Thankful Thursday | hat tip to Dolly Parton
Let's start off with a relevant Dolly Parton quote that I read in James Clear's newsletter.
“I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life, because I learned early that if you don’t, you get disappointed a lot. If you do, you might be pleasantly surprised quite often.
I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. I re-read passages from my favorite books. I hold the little treasures that somebody special gave me. By keeping my eyes open for unexpected joys, I find the world gives back more than we sometimes think.”
(from the book Dream More)
On that note, this week I am thankful:
that we got a solid rain
I don't normally feel super thankful about a day of rain, but we had some much mess on the roads from snow treatment and everyone's cars were sort of a mess too. So, the rain was a welcome rinse-off for everything.
Honestly, when the roads are covered in salt/whatever else they use these days, it feels pointless to even wash your dirty car!
that I have the flexibility to make weekend clinicals work
Starting this weekend, I will be at the hospital every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, until the end of April. This is not my most favorite thing in the whole world, but I am grateful that I am in a stage of life where this schedule is not a big deal.
The rest of my life is flexible enough to work around it, and that is a blessing.
Plus, it's not like nursing school life leaves a bunch of time for socializing. Sooooo it doesn't much matter that my weekends are scooped up this semester.
for a particularly small avocado pit
You know how sometimes you cut open an avocado and face the crushing disappointment of an enormous pit?
Well, this week I had the exact opposite experience.
Behold:
Seriously perfect.
for lovely green mosses
The mosses on one of my trails were very happy about all the moisture from the melting snow. And I was happy about seeing the bright green!
Also, I love these cute little fungi:
And the lacey lichen:
the ice
I am still out here appreciating the icy beauty by the water.
for a chuckle from the trail drama
I saw this sign on one of my trails and it made me kind of chuckle because it's like a NextDoor post, but in real life.
I don't have the inside scoop on what's been going on here, but someone is definitely miffed.
And part of me thinks the camera threat is possibly fake because, hello, these are the woods, and how would you manage to put enough cameras in to watch all of the trees?
for my study buddy
Honestly, Chiquita deserves an RN after all the nursing school content she's consumed over the last two years. 😉
I do also appreciate my human study buddies from school; it helps to talk over material with other students because we all remember different points from the lectures.
We have our first big exam this coming Monday, so hopefully all the studying we did will pay off!
Dolly Parton is the best!
My big thankful this week is that I am going on a mini-trip to Paris, where I've never been before! I am very excited 😀 I am sure that I have forgotten all the French I learnt in school, but am equally sure people will answer in English anyway 😛 I will still try!
Otherwise I am thankful for a strong body, hot coffee, milder temperatures and the lemon muffins I baked yesterday.
@Sophie in Denmark, if you say "bonjour" as you enter an establishment, the people are super nice and very helpful. They want you to great them. Otherwise they think you are a snob if you don't. Enjoy and have fun!!!!
@Sophie in Denmark "greet" not great.
@Maureen, thanks for the tip and well wishes!
@Sophie in Denmark,
I recall dreams in which I tried to order bread in a bakery and although I repeated "un pain! un pain!" most clearly, they did not understand me. No problem when I got to France though
@JNL, must have been a real pain!
...I'll see myself out!
@Sophie in Denmark, I was always pleasantly surprised at how fast my French "came back" once I was in Paris and hearing it all around me again. I'll bet you will be, too. Bon voyage! You are going to love Paris.
@Sophie in Denmark, Your trip sounds wonderful. Have fun!
@Sophie in Denmark, paris is fab. i did ok with the written french and speaking was ok. understanding what they said back was a problem. i was on a college trip to london and popped over to france for the weekend. now my traveling ismostly road trips with hubby and the kids in a rented car. love those too. enjoy. hope we hear all about it.
@Anita Isaac, mind-blowing (to me anyway) that you could “pop over” to another country for a weekend! Yes I’m American. Lol
@SandyH, ha, this is one of the many things I enjoy about being European!
@Sophie in Denmark, have so much fun in Paris!!
@Sophie in Denmark, time for t-shirts with j’adore Dolly. Et plein de plaisir à Paris.
@Hawaii Planner, thank you!
@Bella, une bonne idée!
@Anita Isaac, when I went to Germany, it was just the opposite. I couldn't form a sentence to save my life. We were in a pub with a group of my friend's friends (she grew up there) and they were chatting away. The person next to me said " you must be bored not being able to understand". I told her "if you tell me the subject and I can understand" It was wonderful. Ordering a sandwich "to go" was another story. I think I ended up saying "in a cup". lol. the person behind me said "don't feel bad. just use English". 🙂
@Joyce, glad you enjoyed yourself. my dad was from germany and my mom wouldn't let him teach me the language cause she was afraid we would talk about her. my grandmother taught me a few words. she was the best grandma ever. but she passed when I was 13. i sitill think of her and miss her so much.
