What Made You Happy Today.

we didn't get 30" of snow.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Having been dealing with on and off shingles attacks, in and around my eyes and torso for about a year, every day I wake up without an onset of attack is a happy day.
Today was another good day. No major problems.

Happiness today was a good day yesterday for bird photographs that I can paint! Yesterday was grocery day and since the beach is on my route, I usually take my camera. It was one of those days where the sun was right and we had a few species of winter birds that migrate here and I am always excited to watch. I sat on the seawall for more than an hour watching a reddish egret hunt. If you have never witnessed this, you are missing a show. They jump up about four feet above the water with their wings flapping several times before catching their prey. Pretty funny. He was too far to get clear enough shots but I can manage to get a few good paintings out of it.
Just as I was about to go on my way, two american white pelicans decided to join in. I LOVE WHITE PELICANS! They were close enough to get several good, clear enough detailed shots. I will be painting them pretty quickly. Then a few blocks down along the seawall, there were two snowy egrets hunting and they too gave me a bunch of awesome photos to paint and they were close enough to get perfect images of. Just started a snowy egret painting and that excites me...:}

Laughing and laughing at my silly dog with my neighbor

Thankful that I did not hit the two large dogs that ran out in front of traffic going 50 - 60 mph...FIRST TIME EVER I have actually burned rubber on my tires, literally smoked them. Also very thankful that the pickup behind me had room to swerve in the other lane and not hit me and that all the other cars that were forced to come to a complete and unexpected stop in all three lanes....managed to not hit anyone. A true miracle since almost NOBODY leaves enough space between cars. I actually try to.

Everyone!!!!! Don't follow so close to other cars!

I got my PC back fully repaired; I received word 4 of my pieces will be part of an exhibition at the Asheville Airport, and I saw an awesome documentary on a hitherto unknown street photographer. Great day!

Wow, where should I begin? It’s a little after 2:00 here so the day’s not over but so far, and not ranked by priority:

Learning that a big beautiful art glass piece that’s shaped like a Pueblo olla is worth big bucks. I found it at a thrift store and don’t intend to sell it but it made me happy to track down the artist and find that it is indeed as valuable as I suspected.

Going outside this morning and finding Fred, one of my favorite dogs, sleeping tits up nestled against Skunkie, one of favorite my cats, (also tits up) on their bed on the patio. Both had ridiculously happy expressions even though they were asleep.

Knowing the 7D is on its way from Jersey even though there’s bad weather in the east (yep, it is all about me).

Enjoying how perfectly quiet it is here at the moment except for birdsong. Usually there’s some drama going on with the domestic critters. One dog says to the others, “I’m bored. Hey, I know! Let’s all bark real loud for no damn reason.” And then they do.

Heard a tree frog this morning though it’s still winter.

Going out to the garage this morning where an old hen sleeps under a warm lamp (because she’s really old) and finding several cats asleep in a furry heap on top of her house because the heat from the lamp is warming the blanket over her house. I disturbed them just so I could listen to happy purrs.

Clipped back the winter-dead stalks of perennials and found new growth pushing up. Always a happy sign that they made it through the winter.

Checked for flower buds on the dogwoods and found that most of them will bloom this spring.

Walked through the gardens planning where to plant what when the soil is dry enough to be worked and doing an inventory of what is waiting to be planted. Planning is as therapeutic as the work, without the sore muscles.

My babies are all healthy and content. That alone is worth all of the above and then some.

I finished two paintings and the sun came out today which make me happy.

Just life in general made me happy.

Today I got to assemble my new office chair my honey bought me. I'm now sitting pretty!

I got to wear flip-flops in late January. Even though it is a fairly regular occurrence, it always makes me very, very happy!

Sold this set of paintings today!

I listened to an audio tape of someone reading from "Seth Speaks," one of the books from a series of books that helped shape my life back in the '70s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNwnN2bmmkI

Andy- I made me happy today.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

Thanks for asking, Andy! Getting out of bed pain-free was a big relief! I'm happy, too, to have such a kind & thoughtful husband. A wonderfully mild winter here in southern OR is making me very happy. And I'm glad that the majority of members in my 'The Color Purple' contest read & followed the description-rules! That's a plus with SO many gorgeous entries, like this one by Paul. Btw, voting is still in progress, should anyone want to participate.

I did something completely counter-intuitive today... after our area's first real snow fall this winter season, I had several friends tell me that they were looking forward to my photos of our first snowfall. But alas, Out of seemingly "nowhere" it was on my heart at the beginning of the day to really devote myself to my sons and wife exclusively (my wife was working from home today). So I played with my sons all day in and out of the snow, cleaned the house, then while my friends were texting me that there was "an amazing sunset" outside, I was in the zone making hand-scratch meatballs and pasta for the family.

And you know what? It made me really happy that I missed some of the snowfall and sunset photography magic, so I could be with my family. I am so incredibly blessed with these three, I have a wife and two little boys that are so encouraging me of my photography, and give me so much room to breathe with my art . So it was my joy to thank them by taking a family day today, and celebrate the snowfall by being with them in it. Me thinks there will be another sunset tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day :)

This thread made me happy .... whenever I see people sharing hope and goodness it makes me happy.

Just life.... Being alive today and at peace with love. Just life. :)

I spent the day working on a presentation..first full day in a long time...and they want my photography...;)

One of my students, a Hispanic woman of "advanced age" that is working towards her GED, getting excited about being able to add and subtract positives and negatives for the first time made my day.

Actually, it was last week, but it still makes me smile.

I don't know - you'll have to ask me about this time tomorrow.

