Wednesday's Simple Joys

Look at my Faith Anne and her sweet smile!

Doesn't she look so joyful in this picture?!?

Wishing you the Simple Joy of a Sweet Smile~

~M and Faith Anne~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Faith Anne

After a rough couple of days at work....

She is my joy today.

I just love my sweet sweet girl.

Wishing you the simple joy of 

a sweet puppy after a hard days work~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Well Hello Mid March!!!  What did you do with February and the first half of March?!?

Goodness, how time flies!

This Week's Simple Joy: 

Spring Is In The Air!!!

I cannot tell you how excited I was to see these GORGEOUS BLOOMS

on the Maple Tree in my front yard!!!

It is a sure sign that Spring is coming!!! 

And if you ask me...it is about damn time!!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend of planting Beautiful Blooms~

~M and Faith Anne~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

I was going through some pictures and I found this one of my PawPaw on Christmas Day.  It brought tears to my eyes.  Isn't he so joyful?  I just love this picture!  And my PawPaw!

Wishing you great picture of a very joyful PawPaw~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

This Cutie and his Sweet Mom (who I work with) moved in across this street over the weekend!

Couldn't you just eat him up!

(Yes, he is at my house in this picture.  Yes, those are sprinkles, lots of sprinkles on cookies, before lunch.  Yes, at M's house you pretty much get to do what you want-so long as you are not harming yourself, others or doing permanent damage to M's home.  I am not their parent, therefore it is my job to spoil the hell out of them.  And if I must say so myself....I do it quite well :))

Nice Neighbors and Another Kid in My Life to Spoil....

Does it get any better?!?

Wishing you the simple joy of a nice neighbor with a sweet boy to spoil~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Today's Simple Joy:

Running across great pictures that make you laugh out loud.

Like this one of Dazi Mae at my house.

Late November 2009.

Wishing you a good laugh over a great photo~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

On New Year's Eve some of my favorite kids agreed to spend the night with me.

We had a BLAST.

I will post a blog about all the fun later....

(I have to get one of the mom's permission to post pics of her sweet boy.)

In the meantime...

Today when I got home from work I found these two sweet sweet cards in my mailbox.

From these two cuties.

I can't think of a better simple joy on a bitter cold day.

Can you?

I captured this sweet moment of the brother and sister

during our fun filled New Year's Eve together.

A and L~

YOU MADE MY DAY!

And I should be sending you a thank you note for coming.

We will have to have another spend the night party soon!

I love you lots!

~M~

Wishing you the simple joy

of a child's thank you~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

A few weeks ago I was on the last leg of my near 1000 miles of driving for work in three days.

Now, don't get me wrong. I Love Driving.

Driving is when:

I clear my head.

Sing Really Loud.

Enjoy The Peace.

But on this particular day. I was tired. Tired of driving. And more than tired of the very dreary weather that I had been driving in for nearly the entire 3 days.

But then, then I came across this

awesome sea of yellow...

that went on and on and on and on.

and I thought: My goodness, what is that?

So I decided to take a detour and get a little closer.....

and found the

awesome sea of yellow

to be an

awesome sea of sunflowers

So I took some close ups.

And drove around the block.

and found that it went on and on and on

beyond the railroad track

and

even beyond the kudzu!

Wishing you the simple joy of a

Detour

and an

Awesome Sea of Yellow~

~M~

ps: yellow is my favorite color...because it is such a happy color....don't you agree?

Wedneday's Simple Joys

Oh how I wish computers were

"scratch and sniff!"

I have three Tea Olive bushes beside my front porch...

And oh my, the wonderful aroma that greets me when they are in bloom!!

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

(and to make it even better...they are very low maintainence. I haven't done a thing to them-except cut off blooms to put in mason jars :)!-in over three years...and they are still alive and kickin'...pretty cool eh?)

May I also suggest...

This is a really simple way to bring joy to a neighbor.

Go out to your yard, find a shrub with blooms, some flowers, anything, and cut a few blooms.

(people, if I have living beautiful plants in my yard...

all of you do too :))

Put them in a mason jar or old can.

Take them to someone you love.

It is simple.

And brings joy.

And if you do it on a Wednesday...you will be providing a "Wednesday's Simple Joy" for someone...ring a bell?!?

And as a bonus...

Just because she is so stinkin' cute....

A picture of Faith Anne....

Wishing you the simple joy of a Tea Olive in a Mason Jar

(and a cute Faith Anne too!)~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

This Wednesday's Simple Joy is...

"A Perfect Saturday Evening"
and much more!

Have I mentioned lately, how much I love my neighborhood? Well, in case I haven't...

I love my neighborhood!

Saturday evening, after cutting my grass, (Yes, I do cut my own grass~a lot of the time~with a pushing mower, although it is self propelled) my sweet neighbor, Dana asked if I wanted to join her on her front porch for some chattin' and daquiri drinkin.' Since I can think of no better way to enjoy a cool Saturday evening I, of course, said yes.

