Happy Week - 100 things that make me happy

Inspired by Karen of Faded Willow who was inspired by others to make a list, I am offering a list of 100 things in the world that I love:

1. the foam on the edge of waves
   
2. button badges
   
3. black gel pens
   
4. dark chili chocolate
   
5. skype
   
6. beaded christmas baubles
   
7. argentine tango music
   
8. feather pillows
   
9. vanilla candles
   
10. spiced chai tea
    
11. cashmere socks
    
12. thoughtful gestures
    
13. in-flight movies
    
14. colourful gloves
    
15. fairy lights
    
16. bare feet on grass
    
17. pinecone fires
    
18. words
    
19. handwritten letters
    
20. art journals
    
21. felt flowers
    
22. online shopping
    
23. honey
    
24. fynbos
    
25. mountains
    
26. the sea
    
27. otters
    
28. lebkuchen
    
29. period dramas on film
    
30. mirror balls
    
31. mangoes
    
32. the milky way
    
33. nephews and nieces
    
34. siblings
35. hot showers
    
36. mascara
    
37. shortbread
    
38. glue sticks
39. throw cushions
    
40. paper bags
    
41. handbags
    
42. ribbons
    
43. winter coats
    
44. cloche hats
    
45. songs i can sing along to
    
46. zebras
    
47. islands
    
48. gardenias
    
49. tiny vases
    
50. paisley patterns
    
51. orange or blue butterflies
    
52. cherries
    
53. homemade butternut soup
    
54. my laptop
    
55. high-heel shoes
    
56. silk dresses
    
57. postage stamps on envelopes
    
58. sea shells
    
59. craft knives
    
60. postcards
    
61. treehouses
    
62. swings
    
63. real butter
    
64. jewellery that tinkles gently as you move
    
65. bookshops
    
66. scottish accents
67. secret gardens
    
68. canal locks
    
69. map books
    
70. my camera
    
71. mosquito nets
72. wooden buildings
    
73. old brickwork
    
74. flannel bedsheets
    
75. dark red nailpolish
    
76. mulled wine
    
77. autumn leaves
    
78. champagne bubbles
    
79. pad thai with lime juice
80. girl friends
81. picture frames
    
82. boxes filled with personal treasures
    
83. hot-air balloons
    
84. elephants
    
85. temple incense
    
86. worn stone steps
    
87. smooth pebbles
    
88. red-breasted robins
    
89. feathers
    
90. seahorses
    
91. fleece blankets
    
92. confetti
    
93. beautifully wrapped gifts
    
94. ceiling fans
    
95. bats - of the kind found in belfries
    
96. whales
    
97. deepest pink peonies
    
98. kites
    
99. snow
    
100. lists of 100 things

I think I'm going to do this regularly - it was fun. I didn't think too hard about it, just let the first 100 things that came up go on the list in the order they occurred to me. I found it easier to come up with 100 than I thought it might be - was just warming up by the time I hit 100 actually - although it took some restraint to stick to things not ideas or experiences... And I'm interested to see how they flowed out too - some obviously related but then some not.  How did my mind go from feathers to seahorses, for example? Weird.

Anyway, this list of happy-making stuff is my last offering for Happy Week, although I'm looking forward to doing the give-away draw tomorrow. Still time to get your list in if you'd like to be included.

Thank you to Lisa for the idea of Happy Week (and whose blog always makes me happy with her beautiful images and thoughtful musings) and for all the lovely people who have shared their happiness too.  It's been fun and has managed to make a week of continuing insomnia; cold, wet weather; horrible, relentless pressures at work; and unwelcome ghosts intruding, much happier! Happiness is largely about choosing that state, isn't it? A daily, moment-to-moment choice. I don't always manage to maintain it but it's even to be found in the trying...

I hope you're having a happy weekend!

[Photo's taken by bg]