Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. It makes my day to have you here.
This week on the blog I shared the things we love and don’t love about our new front door smart lock. I resisted getting a smart lock for about three years but I’m happy we switched.
I also went down a rabbit hole looking for stained glass art that functions in a unique way or is display in an unusual way. I found some good stuff. Check it out here.
Once again, thank you for being here. I know your time is valuable and I love connecting with you. I’ve made the best online friends through this website. If you want to connect, and I hope you do, you can always comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also reach out on Instagram or Facebook.
This week’s Happy List ended up being a bit patriotic-themed. I guess 4th of July is on my mind! Enjoy!
COME ON IN
I love the simplicity of this vignette. It’s very soothing. What really got me though was the little bell hanging on the door handle. *swoon*
If you like big beams in a house, you’ll love the rest of the photos of this home.
(image: John Buckley Architecture and Design via Town and Country Living)
CROCHETED BASKET
I have never seen a crocheted basket like this and I like it! The handles definitely elevate it.
Get a closer look at the basket and fun, patriotic decorating ideas over at County Road 407.
(image: County Road 407)
This reminds me of that time when my mom crocheted a giant doily, stretched it over a wire form, starched the heck out of it, and turned it into a lamp shade. It was definitely a vibe.
PORTABLE CAR BATTERY CHARGER
Jumper cables are great when you have a dead car battery, but they also require another car.
In April 2023 we got a portable car battery charger to keep in my car for those “just in case we are in the middle of nowhere” road trip situations. This year we used it on the lawn mower battery because it was more convenient and it worked great!
Nice bit of peace-of-mind for $35. Would make for a great gift too.
(image: Amazon)
4TH OF JULY WREATHS
These burlap wreaths and bunting from Pottery Barn inspired me to make my own wreath this week.
(image: Pottery Barn)
EMAIL SIGN OFFS
Want to freshen up your email sign-off?
This list has quite the collection. Here were some of my favorites.
“With the decorum of 10 suppressed emojis,”
“With the grace of a poet’s pen,”
“tragically active at this hour,”
That last one cracked me up. “Tragically active” describes me anytime I have to stay up past 10 p.m.
THE PIANO
The Piano is a British competition show featuring, you guessed it, the piano.
The winner of the 2024 competition was 22-year-old Brad Kella and he wrote this song for his foster parents. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
If the YouTube video doesn’t load, watch it here. You can follow Brad Kella on Instagram too.
SPINDLE FLAG HOLDER
Making a small flag holder using a spindle is such a fun idea from Sky Lark House! I’ll bet you might even have one of the things she used for the base lying around your house.
Go get all the details here.
(image Sky Lark House)
P.S. If you don’t have spindles, I bet you could modify an existing candlestick to hold a flag by putting a bottle cork where the taper candle is supposed to sit. Drill a little hole and it should hold your mini flag. If you try it, let me know if it works.
25 MINUTE GINGER STEAK CUCUMBER BOWLS
I’m all about bowls of something for dinner. Could even be cereal. Haha!
This Ginger Steak Cucumber Bowl recipe from Half Baked Harvest is on my grocery shopping list for the week. It feels nice and summery to me.
(image: Half Baked Harvest)
P.S. Can we still be friends if I tell you’ll I’ll omit the avocado from this recipe? Not a huge fan.
POETRY MOMENT
The Light Continues by Linda Gregg
Every evening, an hour before
the sun goes down, I walk toward
its light, wanting to be altered.
Always in quiet, the air still.
Walking up the straight empty road
and then back. When the sun
is gone, the light continues
high up in the sky for a while.
When I return, the moon is there.
Like a changing of the guard.
I don’t expect the light
to save me, but I do believe
in the ritual. I believe
I am being born a second time
in this very plain way.
Thank you for reading today’s Happy List
Be good to yourself and others this weekend.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
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