What simple things make you happy?

[ScoutMom]

A good book, a pot of tea, and a fire in the fireplace.

[just1paul]

Joey licking his ice cream cone (vanilla only -that's all he likes) in a hurry so I can finish it.

[pakacat]

Waking up at night, looking at the clock, and realizing I still have a few more hours to sleep before getting up.

Curling up in bed on a nasty day with a good book.

While fishing, just being out on the lake, breathing in fresh air and enjoying the scenery... even if I don't catch anything, so good just to be out.

Sinking a long putt.

Staring up at the stars.

Starting a new video game that I've been waiting for a long time to come out.

A Bucs win!

Cats. Just about anything cats do. Cats = happiness.

[Gutmutter]

Joey licking his ice cream cone (vanilla only -that's all he likes) in a hurry so I can finish it.

Being able to appreciate vicariously a kindred spirit's simple pleasure.

[Duxxy]

Christmas oranges.
Mandarins make me happy, especially when you can get the peel off all in one piece.

[MRD]

Christmas oranges.
Mandarins make me happy, especially when you can get the peel off all in one piece.

MMM, Clementines should in the stores soon.

[Yardgnome]

MMM, Clementines should in the stores soon.

They already are, I just bought a small crate of them. These also make me happy at this time of year. Like Duxxy, when you can get the whole peel off in one piece, that is just awesome.

[MRD]

They already are, I just bought a small crate of them. These also make me happy at this time of year. Like Duxxy, when you can get the whole peel off in one piece, that is just awesome.

Since I have avoided the store like the plague after 5 trips for Thanksgiving dinner, I need to go today and pick up a few things, including clementines. I think part of the appeal for me is the crate.

Thanks for the heads up.

BTW, I recycle the crates. I line them with a nice kitchen towel, add shredded tissue and then put in goodies of all kinds for gifts at Christmas and throughout the year. The crate makes a great, rustic kind of gift basket.

[famita]

...a sunny day regardless of the temperature.

MRD, that sounds like a great idea for recycling crates (and baskets that I receive)

[MRD]

...a sunny day regardless of the temperature.

MRD, that sounds like a great idea for recycling crates (and baskets that I receive)

I use all kinds of things to make gift baskets. Coffee cans, hats turned upside down, wooden crates, wooden wine crates, baskets of course, flower pots, basically anything that can serve as a container. Clean paint cans too. You can actually buy those at Home Depot.
But I like the "free" stuff like coffee cans and wooden crates, etc.

Those plastic New Year's hats make great baskets as do any of the plastic hats like for St. Pat's day, etc.

For kids, plastic fireman hats (and for the fireman on your list) work too.
Cowboy hats with a bandana for a liner and "cowboy" type food: hot sauce, southwestern dip mix, etc.

Full size brown paper bags work well too. Roll the top down about halfway so te bag is half its size. You want to crinkle the bag and the roll shouldn't be "perfect". Tie raffia under roll, add wadded up tissue or newspaper inside to stablize it, add shredded tissue and fill with goodies.
If you want, you can tie added goodies like a wooden spoon, or whisk, etc. to the raffia on the outside of the bag. Something that goes with your theme if you have one.

Actually paper bags done like that make great serving dishes for BBQ's too. I have put chips, rolls, etc. in them on the table and they look great. Just roll the bag down to the size you need