Thankful Thursday | a triangle cat
This week, I am thankful:
for a funny triangle cat
Instagram showed me this fat cat who is almost exactly the same shape as a triangle, so I immediately sent his pics to my girls. I knew they would love him as much as I did.
His username is katsrkole, in case you'd like to follow him. 😉
for the way a smartphone makes being on hold less miserable
I had to call the IRS this week, and the hold time was...impressive.
Impressively long, that is.
And that reminded me how grateful I am that I can take my phone all around the house with me, put it on speaker, and do whatever I want while I wait.
I did some painting, made a snack, worked on some blog posts, texted with a friend, and organized papers this time around. It's almost like not losing the time at all!
that it's April 2023 and not April 2022
I was thinking back to where I was last April...trying hard to find a place to rent and feeling so frustrated at how difficult it was. I felt so discouraged!
And now here I am, almost 11 months into my lease. If only 2022 Kristen could have seen how it would all work out.
for my own house
I am so, so grateful that my parents let the girls and me land at their house for four months last year.
But I am also so grateful to have my own place now; the unsettled feeling of being in a temporary living situation definitely wears thin.
I know my rental life is, by definition, temporary as well.
But it is a much more settled temporary than living with my parents!
for a semester off from classes
I was just sitting here thinking over the last year or so, and whew, it makes me feel sort of tired to consider it all.
I give 2022 Kristen a pat on the back for navigating everything, AND I am also grateful that 2023 Kristen gets a semester off of school at least.
A semester with no classes is just what the doctor ordered, I think.
for the way the abandoned house is always providing for me
The other day I needed to paper clip a few things together and I was like, "Oh dang it, I don't think I have any paper clips!"
And then I realized I had a box of them from the abandoned house.
that my lemon tree is getting some leaves
My poor lemon tree has never managed to produce a lemon. It did at least look very healthy when it was outside last summer.
When I brought it inside in the fall, though, it was seriously on the struggle bus.
SO MUCH LEAF DROP.
But lately, it has been sprouting some new leaves and that makes me think it's not quite ready to give up the ghost yet.
I don't know why my orange tree is doing so much better than the lemon tree!
I did order some citrus fertilizer that I can use for both trees (I ordered these spikes), even though my orange tree is doing quite fabulously all on its own.
for lots of sunny walks
I usually drag myself out there every day, even if it's cloudy and depressing weather outside.
Even a cloudy walk in the woods is better than no walk.
BUT I am way, way happier when a morning walk is full of sunshine, and I've had several lovely sunny walks this week!
for sudden green on the trees
I was driving home the other day and I noticed a slight green tinge on the trees along the highway. It's crazy how fast it happens; I know that just two days prior, that green tinge wasn't there.
And as I was walking on a trail with lots of brush, I noticed that the green is all over the place now!
for open windows
Tuesday was warm enough for open windows at my house and ooh, I love that. The smell of fresh air cannot be beat.
I cannot wait until things are getting green, warm, and sunny here! We have some buds on our lilac bushes and daffodils are sprouting, I consider that as counting!
I agree that waiting with a cell phone is much better than being tied to a landline!
Thankful for
better sleep
loving friends and family
Easter break to look forward to
lovely sunshine, buds and flowers
playful cats
Our cats (11 and 12) seem to think they are kittens again. Their playful hour starts earlier and lasts longer and afterwards we have to put area rugs back in their place and retrieve cat toys from everywhere.
I think your cat may well like your new crate, especially since the colour is fairly dark and will absorb the warmth of the sun. Having said that - cats always prefer boxes and baskets not intended for them!
The idea of green coming is almost unbelievable. But it will come here, too. Right??
I have so much for which to be thankful this week:
1. Mental space to exercise again. It’s been a few weeks of not doing as much as I would like or need, and the last few days I’ve really enjoyed feeling well worked again.
2. Quiet morning coffee. My kids won’t be up for another 30 minutes and I’m drinking my coffee in peace before I head to work where I’ll be chasing some little escape artists
3. My love of subbing. I have been able to hop into a job I love doing and am highly qualified for with almost no notice. This won’t work long term as my primary income since I can only work 2.5 days a week due to therapy schedules, but it’s been a fun place to start and feel confident.
4. Friends who have been willing to drop everything and come visit when I need. Emotions are all over the map and I don’t know what each day will look like, and most of my friends are 12+ hours away. But they’ve been so kind during this season of Big Change.
5. Technology that lets me check in with family and friends, especially since they’re far away. The immediacy of being able to call/text/video chat has been such a privilege this week.
6. TheFrugalGirl reader who suggested I look into MN disability services. Thank you!! My son’s CADI waiver was just approved and now we can get some help making the house a bit more accessible!
7. Hope, really certainty, that it’s going to be okay. I have friends and family who love me, the best kids in the world, a community that supports people, agency and competency to find work and live as the only grownup in the house. I’ve got it made, and so much of that is because there are loving people in the world who have taken good care of me and delight in loving others. How awesome is that?
@Kaitlin, I can hear the hope in your voice. How amazing is that?!
@Kaitlin,
♥♥♥
@Kaitlin, how awesome? Awesome-ly awesome! I'm thankful you have found so much to be thankful for. ;-}
@Kaitlin, I can hear that your hope is well-founded and send good wishes to you.
Your number 7: yes. That is exactly how I feel too. Is this hard? Yep. But I am going to be all right, and I'm better set up to navigate this than many women are. Even in this difficulty, I see so many privileges that I have!
