*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, my grandmother’s tea infuser. Ever since I started drinking loose tea, Mummy Snail has been intending to pass on my nan’s tea infuser. Finally, when I was there last week, I remembered to pick it up. It is perfect for the days when I’m home on my own.

Tea for one
Second, fabulous women. Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and I spent some time thinking about the creative, inspiring women I know. Here are two of them – my nieces modelling the pussy hats I made for them.

Inspiring women (c) Lilly Phipps
Third, Mr Snail’s creativity. At the weekend, Mr Snail attended a course to learn how to make willow structures. He asked me whether there was anything that would be useful for the garden and I said that I would like a ‘pea obelisk’. This is what he came home with:

Just awaiting peas
I will be growing red-flowered mange-tout up it (I’m just waiting for the seeds to arrive).
So, those are three things making me smile and making me grateful this week – what about you?
crawcraftsbeasties
/ March 9, 2017Oooh, I love your tea infuser! And I’m grateful to you for introducing me to the delights (and plastic-free-ness) of loose leaf tea. Mr Snail’s willow obelisk is quite magnificent as well, nice work! I hope you enjoyed your trip to the V&A, it’s easily my favourite museum in London and I always make a beeline for it anytime I visit. 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017I’m very glad I got over my reluctance to give up tea bags… I used to grumble to myself every time I made tea, but I rather like the process now!
The V&A was great… although we only managed to see a tiny fraction of the exhibits, of course… a good excuse for another visit.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ March 10, 2017Yes indeedy! I’m still working my way through it all too… It really is vast, and it’s amazing that, apart from some temporary exhibitions, it’s all free!
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Wild Daffodil
/ March 9, 2017Your 3 things make me smile too!
My 3 things – 1. seeing bees buzzing around in the garden 2. sunshine after rain 3. working on creating a particular knitting pattern again after a long time of neglect.
Happy Thursday!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017I have a knitting pattern that I really want to finish… I keep getting distracted, but must set aside some time for it soon.
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Wild Daffodil
/ March 9, 2017My brain has to feel up to it!
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nanacathy2
/ March 9, 2017I love the willow pea wigwam. Proper tea is not something you come across very often. I should do something as I own several rather nice teapots!
Three things for me are, we have newts as well as frogs in the pond in abundance this year, the crocuses I planted are all up and looking good and I have nearly finished knitting the mermaids tail.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017You must be so pleased to be on the home straight with that tail!!
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Tanglewood Knots
/ March 9, 2017The pea obelisk came out really well! During non-pea season you could wrap some lights around it for pretty outdoor lighting or Christmas decorating!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017Now that is a good idea – thank you
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Laurie Graves
/ March 9, 2017This post is a much-needed light in the dark times we are going through!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017Some weeks I have found it very hard to focus on the positives and write a 3TT post, but once I think about it I can always find things that make me smile or that I am grateful for. Since I started I haven’t missed a single week.
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Laurie Graves
/ March 9, 2017I know! In this country, there is not a week that goes by without some new horror from the administration. It’s so important to find things to smile about and to be grateful for.
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katechiconi
/ March 9, 2017All things to be not just glad, but joyful about!
I had a big whoop today when I stepped on the scales. 10kg (22 pounds) down! I’m grateful, too, for hands that are not sore after crocheting with plastic bag plarn and working on my cross stitch, and finally, I’m deeply grateful for a day of only 27°C (80°F) instead of the mid 30sC (90sF) we’ve been having for so long…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 9, 2017What a great achievement with the weight loss. I’m just off to the limery where I’m going to pretend, for an hour, that I too live in the tropics… possibly not up to even 27C though, even with lots of sun today.
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katechiconi
/ March 9, 2017You know how prolonged cold weather can tense you up for days at a time? Prolonged very hot and humid weather can rob you of energy, initiative and occasionally, the will to live! I’m profoundly grateful for cooler weather, these days!
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arlingwoman
/ March 10, 2017I like all these things–the lovely tea infuser, you’re nieces’ hats!!!, and that pea obelisk. I do like that. I’m grateful for all our blossoms and the warm weather and for a note from my little great nephews about their felt turtles, complete with illustrations…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 10, 2017Oh how lovely… spring seems to be in the air here too – I planted lettuces yesterday.
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katythenightowl
/ March 11, 20173 lovely things to smile about this week – I’m glad for you 🙂
As for me, I remember my grandmother using a tea infuser like your’s, and it brought back some wonderful memories for me 🙂
I totally love the kitty hats, and think your neices look wonderful in them 🙂
I am also totally envious of your willow obelisk – Mr Night Owl made his own versions a few years ago but, alas, they weren’t as sturdily made as your own, and fell apart in the first winter gale of the year he made them. I can’t wait to see your first photo of the mange-tout growing up them! Lol
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Nice piece of work
/ March 12, 2017Today I’m mainly grateful for the rain we are expected to have here on Wednesday – so it’s gratitude in advance…..we are DESPERATE for it…….
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2017Fingers crossed that it does arrive
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Born To Organize
/ March 13, 2017What a terrific list! Your pussy hats are charming (and so are the wearers). What fun. I’m also a complete loose tea convert. You inspired me in an old post about tea bags and they inferior tea. What a treat for my taste buds.
I’m smiling about the runaway sweet peas gracing my garden, my new-found love of learning to crochet and the fresh, clean paint on my walls.
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