a year of happy

i scream, you scream.....by jenny

I've known Jenny ever since she was born--she's my sister! She always knows how to make me laugh, and brightens my day every time I hear her voice, which isn't nearly often enough. I love to get together with Jenny and our sister Jill for sisters' trips. Speaking of that, isn't it about time for one?! Please make Jenny feel welcome at A Year of Happy--especially because today is her birthday! Happy B-day Jenny!

Jenny blogs about biking, mothering, the fun things of life, and her missionary son at Jenny, Jenny, Who Can I Turn To?   Jenny and Tracy and JoLyn recently got together to create The Blog Cafe, a Monday virtual get-together for local food and great conversation.

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It must have been within the first week of moving to Northwest Washington that I was told about the Tulip Festival. Every spring with "bloom dates according to Mother Nature," fields of tulips grace farms throughout the upper Puget Sound Region.





Color fills the horizon. Red, Purple, Orange, Yellow, and Pink.

We're kind of like the US Postal Service when it comes to tulips...through sun, wind, and rain, we make our way into the tulip fields knowing that this year we'll get that perfect shot with the camera.





Even though the color is beautiful and we all love trekking through the mud, the flowers are not our favorite part of this trip.

What then, you may ask, if this remarkable display of floral grandeur isn't it?





Cradled in the middle of acres of farmland lies a market--The Snow Goose Produce Market.

We enter the crowded gravel parking lot north of the spread and as soon as the car doors open, a scent of deliciousness puts a smile on every face.

It draws us past potted herbs and young vegetable starts, past newly woven baskets and local breads and cheeses, and even past fresh cut flowers and creations from local artists.

When finally we arrive at the south end and....we all scream for ICE CREAM!





Even in 40 degree weather, we have to weave through a line leading out the door and down the sidewalk. Slowly we pass the freezers where three employees feverishly scoop from a list of flavors that keeps us all changing our minds until the moment we're asked what we want while two more are in a constant effort of creating that wonderful smell---Freshly made Waffle Cones!






They call their cones Immodest. We call them amazing and return at least once a year to eat the ice cream...I mean, see the tulips in beautiful Skagit Valley.






Unless, by some lucky chance sunshine arrives on a Saturday. Then we grab our bikes and head back to Skagit Valley for a bike ride through the tulips to get an Immodest Ice Cream!



 

Is there an event near your home that you look forward to every year?

team up thursdays: close-up

This week's theme is
CLOSE UP.

Arizaphale's photo is on the left--
the cute yellow sandals
with the red toes.
Love it!

Mine is a close up of a
water fountain splashing.

I love how the two look together!

Check out the rest of the photos
over at Melody or Megan's!

bliss list...by relyn

Today's post is by Relyn, my friend from "Come Sit By My Fire." She is warm and friendly and a wonderful writer. I love her beautiful photos, her Wednesday lists, her passion for life, and her Sunday poetry. Be sure to visit her blog--it will quickly become a favorite. Please make her feel welcome at A Year of Happy!

Relyn lives and writes from a small town in rural Missouri.  She is a teacher by day and a blogger by night.  She never goes anywhere without her camera and is currently at work on a 365 project. She loves chocolate and books, preferably both at the same time.  More even than chocolate, Relyn cherishes her role as a wife and mother.  Which makes her small family the frequent subjects for her writing and photography. 

You can usually find her at Comesitbymyfire and Jeffrelynews. 

Hello.  My name is Relyn and I'm delighted to be visiting here in JoLyn's space.  When JoLyn asked me to be a guest blogger I knew just what to write.  We share a great love of lists.  What better thing, then, to write for her blog?  

With the coming of spring, my thoughts, like everyone else's, begin to hop about like bunnies.  Today I'm thinking blissfully springish thoughts.  Won't you join me?