@Kaitlin, your whole post is awesome on so many levels!
@Kaitlin,
Hope and faith are true gifts. Spring is here — a perfect time for new beginnings. Wishing you love, peace and healing.
@Kaitlin, what Bee said. Both you and Kristen have done a magnificent job this year against the odds.
@Kaitlin,
I think due to my longer work hours, I may have missed a comment that would explain your big change, so without knowing the details, I'll just say that I am sending you good, healing thoughts and encouragement during this time.
@Kaitlin, vicariously thankful for all your thankfuls! Sending virtual hugs via the FG community!
@Kaitlin, I am cheering you on from the sidelines!
I am grateful for non-flannel cotton sheets. It was a bit warm sleeping with flannel Monday and Tuesday night so I changed the sheets yesterday and it was so much better last night. Also a big shout out to the little Vornado fan I can run by my side of the bed to keep the air moving and provide white noise.
I am thankful for Air Conditioning. Today will be warm, like yesterday, and if the house gets too warm I'll put the AC on. Right now I have the windows open and it feels so good.
I am thankful for general good health, today and every day.
I am thankful for my nut chopper. I bought one recently and it is so superior to cutting nuts with a knife. I now have a jars of shopped pecans and walnuts in the refrigerator. It's so handy for adding them to baked goods or oatmeal. I know you can buy chopped nuts but I think this is a lot cheaper since I buy the big bags at Sam's Club and Costco.
I am thankful our neighborhood has remained well maintained and popular. Lots of young people have moved in the past several years and there are lots of kids, from babies on up. It's fun to see the vibrancy they bring. The houses are small but still sought after.
*I am so thankful for warmer weather. I can get outside!
*I'm thankful for my son's sense of humor. He just cracks me up all the time. Yesterday I was asking for input on meal planning. Me: What should we have for breakfast on Friday? He: We should fast. It's Good Friday. Me: The little kids can't fast. He: Then wormwood and gall and horseradish. Me: Horseradish?! He: Well, I think it would complement the wormwood and gall.
*I'm thankful we got some seeds in the ground.
*I'm thankful college boy seems okay. He won't be home for Easter (and that's a big thing for our family), but he's got local friends he'll be doing things with.
*I'm thankful my niece had a healthy baby boy on Tuesday. And she's doing well, too.
*I'm thankful for a book I read this week. It was so uplifting. (_Bright Valley of Love_ by Edith Hong).
*I'm thankful my husband brought bagels home yesterday. They weren't on the meal plan, but they make breakfast so much easier.
*I'm thankful for being able to teach my children at home. I enjoy it so much.
*I'm thankful for a game of Triple Yahtzee that I played last evening.
@Jody S., our church hosted a Seder meal on Good Friday when my kids were young. Horseradish is part of the meal. Watching my son's face when he tried it was priceless. No wormwood or gall, though. I love your son's humor!
*Edna Hong
I think? That's what the internet pointed me to as I tried to research it. I can always use a good, uplifting book! Thanks for sharing!
And your son cracked me up this morning. :-)
@Dorinda, Yes, Edna. I don't know why I wrote the wrong thing. Maybe I didn't? (Autocorrect?) I really hope you like it, but if you are a Christian, you absolutely will. And maybe even if you're not a Christian.
@Kris, Oh! I've never done a Seder meal. I wonder if he knew this. He always knows things I don't know.
@Jody S., I love how much you enjoy your children. It shines through all that you write.
@Bee,
Ditto!!
@Jody S., the meal I attended was a Seder Passover meal which emphasized its relationship to Christianity/Easter. It was a great interactive experience, especially for school-age kids. I highly recommend it if you ever get the opportunity.
Huh. I could have sworn that I wrote a thankfulness post today but now I can't find it. I probably forgot to hit the reply button. I try to be regular with doing this, as I think it's a good way for me to reprogram my sometimes-negative brain. 🙂 Anyway, mainly thankful for a good visit with my college son from Sun-Mon, and that we were able to get up the the upper peninsula of Michigan in between a snowstorm and an ice storm. No spring up there yet!
@Bee, I'm glad because it's true. Twenty-five years ago, I wouldn't ever have dreamed I'd be living the life I am now-- no career, homeschooling, kind of isolated, pastor's wife. And I am loving it. (Note: I am not yet able to love the facial palsy thing, so not all is sunshine and roses.)
The hope of Spring is so beautiful!
This week I'm thankful...
- for a good friend who offered to drive me to the grocery store today. I re-injured my foot last weekend and I'm avoiding driving (the right foot on the gas and break pedals = a big no), and her offer saves me from having groceries delivered. She's so thoughtful and helpful.
- for not having any trips in my near future. This is a repeat from previous weeks, but I am really so thankful that I no longer have to make monthly 6-hour drives. This is probably what caused at least some of my foot issues.
- for physical therapy. I started in physical therapy a couple weeks ago, and this week I was able to touch base with my PT regarding which home exercises I could still safely practice. I'm also thankful that he returned my call the same day.
- for a sofa that reclines. And yes, this is also related to my foot. I can elevate it and ice it all from the comfort of my normal sitting spot, haha.
- for Easter. Thank You, Jesus.
- for my husband, who is young at heart, like me. It helps to lighten the dark moments.