I, too, am thankful for the rain. Hopefully not a pre-curser to a rainy summer, but we were so dry last year, that I think we are still catching up. And it does save you from going to the car wash. We've had thunder and lightening with lots of rain last night. Sorry to the folks that will be getting ice and snow with this storm. Be safe!
Thankful to spend the weekend with my daughter's family. I got to spend extra time with my granddaughter while everyone else went to a hockey game. We all had a lot of fun.
Thankful we all arrived home safely.
Thankful for the wonderful friends I have found thru scrapbooking groups in this area. They are helping me put together a weekend crop so I can meet more people. And do a hobby I love.
And thankful for my husband who is still doing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen everyday to help me get thru this crappy job. Now his job has turned to crap. Time we both need a vacation! Florida at the end of the month can't come soon enough!
@Maureen, the weather right now is absolutely perfect. Cool nights and warm days. I hope you have a wonderful time when you visit. Don’t forget your sunglasses!
@Bee,
And sunscreen!
@Maureen, Frugal tip: visit some thrift stores in Florida. With any luck, they'll still be selling winter clothes and coats, donated by folks who moved from "Up Nawth", real cheap...although December and January are high seasons for that. I've also gotten Disney wear, from workers who commuted to Orlando, at reasonable prices. And T-shirts are cheaper at thrift stores instead of souvenir shops, that's for sure! That was a few years back when I lived in Central Florida (2 counties away from Orange County/Orlando); it may have changed but it's worth a try.
@Fru-gal Lisa, not sure if I can make my husband go to thrift stores. He does love a good bargain tho, so we will have to see what's around.
And sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are a must. We lived in FL for 8 years, so we do know about the sun. At this time of the year, there are a lot of people on vacation in FL with sunburns.
Found out today that we will be in Jensen Beach for a week with a timeshare exchange. Its off the beaten path and on the ocean with a kitchen. We always bring our bikes, so we will ride everyday. And we have tickets to 2 spring training baseball games for our team. Otherwise we will lounge on the beach or by the pool and eat in the room with food from home. No Orlando this year. We stayed in Orlando last year and the traffic is horrible and you had to drive to get to decent bike paths.
And even more frugal is no hotel stay on the way down. We're stopping to see friends and staying with them.
@Maureen, Hoping for a lightening of your load with your job and your husband's job! My husband and I are in the exact same boat at the moment.
@Maureen, Jensen Beach. Take in some kayaking. As a Florida Native who was born before Disney existed, I think the best parts of Florida have nothing to do with Orlando. Have fun!!!
@Fru-gal Lisa, may I ask where you lived? One of my kids is a couple of counties away from there.
There’s a high school party spot in the woods near me, and the high school principal has threatened to install tree cams. Maybe tree cams are a thing?
I’m grateful that, like Dolly, I am able to find joy in the little things. It’s like the tiny frugal things. It all adds up to something bigger and it all matters.
I’m grateful that, after several tearful phone calls, my college freshman dug deep and got an A on their calculus test. I’m also surprised!
I’m grateful that I have space for a big garden this summer. I enjoy the planning phase!
I’m grateful that frugality is more of a hobby than a necessity. (It hasn’t always been that way!)
I’m grateful that it is raining. Not for aesthetic reasons, but because farms need rain!
@Ann on the farm, Tree cams are definitely a thing. They're called trail cams, because they're often set up on game (animal) trails so people (often hunters) can monitor the animals that are in the area. I bet, Kristen, that there are specific entry points or well-traveled paths in that property that are being monitored.
That is a good point!
@kristin @ going country, for sure this: We use them also to monitor livestock water tanks in summer bc a day without water is super bad.
@kristin @ going country,We have one to spy on the wildlife that wander through our properties -- we have pictures of bears, mountain lions, bobcats and lots of foxes.
@kristin @ going country, true. We’ve thought of getting one to keep an eye on people and horses who trespass on our land.
@Ann on the farm,
A friend of mine has an owl nesting box in her yard, and installed a trail cam by the birdbath. She posts videos of the two mated screech owls who venture out of their home to bathe and drink at night. It's adorable.
@Liz B., oh, that’s much more adorable than the owl pellets I keep finding in the barn! (We are trying to lure them to an owl box.)
