Last week at this time I was just settling into the evening with my computer and cell phone, about to start my “twittering lessons” and expecting to get caught up on some blog reading. Not a very exciting Friday night program, but after a long week, I was quite happy just to have some time to myself.
Then the local earthquake hit at 9:00 pm and I lost my momentum. I shared about that HERE. It was a little stressful at the time, but one week later I’m enjoying a much lighter outlook and headed into the weekend intent on breathing lighter.
And that’s not been difficult.
It seems that everywhere I go I see something that makes me happy.
Spring has sprung. My garden is just starting to bloom, and every day a new color brightens my day.
And just outside my yoga class…
Isn’t this a picture of Southern California? Palm trees, blue skies, spring flowers and a Mission-inspired fountain.
The Silky Oaks mesmerize me this time of year. I parked the car to fully take in the beauty of the color heightened in the late afternoon sunshine. I love these trees.
Just yesterday our city offered a new Thursday night farmers’ market. It’s starting out small, testing public interest, but the crowd was robust for 5:00 pm on a Thursday night. I hope it succeeds!
And it’s a good thing we came home with some lovely fruit, because Jay had another little surprise for me today.
Knowing I was busy and we needed a few groceries, he volunteered to do a little shopping. Yogurt was on the shopping list.
80 ounces of fat-free plain yogurt
I guess I failed to specify quantity. It’s the thought that counts. Yogurt parfaits anyone?
Then when I was almost sure I couldn’t possibly be any happier going into the weekend, Aimee sent me a link to a video she knew would complete my smile.
This video was shot at the university where I work. I wonder why no one asked me to participate?
I hope you’ll find time to relax and exhale the stress you might have carried this week. Be sure to breathe lighter along the way, and if you need to refocus on that aim, dance your way to happy.
breathelighter 
Up with the lark this morning Debra. Boing boing! Flowers do make the heart sing!
I hope you’ve enjoyed your Saturday, Jim. Mine is just getting started. I’m calling in a “birthday favor” and going to do a little hiking with my son. I have been indoors much too much this week! 🙂
My team lost at the football – awful game but at least the beer in the pub was good……
I am surprised to see Australian gum trees in your header and good old Grevillea robusta, the Silky Oak bringing you Spring cheer! Your garden looks divine, those sweet rose buds and glorious snapdragons around the fountain near your yoga class … I am inhaling those fragrances! Happy weekend 🙂
I’m so glad you mentioned the trees, Christine. I’ve just found a book that is giving me a bit of history as to the way so many non-native trees were brought to California. I’m so interested in this topic. We have a lot of Australian trees. We have a favorable climate for them, but after 100 years there are some other problems that have developed. I’m just starting this book but I felt fortunate to find it. My Saturday is just “opening up” and I’m eager to get outdoors. 🙂
enjoy your outdoors … yes men mucking with nature have created problems allover the world, and here the government is dead keen to dredge and dump millions of tonnes of stuff into the Great Barrier Reef, all for coal money which is unnecessary now that we have renewables to produce clean energy … all the conservationists are fighting hard against such stupidity!
Oh yes, the earthquake! I had forgotten about it til now! Did you scream and run? Or were you cool, calm and collected? My first ex still lives in the same house atop a hill in Diamond Bar, just a hop, skip and a jump from the epicenter. She reported she lost glass items and stuff came off the shelves… But your bright and cheerful photos! They bring smiles to my face – along with a few “Achooo’s”! And blasphemy you were invited, Debra!
Oh yes! I’m sure it shook quite violently in Diamond Bar. And on a hill? Yikes! It wasn’t too bad for me, but it sure did frighten poor Zena. I hope you have a great weekend, Koji. I’m sure you have been enjoying the kiddos!
