It’s been gray three days in a row, and this gets to me rapidly, so I thought I would quickly list things that make me smile, apart from nice pink trees:
- Runny eggs, or death!
- Well-seasoned food
- Cherry blossoms, daffodils, yellow tulips
- The produce section of grocery stores, especially fat lemons and shiny chilis
- Cats on the street… and animals doing funny things on Instagram
- People walking their dogs, or rather, the dogs being walked by their owners
- Bread and bakeries, soup and ramen
- Rattan baskets and cozy interior design, meaning lots of houseplants
- Mushrooms
- New buds on plants and big trees that has lived many lives
- The smell of books, picture books, children’s books
- Fachwerkhäuser and cobbled-stone paths, small cafes in Altstädte, even though their food is rarely worth the price
- Holunderblütte fizzy drink, always with frozen berries or it does not work
- Squirrels, moss
- Hot chocolate, chai, and tea pots, not too crazy about tea cups, they seem to be too small. Does anyone have satisfying tea in that?
- Drukmo Gyal singing Tibetan Mantra Healing, scoffed at Mantra singing in Yoga Teacher Training school, probably because the guy was only performing and a little sleazy, and the sincerity and knowledge of Drukmo got to me
- Cooking shows, recipe testing, and weekend markets
- Pajamas, is there ever enough pajamas?
Now it started to rain and the sound the tiny raindrops make is so relaxing. I suppose I will look out of the window for a little bit and listen to nature’s music. How are you going? Would like to hear a few things that make you smile, too!
Markus + Micah 
Things that make me smile: birds singing, flowers, my favourite music, singing, spring flowers.
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Excellent choices, Michelle! Spring flowers are the best. It has not stopped snowing today. I hope the flowers are okay. Not really sure how that works.
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The flowers will be okay. Those early spring flowers are tough.
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Tonight, for the first time in a long while, I heard rain pummeling the roof. Snow is so quiet, a peaceful blanket. Rain announces its arrival! As long as I’m snug inside, I enjoy the sound, a soothing counterbalance to the dreary gray beyond the windows. Especially now, as it heralds spring finally arriving. The sound of rain falling is definitely one of the things that makes me smile.
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Rain is so relaxing. The way you described this, the rain and snow, transported me into your neck of the woods somehow. I hope you find plenty of joy to balance all the gray.
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Pajamas are the best! As soon as I come home I put on pajamas. If I am staying home all day I stay in my pajamas. They just make me happy! Things that put a smile on my face: my kitties running around crazy making noises, orchids, hydrangeas, riding in the car on a sunny day with the windows open and music playing, big fat juicy peaches, a perfectly ripe banana, and the smell of a clean house.
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You’re the best. I sometimes wear pajamas all day, too, and feel like a champion. Thank you for reminding me that I must pick hydrangeas up! And 100% agree on the smell of a clean house. Nothing like it!
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Seeing the sunshine makes me feel happy.
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100% agree, Betty. Have you started chasing sunsets with your travels then?
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Yes, we have. As of today!
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Enjoy!
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Never too many or too much time spent wearing PJs
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Agreed! What are your favorite pajamas? Mine is a gold one with oriental print. It is very soft but I can mostly wear it in The Ph, otherwise I will be cold here.
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I’ve got some lovely soft thick plaid ones for winter but it’s getting too warm for them now
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Even pajamas have seasons. Haha!
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When the Alaskan winter breaks away to spring. Being able to see the Alaskan range in the distance. Snow sliding off the roof. Coffee. Book store sales. Breakfast with a friend. A wonderful blog to read while I wait for said friend to show up for breakfast!
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Lovely. Everything you listed is a joy. Can I visit you in Alaska then? Hahaha
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I loved your list of things that make you smile. Lots of things make my lips curl upward, but the most therapeutic is waving at neighbors. When John and I walk in the morning, we see people driving to work along the narrow road. We turn to face those coming from behind and wave. I realized I ALWAYS smile as I wave. The drivers, and sometimes passengers as well, wave back. We don’t know who they are, just that they live close to us. What a feeling of well-being it gives us to be a part of their lives for a few seconds!
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This is amazing, Anne. I wish you and John were our neighbors. People here rarely smile on the street and the world may stop if anyone waved to a stranger. Haha.
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Southern people always waved to everyone, so it comes naturally to me. John, born and raised in New York, has learned it.
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Great way to teach culture, Anne! With Markus, he has learned about pasalubong, a Philippine practice of bringing treats to your friends from wherever it is you traveled to. His friends and family enjoyed that custom.
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Thanks for writing about pasalubong. When we traveled, we often brought home small things to give to close family, but it would have been hard to include even your best friends. It is a lovely tradition.
When daughter Lise moved to Denmark and traveled to other countries, she always tried to learn what to do and what not to do to fit in with another culture. I’m blissfully unaware.
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It is lovely, and sometimes difficult considering luggage limits. But it’s these small gestures that can be pleasantly surprising and often heartwarming.
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Good wine makes me smile….a lot
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Fair enough! Lagot ka kay Misis.
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Cherry blossom is lovely but I also love to see Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowering; tiny flowers on bare stems! 😊🙋♂️
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Oh, I know Blackthorn! I see them a lot here, too. Very pretty, almost like a spell hanging on those trees. I wish i can sit on a park bench with you one day to watch these flowets.
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What a lovely expression “like a spell hanging on the trees”. May I use it in a poem? It would be wonderful to sit on a park bench with you; a flask of tea, a small pastry and magical conversation. 🤗🙋♂️
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Something to look forward to. Yes, of course. It would be a delight to read it on your poem!
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YOU make me smile right now. Reading little slices of other blogger-friend’s lives. Lemon turmeric energy balls filled with bursting flavor. Texting with my mom. Oh the little sweet things!
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I agree with you, Kathy. The little things are the sweetest when we pay attention. What a luxury to have time and space.
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Writing a list that makes you smile is time well spent. Made me smile too. Although, I’ve never had a Holunderblütte fizzy drink. Sounds yummy. Enjoy and keep smiling! 😁
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It is elder flower syrup, some lemon, and soda water. The taste is subtle and floral and I enjoy looking at the vibrant frozen strawberry or blueberry, suspended in the glass, surrounded by bubbles. Thank you and keep smiling, too!
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Then it is delicious! I actually have all of those ingredients on hand. 🍋 Thank you!
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Try!
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We always use teacups rather than mugs, and I prefer china ones!
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Don’t you think teacups are rather small, Peter?
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As they have been my choice for all my life (apart from early years in the army where I had a 1 pint mug) I find them perfect. I can always have a second cup of tea if needed!
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Fair enough. The problem is I end up having 10 more cups when I use these proper tea cups!
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