed.

#100HappyDays :: Day 94

We do not grow our own sweet corn as it is space intensive and we have such a great source of locally grown.  When the first of the it hits the roadside stands we happily stock up, especially at 13 ears for $5.  We eat plenty of fresh, but since buying our pressure caner two years ago, try to can as much as possible for off season cooking.  At Julie's suggestion I subscribed to the New York Times Cooking newsletter.  I am so glad that I did, I have been trying recipes out of it the last couple of weeks right and left.  The Indian Spiced Corn Soup was simple, fantastic, and most importantly a kid pleaser!   I The first sweet corn of the season providing a deliciously happy moment.

#100HappyDays :: Day 93

August has arrived and even just a few days in you know it.  It has its own feel; a combination of lazy hazy days and the hustle and bustle of finishing up summer while simultaneously preparing for the school year.  The days have begun to grow shorter and the light is taking on that special golden hue that I so love this time of year.  As we walk the property there is just a certain feel to everything, the locusts hum and the garden is producing.  It feels as if everything has hit its stride, instinctively knowing that change is coming and every moment should be enjoyed before the season is out.  I love the feel of late summer.  Maybe because we head off on a much anticipated vacation, or it is the time when we eat the freshest and put up most of the garden produce for the winter, or maybe it is just because it is the final build up to my favorite time of year, the fall.  Regardless, an August day with its fluctuations between busy and relaxed make for many happy moments.

#100HappyDays :: Day 92

Thistles are a royal pain when you are gardening organically.  Since we do not use herbicides, we need to take them out by hand.  They come up everywhere and even the best of gloves are no great protection when pulling them.  They do come out fairly easily most of the time, but it is a never ending task, and even with the best intentions there are always areas on the property where they will grow with flourish, flower and at the moment they are creating thousands of seeds that I am sure we will see next year.

The plant itself is nothing to look at, but the flowers are gorgeous and do have a rich Celtic history.  When I looked out my kitchen window last night the sun was setting just right, and the thistle seed and web were both sparkling.  Proof that a happy moment can even come from a pesky weed.

#100HappyDays :: Day 91

Perhaps the happiest days are those that are peppered with little triumphs.

#100HappyDays :: Day 90

A favorite activity of ours is sitting on the porch watching a thunderstorm approach, and what a show we got last night.  The lightening was spectacular, and it never ceases to amaze me the power of a front as it comes through and drops the temperatures from 92 to 68 in a matter of less than a minute.  Happy moments sitting in awe of mother nature.

#100HappyDays :: Day 89

We had to take down the electric fence that enclosed the pig pasture last weekend to accommodate parking for the chili cook off.  Yesterday morning, we re-installed it and the girls immediately ran out to nestle down in the cool dirt under the big pines in the pasture.  

Our temperatures have been in the mid to upper 80's for the last couple of weeks and very humid.  Yesterday as B topped off the waterer, he decided to spray the girls down.  Look at the glee on Penelope's face as she is sprayed with the water!  Who would have thought that raising pigs would bring so many happy moments to days?!

#100HappyDays :: Day 88

Though I loved my glowing blue moon shots this morning, I am happy that my moon drought is over, and I finally have written the perfect setting for my camera down!  A very happy moment in the day....having fun running outside with my daughter surrounded by fireflies and catching the moonrise.

#100HappyDays :: Day 87

After a busy week of work and then afternoons running errands and hanging out with Sidney, yesterday afternoon was perfect for some down time.  I sorted and and organized a stack of papers that have been piling up, while wrapped up on the couch re-watching episodes of the X-Files.  Sid (and I) are anxiously anticipating the re-boot that will be out early next year, she is not sure how she is going to adjust to Scully having long blond hair!  Isn't it funny how characters in both books and digital form become imprinted on our minds?   I also spent some time playing with my camera while contemplating catching the blue moon.  During the height of multiple photography projects several years ago, I was able to dial in some beautiful moon shots, which sadly have eluded me since.  I can not for the life of me duplicate the settings that I used then, and of course did not write them down, thinking oh, how easy, no brainer.....yep, right!  That is something that apparently did not imprint on my mind :)    Overall, an afternoon of finding happy moments in simple tasks.

#100HappyDays :: Day 86

Looking forward to vacation in just a couple of weeks, mother daughter pedicures.  Oh, and finding the perfect shade of blue.

#100HappyDays :: Day 85

A little retail therapy and some Thai food; summer afternoons with Sid while the boy is at camp.

#100HappyDays :: Day 84

We began yesterday morning with mischievous pigs.  As part of our morning chores before work, I went into the barn to say hi, then went around back to put some fruit in their 'slop' trough.  By the time I got back, Penelope had decided to dump their watering drum over, which broke the nozzle off and began to pour water everywhere.  Thankfully the nozzle did not actually break, B was able to get it repaired, but as the water was draining she began to roll around and frolic in the water.  I guess she had decided that she wanted a bath.  Though a frustrating situation, watching her made us smile, despite the mess.

#100HappyDays :: Day 83

Yesterday was a busy day, beginning very early as Charles headed off to camp.  I think he got his wish; post chili cook off he was exhausted so I am sure had no problem sleeping in the car for the four hour ride North.  I must say that I had a mom panic moment about two hours after I got home and went to fold laundry.  You see, the kids swam late Saturday night so Charles put his swim trunks in the dryer so they would be ready to head to camp.  You guessed it, I found them in they dryer late yesterday morning, so he went off to camp for a week without swim trunks!  I guess he will use his boy scout survival techniques to figure out what shorts will be the most water worthy for the task.

After a little final cleaning up we took Sidney and friend to the Ren Faire.  They were dressed to play the part, and we had a leisurely afternoon walking around and catching shows.  The water lilies were just beginning to bloom and were a beautiful, relaxing sight after so much activity.

#100HappyDays :: Day 82

The eighth annual chili cook off is now one for the books.  Another fantastic year with wonderful families, truly a highlight of our summer.  We had nine chili entries and six pie entries.  Everyone takes their tasting quite seriously, numbering cups to make sure that they can keep track of favorites.

In the last eight years we have had two years where there has been a tie.  Once for a chili, and then most recently in 2011 for a pie.  This year amazingly we had ties in both the chili and pie competitions!  The winning chills were a Five Pepper Southwestern Chicken Chili, and a Chili con Carne.  The winning pies were a Cherry Breeze Pie with a graham cracker crust and a Hey Der, Hi Der, Pie Der, Cream Puff Pie with a brandy old-fashioned glaze.  All of the entries were amazing, and it was a tough choice for all.

Beyond tastings, there were games, running, and a lot of generalized play with not a single kid plugged in.  The kids were beginning to gather here for a very heated game of capture the flag, only identifiable by their glow sticks as they raced across the property.

This year's bonfire was spectacular, and fortunately still going this morning with only a little stoking. The very definition of a happy day.

#100HappyDays :: Day 81

Yesterday a group of friends and I tried something new.  SUP Yoga (Stand up Paddleboard), was a ton of fun!  It truly added a whole new level to maintaining balance in poses when both physically your platform is moving as well as all of your visual surroundings.  I would definitely love to do this again!  There were enough of us that we had to break into two groups, so the first picture I took, then the second two I want to give a photo shout out by my friends Mary and Heather.    A happy couple of hours in what was otherwise a busy chili cook-off prep day :)