The wedding tree

My niece will marry her sweetheart this weekend under the natural arched branch of this Live Oak tree, on the grounds of her parent's home in northern Florida.  I can just envision the chairs lined up in front of it now.  I am so delighted to be a part of this well-planned event.  More next week.

I hope your weekend is merry and bright!

Spring forward, lovely read and beauties

The sky never seems to disappoint at this little corner of the world in northwest Atlanta.  The week after daylight savings time sprang to be, I left for work in the darkness and arrived to work to these pink puffed beauties.

Leonora wrote about her latest good reads in a recent blog post.  I'm listening to this one during my commute.  I told a friend at work this morning that I'm smiling during the drive and not obsessing about traffic.  It's a  lovely story about a widower who finds a charm bracelet that belonged to his late wife and embarks on a journey to find out more about her past and even more about himself. 

It was a chilly morning last Saturday when friend Laura and I walked in the park and caught up with life.  She never questions why I stop to snap photos with my phone and encouraged me to get this close up of the buds of this flowering tree.  We dropped into the 20s (f) this week - so cold.  I hope these lovelies survived.

Spring is around the corner.  Sigh.

The beach, porches and the finish

Seagrove beach in South Walton County, Florida last Friday.  Sigh.  The six hour drive down is worth it when this sight is waiting. 

One porch after another. 

Dunes in the state park nearby.

A moody sunset.

Grits à ya ya at Great Southern Cafe in nearby Seaside, Florida.  Sunday morning brunch.  We always participate in a walk for charity (the real reason for the trip) and then celebrate the finish here.

And a final walk on the beach the last morning.  It was a lovely time with good friends.  It's always good to get back home, but I do love this serene place.

Hope you have a great weekend, my friends!

Traveling flowers, Live your life and Happy day

My 10-year Blogoversary was on February 19.  I almost let it get by me!  I've spent a little time going down memory lane looking back at old blog posts, so I chose a photo from 2007, another from midway in 2011, and a new one from February 2017 - a card from a special friend.

A photo I call "Traveling Flowers" from the first year of Good Things Happened in 2007.  My friend Ginny picked these flowers from her garden one day, when I was visiting her family, and presented them to me.  I was leaving for a few days at the house by the river in the mountains, so I tucked the vase in the cup holder of my car, and off we went.

From December 2011:  This barrel outside a recovery shelter for men reminded me of an important lesson I often forget for myself: "Live your Life" - enjoy it, be happy and love whatever it is you choose to do.

I wish just that for everyone.

Great Niece Kloie made this card for me, in the shape of a butterfly, on my birthday last month.  I adore that at age 7, she knows that there is always something to smile about.

Here's a quote I like, spotted this morning on the Mozilla Firefox home page:

"Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen."— Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks

The best part of blogging has been meeting all of you!  Thank you for coming by - I appreciate your friendship.