TGIF: August 2012

Welcome to the very first MONTHLY....

Ah, August! The driest month of the year where I live. Besides one tiny little heat wave, the weather has been very nice indeed.

Things that have been making me happy this month include:

What became my "summer project", watching all 7 seasons of Bones so that I could pick up with the rest of the world when season 8 begins on September 17. It is really a very good show.

The monotony of summer days broken up by Camryn's week at summer camp and both kids' week-long trip to their grandparents' house in Oregon.

Related to the above is #kidvaction! Mark and I got our very first parenting vacation in 12 long years this month. We both enjoyed it, and missed them. I am now convinced that absence really does make the heart grow fonder, because after several kid-free days, we began wanting to do and buy things for them. No reason, just cuz we love 'em. Sheesh.

Not waiting til the last minute to buy school supplies.

Conquering a fear by going shooting. It was actually kind of empowering.

Photos, photos, photos!

Cool old church

Just me

Sunset

Cotton candy clouds

Seattle

And starting tomorrow, I will be participating in Adopt A Pantry which is being organized by the mastermind behind Run Blog Give, Jamie at Chosen Chaos. We are encouraging ourselves and YOU to keep track of the days we exercise and donate to local food banks from September 1 - Novermber 17, just in time for Thanksgiving donations. You know how I feel about feeding the hungry, so I am HAPPILY all over this!

Your turn! What's your August HAPPY?

(Come back on Tuesday the 4th for September's Did You Know? link-up!)

Places I Love to Be

Monday Listicles with Stasha of The Good Life is challenging and fun.  This week, Saretta at Amid the Olive Trees (she's an American living in Italy - so fancy!) has chosen the topic of "10 Places You Love".

I took this to mean any sort of place - geographical, just a spot or even a state of being....

Last Thanksgiving

1. Sitting at my kitchen table having dinner with my family - we need a bigger table, but I always feel so gratified when we're sitting around it eating and talking together.

2. Starbucks - does this need any explanation?  Between Caramel Apple Spices, Peppermint Mochas and just plain ole regular coffee drinks...

3. The back of Mark’s neck - scratch it, kiss it, just look at it :-)

This is actually the arm of my couch with my knitting sitting on it.
I'm ashamed that I don't have a pic that includes a glass of wine.

4. My end of the couch with a glass of wine and my knitting.

source

5. The entire West Coast of the US - everyone I love lives somewhere in Washington, Oregon and California.  I live in Washington and lived in California for 17 years.

6. My computer - honestly, it contains very important parts of my life.  Simple as that.  It's how I keep in touch with several people, manage household stuff, get news and other information, it's how I do this blog and get to be a part of something bigger than myself even though I'm just at home.  it's kind of amazing, really.

7. Anywhere there’s a pretty sunset - I think sunsets are pretty much one of the best things in nature!

8. The movie theater - I love going to see a movie in the theater. I love the feeling of being closed off from the rest of the world for a couple of hours and immersing myself in a story.

Please excuse the little orange Xs. Photobucket's fault!

9. My house - It's not that my house is special.  It's just that it's OURS.  Took us a LONG time to be able to buy a house and I kind of love it.

10. With my friends - "There's not much that can't be cured by a good GNO!"  They have been few and far between lately, but when we're at our best, being with my friends lifts me up, makes me feel loved, makes me laugh and feel connected.