- for a new rental that is only a quarter mile away. Unfortunately, our current rental had a proposed big rate hike, and we decided it was worth the hassle to move down the street this summer to save some money. The new leasing manager has been so helpful and kind, and I'm hopeful that we can stay there for at least a couple of years. And we are thrilled that we get to stay in the same neighborhood.
Its probably a good idea to blog a happy list for the month, too. Lately I have been very sensitive to these overcast and rainy days. I know we need them, but man are they are to get through sometimes. So for this week:
*Thankful that I have the energy and drive to get up each day and get myself together for work, even though I think I would loooove to call out and take a day just to read or lay in my bed. I do feel valuable at work, so that keeps me going.
*thankful that I got groceries bought and inside the house last night before the sky opened up, and I made myself a nice meal to boot
*thankful that finances lately haven't seemed so tight and I know they will improve even more when my new shift starts
*very grateful for my mini coffee pot which makes great coffee in a short time each morning!
Have a good week! Like you, I am excited for all that spring will bring. (:
Hi Kristen, I'm from a different country/ culture and I wanted to ask you something. Where I come from, when someone goes through a marriage problem/divorce they always stay with their parents (man/ woman). That door is always open. This is not to save money or anything, this comes/ happens naturally and they find a way to make it work well. If you have room in your parent's home, why wouldn't you live there? Especially when your parents seem so nice! Also, where I live, the older parents never live by themselves! One of the kids lives with their parents and manages all their old age issues just the way the parents did when the kids couldn't do when they were young. Other siblings help out as needed.
This is probably a cultural difference! 🙂 In my culture, kids typically grow up and leave the nest and only come back when necessary, and only on a temporary basis.
I like having my own house to manage independently, which is the main reason I didn't want to stay. It's what I'm used to! 🙂
I can see the upsides of the way your culture does things, though, particularly when it comes to taking care of aging parents.
@Kristen and @Priyanka, I am part of an early generation that lives between both of these cultures - my folks were born in India and are aging. My brother and I were born and raised in the US and are in our late 40s. I'm with both of you in that if anything ever happened that changed my circumstances, I know I have a place to go and it is with them. I'm with Kristen when it comes to my own independence. I think I'd do what you did - go there until I could sort things out. I think my parents' assumption is that I'd move back in with them indefinitely.
On the flip side of things, my parents have been independent of their parents since they were about 20 years old when they moved to the US and aren't used to the idea that they might need help. They struggle with allowing us to take care of them and balk at the idea of moving in with us, although I do think this will need to happen. For now, we compromise by living nearby. I'm involved in their lives and they in mine...but with a little space. It's interesting - so many pros and cons to consider. Ultimately, we all find a path that works best for us as individuals.
And since it's Thankful Thursday, I'm putting it out there...so thankful for my parents. Like any relationship, it's not perfect but I don't know who I'd be or where I'd be without them.
I was thankful for the beautiful weather this week. The storms split near us and went North and South last night. We got some very windy conditions, but no rain. However, I pray that everyone is safe from the storms.
Thankful that I took the bike out and went for a ride. Now its in my car and I can just go when I want to. However, I now have my husband's cold, so I don't want to push myself and get sicker.
Thankful that I still have some money left over from last week in my budget. Trying to stretch it to payday next Friday. It will be tough, but we have food in the house to get us through.
Thankful for the baseball season beginning. I do like to watch a good baseball game. Unfortunately my team is stinking up the joint and not even playing well. But since we've paid for MLB network on TV, I will suffer thru.
Thankful for the life we have started in WV. Its been a year since moving here without a lot of knowledge about it, and we love it. And we can hop in the car and go visit people, like our daughter and granddaughter. And with the mild winter we had, it made it really nice. We do know however, that it is not that way every winter. LOL
@Maureen, from the baseball comment, I was sure you were from Washington...but then I saw the WV part. Our team definitely fits the "stinking up the joint" comment. I can be thankful for and opening day win I guess. 🙂
@DawnS, actually I was born and raised on Long Island, so I am a die-hard Mets fan. NOT the other NY team! LOL
@Maureen,
I lived on Long Island when I was in high school. Where did you live? My family and I lived in Middle Island, in Suffolk County.
Well ... I was GOING to say I was thankful for warmer temperatures and a cessation of the truly horrible winds we have been having, but then I went outside this morning and ... so much for that!
So, I guess I'll say I'm thankful for the release of irrigation water in the acequias for our farmers (who really suffered last summer), the opening of our Farmers’ Markets, the chance to MAYBE start spring planting of herbs and spinach, the trees MAYBE beginning to leaf out, and very much for a belated dinner out with friends that got rescheduled from last month.
And, as always, thankful for a house to live in with indoor plumbing and hot and cold running water, a reliable new-to-me car, food to eat, and for not waking up in a Syrian refugee camp or a bomb shelter in Ukraine.
I thought of you, Kristen, and this weekly exercise while I was reading a book about memory ("The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting" by Lisa Genova--definitely pop-science-y, but an easy read and interesting enough). Two of the things I thought were interesting were the author's note that optimistic people tend to remember positive events and feelings, whereas the opposite is true for more-negative people, and also that memory is greatly reinforced by talking/thinking/re-playing those memories over and over, whether they be positive or negative. Thankful Thursdays is of the positive reinforcement variety. Yay!
On that note, I am also thankful to be seeing the first leaf breakout. I noticed it yesterday when I was in the village park with some of the elementary kids, doing their Easter egg hunt.