Bliss List

 

* watching for the first daffodil * the fact that daffodils were originally called daffydowndillies * the spring arriving sequence on the movie The Secret Garden * lambs in fields, especially the black ones * the morning sun on freshly washed windows * that incredible urge to clean * jacketless days leading slowly to short sleeves and capris *

the first pedicure of the season * the greening of the world * the way double rainbows seem to occur far more often in April than at any other time * choosing just the right goodies to fill a basket decked out in ribbons * Spring Break! * reading Enchanted April every year * the way little kids all get the giggles at the smallest things * Peeps and Cadbury Eggs * pastel ribbons * little girls in hats and patent leather Mary Janes *





the way I always get an urge to read poetry * pussy willows * fuzzy buds popping out on all the trees * vases of cut tulips on my table * the smell of muscari * also the smells of daffodils and lilacs * The memory of the way our back fence was covered in lilacs.  We would sit under the branches for breakfast. It was heaven! * going to find a swing on the first warm day * packing away the sweaters and boots until October * my first evening in the hammock with Sloane on the nearby swing set *

Happy spring, everyone.  May yours be beautiful and your hearts be light. 

 

each day is a gift....by bekkah

Please meet my friend, Bekkah. Bekkah and I got to know each other because we share a love of photography--and right now she's participating in a "Picture Spring" photo project. Often, her photos are chosen to represent the group in her different projects. I'm not surprised--she really has got a good eye. Be sure to visit her blog, Through the Lens, and take a look back through her archives. I promise you'll enjoy it! Everybody please give Bekkah a warm welcome!

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Bekkah writes about photography, reading, her love for coffee (in all of its wonderful varieties) and life in general over at Through the Lens. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband of eleven years, their three year old daughter and their elderly (but much loved!) kitty.

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My husband and I recently had the pleasure of attending a very good friend's 40th birthday party. Kate has been talking about her 40th birthday for YEARS now...and not in a good way.
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Which makes me wonder: Why do so many people spend so much time dreading the coming and going of another birthday?
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On my 30th birthday, my mother-in-law told me that she 'sat down and cried bitter tears' the day she left her twenties behind. Over the weekend, our friend told us that she can't believe she's now in 'The Death Box' (meaning that she'll now mark '40 and over' on forms).
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Of course, I smile and laugh. Then I gently remind them that each day is a gift, but what I'd like to do is yell from the rooftops....don't be so UNGRATEFUL!!
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My father died when he was 32 years old. This July, I'll reach a birthday that he was never given the opportunity to celebrate. He never had the chance to check-off 'The Death Box'. I know that this is why I embrace every single birthday. I look to the future and can only hope to be blessed with many more. 40, 50, 70...each passing year holds its own hardships, but they also offer so much happiness.
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So I enjoy all of the wonderful moments that life sends my way and I don't stress one bit about my number or the checkbox that it places me in. The years of my life hold more than a checkmark.
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I spoke to my Grandfather last week on his 88th birthday. I could hear his smile through the phone. Maybe losing his son has taught him the same lesson as it did me. Or maybe, if blessed with longevity, we all learn to be grateful.
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By the end of Kate's party, many HAPPY tears were shed and many laughs were shared. She said, 'I guess this makes it okay'. Our family, our friends....they may not always be gathered in the same room, but their love is always with us and that's certainly what makes the 365 day trip worthwhile.
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...centerpiece at K's party, because candy corn isn't just for Halloween....

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we're meeting at jenny's place for the blog cafe!

It's Blog Cafe Day!!

And we're meeting over at Jenny's!

I can't wait to see what she's serving....
whatever it is,
I know it will be good.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Maybe she'll take us for crab legs!
Or yummy ice cream!
Or even to the gum wall in Seattle!
Haven't heard of it?
Check it out here.

Anyway,
be sure to visit the Blog Cafe.

Today, at Jenny's place!

birthday celebrations!

You might be able to tell from looking at the photos in this blog post that today's guest blogger's son is my grandson! Yes, today's blog post is written by my beautiful daughter, Jenna. She is a multi-talented girl, a wonderful mother, and a great friend. Jenna and I love to take photos together. She's much more experienced than me, but she cheers me on and teaches me how to use my camera! Please make Jenna feel welcome at A Year of Happy!

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Growing up, my parents had great traditions for our birthdays. My mom made our favorite breakfast, and sometimes we got checked out of school and taken to lunch.

