cheerfulmonk.com

Bliss

I spend a lot of time reading about what is going on in the world. Animal videos are a great balance, they always lift my spirits.

For instance:

Hurray for silliness and laughter and sharing.

September 17, 2025

Desktop Wallpapers

Deep sleep is when our bodies and minds restore themselves, and that’s more apt to happen for most people when the room is cooler.

Your bedroom should be your sleep sanctuary. Studies show that a cool room temperature, between 60-67°F (15-19°C), promotes deeper sleep. Darkness is crucial too – even small amounts of light can disrupt your sleep cycles. Consider investing in blackout curtains or a sleep mask. And if outside noise is an issue, a white noise machine can help create a consistent, soothing sound environment.
—How to get more deep sleep? A sleep clinic’s guide

I have blackout curtains and a sleep mask, which also help. I’m not good about consistent bedtimes, another important strategy, but I’m working on that. I like having more energy during the day.

September 16, 2025

AccuWeather

It’s sleeping weather again! And I have a bit more energy during the day. What’s there not to like? 🙂

September 15, 2025

I took this picture yesterday. The big celery may have been putting out a little root, but even if that weren’t true I would have planted it anyway. Why? Because I was supposed to change the water every two days, and the stump was suddenly getting slimy. Yuck! So in the pot it went, it will either grow or it won’t. No handling slimy stumps for me.

The little one was put in water last Sunday, September 7. It had started growing the next day — we will have to see how they both do.

September 14, 2025

Click on the picture and turn on the sound.

September 13, 2025

Click on the picture to see what happens.

How incredibly sweet and loving.

September 12, 2025

Pearls Before Swine

He didn’t react blindly. He did think about it. 🙂

September 11, 2025

Andy brought this home from the store Monday:

We haven’t had trick-or-treaters in years, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Halloween.

I don’t have a sweet tooth so don’t eat much candy, but I’m still enough of a little kid to enjoy seeing the displays in the stores.

September 10, 2025

Good for this pup! He’s an inspiration.

Also,

Yay, Jean!

I’ve been dealing with a lot of technical problems with websites, cell phone providers, etc. this past month and have managed to stay calm, cheerful, and focused. I’m chuffed about that and want to continue operating that way.

Mark Twain wrote,

Noise proves nothing — often a hen who has merely laid an egg, cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.

It sounds as if he thought that hen celebrating her little successes was a bad thing. I don’t. I think it’s a healthy way to keep ourselves motivated.

I say, “Yay us!” What about you?

September 9, 2025

The celery plant still isn’t putting out roots, but it is getting taller and bushier.

August 25, 2025

September 5, 2025

I can’t tell if it will rot before it puts out roots.

If it does I will try again.

September 8, 2025