Happy 101

I received an award from Cheryl and it's given me something to post about today... 10 things that make me happy.

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1. Furry Husband - I never thought I'd be married. I liked my independence and doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I'd seen my friends get married and drop off the face of the planet. I truly thought being married would be an awful ball and chain sort of thing, full of misery and unhappy feelings.

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And then I met Furry Husband... he was tending bar at the Wynkoop in Denver. I told him a dirty joke and the rest is history. I've never had so much fun and I've never laughed so much with someone. We are a team and I know he has my back just as I'll always have his - no matter how much hair ....

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2. Riding - my Dressage riding brings me a deep sense of accomplishment and joy. It's like nothing in this world and when things go well, you have such a rush. This huge animal allowing you to be on it's back and working with you to create this partnership. When things are off or going badly - I can get a bit obsessive about it (OCD anyone?) and it makes me strive to overcome and become better.

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3. Animals - my life would be so boring if it weren't for my horses, dairy goats, dogs and cats. I love watching all of them and the things that make them perfectly unique and yet so true to their species and breed.

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Where would I be without Buzzer the cat walking across my overly full bladder each morning, the horses medical mysteries, the dogs dragging their cute little butts across our carpet in front of company and my life would most certainly be incomplete without having to go in and fish out baby goats when the does are having trouble kidding in the spring. Who doesn't want their arm covered in afterbirth and placenta?

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4. Friends - people to share life's ups and downs with. Wonderful conversation over meals and wine! Sometimes laughing so hard you can't breathe and sometimes hugs and shoulders to cry on. Every person close to me in my life is a gift. I love my friends.

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Especially since they all have their own bag o' crazy to bring to the table.... I'm never alone.

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5. Food - food makes me happy. Everything about food makes me happy - the smell of spices and ingredients mixing together. The texture of food, the taste of food, the creation of new and yummy nourishing dishes. If I'm eating, you can bet I'm happy.

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6. Books - escaping into another world, into other emotions - I can completely lose track of time and place when I'm in the middle of a really good book.

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7. Music - memories go hand in hand with music. I can be in the car and hear some song from the 70's and I instantly remember that period of life in my childhood. Songs and music can take me back to my teens, my 20s or particular events in my life. Madonna's Crazy 4 U takes me right back to the first slow dance in high school when a guy touched my butt the very first time in my little 14 yr old life.... GASP!

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I can hear a song I haven't heard for 20 years and I remember the words perfectly. How does THAT work? Why do our brains hold onto things like that? Shouldn't it be working on understanding quantum physics or something more important than the lyrics to a George Michael song?

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8. Plants - agriculture geeks me out - planting, digging in the dirt, watching things grow...

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9. Wine - another fabulous part of agriculture! It's a crop that is harvested... planning and dedication go into each vintage. The grapes take on the flavor of the region, the culture of the people producing it. I look forward to sharing it with friends at the barn, over the dinner table - really anywhere anytime.

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10. Dog Training - I really enjoy the way each of my dogs learns, their happy expressions when they understand and the excitement they show when they know it's time to work or play. Especially when I "accidentally" trained Bequia, the cattle dog, to kack Furry Husband in the nuts... makes me laugh every time.

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What 10 things make YOU happy?

DebH - you're next.....