We always took a snack for our classmates (my favorite were cupcakes baked into ice cream cones).

Every other year, we could have a friend party or go out to dinner.  On the off-years, my mom made our favorite dinner.  I usually had homemade pot stickers that my mom learned to make in Taiwan. 

My mom always made a poster board sign that she hung on our front door announcing our birthday.  Our siblings hung streamers for each other from ceilings, door frames, ceiling fans, and anywhere a streamer could be hung. 

My mom always made us a special cake - sometimes it was homemade, sometimes it was an ice cream cake from Coldstone. 

This cake was to celebrate my birthday right after I went to England. My mom and little brother decorated it for me.

 

So, with all the traditions my family had, I had to figure out what I was going to do for my baby's first birthday.

Party? Cake? Games? Pin the tail on the donkey?

Well, he had THREE parties with THREE cakes!

A barn cake with farm animal cupcakes,

a dinosaur cake,

and a Puppy cake!

For his birthday, we did a day of firsts. 

First day going down a slide,
first time eating a pickle,
his very first steps,
and the first time in his own pool. 

It was a perfect first birthday!

 
Now your turn. 
How do you celebrate your birthday? 
 

leaving no trace: a tribute

Jan and I recently connected over our blogs--and we have so many things in common. We both love family history, we love to travel, we love photography, and we will both soon be empty-nesters. (insert sad face here...)  Jan has many talents and gifts--but you must stop by her blog and look at the amazing photo collages she creates of her family photos. I'm hoping someday soon she'll teach me how to do it! Jan blogs at Hawkes Nest. But she's blogging here today--please give her a warm welcome!

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I grew up the daughter of a naval officer, moving every two years to a US Navy base somewhere else in the world. For recreation, my family went to the beach or boating.

My husband was raised on a dairy farm in Idaho. For recreation, they made ice cream and relaxed under the shade of a huge tree.

When we were dating in college, I showed him my family photo album. He expressed amazement that in almost every photo, we were wearing bathing suits. My brothers were swim team champs and life guards. Our life revolved around water. In his whole 21 years of life, he had never been photographed in a swim suit, or even with his shirt off. In fact, he had never learned to swim.

I pointed out that I had never been photographed riding a tractor or standing in corn as high as an elephant’s eye. In fact, I had never learned to ride a horse or milk a cow.

We have raised our family in the shadow of Mt. Timpanogos, far from the ocean and farm. Our children have been skiing, boarding, four-wheeling and hiking since they were knee high to a Sasquatch. They love the mountains.





In fact, our youngest son works for the Trails & Wilderness division of the Forest Service. He is a blogger and photographer and loves to share his vision for being stewards over the incredible beauty which surrounds us. What a guy. We're pleased with his passion. http://spanishforktrails.blogspot.com/  and http://www.lonepeakwilderness.blogspot.com/ 

He encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy nature. His mantra is “Leave No Trace.” Recently, he took this photo and explained it as follows:





“Yesterday I had the chance to ride with the guys from Rocky Mountain ATV.

"I first spoke with these guys when they approached the Forest Service this spring with an interest in the Adopt-A-Trail program. Since our first chat a few weeks ago, their group has cleared all trails of fallen trees in Payson canyon except for the few that our Forest Service crew took care of.

"In my four summers with the Forest Service, this is the most dedicated volunteer group I have worked with. These guys ride every Thursday and cover an incredible amount of trail.

"They have fashioned their bikes to hold pruners, shovels, picks and saws and are able to touch up trouble spots and then move on in no time. The amount of time and money this work saves the Forest Service and our crew is enormous.

"At one point they were able to orient some lost hikers and offered their water and any other assistance they could.





"These guys represent my ultimate vision of what trails should be about. When trail users take ownership of their trails there is less vandalism, less irresponsible trail use, better signing, and more safety on the trail, not to mention the money it saves in tax dollars.

