Happy/Joy Photo Assignment

It was a glorious day . . . .  well for the most part

Woke up to my perfect cup of coffee prepared by my personal barrista a.k.a. husband Dave.  I then got to have a nice shower, a kiss from Dave as he headed out to a CERT training day and then leisurely finish getting ready for church.

Church was wonderful. Very good sermon, singing and class today.  Truly we felt God's presence.

Since I was on my own for lunch, I decided to stop by a favorite lunch spot of mine - -

 
This counts as "happy" for me ! !

OK, then home, change clothes, spend a few minutes attaching new registration tag to car window - OMG what a task that was to get that glue off of the window! 

Since it was so gorgeous outside, I decide to take the dog, head to Mrs. Lee's Daffodil  garden and view the beautiful daffodils.   http://www.daffodilgarden.com/daffodils_home.htm

It's beautiful, free, not too terribly far off, doubt husband would really enjoy it - - so off we go, Sugar and me - -

Yup, she's one "happy" puppy riding in the car.  So excited to be going somewhere with me. 

And, it is so beautiful - - makes my heart smile to see God's creation in wonderful bloom! 

So, here we go with some photos . . .

Daffodils are such happy flowers!  And, their little blooms turn to face the sun - or so it seems to me that they do.

 

We arrived at the first parking area, and Sugar and I get out to go explore.  Look at her, she will sit and let me take her photo!

What is that?  I do not know.  A tree stump, trunk?  interesting whatever it is.

 

Look how pretty!  This could have been the last pretty photo I took - - before I discovered that my car keys were missing!  Yep, just me,Sugar, and lots of strangers out in the daffodils.  Now, you have to realize this is frightening, not panicky, but frightening.  I begin to retrace steps.  Keep calm, keep calm.  It is getting on into the late afternoon and the park locks the gate at 4 p.m. Well, some folks I had passed earlier are making their way to their cars, I mention the need to find key. They seem concerned. Not hopeful of finding them soon.  They live in Tyler - which is about 30 miles North

 West of the gardens.  Gilmer where I live is about 25 miles South East of the gardens.  This man offers to take me home! Even is willing to bring me back with extra set of keys.  What an angel of mercy!  I accept his offer, since I don't know what else to do.  I can't call anybody since I have no phone numbers in my memory and my cell phone is safely locked in my car.  When we start our trip, we make introductions.  My name is Skip and this is my wife Joy!  I kid you not - - her name is Joy!

So, I have happy/Joy photos for sure!

Yup - - Joy & Skip

@ my house

 

 

I assure them that I am grateful and won't bother them to take me back to my car.  I will have my lucky, wonderful neighbor do that.  So, we go back, retrieve car and I come on home.

I come up with the idea that with a metal detector, I can find my keys.  I secure one to borrow and plan to return to the garden on Tuesday to find my keys.  Few people are encouraging me in this idea. Not the groundskeeper, not his wife, not the gate keeper, not the folks I borrow the metal detector from.  Well, my sister and I go back to the garden and begin retracing my path.  The borrowed metal detector works about a fourth of the way and then - - battery low!!  OH NO!!  I stop on the path at about half way mark and pray to God for help in directing my path.  A new key is going to cost over $100 - - crazy !!  So, we continue on.  Not losing hope, but not overly optimistic and then . . . .

There they are!  not covered in leaves, not hidden, just there shining up at me - waiting for me to return and claim them!  Now I have the picture of  "joy"  "happy" on my face!

The daffodils are still out there, still happy and still bringing joy to all who have the opportunity to visit the garden.