This has been a very heavy week for many in the U.S. The east coast was slammed with Hurricane Sandy, and half the country is disappointed (and angry)with the outcome of the national election. Overall, the country is in a funk with so much concern with our future and which way the country is going. Most immediately, the financial cliff is hanging over every one's head. With all of this negative "stuff" swirling around my head, I try to find something positive to focus on, and so I go to my little book, "Fourteen Thousand Things to be Happy About," and brouse the pages for things that jump out at me as treasures or moments of joy in my life; things to be happy about ...most of them free! I chose things that are seasonal right now, and there are plenty!

  

 

 

* Putting out a winter bird feeder and watching the birds fly in and out.

* Taking back roads to see the colors.

*Wrapping up in warm blanket in front of the fireplace.

* Holiday table linens, and decorations.

* Hot tea afternoons.

* A good pot of delicious chili.

* Country stores.

* Brisk chill of October morning.

* Seeing deer in the timber.

* Piled leaves (to jump in) that I did not rake.

* Giving thanks

*The last summer tomatoes baked with breadcrumbs.

* Thinking about pumpkin pie and pecan pies.

*Orange sunsets over the empty fields (beautiful one just last night)

* Hot chocolate on a cold day.

* Apples and apple cider, and apple pie.

* Canadian geese flying south.

* Family traditions.

* Earth tones.

* A trip to Chicago to see the lights and store windows.

* Home-made soups in big kettle on the stove.

* The first snow....

* Fresh-made cranberry sauce.

These are just a few of my favorites and I am sure that all of you have others that you treasure as well. How very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free to enjoy them all.