Today’s January Joy Dare is to find joy in three blue things. As with the three yellow mercies, I had to think that over a while.
Blue sky - that one was easy! It’s easier to be cheerful when the sky is blue. When I’m cheerful, it’s easier to be hopeful, encouraged, productive, joyful and grateful. There’s something about a blue sky (and getting sunlight) that helps my mind and body.
Blue travel mug – this is an extension of my breakfasts at Cracker Barrel. This travel mug is fairly new; my beloved Caribou travel mug had a glass liner and eventually met the fate of thermos’s everywhere when it fell on the floor and broke.
I received this as a gift from the partner of a consulting firm that I use, so their name is on the side. I don’t care. It’s the right size and my iced tea stays cold for most of the morning.
Cracker Barrel has a wonderful policy of offering coffee / tea to go. By using my own mug, I save a cup, lid & straw from the landfill. Because we’ve gone to this Cracker Barrel for so long, the staff asks where my mug is when they don’t see it on the table during a last refill. I appreciate that they make an effort to make sure I have my tea when I leave.
Blue Araucana eggs – I buy these at the farmer’s market. Araucana eggs are slightly smaller than regular eggs on the outside, but they must have less air. When I crack them open, they provide as much volume as any store bought egg, but with a much creamier texture and taste. It’s like the TARDIS on Dr. Who – bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
Others know how good they are – I go to this farmer as my first stop. If I wait too long, they’ll run out. A different farmer has started raising them, but last year the eggs were very small due to the hen’s immaturity. I didn’t care – I bought them anyhow. He was surprised – he knew they were worth it, but he was having trouble convincing his customers to buy a substandard small egg even with a marked down price.
Here’s a sky shot from mid-December. This tree has since lost more of its leaves, but is still pretty to see in downtown when I take my walks during lunch.
© 2012 dogear6 llc
