Today was a day for smiling...
Garden work, driving around with my girlfriend to look at other peoples gardens, taking my pup Diesel for a car ride, he loves that, cooking and eating dinner outside with a glass of wine in hand, starting the day with cuddle time.

My boy Fruitcake always makes me smile! He loves popcorn and will stare at me until I give in. When I toss it in the air he always catches it. When I give it to him by hand he takes it ever so gently from my fingers.


also, the laundry is done. That's good for a smile!
:laundryday:

Snack food conversations. :clap::clap::clap:

that lil face staring at me all day...........

:dog:

Listening to her read me Poe and some of her favorite book to calm me after having a panic attack at church..

3 and a DAMN 1/2!
5 1/2 after that and this year from HELL is history!!!!

Beyond smiling....Possum Grin
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...CcB2I6GafzeeYL

I found a deal online this morning for 2 days camping plus 2 tickets for tubing on the Apple River!!! Now I just need my friends to get tubing tickets and a date to give my 2nd ticket to. :shark:

Teddy had the wonderful idea of going kayaking today! Here's hoping the clouds lift and the day warms...otherwise we will be going mini golfing down at his favorite place in Connecticut... :)

ooohhhh I see sunlight! Yay! :)

THIS... Arms open wide WHOLE dang post! It made me smile BIG! HUGE! I know how much little Miss Dixi means to you.

Five days... FIVE fricken days...

A small patch of blue sky. I hope it follows me around for a little while. Because the alternative is looming.

My smile has carried over into today *S

I had a great evening and it resulted in a comfortable sleep with wonderful dreams. I woke up refreshed and smiling.

The sun was out and I got to turn the radio up in my car on the way to work this morning to sing.

I texted a few friends midway through my morning and had a couple of laughs

I enjoyed my lunch sitting in the shade of a tree at a park then meditated.

Oh and when I was finally coming home? I picked up a friend, drove to get a coffee milkshake and watched the windmills.

Now I get to float in daydreamy thoughts and multi task

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL131.../406682854.jpg

When Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach served as a dog handler in Afghanistan, he told the yellow lab who was his constant companion that he'd look her up when he returned home.

"I promised her if we made it out of alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.

On Friday, he made good on that vow with help from some sentimental state officials in Iowa who know how to pull off a surprise.

Since leaving active duty to take classes at the University of Wisconsin this summer, Gundlach, of Madison, Wis., had been seeking to adopt 4-year-old Casey.

The 25-year-old learned Casey had finished her military service and had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, where she was used to detect explosives.

Gundlach wrote to State Fire Marshal Director Ray Reynolds, explaining the connection he felt with the dog. He even has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting Casey with angel wings and a halo, sitting at the foot of a Marine.

"He's been putting a case together for the last two months, sending me pictures ... it just tugged on your heart," Reynolds said.

Reynolds decided to arrange a surprise. First, he got in touch with the Iowa Elk's Association, which agreed to donate $8,500 to buy another dog for the agency.

"We have a motto in our association that as long as there are veterans, the Elks will strive to help them," Iowa Elks Association president Tom Maher said.

Then, Reynolds came up with a ruse to get Gundlach to Des Moines, telling Gundlach he needed to come to the state Capitol to plead his case in front of a "bureaucratic oversight committee."

When Gundlach arrived with his parents, Reynolds told them the meeting had been delayed and invited them to join an Armed Services Day celebration in the rotunda. There, hundreds of law enforcement officers, military personnel and civilians were seated, keeping the secret — until they brought out Casey.

When Gundlach saw Casey, he put his head in his hands and cried. She licked his face, wagging her tail furiously.

"It was a total surprise," he said. "I owe her. I'll just try to give her the best life I can."

His father, Glen Gundlach, seemed just as surprised.

"It's unbelievable ... the state of Iowa, I love 'em," he said.

Gov. Terry Branstad officially retired Casey from active duty during Friday's ceremony, thanking the dog for a "job well done."

During the 150 missions they performed together, Gundlach said Casey never missed an explosive — she caught three before they could be detonated. He credits her for making it back home safely.

"I wouldn't be here ... any kids I ever had wouldn't exist if Casey hadn't been here," he said.

Firstly i am not a debbie downer..But I tried and tried but today could not find my smile. Bad day..i mean bad week.

After a trip to Verizon, where we thought we might buy a tablet (to make my store ordering easier) we left without it. I won't go on about the details but I was NOT nice (BS scammers and so they were told) and unfortunately my girl was with me. Then we stopped at Home Depot for a lawn tractor battery and blade for my trimmer but they couldn't help me either! I have to say............ I was having a bad day!! As I was grumbling on our way home, my girl smiled, took my hand and said, "Not many girls can say they have their own personal curmudgeon." Yep, she's right on both accounts and always knows how to bring out a smile and the best in this curmudgeon.