*three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog with the happy*
Inspired by Emily of Nerd in the Brain here are my Three Things Thursday…
First, a little bit of snow. On Saturday it snowed in Birmingham – it was lovely to open my curtains and see a dusting of white. I find snow a bit stressful if I have places to drive, but since I just had a short walk from my hotel to the meeting venue, I really enjoyed the sight. In fact it didn’t last long, but it was beautiful whilst it was there.
Morning snow
Second, a good night’s sleep. I’m always a bit concerned about the comfort of a strange bed. At home we sleep on a natural latex and wool mattress, so normal sprung mattresses feel a bit odd in comparison. However, I need not have feared: the hotel I chose for the weekend had lovely comfy beds… and snailvaark and Iolanthe agreed…
Nothing like a comfortable place to nap
Third, coming home. It’s enjoyable to have a trip away, but it’s always good to be back home. After two consecutive weekends on my travels, it was lovely to return home to Mr Snail and the pups.
Mr Snail and the pups at our own front door
So, those are three things making me smile this week – what about you?
The Snail of Happiness 
nanacathy2
/ February 16, 2017The best thing about going away really is coming home again. Youngest son is visiting this weekend. My smile is end to end across my face!
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Wild Daffodil
/ February 16, 2017🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017I love trips away, but home is so safe and nurturing.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017how lovely – have a great weekend!
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Wild Daffodil
/ February 16, 20173 things: sunshine through the fog; the online crochet community – all love and support; the view from my bedroom window. Have a great week.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017all three of those for me too!
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Jackie
/ February 16, 2017Is that a smart new (well since we last saw him) hairstyle for Mr Snail? Looking v dashing!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017Actually, it was taken a couple of years ago, but I thought it captured all the elements!
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writinghouse
/ February 17, 2017I have been described as many things in my life, but never dashing and I thank you for it! 🙂
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Jackie
/ February 19, 2017Think nothing of it, Mr Snail!
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katechiconi
/ February 16, 2017Having a new great big play house to decorate, having a pile of new fabric to play with, and losing over 7 kgs since the beginning of December and consequently getting rid of my high blood pressure 🙂 The last one is the biggest thing that’s making me smile just now!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017well done on the weight loss and blood pressure reduction – improved health is always a thing to make me smile.
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katechiconi
/ February 16, 2017And I do feel a good bit better and able to move more…
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Born To Organize
/ February 17, 2017Kate, what a marvelous list. Losing weight to improve health is fabulous. Did I miss some news about a “big play house to decorate?” I think so. I must come investigate.
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katechiconi
/ February 17, 2017You sure did! Miz Lizzie is our new caravan/trailer, and our first trip out in her is next weekend 🙂
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Born To Organize
/ February 18, 2017How exciting!
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Andrew | Life Between 0 and 1
/ February 16, 2017I used to travel a lot for my last job and always slept poorly on the hotel beds, so much so that getting back home meant that I’d actually get a good night sleep. Happy that you lucked out and had a comfortable mattress.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017I chose not to stay at the official venue because it might have meant sharing a pokey room, or even having a pokey room on my own. Often, in the past, an event has been ruined by lack of sleep so these days, if I can’t find accommodation that looks good, I don’t go!
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Laurie Graves
/ February 16, 2017A post to make me smile on a most beautiful, snowy morning here in Maine.I especially like the picture of Mr. Snail and the two pups.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 16, 2017Years ago we visited New England in May, when we thought it would be spring only to find ourselves driving from Maine to Vermont in a snow storm. We only made it to our destination because we were able to follow a snow plough down to North Conway!
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Laurie Graves
/ February 16, 2017Oh, too funny! I do want to add that is unusual for northern New England to have snow in May. You just got lucky 😉
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insearchofitall
/ February 17, 2017It’s interesting how three seemingly ordinary things become something worthy of gratitude when you look at them that way. Those little things that we would have taken for granted are now noteworthy. That always makes me happy. My daughter arrived at her destination safely after being stranded on the side of the highway in an unfamiliar state in the middle of the night for 3 hours is my largest gratitude this week. My sewing group went to visit our friend who is now in a retirement center for Valentines day making her beam with delight that we made the long trek downtown and my sister came by to take me to lunch and the grocery store even though it was raining miserably. We had a lovely time. Life is good. Have a wonderfilled weekend.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 17, 2017I’m think spending some time each week identifying things to be grateful for has really done me good – and as you say, stopped me taking some things for granted. Glad your daughter is ok – what a horrible experience.
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Born To Organize
/ February 17, 2017Marlene, I’m so sorry to hear that your daughter ended up stranded on the highway. Worse, that it happened in the middle of the night. I’m glad she’s safe and that you can breathe again.
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insearchofitall
/ February 18, 2017She has a great attitude about everything. She is too cheerful for other passengers who are still in the airport trying to get back home tonight. Instead of getting home tonight, she will maybe make it tomorrow. In the overall picture of life, it’s a small thing. Life is full of lumps. They are there to grow us. 🙂 Have a wonderfilled weekend.
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Born To Organize
/ February 23, 2017Lumps and bumps, with a dollop of wonderful people like you that make me think, smile, laugh and even cry (but in a good way). Is she finally home?
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insearchofitall
/ February 23, 2017She did make it home midday, Saturday. I haven’t seen her yet but she will be here this Saturday. Still catching up on her rest when she can after work all day. I think the Universe is checking to see if she really wants to do a lot of traveling. Or she is being prepared for it. She has done more traveling with this job than she’s ever imagined. That was my first comment to her when she said they were interested in hiring her. “This job will take you places you never imagined” Now she knows I was right. :)))
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Born To Organize
/ March 5, 2017“Mom” is usually right; it takes our children awhile (and their own version of resistance) to learn that I think. I will often say in a joking voice to my 16 year old “I know a few things you know.” ha!
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ February 17, 2017A bed must be good if it passes the Vaark test. I’m glad your enjoyed your weekend away, and the snow is an added bonus (or should that be snow-nus?)! I’m off to the farm this weekend, so I’m pretty happy about that 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 17, 2017Have a lovely weekend!
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Born To Organize
/ February 17, 2017That is a lovely dusting of snow. I feel the same way about the rain. I love it when I’m home, but not when I have to drive in it. I too was away this weekend, but did not have your luck with the mattress. Like you, it was wonderful coming home to my family, the kitties and my own bed.
Your pooches are adorable!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 17, 2017Hope you have had plenty of good sleep since your return.
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Ann
/ February 18, 2017Yes the snow was nice, I enjoyed the view. However I didn’t sleep at all well, so think I might consider doing what you do and finding a local B&B. Great to get home to Stevie boy too. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 18, 2017I don’t go unless I can sleep off-site… I just don’t get anything out of the weekend if I am tired. This time was great, with close accommodation and a lovely atmosphere at the gathering… not to mention three great tutorials.
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thehappychickfindingmyhappy
/ May 16, 2017I love the thought and use of simple gratitude. Every day I record my gratitude with a photo and share on Facebook with friends. I call it 365 days of gratitude. It helps me count all the small blessings.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 16, 2017I’ve been doing this once a week for nearly a year now… there have been some weeks when it’s been very difficult, but it’s such a good way of staying sane when the wider world seems to be going mad!
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