"I have seen this happen with a number of trails, such as the Bonneville Shoreline trail. When users take ownership in a trail, it improves greatly. Thanks to these guys for the work they do.”

love is all we need....by tracy

I met Tracy a few months ago when we both participated in Christina's Simple Things. We've been friends ever since! Tracy is so warm and kind and welcoming. Recently, Tracy, Jenny and I decided to start a new project together--The Blog Cafe. It's so fun working and playing with Tracy!

Tracy hails from the USA, but is now living in Norway with her wonderful husband and sweet cat. She is passionate about the arts and crafts, and delves into many creative forms of expression. She is currently engaged in accessories design and offers her creations for sale at her Etsy shop, Pink Purl.

She blogs at Pink Purl and her photography blog called A Certain Slant of Light, and she shares her recipes at Pink Purl in the Kitchen.

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what urgency
calls you to your
one love? What shape
waits in the seed
of you to grow
and spread
its branches
against a future sky?

--by David Whyte, from the poem "What to Remember When Waking", from the book: The House of Belonging
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The transformational quality of love is one thing that never fails to amaze me. We have a choice right now to be happy!  We have a choice to love! Aren't those tremendous things to consider, whether or not to let exterior forces drive us from our own inner happiness or joy? 
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Life is a challenge. Sometimes the rug gets pulled out from under us.  It is then we become afraid.  We often think we can't handle, or don't have time to deal with what's come our way.  Or that if we ignore what's happening, it will go away quietly. 

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For many years I have been a practitioner of Buddhism.  In Buddhism we are taught that much of the spiritual journey is learning to step outside of hope and fear.  To move ahead into the unknown, unafraid--fearless.  Hope and fear are linked with suffering in samsara, the cyclic nature of life or existence. 

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To go beyond hope and fear, both of which can keep us trapped in patterns of negativity, we must be willing to open our hearts with loving-kindness to all that we encounter.  In embracing the unknown we can awaken compassion and happiness in our lives. 

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Purity of intention is a key.  To be an instrument of love and happiness in the world, we can in small ways bring peace to it.  (My own mantra/meditation: I choose to be a channel of love, happiness and peace.)

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Love is a choice. 

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Sometimes we may think love just happens, but it doesn't.  As with much else in life, love is something we must engage in.  We have to allow out hearts to be open to the beauty of love, let it flow in, experience it, so we can let it flow out of us and into the world to others. 

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Love is magic. 

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It gives us the tools to greet life and be present each day, each moment of our lives.  Love gives us the confidence to conduct ourselves with confidence, right action, in the world.  It helps us to know who we are, what we do, what we say, to meet all situations and trust that all will be well. 

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To live with a heart wide open, we make a path for life to become less a hard challenge and more a great place we are supposed to be right now, learning from it, and seeing the goodness in all things--everything, everyone--and giving goodness back.  (My own mantra/meditation: I choose to be love in motion and love as a life guide!)

Keep your lights burning bright and love will always be with you, always find you... Love... it really is all we need!

team up: green

This week for Team Up Thursday,
our theme is GREEN.

And once again,
Arizaphale and I
are on the same wavelength.
We really tend to think alike,
whether we're both on nature,
or food, or kids.

This time we both took photos
of children with something green.
And I think these two photos
work so well together!

It almost looks like my baby grandson
on the right is offering
a pickle to the boy on the left--
and he looks like
he might have just had a bite!

This time, we didn't even plan it--
(as we sometimes do!)

Be sure to
check out the other dips
at the Flickr pool!

guest bloggers coming soon.....

Over the next couple of weeks,
I'm going to be away
from my computer a lot.

Oh I'll be in and out,
but with just no time
to do much writing.

So I decided
that I didn't want to
just shut down my blog.

I want to have some
GUEST BLOGGERS
do the writing for me!

I have several friends
who have kindly offered
to take up my slack.
They are all great writers,
and have written some great posts
that I know you're going to love.

I will post occasionally myself,
but over the next couple of weeks,
it will mostly be my friends!

I hope you'll make them feel welcome!
Leave them a comment
and please make them feel at home!

I'll be posting
for Team Up Thursday tomorrow,
and then on Friday,
our first guest blogger
will be Tracy of Pink Purl.

I'm looking forward to it!