Things That Made Me Smile

 I thought I'd share a couple of things that made me smile recently. Just silly things, but all this year I've been taking a photo-a-day of Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile. I can't actually believe that I've almost completed the year and kept up! I usually struggle at things like that. 

I love hedgehogs. I saw this today at the store and it made me smile. I should have probably got it but I didn't. That doesn't mean I won't be giving in at some point. Looking at it again I'm not sure it's the cutest hedgehog but when I passed it by it did make me smile!

I think if I do see these pjs again I shall by buying them. They looked so fluffy and warm and the owl made me smile. Sigh. I probably should have got them. They weren't an unreasonable price. 

Seeing this Christmas wreath on a public bench just made me smile. 

So there it is - random things that have made me smile recently. I think we all should look for those little things that make you smile!

Say Cheese!

Today's thing that makes me happy and brings me joy is photography. I've always enjoyed taking photos but it's only in the last four/five years that I've actually learned how to use my camera properly. Before this I was using the automatic feature on my camera. I am happy to say that I rarely if ever use that function now. If you do and you're happy with it then that's okay. I really wanted to learn what all the buttons were used for and what they all meant but never had the time (or perhaps too many other hobbies to give it a good try!). However I decided that I was going to try to get to grips with my camera (hubby had bought me a really good one). It took a lot of work, a lot of frustration (still sometimes) but I'm really getting the hang of it. I really enjoy taking photos. When I'm out there with my camera I tend to forget about everything else and just see what I can see. My Mum says that now I see things that she wouldn't even think twice about. I think photography has made me more observant. 

In the last few months it has really kept me sane. It's given me time to forget about all that's going on in the world and try to see the beauty all around me. Speaking of which, I don't like Winter in Michigan but getting out with my camera and trying to see the beauty around me has really made me learn to appreciate a part of winter. I'm still learning - seems like there is always something new to learn. There are still so many things I want to learn. When I first started getting out taking photos I was a little weary of taking my camera with me. I felt kind of silly. Now I rarely go anywhere without it. At least in that part of my life I don't care what people think of me. I don't care if they think of me as the crazy lady who is always carrying her camera with her. In fact, I'm pretty sure some people that I see on my walk each day think that of me. 

If you find something that makes you happy, make it a point to get out there and do it.

Me and my camera today on my daily walk, looking for birds and bunnies (of which there were lots!).

I prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it. This is one I did take of myself. I was holding one of my camera while the other was on a tripod taking a photo of me. I jazzed it up in Photoshop - something I am working on getting to grips with as I like the idea of photography and art. This was certainly a challenge!

Thanks for everyone reading and commenting. Check out Jacky's blog as she's posting what makes her happy too. Dicky Bird's Nest

Day 3 - Today's Happy

I had another post planned for today, but daughter called me today and sent me a couple of photos and I realised just how happy seeing photos of her dogs made me smile. I miss them. They really are such characters. I've told daughter to send me some more photos when she gets the chance as they really make me smile.

When daughter first decided to get her husky I wasn't quite sure what to think. I knew they were pretty dogs to look at but they are also big. I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about such a big dog. Would it be scary? Would it jump up on me? Would it bark a lot? Howl? The reality was completely different and such a lovely surprise. Shasta, daughter's rescue dog, is such a beauty. She is big (even for a husky she's a little...well, husky) but she's also very gentle. As she's a rescue we're not sure of her background but I have the feeling that, at one point, she was very loved. She has always sat so nicely when children have asked to pet/stroke her. The same when it is older people. It's as though she senses when people need her to be really gentle. Even though she used to get really excited when she was taken for a walk and pulled a bit if it was icy out and you told her to go slow she would. She absolutely adores daughter. Today while daughter and I were talking Shasta decided she wanted to be a lap dog!

Daughter was trying to take a photo while Shasta was sitting on her lap!

When daughter met her boyfriend through some husky friends another two huskies were added to the mix. The dogs all get along so well. Shasta is the oldest so she has old lady status. The youngest is a little hyper but she seems to bring out the puppy in Shasta sometimes. The middle one doesn't have a lot to do with Shasta, but they do like one another. If the younger one is trying to get Shasta to play too much the middle one will play instead as though she's trying to protect Shasta. They make a lovely family together.

Shasta and the younger one. Daughter says they didn't stay put together for long lol.

This is the middle one. I like to call her Princess as she does like her home comforts. She's the one sitting on a pillow in the living room. She's quite gentle and sweet. She did take a little time to warm up to everyone when we first met but now she loves attention just like the others.

Just thinking about them really makes me smile. I'm not sure I'd have the patience to be able to live with them all the time, but I suppose, like a Nana to children, it's nice visiting or having them visit and knowing someone else has to take care of them. I love getting photos and hearing about their antics but I'm glad it's not me!