These animals bring smiles everywhere they go
Young or old, we cannot resist them
meet one face to face
their gentle nature and soulful eyes will put a smile on your face
This Austrian alpaca was given a retro hairstyle at an event in 2012
published May 2012 James Titcomb
Smile for the pure joy of how good it will make you feel.
We were three sisters, out for the first time in our adult lives, on a day trip. What a time we had, due to the distance one sister has to come, this was a very special and rare occasion. Speaking for myself, I rediscovered a full belly laugh, silly laughing, and just plain fun. Over time. we forget just what sisters can be like together when on their own. No other family members, no husbands, children etc. Just the three sisters. The further we got from “home base” the sillier some of our behaviour became. Can I give you specifics no… but there were times when we laughed so hard it was freeing. uninhibited and to onlookers maybe a tad ridiculous. But we didn’t care. We were having fun, the innocence of children at play.
The middle sister seemed to forever be saying…. let’s be positive, we’re here, let’s just enjoy ourselves. Hmmmm those moments seemed to happen when our grown up habits snuck up and popped up. It is hard at times to really just cut loose. However, we did put our best effort into it, and had one fun time. The happy face is still with me today.
May each and every one of you have a lot of happy moments today. Remember to smile, if someone is not smiling, give them yours. =^_^=
Isn’t this just the cutest most adorable face.. looks like a big smile plastered on his/her face. Its real, it’s called a Whale-head or Shoe-billed stork an dis found in tropical east Africa. It can be found in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia. It is interesting what can compel a person to want to go somewhere, this bird I’d really love to experience. See it walk, hear how it communicates, what a wonderful morning discovery.
This Swamp Sculpture can be found in Eastern Ireland. It is called the Ferryman’s End. (Victoria’s WayRoundwood.co. Wicklow, Ireland) I’ve been to swampy areas in my travels, but I have never experienced for myself some of the world known swamp lands, I was most intrigued by this sculpture, the artist had to conceive the idea, build it, and then place it. Amazing workmanship. Since swamps to me are just boggy areas found in low lying land and usually freeze over come the cold weather. Swamps that house alligators, crocks and life forms all year round due to the totally different climate and geography hold a fascination for me.
This is Swamp Forest in Naikoon Provincial Park, Haiida Gwaii, BC. Canada, I found this picture while looking for inspiration to make a one of a kind doll that was going to be a swamp fairy.
Photo by John Hunter, 9/2005 – he canoed through the swamp in South Carolina, I’m afraid that this morning I have lost myself in the swamps. This can happen, I was going to talk on a very different subject, blame it on the Shoe-billed stork, his smile just captured my imagination and off I went further into the swamps. =^_^= I make no apologies, the artists/photographers of these pictures did such a good job of catching the moment, preserving them for us to enjoy, that I willingly wandered from point X to point B. My choice. … now what do you think, I found this house, wonder if it is for rent. I might sit a spell and delight in the moment. Care to join me?
Life is what we make it… thanks for travelling with me this morning.. on our mini journey. Happy Saturday! Oyashikiri
Good Morning, Bon Jour!
How are you? Dull and overcast here, so what, now that the eyes are open and my thoughts have turned to you, I remember this camper I found the other day when I was researching for an earlier blog. Can you just feel the positive vibes from this cheerful little nest on wheels. With the nicer weather, spring in the air, the tulips will soon be in full bloom along the canal. Food vendors will be out in the main tourist areas, the smell of fries and burgers wafting through the air, tempting the runners and the walkers. I see the ice cream shops are open again along the main street, sure sign that spring is here.
This is the California Coast, what a journey this is. I had the pleasure of doing this highway with my sister back a few years. There was just so much to take in that I know that even if I do it another several times, I still will marvel and make new discoveries each time I travel through the area. For sure, when you are on the highway, driving along, this is not the view you have. Each wind in the road is another vista, another “oh Wow”, you live it and move on. Have you noticed that what we learn easily or master effortlessly tends to be enjoyed, assimilated and then we move on. Its forgotten. However, lessons in life that come back to haunt us, or replay for us that test our inner resolve, or determination to acquire or “have”, not always a “party/good time”. We struggle, we cry, we agonize, we can even have bouts of despair. Some well meaning friend says, “you’ll be fine, tomorrow is another day”, intellectually you may hear the words, but your just not “feeling it”
Back to the cheerful little camper at the top of the page. Since writing this blog, I’ve met several people who have told me they want to own a little home on wheels and they want to pack up and travel. Surprisingly not only couples, but a lot of single retired women. Families raised, empty nesters who want to just pick up and go. Do what they have wanted to do for years, Another blogger who just joined us recently, has her little camper all picked out. smiles and waves, you know who you are, bravo! We travel our journeys step by step, it is due to the many hardships we’ve gone through that we have the inner strength to take the actions we need to follow our dreams.
I thank each and everyone of you reading along with me, for being part of my world, I so appreciate you all, I enjoy hearing from you, my “door” is always open. You are the sunshine in my life =^_^+. These flowers are for you… enjoy your day.. Sending big hugs, packed with multiple blessings and love. Oyashikiri
Monet Garden, France
pictures -Pinterest
music- YouTube
Good Morning everyone.. How are you on this lovely Saturday… Each day when I wake before I start my day, I like to read the PL lesson of the day, and after prayer and reflection, let my mind wander to what my personal meditation should be. Today I found that of the 21 Principles in PL, ,my mind’s eye caught #2.. and this is where it stopped PL Principle 2 reads – I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather. Rather I will always be creative and will look for short comings in my own thinking and actions. 