Also thankful it's going to be warm and not too windy this weekend. Easter here can still feature wintery weather, and that's always disappointing. And uncomfortable, given the springy nature of Easter dresses for church, and the outdoor egg hunt. 🙂
Aww, I love that point from that book!
@kristin @ going country,
I always wonder what makes us negative or positive to begin with. Is it nature or nurture? Our brains are all wired differently. I often wonder if we can truly “rewire” ourselves through cognitive therapy. There was a book that was popular decades ago called “Feeling Good.” The author, David Burns, believe so. You are so right this is one of his type of exercises.
@Bee,
I don't know why, but I am "one of those" who actually benefits from "expecting the worst, so I will not be disappointed." In everything, I find myself thinking that the worst possibility will occur, so that, if and when it does not, I am pleasantly happy. If I do the opposite, expect the best, I am always, always disappointed. Anyone else feel the same, or am I a lonely weirdo?
@st, My husband always thinks of 10 things that can go wrong. He makes contingency plans and thinks strategically.
On the other hand, I expect everything to go according to plan and for everyone to be nice. I go happily about my business and I’m totally shocked when things wrong. You would think that I would know better by now, but I don’t.
@st, I do the same as you. I mentally prepare for worse case which nearly never occurs. When something less stressful happens I’m pleased.
I'm thankful this week for having a good enough immune system to not catch whatever my wife caught. She was pretty sick for a few days. It wasn't flu or Covid or anything; just a bad cold (remember those?)
I'm of course thankful that she wasn't seriously sick and is on the mend.
For taking out a lot of trash this morning. It sounds strange but I feel so good when I can get rid of garbage that is just cluttering up the house. Living with clutterbugs (not hoarders like on the show but untidy people who like lots of stuff) but I get a real dopamine hit when stuff goes out the door.
@Battra92, high-five on the "garbage out" happiness - just got back from taking stuff to the trash can! Simple wins...
@Battra92, same here. Sometimes I think I live to declutter and toss. I really do try to be diplomatic but when I look in husband's garage/workshop, I itch to make order and neatness. He calls it his "man cave" and says he is just marking his territory and would I please leave. Sigh!
@Battra92, My husband is not a hoarder but, apparently like your family members, he is happy with clutter. I know well the thrill of getting stuff out of the house, whether as garbage or donations or selling. Last Christmas, one of his gifts to me was a box of shirts to take to the rescue mission. It barely made a dent but I was thrilled. I have asked the same for my Easter basket.
@Lindsey, that donation box as a Christmas gift cracks me up. BTW, I'm all for personal services as holiday gifts. For instance, I routinely hand Ms. Bestest Neighbor pants of mine that need hemming (unlike me, she has a sewing machine and knows how to use it), since she knows I'll be happy to take the hem jobs as birthday or Christmas gifts.
Your list was so inspiring and I really need to do this today, so here goes...
Thankful
that the check (which had to be mailed and which the post office promptly lost) finally arrived at its destination 3 weeks late and cleared the bank.
for the first bike ride of the season.
for the Zen day spent walking and picnicking by the river on a very warm day.
for yet another free bouquet of daffodils rescued from near the railroad tracks.
for Easter cards from friends (we don't usually get them but they know we need them this year.)
for completing several small tasks which I've been avoiding. I feel so accomplished now!
@Bobi, Re: your last one-- I'm like this, too. I avoid things I don't want to do (and not necessarily difficult ones), but when I finally do them, I feel like I am the queen of the world. It's a good feeling! So....why do I put it off all the time?
1. We celebrated my husband’s birthday this weekend. I planned a dinner out for just us, a short road trip to cidery we’ve been wanting to check out, explored the town the cidery is in, a couple of gifts he’s been wanting for a while, and a somewhat complicated recipe by one of his favorite local chefs for his birthday dinner. My husband said that he felt he was being celebrated all weekend – that was the plan!
2. I’m thankful we finally visited the cidery. It’s 1 ½ hours away from our house so we talk about going every time we purchase bottles at the store. The drive was beautiful and we had a relaxing time sampling all the different ciders. It had snowed two days before so we didn’t get to enjoy the patio but I’m sure we’ll be heading back in the fall.
3. We had 6 inches of snow fall at our house and while it is beautiful I am ready for spring! Thankfully the new snow melted quickly and parts of the backyard lawn are starting to peek through all the layers of older snow.
4. My 12 year old son still gives me hugs hello and goodbye. I know it’s a tricky age so I appreciate all the love he’s willing to show.
5. Ted Lasso on Wednesdays!
6. One of my husband’s clients reached out to see if I would like to go out for dinner (husband and wife team, the wife invited me). She’s a busy woman and I was thrilled to get some one-on-one time with her!
@Geneva,
Re: your #4: I know how you feel. I have a just-turned-13 year old son, and he still holds my hand (and/or my hubby's hand) out in public. He's not much of a hugger, but snuggles with us when we watch TV at night. I cherish these days, knowing it won't be long until that stops.
That cat is amazing. 🙂
1) Grateful that the Hyatt allowed me to swap our reservation tomorrow for another hotel location, and waived the penalty. It's a free night award to start with, so I'm super grateful that the agent went above & beyond to help me.
2) That my 16 y.o. got his drivers license this week, which has already been tremendously helpful, from a logistics & "mom's taxi" perspective. It's always a little scary when they start driving on their own, however.
3) I used a meal delivery service for the week (very inexpensive, with a promo offer, plus a corporate discount) & I have a terrible head cold & appreciate the break & not having to think about food.
