little surprises

Happy Place, Happy Space

Best laid plans: I was planning to fill this space with more Chihuly sculptures; we scheduled a visit to the Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay for Friday. But on Tuesday evening, the announcement was made that we were back to P2HA for a month, which meant only groups of 2 could go out together. And since we are a group of 5 (Younger Child, Loving Husband, and 2 Doting Grandparents), we have to reschedule our outing.

It’s been a challenging week in the news (even though I typically avoid it): filled with tragedies involving school children. Enough said.

Thank goodness for little surprises which delight.

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Reading your Joyful Posts brings me to my happy place. I hope having them in one place makes it easier for you to find when you need a bit of happy therapy, too.

If you would like to join in, ping back to this post and I will include you next week.

🐥 🐥 🐥 🐥 🐥

This post is my contribution to

51 Comments

    1. It certainly looks like it’s having quite a time, doesn’t it? Someone has brought it home with them, though – the tree trunk was bare a few days after this photograph was taken.

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  1. That’s too bad you have to reschedule your visit but I love the rubber duck photo and hope you’ll find more opportunities to place it on your rounds to take pictures of. 😉 We’re headed into our 4th COVID wave but not in lockdown yet, though it’s just a matter of time, isn’t it?

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  2. Loving your shot of the orchid! Sad to hear about your covid restrictions. Things are going up and down for us too here in Melbourne. Be safe and will try to join your challenges one time in the future.

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    1. Appreciate your enjoying Lil Ducky – it was such a lovely BIG SMILE moment! It’s tough everywhere, particularly in SouthEastAsia now; I feel lucky to be relatively safe in Singapore. As always, you are most welcome in this space, Debbie!

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  3. As we have learned over the past two years, if is often those little things that give us the greats joy. I immediately smiled when I saw your photo. Thank goodness you can look forward to …next time. Donna

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  4. I’m sorry this week has been difficult. I rarely watch the news anymore myself. I think we here in the states are also headed toward more mandates due to the resurgence of Covid. It’s sad that not everyone can or will do their part to quell this virus.

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    1. It’s pretty much a mess everywhere in the world, Dawn, so I while it is always discouraging when restrictions are reapplied, I figure it’s just something we all have to deal with at some point or other. Be safe and well.

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  5. Sorry about your lockdown. Wow your lockdown sounds more serious than ours in Los Angeles. Right now we have to wear masks whether you are vaccinated or not inside a grocery store or restaurant.

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    1. Thanks so much for the support, Julie. I guess different places choose different ways to deal with this situation – and I reckon as the days go on, the differences may become more marked. Be safe & well!

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  6. Sorry you are in quarantine again. Glad you are able to find good things in the midst of an upsetting week. The rubber duck is super cute. I’m sure it made lots of people smile.

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  7. Ju-Lyn, Sorry to hear about the covid-19 setback. I hope you continue to find joy every day. Thank you for the mention and for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare.

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    1. It’s all part of the new normal – changing restrictions, while difficult and discouraging, are part of the landscape now, so we just have to find a way to deal. And finding joy in the little things daily help a great deal. And being part of this community is one of those joys.

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  8. Hi Ju-Lyn. I too find what currently passes for news as mostly depressing and/or manipulative. I don’t have an answer for it because I really don’t want to uproot my life and move to someplace (which might not even exist) where true peace reigns along side of honesty with people just living their lives, working hard to both be productive and improve the lives of all around them.
    A naive dream at best – I know.
    Anyway, I decided if I was going to share anything at all this week, it would be simply fun and entertaining and likely to bring smiles to whoever might read it. I do find nostalgic stories of what life used to be like entertaining so I found one I felt met the need.
    This story actually happened, was outrageously fun and is good for a current laugh if you can bear to read as if you were there watching the event unfold. It’s also short so anyone can give it a full read, embrace the image of such young boy nonsense, and enjoy recalling the event almost as vividly as I now do.
    Stand by for a refreshing, if rowdy, break from the typical news cycle for a great laugh at a group of small boys having fun with what they had available back in the mid1960s..

    The Eucalyptus Sprouts Adventure

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    1. Excellent story. Reminded me of my 3 siblings and I who grew up playing in the woods. No trees like you had, but we climbed huge oak trees, built forts, trod through swamps and generally had a wonderful childood willed with memories kids today will never have. Thanks for the memories!

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      1. Hi Dawn. Thanks for this kind feedback. My peers and I have had this conversation ourselves. Our little town with very few public means of child entertainment other than a few good parks, did have rich hillsides full of trees, both eucalyptus and oak and many others. We didn’t have any real swamps but we had creeks and storm drains to explore and one river that didn’t really lend itself to much exploration unless you had a boat which we didn’t. Often we’ve made the comment as you that our kids today could never do the things we did or make the memories we were blessed with. The world is a different place now.

        I hope you’ll stop by again. Most of my DOT stories are of this same flavor and length. I’d love to share them all with you. Don’t miss the giant inner tube story. That one is one of the most popular with those who grew up nearby and itself would make a great scene in some childhood comedy- and it really happened. . .
        Blessings

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  9. oh no on the latest lockdown, but what joy you have been able to find amidst all of that and the other tragedies. Hope you continue to find joy in the weeks ahead

    I am just loving the duck on the tree, and that you came up with an orchid pose I have planned for later in the week!

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    1. It’s just part of the the on-going cycle for some of us. I guess different countries will deal with this pandemic in various ways, and right now, safety is paramount while we are waiting for everyone to get vaccinated.

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  10. Thank you for not elaborating on the tragedy involving little children. Those are the worst kinds. I can’t handle that sort of news.
    So sorry about the restrictions. Seems like since you’re all in the same family, you ought to be able to be out together. 😦
    But lovely images. Hooray for baking and giant orchids!

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    1. I hear you Betsy – it’s been decades since I’ve stayed out of news cycles as I can’t cope with the sadness.

      We take the ebb & flow of restrictions with as much of a smile as we can, after the initial sinking feeling of “oh no! not again”.

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