That video must have been so much fun – shame you didn’t get a chance to join in! Your flowers are lovely Debra. Have a great weekend enjoying some spring colour! 😀
I just love that video. Apparently it’s been around a while, but I hadn’t seen it before last night. I’m going to get out today and really enjoy some outdoors, Cathy. I was indoors much more this week than I would choose had I not had so many work projects. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling so much lighter–air! I hope you’re doing well, too, of course! 🙂
Great video! Beautiful photos x
I’m so glad you watched the video, Mary. I never get tired of that song. It always makes me smile, and I was so glad my daughter found the video and sent it to me. I hope you’re doing well. You haven’t posted about your Ph.D. program for a while. I’m sure you are up to your ears in finishing that dissertation. It’s very nice of you to stop by today. 🙂
I buy the same Greek yogurt at Trader Joes. Yummy
What would we do without our Trader Joe’s. I think we have a dependency! Good thing I like yogurt, and that it doesn’t spoil readily. I laughed so hard when he walked in with that many cartons. hahaha! Enjoy a beautiful Saturday, my friend.
The video was….ummm….happy!
That’s right, Kate. I read my post and even thought about how many times I used the word “happy”–and for each of us, what does that even mean? LOL! But I’m feeling the need to get outdoors today and spring color is everywhere I look right now. We don’t have snow and the harsh weather conditions, of course, but the entire landscape does go quite drab and seems almost colorless to me in winter, so the scene is a lot brighter. Enjoy your emerging spring, too, and I don’t think you really need my encouragement. You must be gulping it up! 🙂
I have to wait until tomorrow to get outside and enjoy the weather. It’s windy today but the sun is out and we are HAPPY!
Great video, beautiful flowers and trees, and who doesn’t love yogurt?? All the makings for a lovely weekend, Debra. Enjoy!
I’m glad you enjoyed the video, Nancy. It makes me want to move and dance! And I haven’t yet had Saturday morning breakfast, but it will be yogurt! LOL! I’m going on a hike this morning…you’re the one to tell. Hahaha! I hope you’re feeling better and can enjoy yours!
Enjoy your hike!! I’m feeling slightly more human today but not run-ready just yet.
I cannot see why they did not ask you to help out in the video… love this post…
Thanks so much for stopping by Rob, and I hope that means you’re starting to feel you’re on the mend! You have a lot of reasons to be happy after surviving what you’ve been through. I hope you take your time rebuilding your strength. And I am so glad you enjoyed a little of our local color. 🙂
I try to breathe lighter, but it isn’t always easy. Mom is sinking into dementia, and Dad is still trying to be her fix it man, a role that is increasingly difficult for him to perform. I am looking forward to planting my petunias and begonias in my Medford garden. Thanks for sharing some special moments.
You know, Robert, whenever I post about ‘being happy’ and keeping things light I’m always aware that for some that’s a whole lot easier said than done. I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom’s dementia. I can only imagine how really tough that is for you, and as you mention, your father in his role as primary caregiver. It hurts the heart to think about such a long season with this level of decline. I like the way you state you’re “looking forward” to planting petunias and begonias. Sometimes those very simple pleasures at least lighten the very heavy emotional load. I will be thinking of you and saying a prayer. I have a very soft place in my own heart for those who are in that difficult caretaker/caregiver role. It is all-consuming. I hope you find some humor along the way, if that is possible. I know how hard I laughed just at the over-abundance of yogurt that is taking up prime real estate in my refrigerator. Be well…if not entirely happy.
Thank you, Debra, for your compassionate thoughts at this difficult time. I appreciate them more than I can say. Yesterday was my 61st birthday, and it was sad to see how much Mom had declined. Perhaps, the thing that saddens me the most is that both my parents fail to recognize my love for my girlfriend, Lisa Burkett, and what a major force she is in guiding me. She visited us last weekend, and I had one of the greatest experiences in my life. She is such a source of joy and emotional support. Maybe my parents will sense my happiness, and it will create a positive energy for our whole family. In the meantime, I will try to keep myself balanced through exercise, meditation, and doing things that I enjoy.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful garden flowers, Debra! Love the Happy video 🙂 Happy weekend!
I am so glad you enjoyed the video, Amy. It was so fun for me to see a few familiar faces in their dancing role, and on our campus. I guess it’s been around for a year or so, but I had never seen it. The color right now is just outrageous, and I’m drinking it in. Those first roses are always the prettiest! I hope you enjoy your weekend, too, Amy. We all probably want to get outdoors and experience a little spring. 🙂
Oh my gosh Debra, this post is just what I needed to read today! I’m sick with a horrible cough which has caused me to cancel my very busy weekend plans. What beautiful flowers. And love the yogurt! Great video! One of my favorite songs! Why didn’t they ask you to dance???