4) A job that allows me to WFH when I'm not feeling great
5) Sunny weather & signs of spring, after a very long winter
@Hawaii Planner, I remember when our kids got their driver's license, and it was such a big help from the "mom taxi service" perspective when they could drive themselves to various practices and routine dental appointments.
I love visiting your blog and try to make sure I visit most days. I love your content and posts. Thanks for sharing the triangle cat with us?
Even if I don’t click on any ads, will you still earn the revenues? I want to optimally help support you. Thank you in advance.
Yep, you don't need to click on them. I get paid when they display. 🙂
@Kristen, Do you get paid extra when we click on them? It's a question I've wondered before.
@Kristen, if we open and read the posts several times, do you “get credit” for the multiple visits?
Yep! Or if you click a link that takes you to another post and then you read that one. It's all based on views these days. 🙂
My thankfulness includes holidays such as Easter that brings faraway family here to visit for multiple days/weeks.
Also, for my husband’s medical team.
Coffee/tea and books, a perfect pairing.
Kristen’s blog and it’s community of similarly delightful people.
So much to be thankful for:
• Perfect weather last Saturday for Neighbor Girl's outdoor wedding (first weekend without rain in many weeks)
• Prolonged cool weather this spring is prolonging the wildflowers
• Taxes done
• Enough $ to put in IRAs and to pay taxes
• Finished a difficult commissioned oil painting, happy customer, and I actually like it!
• This blog, Kristen's faithful posting habits, this exercise which causes reflection on so many blessings
• He is risen!
@Central Calif. Artist,
He is risen indeed! ♡
@Central Calif. Artist,
He is Risen! Thank you!
Spring has almost finished here, but it's still pretty nice outside although we've had some highs near 90 this week, which I don't like. The first week of April is too early for that nonsense.
1. I'm thankful that I had a good annual checkup on Tuesday and that the office can do my labs there after my appointment was done. The labs came back looking pretty good. I'm always thankful for this primary care doctor, who looks me in the face and says sincerely, "Tell me how you are doing," then sits quietly and listens.
2. I'm thankful that the remodeling work on my daughter's and son-in-law's house is finally starting next week. An almost unchanged 1952 house is not the most convenient house to live in, especially when the laundry facilities are outside and the original 1952 wall oven won't accommodate larger modern pans. For mid-century-modern fans, fear not. This house is not MCM design.
3. I'm thankful for the kind, thoughtful notes written to my husband from some church members who don't know him personally, but know of him through the Stephen Ministry. They are praying for him through Holy Week.
4. I'm thankful that decades ago my late mother-in-law planted English Dogwood (mockorange) in what is now our yard. It has outdone itself this year, plus it blooms reliably each spring no matter what the winter weather has been, with zero care from me. It's a cascade of white blooms right now.
5. I'm thankful for my pets. I rarely lie down on the couch, but I did recently and nodded off. I woke up with my older dog snoozing on the floor beside the couch and the newer dog beside me on the couch, sound asleep. I'd can't say "curled up" beside me because he was lying in his favorite position on the couch - on his back with all three legs up in the air. How he sleeps that way, I don't know, but it always gives me a smile.
@JD, Pound hound sleeps on his back, with his two front paws up and off to the side. It is like he is waiting for the bat signal so he can immediately fly off to help save the world.
@JD, It is much too early for the heat!!! I hope it’s not a harbinger of things to come. Your image of your pup made me smile too.
Thankful to see your green surroundings, Kristen, even though we're not there yet here.
Well, a tiny bit. The daffodil leaves are pushing up. Thankful for that!
Thankful for the 3" of snow we got last night. And that this morning was quiet and still and sunny. And no wind this morning here, JDinNM! What a blessing that is after days of high fire warnings.
Thankful for actually time at the ministry office this week instead of just squeezing in work from home hours.
Thankful for connections to a new missions-minded thespian in our church community. Looking forward to what God will do with that connection.
Thankful that MrA and L2 got to be part of a song writing group at church Friday night. The community ministered to their hearts and they came home with a new song they helped write. 🙂 And that made my heart happy too.
We have had THREE AC units with issues this week. Also, a tenant called with a leak in the roof. We own quite a few rentals and issues do come up but this week it has felt like landlord life was hitting us hard.
Everything ended up being minor and all fixable for under $900 bucks.
I am chalking this good fortune up to karma. We had a lady who helps us clean the units and has fallen on hard times. We gave her an advance on a few cleanings to help her out. We are blessed and I am thankful we can help others out.
Other thankful things in no particular order:
1. my daughter had spring pictures at her PreK. She made it all the way to pictures without staining her new Easter dress.
2. for my mom who was able to come to watch C when I had an appointment pop up.
3, that my husband got a new job. Less toxic and he is happier.
4. for crawfish- south Louisiana Easter would not be the same without it.
@Hannah, I hear you on the landlord issues. In my DH's landlord days, we used to get phone calls like "Merry Christmas, Mr. [DH], our kitchen ceiling just fell in!" or "Sorry, Mr. [DH], but the rugby team just threw a keg of beer through the porch wall."
Triangle cat is adorable! Thankful for all the green & flowers we are seeing in NWA ( have had some 80 degree days with more predicted), for wonderful friends who have supported me long distance following surgery, for getting drains out tomorrow (so happy), my two daughters and for the upcoming Easter weekend with the joyous reminder that we serve a risen Savior.
