Things That Make Me Happy

1. Spontaneously deciding to take Friday off of work to head up to the mountains.
2. Hiking Max Patch bald with amazing 360 degree views of the Smokey Mountains.
3. Perfect weather with a Carolina blue sky and lots of sunshine.
4. Letting Sophie run off leash on the bald - she was in doggy heaven.
5. Our little tripod (with strap) that we can use to take photos of us when there are no people around.
6. Getting a camp site beside a river.
7. Spending part of an evening soaking outdoors in hot mineral water springs after an afternoon of hiking. (Daniel thinks it was just heated tap water pumped into the tubs, regardless, it was a nice way to spend an evening).
8. Laying under a majestic starry sky - you don't get views of stars like this in the city.
9. Getting an electric site so that we could use an air mattress and our electric blanket. This was luxury camping for us. Normally we go for a primitive site, but we decided since Sophie had never been cold-weather camping before that we better make sure she would be warm enough. Good thing we did this, she slept under the blanket with us, only getting out a couple times. Then we would wake up and find her shivering and get her to get back under the blanket.
10. Sleeping in because the air temperature is so cold and you don't want to get out from under your blankets.
11. Enjoying a cup of hot coffee mixed with cocoa while you sit on the bank of the river.
12. Eating a country breakfast at the local Smokey Mountain Diner - almost rivaled Bobby's in Searcy. A cup of coffee, two eggs sunny-side up, country ham and toast for me.
13. Hiking the Lover's Leap trail. The views from the top of the French Broad River, the town of Hot Springs and the mountains beyond were beautiful.
14. Getting to sleep on the drive home because you volunteered to drive there.
15. Taking a hot shower at home then going to bed early in your own comfortable bed.