Happy. Happy.
Joy. Joy.
Enjoy those parfaits!
That’s such an uplifting song and it really does make you feel happy and calm and like everything is going to be all right. The video was missing your presence though! How they overlooked you in the casting process is a mystery. Your Spring flowers are gorgeous and I do love the image of all that typifies CA xx
joyful post lifting my spirit this gray and rainy Vancouver day, thank you Debra, just what I needed…
How can one not be happy watching and listening to this video, Debra? I know I couldn’t. Made me smile, for sure, as I finish out the day here, which just happened to sunny and in the 50’s. Yea! I just love the energy that comes out of colleges and universities. Off I go, feeling a bit lighter and brighter, finishing out the weekend. Hope the earth has settled around you, and that you are enjoying the ose flowers. I can almost smell them Debra.
No energy left for dancing after yesterday’s Glasgow expedition, Debbie. Got to catch up on all those chores I didn’t do while I was away. I’ll just steal 5 minutes to admirer your flowers 🙂
I have to say I REALLY enjoyed this post. It seemed that everything was ‘waking’ up with full blown signs of Spring and that things looked back to normal after the earthquake last week. What a lovely area you live in! It was also neat to see your view wile practicing yoga. I do hope the Farmer’s Market continues!
I’m glad nothing of yours got damaged in the quake. it must have been quite a wake up call. Here we had snow instead, the first for the year, arrived like an April Fool’s joke. Now spring is in the air, finches live under the eaves and I saw and heard a Western Meadow Lark, one of my favorite birds. So I have exhaled this weekend.
I loved that video!! I think they should have filmed you dancing to that song, it would have been so awesome for us to see:D That earthquake was scarey for us.. even all the way up here in Canada we were worried for you guys! What beautiful color your flowers bring and that fountain truly says “Southern California”!
What a fun video … and APU looks like a beautiful campus! Hope you had a good weekend.
Spring is definitely in full swing in your are if the iris are in bloom. How beautiful! Seeing the farmers market is so encouraging. We’ve still 3 weeks to go before our farmers markets open and, even then, they won’t offer much. Still, every week they’ll get better. Hope you had a great weekend, Debra, and have better week ahead. 🙂
What is it about men and shopping? I’m sure you’ve found a way to use all the yoghurt, but just one or two pots would have been quite enough. 🙂 I love all your spring flowers and the farmers’ market sounds great. I do hope it succeeds.
I love farmers markets, especially when there are organics there (since that’s all we eat!). There are always such interesting things to be discovered – these farmers are getting very creative! 🙂
I hope you’re doing well as this week goes on. I’m thinking that you might not be able to go to any Farmers’ Markets for a while! But being someone who is so health conscious in your eating, I’m also sure you’re going to heal quickly! 🙂
Dear Debra, I don’t listen to the radio and I seldom watch television except for PBS and so I was unaware of this peppy and jivy song until I watched part of the 24-hour version. I’m wondering if you didn’t post that at some time???? Now I see this one from your school and I just want to stand up and dance and move the bod! I loved the tumbling and the diving scenes and the one of the professor in full cloak and hat regalia with his diploma. Just a delight. Thank you. I would have so loved to see you dancing your happy dance to the beat of that music which sets the blood to tangoing! And I did have a lovely weekend. One of my three nieces had a birthday dinner for me: taco salad and Mexican pasta salad and a cock-eyed cake with white frosting. Yum! Yum! Peace.
So when was your birthday, Dee? Mine was the 20th of March, so I’m wondering how close our b-days are? I’m so glad you had a lovely birthday dinner provided by your niece. The menu sounded really terrific, including the cock-eyed cake! I have been busy getting ready to host a large family birthday dinner this next weekend for my son. I’m pulling everyone together, and to be honest, my time is spread very thin this week! I am delighted you enjoyed the “happy” video. I tell you, I just love that silly song. It gets into my mind and I can’t let it go. I’m glad that if that’s true, at least it’s a fun piece of music. I hope you continue to do well, Dee. I am eager to hear more from you regarding your writing project. You are one very busy, and dedicated woman! 🙂
Dear Debra, my birthday is April 1. I turned 78! And I’m feeling so good about growing into myself and letting myself dwell more often in the deep center of my being. Life and growing older are gifts from the Universe. Peace.