As we were chattin' and daquiri drinkin' we smelled something wonderful cooking! And about 15 minutes later our neighbors Conrad and Alex brought us some beef ribs. And they smelled AMAZING! Dana remembered that she had some fresh green beans and tomatoes that our neighbor Ms. Tucker picked from her vegetable garden.

So we had the most amazing meal provide completely by our neighbors...

See....

I cleaned my plate!

After eating the really late dinner (it was like 10PM!) Dana and I took Alex and Conrad a daquiri in appreciation for their sweet gesture and then went back to porch sittin', daquiri drinkin' and chattin' until midnight.

Wishing you the simple joy of a wonderful meal

and the

greater joy of wonderful neighbors~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Remember last Wednesday when I gave you a simple joy that did not cost you a dime?!? Remember how excited you were?!?

Well guess what people! I have another simple joy that will not cost you a dime!

Are you ready?!?

It is called the "Ha Game!!"

Now I know you are wondering what this is...don't worry I am going to explain it to you...

Here's what you do:

First of all you need at least two people...but I think it is best when you have at least four and the more the merrier....play with 100 if you want!

The first person lays on the ground. The second person lays their head on the first person's stomach. The third person lays their head on the second person's stomach and so on....

Then the first person goes "Ha." The second person goes "Ha. Ha." The third person goes "Ha. Ha. Ha." The fourth person goes "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha." And so on...when you run out of people it goes back to the first person who continues the "Has." For example. In this case, we had four people. So after the fourth person went "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha," The first person would then go "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha." And then the second person would go. And so on.

Seems easy enough right? Well yes...BUT the object is to do it WITHOUT LAUGHING!!! And people...this may not sound like it would make you laugh...but I PROMISE YOU WILL!!! It is soooo damn funny.

Please play. Play with your family. Play with your friends, your co-workers, anyone really. (I have played with my family of four, a group of 9 friends, and even a group of 30 band members.) It breaks up the tension. Provides some joy. You will have so much fun...it will cause you to skip! And is there anything more joyful than experiencing not one...but TWO simple joys in one day that do not cost you a DIME!!!

And you know I never leave you without awesome pictures!!!

Playing with the fam probably around 2004
(obviously I was taking the picture)

I wish I had more pictures. We have played

it lots. I just couldn't find anymore pictures.

A series a shots of me and some of The Nine playing "Ha."

Blair took the pics.

Wishing you the simple joy of a game of "Ha"~

~M~

*Please comment after you play and tell me about your "Ha" experience! You can even e-mail me pictures! I would love to see them!!!*

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Today's Simple Joy will not cost you a penny

and can done right where you are this very minute!

Fabulous...right?!!?

Want to know what it is??

It is....

SKIPPING!!!

I know you are wondering why skipping...

It is because for one brief millisecond skipping allows

you to be completely in the air.

No Worries.

No Stress.
Just You.

In the Air.

Thinking about Absolutely Nothing.

And try skipping without smiling/laughing.

If you succeed...leave a comment and let me know!

Nearly Impossible People!

And even better....

Skip with others...

This weekend, Momma, Daddy, Hannah,

Hope Eigh and Dazi Mae

were visiting me and Faith Anne for

"The Red Cottage Life Experience"

and we all skipped around

Faith Anne's Home Town.

And had SO MUCH FUN!!

And because I know my readers
(all 12 of them :))

we do have pictures of us

skipping through town

for your enjoyment!

I wouldn't leave you hangin!!!

I did not get any of Hannah for some reason...

But don't worry...I will!

So without further ado...

Doesn't it look like fun?!?!?!?

Now why are you still sitting here...

Off you go!

Skip away!!!

Wishing you the simple joy of a "hop and a skip"~

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

Remember when you were little and you and your siblings absolutely positively COULD NOT WAIT until Santa or the Easter Bunny came? Or when your parents had maybe been out of town and they were coming home? Or what about that birthday party your mom said that your friends were coming to....just to celebrate you?

You know that feeling right?!?!

The very absolutely cannot wait, all I want to talk about, been planning for and anticipating for what seems like FOREVER?!?

That feeling. That feeling is this week's simple joy.

I TRIPLE LOVE THAT FEELING. REALLY!!!

Always have! See....

I found this picture of me as a "tiny tot" from my picture wall to prove it to you! See how excited I am?!?!

By the way...I have that feeling right this very minute!!! Faith Anne and I have been planning a fun weekend in Faith Anne's hometown for Momma, Daddy and Hannah (yes Hope Eigh and Dazi Mae will be joining us as well!!) for well, a long time!!! And it is finally here! In less than 48 hours!!! HOORAY!!!

Wishing you the simple joy of that feeling of pure excitement and anticipation-

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

I am not a change person. Never have been.

As a junior in high school, I informed my parents that I would not be going to college.

"Really?," they asked, probably much calmer than they felt.

"And what is your plan, then?"

To which I replied, "To be a high school student and live with you forever."

I was totally serious.

