Happy List: #427 – A Pretty Happy Home

Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I am delighted to have you here.

This week on the blog, as a nod to the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, I shared horseshoe decor ideas for your home that aren’t western-themed. I also shared the floor joist problem we’re having with our basement repointing project. Hello, can of worms. I wish I didn’t know you.

Once again, thank you for being here. It makes my day to connect with you and hear what’s going on in your life. If you want to reach out, please comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also direct message me on Instagram or Facebook.

Here’s the Happy List!

GARDENING

Cristin Cooper’s tidy garden is so satisfying for the part of my brain that wants nature to be tidy even though I know it’s not. Or, at least, it’s not without a heck of a lot of continual effort.

I’m also a fan of a black metal roof.

You can see more photos of her space here.

(image: Cristin Cooper)

FRIDAY THE 13TH

There are three Friday the 13ths in 2026 (February, March, and November).

The last time this February, March, and November occurrence happened was in 2015. It will always happen if January 1st falls on a Thursday and there are 365 days in that year.

There will only be one Friday the 13th in 2027 and 2028.

Learn more about it here.

HOME STYLES 1940 – 2015

House Beautiful has a delightful article with pictures of home interiors spanning 75 years.

The 1984 picture with Harrison Ford was my favorite. I did not know he was a woodworker!

Here’s a picture of one of our homes’ interiors. This is circa 2010. I still have the mirror, the Tiffany lamp, the brass trunk, the blue tray on the side table, and the lidded basket.

Here’s the exterior of this house.

It was cute, but the bedroom layout wasn’t great for a family with young children. We painted the house ourselves, and I still love that front door.

BELTED

I got Handy Husband this Groove Life belt for Christmas, and he loves it. The magnetic clasp is easy to use. I like that it hasn’t shown any signs of getting that V-shape in the back that leather belts get over time.

It comes in a bunch of different colors.

(image: Amazon)

LOUD KID POLICY

Upworthy shared the ‘loud kid policy’ at First Baptist Union in Mississippi. Basically, kids are welcome.

It’s an interesting debate. When I was growing up, the children’s church didn’t start until after the worship part of the main service. To be sprung free to go to the “fun” children’s church was exhilarating. They had games and snacks there. Ha!

STAIRCASE DETAILS

The picture of this staircase caught my eye, not because it is gorgeous, it is, but because of two particular details.

First, we have a similar paneling on the underside of our main staircase. I’ve always loved that detail. Second, I’ve never seen the millwork detail on the stringer before. I’m referring to the three diagonal pieces of trim. It’s a simple, but striking solution.

Long story short, don’t neglect the underside of your stairs or the stringers.

More old house pictures can be found here.

(image: Period Architecture, Ltd. via Town and Country Living)

MINIMUM WAGE

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is trying something new when it comes to housing affordability. They are tying the minimum wage, in part, to the fair market rent indicator. Read more about it here.

(image: SantaFe.org)

P.S. I listened to an interesting podcast on Optimist Economy, challenging that raising wages and labor reforms would tackle the housing crisis in the U.S. more effectively than adding supply. This is because the housing supply that is added is never at the lower end of the price range without heavy government subsidies.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BOUQUET

If you want to make a bouquet for St. Patrick’s Day, skip the green and try yellow tulips for that pot o’ gold look!

Years ago, I customized a burlap bag to make it festive for the holiday. It’s still one of the happiest things I’ve ever crafted.

GRILLED CABBAGE WITH CHILI GARLIC BUTTER

This grilled cabbage with chili butter recipe shared on House and Garden UK caught my eye this week.

They had me at chili garlic butter. Ha!

(image: Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich of Honey & Co via House and Garden UK)

POETRY MOMENT

One Garden by Rosemerry Wahtola Troller

I am no longer surprised
when strange, exotic
blooms appear in my mind,
knowing now how seeds
arrive on the wind from everywhere.
Now, I am less likely to label
something weed simply because
I didn’t plant it myself.
At the same time, I want
to be discerning, knowing
whatever I choose to grow might
appear soon in the soil of you,
so I am cautious when sowing
bulbs of anger, saplings of judgment,
thorns of certainty.
I want us all to plant great beds
of unanswerable questions
and tend the mystery together.
How else might it change
what these hands do when I
trust every choice matters?