I have a golden maine coon 25 lb triangle cat! He is 4 and very chill. When he flops on the floor and stretches out, he is bigger than my corgi. Too funny!
Thankful for a stretch of dry & sunny weather coming next week. The grass is really growing. So much.
Thankful for my jersey sheets, down comforter and fan.
Thankful for my cousins who are as close as siblings. Our family keeps getting smaller and our relationships stronger.
Thankful for daffodils and hyacinths blooming thru the rain, sleet and snow. They are promising Spring.
This week I'm thankful...
* for a friend that was extra kind this week
* that we haven't had to mow yet (we still have lots of branches to move and tons of tiny sticks to rake up before we can mow). The grass is starting to grow, but we've got a little more time.
* that my youngest child learned to ride her bike. She much more happy to walk the dog with me if she can be on her bike, so everybody's happy right now.
I love fat cats and dogs ( yeah I know the vets say it's unhealthy but they are so cute). Also grateful for funny images and videos of these pets.
Thankful for beautiful weather for Holy Week here in Norway. I have been skiing every day for the last 6 days.
Yowsers - I'm really feeling today's Thankful Thursday! So many of the things posted by both FG and the readers today are resonating. I went for a walk yesterday and was also surprised by how green and tall (!) so much of the grass and growth was. I saw a beautifully bright hummingbird and enjoyed the scents of blooming flowers along the way - something smelled like lilacs and it threw me back to my tween years in a flash.
I'm thankful that pandemic changed the way things can be done. I had just returned to the workplace when the pandemic hit. So I ended up getting the best of both worlds - I was able to work and have something of my own but my kids were home so I could still be with them. Three years later and I'm working remotely and one of my kids is going to be attending school remotely next year. I know the remote school setup didn't work for everyone but everything leads me to believe that she'll do well. We'll technically be homeschoolers, which is what we had been interested in for her since she was a preschooler. Also briefly, thankful for:
Warm sunshine on my face
Older Daughter being snuggly yesterday
My new measuring spoons (omg I unexpectedly love them)
Past CrunchyCake. She made some good decisions that are helping present CrunchyCake
Delightfully, brightly colored pens.
@CrunchyCake, Two things on your list really struck me. What kind of measuring spoons did you get? I'm always looking for a good set! Thanks!
Also, your last line about pens. Yes, yes, and YES!
@Angel,
https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/measuring-spice-spoons
Not her, but these are my favorite. I have not looked around to find them cheaper, have had them for years, but they have a 1/8, 3/4, 1/2 T (1.5 t), etc.
https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/measuring-cups
I love the cups too, they have a 2/3 and 3/4 cup.
I have had them for a long time and I did not pay that much money, I am sure you could find them somewhere else for cheaper, but I LOVE the extra cups that other sets don't typically have.
@Angel, I got a set of the Cuisipro silver measuring spoon set (standard). I just ordered them on amazon - the price bumps around a bit but I think I paid ~$13.50, which is more than I ever thought I'd pay for measuring spoons. BUT they were the recommended set from America's Test Kitchen and like I said, they surprisingly bring me joy.
@CrunchyCake, Ooooo, thank you! I put them on my wishlist.
@Deb, Thank you! I have the Tupperware measuring cups from an estate sale (avocado green, but I don't care!) and I use the 3/4 cup in that set ALL THE TIME. I do love it when you can get things in something other than the standard measuring sizes.
Thanks for sharing the adorable triangle cat. I love it!
I'm thankful that I got to spend an evening with our daughter this week. We went to a "book and brews" bookfair but the crowd was too much for us, so we got a brew and sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine.
I'm thankful that we will get to celebrate Easter with my husband's family and that I finally got the menu coordinated with all parties.
I'm thankful that the weather is warming up so we're past hard freezes at night. Now I can start planting things in the yard.
I'm thankful that our azaleas and dogwoods are starting to bloom.
I'm thankful that we have a signed sales contract on one of Mom's hoarder houses. Fingers crossed that sale will be finalized in the next month.
Late to the thankfulness party here because of an early appointment. But I'm very, very thankful this week for (1) my dear JASNA BFF, and (2) the coming of spring. (Yes, spring is finally happening, even here in Central NY.)
Such a lovely list…
The triangle kitty is a hoot.
I’m thankful that my most recent bout of Covid was fairly mild and passed relatively quickly. Covid really does stink!
I am thankful that I live close to the beach and feel the cool ocean breezes. It is already unusually hot in Florida so this is a blessing indeed.
I am grateful that I actually made headway on my auto insurance claim today. I have been fighting with my carrier for nearly 7 months. I could not get them to correct a math error that was $1000 in their favor. Today they finally admitted they were wrong — about this. They are still refusing to do what’s right, but I’m closer. This particular company markets to members of the Armed Forces and claims that they are honest and have integrity. Grrrr…. If you do business with them, think twice. I have been with them for 31 years. This was my first accident. My son had one 20 years ago when he was 17. That’s it. No tickets and no other issues. It has been a nightmare.
I am thankful that I celebrating Easter with my family. My BIL has decided this is a “no work Easter” and is having Easter dinner catered. Yippee!
Wishing everyone the blessings of spring…
Things I am thankful for:
1. Since my two surgeries early this winter, I feel better than I have in years. I have not used my wheelchair in over two weeks!
2. My husband's bout with diverticulitis is over. He had cancer years ago, so every time he has some stomach related issue my brain turns into a rat maze, going around and around what life would be like without him. And since I don't want to burden him, I try to keep my brain's hysteria to myself as much as possible, which is exhausting. Now he feels better, so I feel better.
