My Happy Place - Five on Friday

Hello, my friends, I hope you are all 

hanging in there while we 

wait for spring to arrive. 

A long wait for some of you, I know, 

although those in the southern hemisphere

are enjoying summer right now. 

Here in western Washington state, 

we are having a mild, but wet winter, 

as you can see by my little pansy faces

peering at you.

For my Five on Friday, I would like 

to share five little places that make me happy. 

The first is my deck. 

We lived here 20 years before we could 

even afford to build this deck, 

and I can't tell you how much 

we appreciate it. 

This is where I sit and have my 

morning coffee on mild 

winter mornings. 

This morning I saw a bald eagle

fly through the valley.  

I feel safe here, high above 

the wilderness all around me. 

I can feel very isolated sometimes. 

But here I can putter with my potted 

plants to my heart's desire, 

without having to carry 

bear spray :) 

And we can step outside on 

starry nights without 

worry of nocturnal encounters. 

Here we see Venus at dawn. 

It's my Happy Place outdoors. 

My kitchen is my second Happy Place. 

This is where I spend a good part of my day, 

cooking and baking, reading the morning paper, 

even doing crafts and sewing on my 

big kitchen table. 

Every evening Ramblin' Man and I 

enjoy catching up over dinner. 

Once this room was full of bustling activity

with 4 children and their friends, 

relatives and committee meetings.

 (Once upon a time I was vice president

of the PTA). 

Now it is mostly quiet, but the memories 

fill this room. 

And it still hosts some lovely family 

holiday dinners. 

I love decorating this little corner 

for the holidays and seasons. 

This season I am in love with red and gray. 

I love how the sun streams into 

my kitchen in the mornings. 

My third Happy Place is my living room. 

I love being cozy on the couch, 

surrounded by my favorite artwork,

books and lots of pillows. 

I am always looking for paintings of flowers. 

They make me so happy! 

Lovely, happy colors. 

My fourth Happy Place are books. 

Beautiful books always bring me joy. 

I can get lost in a good book. 

My favorites are gardening, decorating,

 craft, sewing, and needlework books, 

vintage children's books, classics, 

art books, and inspirational autobiographies. 

This book was a gift from my son 

at Christmas. 

So many beautiful ideas! 

Another favorite book by Annie Sloan. 

I just want to paint everything

when I look at this beautiful book! 

Like this! 

I just need some courage......

and some Annie Sloan paint. 

My fifth Happy Place is when I am crocheting. 

Here I am making a few baskets 

out of 'kitchen' cotton. 

Ling-Ling enjoys the morning sunshine nearby. 

I keep my workbasket on the settee

so I can sit and do a few rows 

here and there. 

I just finished a shawl to throw over my shoulders

 on chilly mornings before the fire is lit.

I chose colors to coordinate with my 

cozy kitchen corner, as I keep it

on the chair. 

It also comes in handy for those mornings

when I want to enjoy a cuppa on the deck. 

I hope you enjoyed my Five Happy Places. 

What place makes you happy? 

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Love Made My Home - Five on Friday