Wickeds, we’ve been talking about joy all month. We’ve sliced and diced it into people, places, food and things. What have we left out? Tell us about something that consistently brings you joy that you haven’t written about so far. The more out of the box, the better. And then tell us the same thing for a character.
Edith/Maddie: Other than gazing at my sons’ faces, you mean? Our cat Martin certainly brings me comfort and sometimes joy. He’s a big sweet fellow who keeps me company in my office as I work and curls up next to me on the couch as I read in the evenings. I love that he’s always around – and never bites. Mac Almeida’s African gray parrot Belle brings her joy. Belle makes her laugh. She was a solid companion when Mac was single and is now part of the family Mac and Tim have formed. The bird is pretty low maintenance and helps Mac stay happy. Plus, Belle once helped rescue Mac from a murderer! She’s definitely a keeper.
Liz: I know I talk about them all the time – but since I haven’t mentioned them yet in this month’s joy posts, I have to say my pups, Molly and Penny. I just celebrated their fifth Gotcha Days – I can’t believe it’s been that long – and they bring me joy every day. They’re funny and sweet and lovey and my constant companions.
Barb: Right now looking around our living/dining room gives me joy because we are all decorated for Christmas. I change the decor in our home seasonally. Nothing crazy, a few table runners or mats, something seasonal in a bowl, the color of the candles in the candlesticks. At Christmas, I go bigger, bringing out objects from my youth, my children’s childhoods, ornaments handmade by the granddaughters. It’s silly, really. Now that the family has left after our Thanksgiving weekend, no one will be here to see the house, except me, Bill, and the cleaning people. And it all needs to come down before we leave for Christmas in NYC and then Key West on December 22. But still, I do it because I love it. I do it because it brings me joy.
Jessie: Barb, you have really hit it out of the park this month! I have loved each of your questions! For me, I derive a great deal of joy from setting and striving for goals. I adore imagining something that comes to fruition. I also find joy in hosting. I love gathering people together and creating memorable experiences for them. Every month I host friends from my village to a gathering in my home. We meet on the third Friday of the month and have done for years. Over that time bonds of friendship have grown and connections have been forged. It simply delights me to hear and see the chatter and pleasure bringing people together creates!
Sherry: I loved reading all of your responses! So you said think outside the box, right? I love this Wonder Woman bracelet. Bob gave it to me for Christmas one year and told me I was his Wonder Woman — cue the tears. It’s always out in my office and it always makes me smile. It’s probably more about Bob than the bracelet so maybe my response isn’t so out of the box after all.
Readers: What is something that brings you joy that you haven’t mentioned yet this month?
The Wickeds 
That I haven’t mentioned? My fireplace. Nothing like a roaring fire on a cold night.
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And the smell of woodsmoke!
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What brings me joy this holiday season is the gatherings of family and friends. I’m preparing for my annual party with nine of my friends and it always fills me with warm. The other thing that brings me joy is writing THE END on my rough draft. It’s that blissful moment when you just know every word you’ve written is a priceless gem…..before reality crashes in.
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A friend of mine used to give a holiday party like that. I have such happy memories of it. I never get that feeling when I type ‘the end.” In fact, I never type “the end.”
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Although I’ve probably mentioned my love of photography, I haven’t mentioned specific objects that bring me great joy. One of them is the pair of Carolina Wrens that have made our front porch their home. Of all the plants and hanging baskets, they claimed a hanging basket that was in between to ceiling fans to call “home”. During the summer they were able to cool off from the fans and now coming winter they are protected from the harsh winter elements. They raised a family this year using that basket as their nesting site. It meant we had to be very careful when we watered that plant, but any difficulty was outweighed by the joy they brought us. They flitter around coming and going all day, but come dust the pair ‘put themselves to bed’ in that one hanging basket. We decided that we were forego moving that plant in this winter like we usually do. Instead, I took clippings and started a new basket for next year. That left their home intact. Hubby did take a bit of straw and made a little dome over the top when the plant died back from the frosts and they seem to really like that. It’s fun to watch them doing their thing during the day and then get to see them say good night at dusk each evening and it sure brings us great joy.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Carolina wrens are a delight – we have them around my house in NE MA!
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I love the Carolina wrens who visit my back deck for food and to sing their little hearts out. They sit on the deck railing and share the most beautiful music. A wide variety of birds come to visit, and I love them all. The dark-eyed juncos arrived recently from the north to make their winter home, and it’s great to welcome them back.
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I love it when birds visit! In the spring and summer we have hawks around and they are amazing to watch. I’m going to have to find a video of Carolina wrens singing!
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I keep a hanging bird bath just outside of my desk window and I love watching the birds drink from it all winter. When it’s really cold, I change the water a few times a day. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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That is a fabulous idea!
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Out of the box? How about every time I use my washer, it makes me smile? We bought it when we moved here 17 years ago and I’m always delighted how it holds so much. It replaced one that came with the previous house we had and was at least 20 years old. Oh, and I’m delighted to walk across my “new” carpet. It, too, is 17 years old and is so cozy on my feet.
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That we have a wonderful family, children, grandchildren and recently a great grandchild. That we have a roof over our head and we own our home. That we can travel. I still remember growing up poor but we did ok. When my husband and I were young we watch our money so we could pay the rent, did not have children till later but when we did they were welcome. We can still go to the movies and once in awhile go see a comedian or a concert.
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