Birthdays are indeed special, Dee, and give us an opportunity to assess the level of peace we find with ourselves. Isn’t it wonderful to realize that as we age we continue to grow and find deeper meaning in what we value and hold dear. I like to celebrate birthdays with friends, and I think an April 1st birthday is rather easy to remember! I hope this year brings you the desires of your heart and hard work. I think of you with such ambitious writing projects, Dee, and hope your Meniere’s has been at bay!
What a great video! I’m glad I waited till now to see it when I’m back in a good mood (It would’ve been wasted on me for much of last week). They really should’ve given two bars to the turtles, though, for a little surprise. I’m sure the turtles are clapping along in their souls.
It sounds like last week was a tough one! I hope the little “happy” video both did the trick and keeps on giving. You know, I seem to be the only person on campus that really finds those turtles fascinating. I think they should get much more attention! And I recently heard there might be one other pond on campus that I haven’t found yet. I need to explore and see who lives in that one. 🙂 I hope you’re having a good week. I haven’t been home enough this week to keep up, but I’ll be coming around soon!
A plan to Farmer’s this weekend is in motion. Ima buy me some juicy oranges. San Gabriel is definitely a must for me now because of you. Yes you. 😀 I love the silky oaks as well.
I will look forward to a San Gabriel visit, Rommel! I can even offer you another Mission. LOL! Considering there are 21, we almost never run out of Missions, do we! 🙂
Your Friday nights sound about as exciting as ours. Glad you weathered the earthquake. We had one in northern Peru, which triggered a tsunami warning for coast of Ecuador, where we went on Saturday and just got back. Sorry to be so late getting here. I’m trying to sneak in a visit with you before my workshop gets going.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
I am glad you found a moment to stop by, Kathy. I know that I find it really difficult to keep up with blogging (reading or posting) when I have anything “extra” in our lives. I hope you’ll share about your workshop. 🙂 I think this must have been your first tsunami warning since you moved to Ecuador. That must have been a little unnerving, even if it didn’t materialize. I’m still chuckling at your remark about our “exciting Friday” nights. It’s so true. By Friday night, a little television and a glass of wine and I’m happy. LOL! Stay safe and enjoy your workshop, my friend!
FAB video, Debra. So infectious, and even happier than the 24-hour Happy to which you introduced me, and to which I have addicted many of my friends.
Hope you had a great weekend.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video, Kate. Thank you for tweeting the link, too, my friend. I understand the addictive quality of the “Happy” videos. I almost can’t get enough. I hope you’re doing well, and I’m sure you and your lovely family are as busy as can be! I haven’t been able to “keep the blogging pace” too consistently myself. Life, just in general, tends to get a bit hectic. But I’m always glad when we connect and can share. 🙂
I’m having the same problem,, Debra. But I figure, when you have good friends you can not see them for ages and then, when you do, it is as if you’ve never been away. And so with good cyberfriends 😉
Look how beautiful your spring is…thank you for sharing your lovely photos. Thank goodness we only have a couple patches of snow left and I’m waiting for my first daffodil to bloom in a week or so.
I am always so happy in the springtime and I do get very excited at the beautiful blooms, but I’m really quite sure that those of you who have made it through one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record must be so eager for those first blooms. Maybe you’ll have a daffodil by Easter, Karen. 🙂
Your garden looks lovely! I’m so swamped right now, I’m not sure I’m going to ever get around to taking care of that business!
It sounds like you need to find a way to get outdoors and enjoy a little springtime when it fully makes it’s appearance, Aussa. I’m sorry you’re feeling so swamped, but let’s hope that doesn’t remain the situation indefinitely. I hope you find time for yourself this weekend, my friend. 🙂
Thanks! I certainly did. Weekends are amazing for pulling you back down from the rush of life.
Debra, it looks so beautiful there, I love the flowers. And so glad to hear that you’re happy, It’s beginning to look like spring here and that’s making me happy too. That’s also a fun video from your university!
Karen
I’m so glad you saw the video, Karen. It just makes me smile and I’ve watched it a dozen times! LOL! Small things like that do elevate my spirits! I’m so glad to hear that spring has finally “sprung,” Karen. I know you’ll be drinking it in. 🙂