Ephemeral

-adjective

1. lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory

2. lasting but one day

The ephemeral nature of things; the transitory.

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:: A candle flickering flame

:: That whisper of perfume as she passes you

:: Those first blushes of love, so all-encompassing and consuming

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:: The lily, the spiderwort, the iris, the violet

:: The pinks and purples streaking across the twilight sky

:: A spoken word; there, and then gone

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:: That cloudy sailboat, or hippo, or castle in the sky

:: Waves that ebb and flow, and the footprints they wash away

:: That perfect snowflake; crystals formed by God's hand, melting away as they hit the earth

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I Love (ie. They make Me Happy a little early)

I have received such support in the last few days. I am here to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm still a mush head, but it's not that difficult for me to put together these lists, so here's a new one. And the number one thing I love this week are my readers. I feel like I've known some of you forever. And you don't hesitate to share your support, wisdom, and love.


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:: When creativity hits (you will hear about this one in a few months - lots of work involved)
:: Colored pencils
:: Finding pieces of paper with my grandparent's handwriting on them


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:: The way my 3-year-old calls cartoons "toon toons."
:: Feather pillows and feather beds
:: Beignets - I think they are what heaven tastes like

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:: Musty book shops
:: When Will comes to me for magical kisses that "make it all better."
:: The Hermes Kelly Bag (my birthday is the 18th, so anyone who wants to get me one is more than welcome)


Beatrice, 1885, pastel over charcoal, private collection source

:: My grandfather's piano
:: Odilon Redon's pastels
:: St. Denis, mostly because after he was beheaded he picked up his head, walked six miles preaching a sermon the entire time, and then cleaned his head off in a fountain. And he's the patron saint of headaches (I think he more than earned that distinction).


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:: That fall chill in the air
:: Long naps holding my William
:: Um, did I ever mention that I love cats?


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I Love: Lazy Summer Days

::ice cream that melts faster than you can lick it
::cold, cold sangria

::swimming in the pond with the fish nibbling your toes
::drying on the dock, the sun warming your skin

::dining al fresco
::vases full of wild flowers

::picking daisies
::wearing flip flops at every possible moment

::picnics full of fresh strawberries and wine
::lying on the ground, picking out the shapes of the clouds

::blowing bubbles and catching them before they fall
::running through sprinklers

::putting dandelions under your friend's chin to see if they like butter
::Sunday drives that last for hours

::sand between your toes
::skin that smells like cocomuts and chlorine

::your own private place
::lying in beach chairs reading silly romances

Photos We Heart It

They make me Happy

::Blue Mason jars
::Hearing your baby's heartbeat for the first time
::Hot cookies, fresh out of the oven
::smiles from strangers



::Curtains blowing in the wind
::Elderly couples holding hands
::The smell of baking bread
::Your kids putting away the dishes without being asked



::Cats peeking out windows
::Free starts of Perennials
::Those perfectly worn in jeans
::A freshly made bed



::Window seats
::Spontaneous road trips
::Popcorn and hot chocolate at high school football games
::Summer cookouts



::A room With a View
::A garden fresh tomato
::Unsolicited toddler kisses
::Getting flowers from the one you love, "just because"


Photos from We Heart It

They Make Me Happy

::Summer cookouts
::Cicada song in July
::Bear hugs
::Fresh apple cider
::Woolly Worms



::Swinging high - all the way to the sky!
::Slow summer strolls
::Rainbows
::Perfecting that impossible recipe



::Sunday drives . . .
:: . . . with the windows down
::Red-headed stepchildren
::Church potlucks
::Those moments when your children do something unselfishly good
::Newborn babies
::Unexpected moments of complete goofiness
::Farm produce stands


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Photos from We Heart It unless otherwise noted

99 Things - What Have you Done?

I found this list on Somebody Heal Me by Diana E Lee. Diana is a chronic migraine sufferer and her blog is about updates in migraine treatment, study, etc. Then there was this cool list. I SO had to do it!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visted Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone Rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Effel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone Whale Watching

63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Save a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Publish a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stanger at midnight on NYE
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Gotten a tatoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swan in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Wow! 47 things! I guess I've lived a pretty rich life in my short time here on earth! How many have you done?

Photos from Beauty In Everything and We Heart It

These Make Me Happy

My list of happiness is up to 101 items now. SO I have Saturday blog posts for a while now! Enjoy.

Figuring out that new knitting stitch

The house wren's song

Peonies - beautiful, boofy, and smell like heaven



Swallowtail butterflies

Summer cookouts

Hummingbirds (I saw one feeding on my false indigo yesterday)

Cicada song



Earl Grey and Lady Grey Tea, no lemon, no sugar, no cream (I'm a purist)

Holding hands with my hunny

Buttery popcorn



Eating a peach straight off of the tree

Bear hugs

Soft breezes



Kissing like teenagers (highly recommended!)

Fresh apple cider

People watching



Hot enough to make my skin pink bubble baths

Slow summer strolls

Quiet moments

Dancing like a goofball