3. Seconding the glories of the cell phone, this week I used my insurance company waiting time to clean and reorganize my spice drawer. How did I end up with three cans of sweet paprika??
4. Sumo oranges are still appearing in the grocery store.
5. All 12 of the begonia tubers I over-wintered in a bag of sawdust have sprouted. They are yellow with orange tinge, sometimes difficult to find in the nursery, and also expensive. Taking the time to put them up correctly for the winter has saved me over $150.
@Lindsey, Feel free to share your brain hysteria here - pretty sure I could meet you in the rat maze... : ) Anyway I know what you mean about how that wears you out. Meanwhile, it's great to hear how well you've been feeling, and that you've been enjoying wheelchair-free status !
@Lindsey, three hearty huzzahs for less wheelchair use! And, needless to say, I feel you on the husband-related brain rat maze issues.
@Lindsey,
YAY!! Hope you enjoy your Filet of Fish, or however you choose to celebrate that two week milestone!! You deserve it!
@Lindsey, Soo thrilled for you that your two surgeries—two!—have this wonderful outcome. And then another big cheer (or one of A.Marie's huzzahs) for your dear hubby's good medical fortune at the same time.
I know that exhaustion you speak of. And, the relief when it’s over and you can sleep well again.
@Lindsey, That's wonderful that you haven't had to use the wheelchair and you've had such a good outcome from the surgeries. Yay!
My BFF is wheelchair bound (6 years now) and I know how hard it is on her.
Also, just hugs for all the worry over your husband. I'm glad he's feeling better and it wasn't anything bad.
@Lindsey, I am joining the chorus to say how happy I am for your first two thankfuls!
For peaceful moments in the morning drinking my coffee on the front patio. There have been an abundance of butterflies in my courtyard this year, long wing zebras, sulfers, and gulf fritillaries going from plant to plant and floating gracefully overhead. I can hear the songbirds in the trees around us and the wind blowing through the leaves of my bougainvillea over the gate. It's just a really peaceful way to start the day before I get busy with my tax clients.
I showed triangle kitty to my big girl cat and said, "Honey, you are just a little fluffy compared to this guy." 😀 She totally agrees!
Today I am thankful for a surprise lunch out with my sweet husband, for a good solo walk with our anxious younger dog, for my rickety, arthritic knees holding up to that walk (lately the pain and stiffness has been the worst ever), for the influx of young neighbors and their babies, and for our son's persistence in straightening out a problem with a delivery service's fantastically bad service.
My thankfuls this week:
1. My youngest is healing from an infected finger that landed us in urgent care for 9 1/2 hours last Friday instead of our planned trip to see my mother-in-law. I am also thankful for medical insurance, IVs, Advil, Tylenol and Zofran, as well as an urgent care doctor who increased his antibiotic dose even though she was convinced he just had a virus. I'm no doctor, but my mother's intuition was strongly telling me it was his finger and I'm glad she gave me the antibiotics even if she was just humoring me.
2. I'm thankful that I have the money and time to take our cat to the vet this week. We are waiting on labs, but he likely has diabetes. I'm hoping we caught it in time, and I'm thankful that I am not afraid of giving him daily injections if they will help.
3. I am thankful that the sudden heat is supposed to break tomorrow because I was not digging the whole suddenly summer effect we had going on here, especially when I discovered that the ac in my car is broken. Sigh. It's always something.
4. I am thankful to be on spring break even if it is looking a little different than I had planned. All of this "um, ok life, what now?" Kind of energy is so much easier to manage when I don't have to also be at work.
5. I am thankful that everything that has flown at me this week is ultimately manageable. I do not want to tempt fate, but I know it could all be much worse.
@Becca, I had a cat who had diabetes and lived for an additional four years on insulin. He did just fine. Some unsolicited advice: make sure your vet gives him a fructosamine test, not a simple blood sugar. It is similar to an A1C, testing an average blood sugar over a period of time. Avoids high readings due to stress of being at the vet. also, have a "go bag" ready in a accessible place for blood sugar emergencies. And know where the nearest animal hospital (24 hours) is. Our go bag had Caro syrup, towels, wipes, his favorite food & treats, water, a spoon & a bowl. You'll need all that for a low blood sugar emergency. Things I learned from experience! Oh, and cats need insulin twice a day as their insulin only lasts 12 hours.
@Karen,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Karen. I am still holding onto hope that he may only need the insulin temporarily as I have read sometimes diabetic cats can go into remission. His issues only started after a short round of steroids prescribed for a URI, so I think it might be steroid-induced. He's lost almost 4 lbs since the steroids (oral) were prescribed 2 months ago, so it's definitely an acute concern, but maybe something that will be reversible? Anyway he is deliriously happy with the sudden switch to canned food, and I think he will be pretty compliant with insulin treatments, so I'm feeling hopeful, if also a little overwhelmed at one more thing.
@Becca, I used to give my kitty a bit of his favorite treat (deli ham) when I gave him his shot. He was so focused on eating the treat he never noticed the shot! Luckily he got it in his scruff so it isn't very painful. The other cats learned quickly that ham was given out when Finn got his shot! And yes, there are three kinds of diabetes in cats and one type can reverse with treatment. Weird. But be watchful the first weeks he is on insulin because if this happens you could have a low blood sugar episode. Then you'll need the go bag.
