Happy List: #415

Ho, ho, ho! Happy December, and welcome to this week’s Happy list. I am delighted to see you here.

This week on the blog, I shared how I decorated the Carriage House for Christmas. It’s a very rustic setting, and I should have taken a family picture in front of that mantel.

I also shared how I decorated our dining room fireplace for Christmas. If you love fireplace decor, this was your week to read the blog as I published back-to-back fireplace posts.

Thank you so much for choosing to spend a few minutes of your day here with me. I hope you have fun and leave feeling inspired. It makes my day to connect with you. If you want to reach out, please comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also direct message me on Instagram or Facebook.

Here’s the Happy List!

HOLIDAY BLUES

This vignette from the Lost Fox Inn and Tavern is dreamy.

(image: Ellen McDermott via Cottages and Gardens 

BELLS

Bells should play a larger role in holiday gift wrapping. A bunch of these strung together on a string would make a cute holiday garland, too!

See more holiday ideas from Ane Kirstine Bilde here.

(image: Ane Kirstine Bilde)

SAVING ENDANGERED SPECIES

Citizen Conservation is a nonprofit in Germany that partners zoos and scientists with trained hobbyists to help breed endangered species. By spreading the care of endangered species across many households, they increase the chance of saving them. Smart, right?

Now, no one is breeding jaguars in their backyard. I don’t think. This program seems to be limited to creatures that can live in terrariums, like frogs. They currently have 250 volunteers caring for 35 animal species.

Learn more about it here. I do not know if there are similar programs in other countries, but I’ll bet there would be interest.

(image: Patzcuaro salamander, a species stabilized by Citizen Conservation via Wikipedia)

LIGHTED TREE CANVAS

This idea from Centsational Style is so fun! She punctured holes in a canvas with a tree print, then pushed Christmas lights through the holes so that it looks like the tree is strung with lights. The battery box for the lights is hidden on the back of the print.

Get the tutorial here.

(image: Centsational Style)

GIFT IDEA

I accidentally stumbled on an under $20 gift that would be perfect for people ages 5 – 105. A handheld black light (it looks like a flashlight) can be used for dance parties, spotting creatures outside, checking for uranium glass, inspecting for cleanliness, finding pet stains, and more.

It is not rechargeable. It uses batteries. I only tell you that because if I’m gifting something that requires batteries, I like to either include the batteries or make sure I have them on hand so the gift can be immediately used.

(image: Amazon)

P.S. Another gift idea for someone who really does not want more stuff in their life is to donate on their behalf to UndueMedicalDebt.org. A $10 donation eliminates an average of $1,000 in medical debt for someone in the United States.

LIVING LANGUAGES

I’ll bet if I asked you to name the country where the most languages are spoken, you would not guess Papua New Guinea! Loved learning something new from this chart by Our World In Data. Australia’s place on this list was also a surprise to me.

(image: Our World In Data via Visual Capitalist)

PTERIDOLOGY

Pteridology is the study of ferns. Don’t say you don’t learn anything by visiting this blog!

I didn’t realize how interesting ferns are until I listened to this week’s Ologies podcast with pteridologist Dr. Fay-Wei Li. Ferns have a larger genome than humans. Ferns can reproduce by themselves. The largest fern fronds in the world are in Florida. Are you intrigued yet? I was.

Go listen here. Be delighted.

SHEET PAN CHICKEN PITAS

My son has been asking for naan bread, and this Sheet Pan Chicken Pita recipe with tzatziki sauce from a Pinch of Yum was a good excuse to make it earlier this week.

I’m all about a sheet pan recipe because it seems easy. This was a delicious change of pace from our usual recipe rotation. You could skip the naan/pita and serve it as a bowl.

(image: Pinch of Yum)

POETRY MOMENT

What I Want Is Family by Jacqueline Suskin

Everyone come over, get
closer, be casual, stay late
and talk about things
that matter, laugh and roll
around in ideas, silly jokes
repeated, kids barefoot,
messy, nothing perfect.
Be dramatic or quiet, eat
and cook, dance and sleep.
Do it every day or once
a week. Rely on this place
and these people, rely on
this warmth. Be familiar
with each other, shared
stories, depth or levity,
just together under our
roof, our stars, our sense
of connection relentless
and satisfying.

Thank you for reading this week’s Happy List.

Be good to yourself and others this weekend.

I’ll see you back here on Monday.

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