The Happiness Report No. 25

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Good morning friends! How are you? Before I go any further I wanted to address the shameful attack on the Capitol. Firstly, my thoughts and prayers are with the 5 people who lost their lives. I do not like violence of any kind and find that is solves nothing. I am saddened and dismayed that our once proud and wonderful country has come to this. No matter your political persuasion violence is not the answer. I pray that this shocking attack has given us all a moment to pause and to see that we need to do whatever it takes to end this divisiveness. 

I have mentioned this before but I think it is sad in this country/world that people think that every blogger/Instagram(er) with a large following should be shouting from the rooftops every time something happens that people think you should share your( but in reality their) opinion about. And then when they(the blogger/instagramer) don’t “shout their opinions from the rooftops” or it is considered the “wrong opinion” they are trolled and harassed? 

I have seen things this past year that are unbelievable, “famous” and well know influencers “calling out” and harassing other influencers for not doing enough or saying the right thing. Just yesterday I saw a well-known Canadian designer calling out and demanding that her numerous followers go and harass Martha Stewart, Mark D Sikes, and Patrick Flynn to name just a few of the people she mentioned; not only for not “taking a stand” but for them simply liking a post of someone that she thought was from “the other side.”In a few of her stories she even made comments that were very threatening. I ask you how does this sort of behavior help us heal the divide in this country? 

Why do some think a food blogger,  a fashion blogger, a travel blogger or a diy blogger would  have influence over peoples political thinking? Personally, I do not read blogs, or follow accounts for them to influence my values or politics or religion. I follow them for entertainment, information, recipes, book recommendations and more. Would you ask these people for medical or financial advice? No, so why would you go to them for political advice? 

I am sure that there are some who will disagree and that is ok,  this is America and that my friends is what makes this country great. We are free thinkers and allowed to have our own opinions and it would be wonderful to get back to a country where civil discourse is the norm and not the exception. I ask that if you disagree with me or would like to have a conversation about it that you are civil and respectful of not only me, but of the people who read this blog. Thank you for listening, rant over.

On to other things,  the weather man mentioned several times this week that we might wake up Saturday morning to a winter wonderland and I was giddy all week thinking about my snow day. Unfortunately, no snow but a beautiful sunny day instead It was still pretty cold so I used that as my excuse to stay in and read. I set a goal to read 75 e-books this year. Last year I read 58 just on my Kindle, I lost track of the physical books that I read but I think it was about 22. I know it sounds like a lot but keep in mind I rarely watch tv. This weekend I read, this book, and this book.

I spent an hour Saturday attending an online auction in Texas. I wish it wasn’t Covid-19 and that I lived closer because there were so many fabulous things to buy; French bread boards,  grape harvesting baskets, gorgeous caned chairs, marble topped pastry tables, and antique counters from boulangeries and patisseries. I could go on and on about all of the fabulous items I didn’t buy but I did win the one auction that I wanted, 5 antique English biscuit barrels! I will show them to you once I receive them. Are you a fan of auctions? I love them and frequently look for interesting items using the auction site Invaluable. I think it is fun to learn about art and furniture. 

I made these Browned Butter Cranberry bars to send to my sister and I am experimented with a a few desserts for Valentine’s day, I will be sharing those later. I also made this chicken soup for later in the week and this banana bread because who doesn’t love banana bread? 

Have a wonderful week friends, don’t let the news of world overwhelm you there are brighter days ahead!