Working on a presentation I have been invited to give tonight - to a group of photographers - on how to evaluate your own photography:) Wish I knew as much as you Mike:) Just thought of you now - I could have incorporated some of your great ideas (with credit of course:)), but now it is too late as I am leaving the house in 20 minutes:) Wish me luck:)

Set out to replace the old spout and faucets on the bathroom sink. The nut securing the spout was corroded and could not be budged. That's the one in the impossible location, up under the counter and behind the sink. I had to cut it off with a high-speed cutting wheel held at arms length over my head, at a weird angle in a tight spot, while laying upside down jammed into in a tiny cabinet about 3 feet in front of the tub.

The nut went the full 12 rounds with me, but I got it off.

I'm happy.

A bowl of homemade beef stew for dinner.

--Roz Abellera

Hi Andy thankyou for sharing your lovely post, great thread.
im glad you had rewarding nice day.
yes l was at home preparing my original art work in frames ready to take later today too the local town cafe named Lounge, where l display my art for sale.l get very excited.
my best wishes Teresa

My Dog.

A sale and 3 session bookings. Not bad in one day.

I discovered lots of scholarship opportunities for my daughter. Gave me hope she will get the grants she needs and deserves.

Nothing.

And that was before I burned my burger and had hot bacon grease pop up on my face.

My kitty looks like road kill on my lap; she is very comfy!

My new contest has attracted 20 new members to the "Oh Happy Day" group.

Woo hoo!

Playing with my camera and shooting something that I was challenged to shoot, it was a great time!!

Starting the day with a cuddle with Barnet Boy. The morning mayhem of feeding the cat crowd and trying to stop the naught one Malteser stealing everyone's treats. A nice comment on my artwork from an unexpected source. Beautiful sunshine even though it was crisp and cold. Getting ready for my trip to the UK to see my parents.

@Chuck - love Seth

Sorry to hear that Joseph. Tommorow can only get better.

Best thread ever. I love reading these posts!

Happy and thankful I never lost power during this powerful snowstorm that hit Massachusetts.

My new new musical partner. Best match I ever had and we are booking gigs. My new GF. Most stunningly beautiful woman I have been with since my HS prom date. Losing 40 lbs and being at the lowest weight in years and stronger than I ever was . My mom. Selling 10 photos today would really put me over the top. Rocking my 60th year.

I finished getting all my numbers together for the accountant BEFORE the organizer came in the mail from him!! First year ever..this is my biggest procrastination issue...

Again, I made myself happy.

It was my response to a very nice chat I had with one of our town's snow plow drivers named Burt. I got to thank him personally for the great job he and the other divers do especially in the conditions of the last 24 hours. I plan to go the extra mile later today and create and send a thank you note to all the town workers who worked to keep the roads cleared.

BillTomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

The day is sunny and will soon be warm. No rain in the forecast so I'm throwing stuff in the truck and will take off late today for a few days of camping if I can manage to finish a bit of work first.

I'm happy I woke up today!

Having a long overdo chat with my wonderful Sister-in-Law who lives so far from me in the Cold white North of Canada , love my Family :)

It's Wednesday and today I am finishing up a movie poster for a producer with tight purse strings, then I will be able to get back to my own artwork.

Chuck Staley Concept Art

I had a good friend call in for coffee and chat - lovely to see her.

Varnished my latest canvas painting & hung it to dry.

Managed to get some relief from my flu symptoms.

All in all, a rewarding day. Better than staying in bed and recovering slowly.

Hearing my sweet husband's laugh on the phone....swoon...

Meditated at noon, followed by some chanting.

Exercising on the Elliptical while watching Sex in the City.

It's so interesting to read what makes folks happy. Nobody mentioned money......

The most exciting thing I did today was visit my doctor and received great news I am still in remission. All vital signs are above average (perfect) I will visit again for follow-up in 6 months. I spoke with the nutritionist, and she was extremely pleased to spend time with me. Being terminal is nothing more in my mind but an inconvenience and she liked that a lot. The only minor problem is with cholesterol, when I found out 8 years ago it was 140 and have brought it down to current 100 eating natural foods to control it nothing else. We discussed my possibly speaking at a endowment seminar at a medical conference of my personal journey living with a terminal illness to enlighten individuals from my own perspective and continued outlook on life. The moment we exist we are terminal throughout life nothing to fear the important thing is what you do with your remaining time here on earth with friends, family or alone and the people you love!

Then after the doctors visit I went to the university which I retired from in October and had lunch with everyone and received a beautiful silver watch and I signed autographs....smiling. Don't forget to watch NCIS New Orleans February 17, and keep an eye out for my hand painted face which is my current avatar.

Everyone have a great and happy day!!!!
Cheers, Michael Hoard Actor, Artist and Photographer.

That is wonderful news Michael!! :)

I agree Frank!! :)

I'm pretty Happy most days... watching a beautiful sunset with my daughter yesterday made me happy! ( and freezing! )

Have a "HAPPY" Day Everyone!! :)

I am glad to hear no major disruptions from the big snow storm, this makes me happy!

@Terry, thank you for the comment, there is nothing in this world more gratifying than the events which makes us all happy!

Saw my mother in law this afternoon and she was pleased to see me.

A very sweet photographer here just allowed me to paint one of his photos, a spoonbill that will be #4 in my new series.

Got my California state tax forms in the mail. I was waiting for them so it made me happy :)

I'm so happy to know you're still in remission, Michael, and that you had a nice get together :) Life is good!

Everything...my daughter taking a long nap with me snuggled so tight to me the entire time. I cherish those moments the most! God, I love that little girl :)