The lesson for those of you who have not read it today, or do not have the calendar itself, is about valuing those who are nearest and dearest to us. They are so close to us, that often we forget just how wonderful and special they are to us. We may even take for granted the love and caring they bring into our lives (smiles) My life is very blessed with a caring,understanding husband who is a real partner in life, and friends that I treasure for the many wonderful memories and the genuine caring they have shown to me over the years. Some friends we seldom see, yet we visit often in our hearts, and when we meet it is if we have never been apart. I saw on FB (Facebook) the other day, that one friend had renovated her cottage this past summer. It brought memories of all the trials and challenges she faced during the first years she and her husband bought the cottage. What lovely memories. (mental note to self) Call Sue =^_^=
Not all memories are fantastic, but all of them were of value in my personal development, in my “growing pains”. It is not only our physical bodies that “age”but our mental /spiritual selves. When we remember to value and respect one another, life takes on a more positive energy. Oyashikiri
photograph- Pinterest
PL . church of Perfect Liberty (Japan) 
What gives you an instant smile?
What when you see it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy?
Could be lots of things..
One of my “smiles” are sheep/goats..
I’m not alone, I see sheep pictures, curios, soft toys in all the shops.
Sheep, in person, when you visit them on a farm, may look soft and cuddly, but if their coats are full
and they are out in the pasture, its ah… not so inviting to throw your arms around them for a snuggle.. LOL nor will they necessarily let you.
A Felter, I have tried to clean raw fleece.. what a chore that was. I loved the activity though, the thought that I was doing what pioneer women did, clean, dry, and the prepare the fleece through the different stages to either felt or knit/crochet with. I only made it so far, I stumbled and stalled when i got to the spinning wheel phase. My wheel sits waiting for me to gather the patience to sit and try again. Still when i look over and see my spinning wheel, I smile.. it reminds me of happy moments when I was knee-deep in organic fibers .. the other project that I will leave to others is the dying of the fleece. In the living room I have a showcase full to brimming of all the different colours I could find. My stash is another “smile” in my life.
Smiles come in all shapes and sizes and they originate from a happiness inside. a person who is always pleasant and cheerful, can spread their joy wherever they go.
Just imagine the thrill and happiness this athlete is experiencing. A “smile” he /she will remember for an eternity.
Always remember to smile. Seeing a resident of Raglan Shire (Zoolie), makes me smile. photo taken by Q avatar is a Loco Poco kangaroo … You smiling?
Did you know – Sheep people (Chinese Astrology) are thought to be sensitive, talented and extremely creative, elegant and charming. They get along with almost everyone, they are peace loving, ardent and easygoing.
What colour is your world today? Have you ever been asked that before. It was a popular question back in the days when I was still working at the hospital. In Psychology colour testing, and rating was the newest topic of discussion. In the world of Fashion, the colours you liked to wear, or leaned to, gave expression to.. are you fall? spring> winter? each season of course had a rainbow of colours that went with them.
Colour symbolism is one of the most universal of types of symbolism and has been consciously used in the liturgy in heraldry, alchemy, art and literature. If you were to make yourself a “talisman” today, what colour would it be? I remember giving an art class one day where the participants decided it would be fun to do a good luck talisman as their challenge of that day, Their first choice was what the object would be, and the second was what colours they wanted to use.
Personally over the years, I have gravitated to “earth” tones, but suddenly I would take a nose dive into the brighter gemstone colours, for some reason, though I love these bright cheerful colours, I prefer to wear more subtle and darker colours. With the aging process, that has fluctuated but only in small degrees. I fell in love with a pair of a capris that were a beautiful jewel tone of amethyst, fit like a dream and are super comfortable. I’ve worn them maybe once, but I won’t pass them on, my hand will linger on them when dressing, but when push comes to shove, the familiar, stand by me, faded jeans, or worn gray win out.
In life, situations and people drift in and out of our daily waking lives, often much like the colour palette we all seem to have in one form or another in our lives, and how we interact, or “see” these “visitors” actually colours are days/nights.
**note to readers ** a glimpse behind the scenes the software of this website, just dropped the last 15 minutes of my visit with you…. I saw shades of black, then red…. sigh.. now I’m back to a neutral zone, since I feel reconnected. computers, what to do with them.. rhetorical question of course. *** end of insert
Here we go. I’ve added some colour, Ahhh… that’s better.. lighter, pastel, muted… still colour. this is what life is all about isn’t it. We chose what colour to present ourselves with when we dress, and we “chose” how to respond to situations in our lives. Some get passionate responses, bright vivid colours… other times, we are accepting, life flows along, when a bump or detour happens, we can be colorful or very dark, depending on the situation. When we hurt, colours don’t harmonize, they clash. If we get sick, we can look completely washed out.
Lets start our colour palette with a smile…. that always works…. Be Happy today and always. Let’s create a rainbow day!
dymoonblog 
Written
on October 3, 2013