My whole life, I have been a homebody and we are a very tight knit family. I had great friends in high school and informed even my dear high school counselor, Ms. Waldrop, that I didn't need new ones. The thought of moving away from home completely overwhelmed me and frankly scared the shit out of me.

After realizing that my friends were not going to be in high school with me anymore; and that probably, living with my parents for the rest of my life was not very productive, and let's be honest, a little, well a lot, of counseling with Ms. Waldrop, I decided first, to go to a local university and then by the start of my senior year finally decided on a small private college 45 minutes from my home town.

In the months, weeks and days that led up to my moving to my new “home” for the next four years I dreaded the ending of my childhood. Dreaded leaving home. Dreaded the entire experience of college. And the tears. There are not words to describe the tears that were shed.

We are talking breakdowns:

In Bed Bath and Beyond. Yes, in the middle of the towel aisle while shopping for my dorm room, no less. My sister was probably mortified.

In the kitchen during “one of my last meals EVER at home” (because I would never be back…I was so dramatic),

And don’t even get me started with the day I moved to college when I begged my parents to “please not leave me there.” (because it was soooo terrible)

It was a tough time. And my poor family. There is a special place in heaven for them for putting up with me that year…

Somewhere in the middle of all that “emotional turmoil” my Sweet Aunt Jan gave me this little decorative plaque that she had for years. You will notice the scratches and marks on it. It has lived a good life. After all, it as survived four different dorm rooms and a move here to my little red cottage (it might as well be 80 years old).

And through all of that, the message stayed the same;

“You cannot discover new oceans—
unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

The plaque now hangs above Daddy’s old desk in my little red cottage, with letters from dear family and friends hanging above it. I look at it every morning. And when I do, I remember when Aunt Jan gave it to me. She gave me a hug and whispered “always remember this Meghan Baby.”

Aunt Jan (and Momma and Daddy and Hannah and yes, even Ms. Waldrop);

I do remember.

Wishing you the simple joy of a daily “life lesson reminder”-
~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

This Wonderful Fresh Pineapple

Thanks Katie!

(Too bad blogs aren't "scratch 'n' sniff!)

Wishing you the surprise of a free fresh pineapple!

~M~

Wednesday's Simple Joys

For as long as I can remember my Daddy has said "it's all about the little things." And Momma and Daddy raised my sister and I that way. Don't get me wrong. We did the big things too. Like our vacations to places like New York, Disney World, and Italy, or Christmases that Momma and Daddy always overdo (hey we aren't complaining :)).

But I can promise you that Hannah and I have just as many, if not more, joyful memories in "little things" like the following:

Dinner together as a family, nightly
(a requirement in my parents' household and no t.v. on either)

The tiny, super cute, 1000 square foot house that we grew up in

(M & D are still there-no, square footage has never been added-except the deck)

Sharing a tiny bedroom during our childhood

That we didn't kill each other while sharing a bedroom of any size for any length of time

"Deck Parties" after football games in high school

Birthdays

(Birthdays in our family were and are a huge deal)

Going to "take your daughter to work day" with Daddy

The very few times that Momma kept us out of school for a surprise day of fun

Baseball games

Sunday Afternoon Drives

Momma and Daddy being as much in love today as they were on their wedding day over 28 years ago

Of course having each other to grow up with (most days anyway :)!)

And the laughter. Oh my goodness the laughter....

I think you get the point. There is as much, if not more joy in the "Little Things."

And in my Red Cottage Life, I live by that philosophy. I refuse to wait on big things to make my life joyous. I will not wait for a $100,000 yearly salary, a $1,000,000 house, or even a husband or child to make me happy. (My goodness, in my career field we all know the 3rd and 4th thing are never going to happen :)) And what happens if I never get married or never have a child.

What am I supposed to do-be miserable my entire life? That's silly!

I am not saying never be sad, never mourn a loss, never get frustrated with life...we all have our rough spots!
What I am saying is...try, everyday, to find the joy in the "Little Things." And sometimes it is all about improvising and many times it works out better than what you originally thought you wanted.
For example, instead of that $100,000 salary; I do what I love. I know, cliché right? But so true! Instead of that million dollar home; my home feels like a million bucks because it reflects me, some would say SCREAMS me. And since I am not in a position to have children right now....I borrow these munchkins sometimes (much less often than I'd like) and Dear Lord, do they bring the joy...

As for the husband, I hope one day we find each other. In the meantime, I surround myself with awesome friends and family. And I have been known to call on a friends' husband to catch lizards, help me chase down Faith Anne, or other random things like that (right, husbands of the nine?!?).

Wow-didn't know I had that much to say about the "little things!" Who knew??!!?

So, in honor of “it’s all about the little things," I will be posting a “simple joy” every week (much like Monday Memories).

We shall call it "Wednesday's Simple Joys"

Faith Anne will start us off...

Her Simple Joy: A Stick
(notice the basket full of toys, right next to her, that she is completely ignoring)
Pure Joy, for a good 30 minutes, I tell you!

Wishing you the "simple joys" of life,
M. (and Faith Anne)