@Karen,
Thanks again, Karen. His labs came back 576 on the one time read and even higher-618 in the fructosamine one! Currently the vet has me doing 2 units of insulin twice a day and wants me feeding him ONLY the canned vet food. I will take him in for a glucose curve on Monday, but I'm glad I started the insulin already. He tolerates it well, and I'm already noticing changes in his urine, so I'm hopeful, but holy smokes the insulin is expensive!!! The vet seems to think it can be reversed with aggressive treatment and then controlled with diet alone, and I sure hope so. A diabetic cat is NOT frugal!
I am thankful for health! My family and I had the stomach flu earlier in the week, and there is nothing like being feverish and nauseated to make you appreciate just feeling normal.
Thankful for my husband. While I was sick (he wasn’t quite sick yet) he out the kids to bed and made supper while I laid in bed shivering.
I am thankful for Bluey. It is a kids cartoon but it is so dang cute and funny and it is the only show my kids can ever agree on to watch. Plus it is really fun for parents to watch too.
Thankful for a sunny day after a long stretch of clouds and rain.
Thankful for our local library. We got lots of books and dvds there this week.
Thankful for our Monday walks. For the past 10 months we have been involved in a challenge sponsored by the university in our town. We have never met the organizers and we go where they tell us to go. It's all been safe and they are having a reception in May--But I don't think I can go.
Thankful for the public library. I get some of the books that I need for other book discussion walks in which I participate.
Thankful for sleep all night a few nights this week. I have had a cough for a month or so, which has interrupted with my sleep.
Thankful for Today--Thursdays I spend with my 4.5 year old grandson. Today we stopped at the library. The library network is doing a challenge to see how many libraries in April in the network we can get a stamp on the map. Today my grandson and I got our first stamp. I'm up for any challenge. Heck, we are #1 so far in the Get Out In Nature challenge.
We went to an astronaut program at the Senior Center, who had been in the teacher in space program in the 80s(?) and then we went to the playground. I read, he played.
Spring is fighting its way .....
At the moment I'm thankful for...
* Hubby, DD and myself have Covid at the moment and no one is critically sick.
* Having the means for therapy and medication, and private insurances that help with the costs
* Spending time with my girls today instead of being in bed all day (Covid)
* A big storm hit yesterday and most of the houses lost electricity and it's still not back on. We are part of the few who got lucky and didn't lose it
* For my friend that dropped off masks and Covid tests at my place today
* Having a warm and safe home to live in. And to be able to offer a safe and warm space to my kids as well
1. For a lovely vacation with East Coast located family last week - any time spent with them is wonderful, a nice location and good weather are a bonus.
2. For not coming down with a virus upon return as usually happens when I travel.
3. For feeling motivated enough to stick to a healthy diet this week.
4. For my daughter who just turned 39, and was so appreciative of the gluten free and vegan cupcakes I made to celebrate.
5. For the snow capped PNW mountains that are my first view on waking, I know it should be Spring but that sight still takes my breath away.
Even though we've still a little way to go to Spring, I noticed that one of my perennials has come out of the ground, I believe it is the Spotted Bloodwort.
It was my birthday this week, and I am thankful that it did not snow; I would say that for most of my birthdays in Canada, it has snowed. It was however drizzly, rainy and decidedly unsunny, but ce la vie, I still had a fairly decent day.
Thankful that I got through a bad bout of food poisoning this week; it really stings when it's from something homemade. I made an asparagus salad and have narrowed it down to 2 contenders: it was either the fresh asparagus; or the can of artichokes, I noticed they were slightly mushy out of the can. There were no dents or holes in the can that I could see and it was well within date (2026) so I do not know.
This is an odd one: I bought myself an adult dot-to-dot book at the thrift store; it was my favourite thing to do as a kid; turns out I'm still loving doing dot-to-dot as an adult. I see many enjoyable hours ahead of me.
And of course, thankful for my BFF, she really bolsters me when I am feeling low. I was complaining about how tired I am of servicing senior cat every minute of the day, and she said that I'm the best cat mom ever, I really needed to hear that. Kitty love 🙂
Haha I just watched a TikTok video where a lady has a minature model cat that looks just like this triangular one. She keeps it in a little abandoned library diorama she's made and she was perplexed why it was always falling off it's chair, panicked it might be haunted, but then found her own non triangular cat was the culprit.
I love that reflection of how much difference a year can make, I've been noticing some points where things worked out even when I didn't think they would too.
I'm SUPER grateful that I'm getting double the insurance back for some treatment my dog had. I can claim up to $700 per illness/injury per year and he had over $2k worth of vet bills but his treatment dates meant it was spread over two insurance years (they take it from whatever date you took out the policy, not a calendar year like I thought) so it had to be two separate claims but that means it's two separate $700 payments when I thought I would only get one!
1- we were safe during the tornados around us this week
2- the sunshine and warmer weather so we could spend some time outside
3- our fire table that makes our deck so warm in the evening
4 - real looking fake flowers. I love the look and feel of flowers in my house but can not justify the cost to replace regularly. The one time cost is higher but I can use for weeks/years to come
5- extra time this week to spend with my kids during their spring break. We stayed home and enjoyed special things around the house/city
I just can't get over how cute and elegant your little orange tree is! There's something very sculptural about it, truly.
I also was thinking this week how nice it is to put my phone on speaker and get something productive accomplished while I wait. I cleaned up my emails while on hold for 30 minutes.