Name some of your small joys

[Wolseley]

A companion thread to the "small crosses" thread.

Some of mine:

Stretching out in bed at the end of the day, letting all my muscles go slack, heaving a big sigh, and just resting there for a few minutes.

Reading the Bible and devotions with my son every night at bedtime.

Spending time just being with my wife.

A really good hot brewed cup of black tea.

Watching re-runs of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on YouTube.

Listening to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Fats Waller, Harry Lauder, Margaret Whiting, Patti Page, Martha Tilton, Tex Beneke, Helen O'Connell, Jo Stafford, Louis Prima, Perry Como, or Jimmy Durante sing.

A really fine, brand-new book----the feel of the weight, the smell of the paper, the color of the pictures, the crispness of the text.

Hugging my dog and having her lick my face.

A Saturday with absolutely nothing to do and nowhere to go.

 

[Michie]

A clean house.

My animals.

Feeling content while cooking.

My garden.

Creating.

My hubby....the list goes on & on.

 

[ranpleasant]

• My kids
• My wife, snuggling up to her in the early mornings listening to her heart beat
• Reading the Bible
• Reading the Chruch Fathers
• Reading the martial arts manuals of Medieval and Renaissance Europe.
• Practicing Europe swordsmanship of the Medieval and Renaissance periods (the real art, not the silly stage and re-enactment stuff).
• Riding to work with my windows down on a nice Spring day, hard not to contemplate and thank God at those times.

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Kick starting my bike the first time in the Spring

Listening to Nina Simone wail her was through "Feeling Good"

Cool Summer nights.

Realizing I've had one (just one) too many Manhattens (at just the right pace) and time has slipped just enough to put the world out of sync.

 

[MikeK]

Being on the water.
Mint tea.
Leather-bound books.
Old Catholic stuff - pre-V2 medals, books, etc.
Mechanical things made between 1890 and 1950....especially rakers, tractors, trucks and guns.
Preparing meals from stuff I've grown, hunted or fished
Prayer time with the kids.
The "Reeeeee!" sound of the drag going crazy when a big salmon hits.
Playing music with people I click with.
Fine beers.
Indoor wood fires...though by this time of year the magic kinda wears off and I get sick of the bloody noses.
Brats on a charcoal grill.

 

[AMDG]

seeing a new baby and feeling the softness of the babe's skin

the smell of new mown grass, the smell after a rainstorm, and
(okay I fully expect everyone to say "yuck"--my husband does as the laughs)--the smell of hay and farm animals

watching my dog sleep--or letting my hands ruffle her fur

the starry night sky

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

A companion thread to the "small crosses" thread.

Some of mine:

Stretching out in bed at the end of the day, letting all my muscles go slack, heaving a big sigh, and just resting there for a few minutes.

Reading the Bible and devotions with my son every night at bedtime.

Spending time just being with my wife.

A really good hot brewed cup of black tea.

Watching re-runs of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on YouTube.

Listening to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Fats Waller, Harry Lauder, Margaret Whiting, Patti Page, Martha Tilton, Tex Beneke, Helen O'Connell, Jo Stafford, Louis Prima, Perry Como, or Jimmy Durante sing.

A really fine, brand-new book----the feel of the weight, the smell of the paper, the color of the pictures, the crispness of the text.

Hugging my dog and having her lick my face.

A Saturday with absolutely nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Wolsley, I am starting to question your age. Bing Crosby ? Jimmy Durante ?

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Kick starting my bike the first time in the Spring

Listening to Nina Simone wail her was through "Feeling Good"

Cool Summer nights.

Realizing I've had one (just one) too many Manhattens (at just the right pace) and time has slipped just enough to put the world out of sync.

ahhhh yes, especially when the brain is just slightly numbed from the effects of the alcohol.

 

[WarriorAngel]

The sacraments
Mass
Summer days and nights
Chilled red wine [sweet]
Swimming on a very hot day
Camping
Time with family
My pets
Drawing
Writing
Praying

<3

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

ahhhh yes, especially when the brain is just slightly numbed from the effects of the alcohol.

In this life comfortably numb is about as good as it gets.

 

[ProScribe]

the rosary and the mercy chaplet +plus devotional reading.

 

[ZooMom]

Hearing my kids laugh together.

Opening a new book that I have been waiting for.

Lying on the beach under a summer sun and hearing nothing but the waves.

Big bath tubs.

Gourmet kitchen stores.

Slow dancing with my husband.

A quiet rosary outside at night.

Flannel sheets.

 

[Fantine]

Water aerobics.

Hazelnut coffee.

Satellite radio in my car. Our favorite chanel? Broadway Ch. 72

When my daughter, who is an amazing cook, cooks dinner for us and I am welcomed home with dellicious aromas (and no work...)

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

Stretching in bed when I awake (Although, it does make it that much more difficult to get up);

First cup of coffee in the morning;

Cracking my neck, which sometimes shoots down this relief of pressure down my spine (Long story as to why and how this came to be);

A cigarette after a hearty meal.

 

[isshinwhat]

Life with my family, in all of its small, quiet moments.

A smile shared with my wife as our eyes meet.

The simple joy that children possess.

Watching the kids take care of one another out of love.

A glass of wine or beer with friends over conversation.

The fog rolling in off the Gulf.

A walk on the beach with my wife.

A hike in the mountains during or after a light summer rain.

Swimming in the rivers.

A camp fire and stories shared with family and friends.

Taking the family to the monastery for a few quiet days of prayers together.

Bluegrass.

Grilled food.

The night sky.

A nap outside on a blanket.

When you are in the right place at the right time and you could almost swear God's voice is being carried by the wind...

 

[Wolseley]

Wolsley, I am starting to question your age. Bing Crosby ? Jimmy Durante ?

I grew up in a house with two old WWII vets (my Dad and my uncle), and that's all they listened to. I like other stuff too, but I find the popular music from about 1935 to 1960 (not the rock and roll) comforting.

And you're not the first to question my age, believe me. I worked with a guy once who was so astonished at the amount of stuff I knew about World War II that he told me one day, "I've figured it out---you know so much about World War II because you were in it!"

LOL. Actually, I grew up listening to two old vets (one Pacific, one Europe) tell stories about it every night.

 

[Antigone]

The way icecubes snap when you throw them into your drink
Making my students laugh
When horses want to cuddle and they just sort of shove their head against your torso
Starting a new book
Finishing a book
Unexpectedly hilarious guests on Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Having a coke and cookies for breakfast
Professional dancing set to music I like
Mastering new songs on the instruments I play
Looking out over the Thames from Tower Bridge (I've been to Londen four times now. If all goes well, next May will be my fifth time. It never gets boring)
Magnificent vistas
Speaking foreign languages
French bread with salted butter and cheese
The first bite of a meal when I'm incredibly hungry
My dog's enthusiasm when I get home
The movie In Bruges
This song. And this oneWitty quips from Sherlock (the BBC series. The movies, not so much. The books are nice, though)
Long car rides with the boyfriend and a good selection of music