@kristin @ going country,
Yes, I have trail cam on multiple spots on my property.
@Ann on the farm,
LOL, DEFINITELY more adorable!
I can’t imagine rain this time of year. Our temperatures are too cold for that!
I’m thankful
-for fresh snow and the quiet stillness it provides
-For sweet kid snuggles I’ve had this week while they all battled something.
-for thr many giggles last night when my daughter repeatedly beat me at a card game. Her cup was filled and so was mine.
-that I get to see deer walk through my yard regularly. What beautiful creatures!
@Kaitlin, we got rain/freezing rain which made for slick hard surfaces (grassy area was okay) and that most unwelcome black ice. Better half is retired, I work from home. If I didn't and wasn't allowed to telecommute, I'd have taken the day off. It is just not worth it.
•still needing to go outside each time with totally adorable new dog- he now permits me to sit on the porch & wait. Sitting in the quiet, rainy, pre-dawn was so zen
• Sister & her husband came for dinner & an overnight stay. It was really fun- it hasn’t always been that way & I am very grateful for the peace we’ve achieved
• Wed was sunny & warm & we were able to sit outside, sip wine, & listen to Siriusly Sinatra while we visited & watch the dog- it was blissful after so many weeks of cold & snow
• Meeting a friend for tea this afternoon who moved about an hour away & we rarely get to visit- so looking forward to this!
• Also I have a super close childhood friend- we met when we were 5 & have been through all the things together. We also rarely get to visit (she lives about 6hrs away). We have a phone call scheduled for 7pm tonight & I can’t wait. I have found that when I want to say-we should get together or call or whatever- that if I instead say- let’s pick a time to call or meet & just get it on the calendar, I then stay in much better touch with the people I care about!
*** with all the apologies to the editors, writers, & English teachers in the Commentariat. I know that last sentence is dreadful!!!
@Diane, The last sentence sounds like something I would like to try doing. Thanks for the advice!
@Diane, That last sentence was delightful! Your love and enthusiasm is contagious.
@JDinNM, ❤️
@Diane, I fully understand and agree with that last sentence! It seems 75% of the time "We should get together" is such an empty phrase and sometimes means the opposite. I love it when people take the initiative or are willing to share a good time to meet next when asked.
I haven't read that particular Dolly Parton book, but I remember reading her autobiography when I was in high school, and I loved that. Worth reading if you can find it at the library.
Thankfuls:
--For a good night's sleep last night after an awful one the night before made me into a zombie at work yesterday.
--That our new FFA advisor is young and energetic and willing to drive the FFA members all over the state for various events. It's always a lot of travel for us to get anywhere, but my older son particularly loves it, so I'm really happy she's willing to take them to FFA Day at the legislature or to a wool-judging clinic four hours away, etc. They're going to Albuquerque for the weekend-long leadership conference this weekend, and that's always really fun for them.
--For the first sign of life in my bulb garden. The tips of the daffodils are peeking through! Hooray!
--For the two healthy ram lambs that were born a couple of days ago, in the middle of a stretch of extraordinarily warm weather. It's much easier to keep lambs alive in 70 degrees than 15 degrees. 🙂
--For some good counsel on a parenting thing that came up. I don't tend to talk to people about my problems much, but this conversation did help.
--For being in a stage with older children who can be directed to perform chores now without my even having to personally supervise them. My husband trimmed our trees last weekend, and immediately afterwards I sent my kids out to drag the branches to a burn pile in the pasture. They also stacked all the new load of firewood we got this weekend. I pay them in hot chocolate and muffins, which works out well for all of us. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, it is in a book by James Clear, where he quotes Dolly Parton. Isn’t it interesting how she went from being just an eccentric country singer to everyone’s heroine and role model?
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I do find that very interesting. She's like a mascot or something and seems to be everywhere. She seems to have handled it very well, though, in a manner that doesn't alienate anyone. Hard to do that anymore, so kudos to her.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I'm old enough and come from a deep enough part of the South to remember her stint as second banana on the ancient Porter Wagoner TV show. Who remembers Porter Wagoner now??
@A. Marie, I do! I'd watch them every Saturday night on our black and white TV.
@A. Marie,
ME! ME! ME!
I remember watching her on Porter's show. She had that poufy blonde hair and Porter wore the most decorated outfits. My dad was a fan of both singers, so we watched it every week.
@A. Marie,
I think I have a vintage album (LP) of the two of them playing/singing together!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I adore her. I love her sense of humor, and think she doesn't take herself too seriously. Don't forget, she funded some of the research that developed vaccinations for Covid 19. I so admire her for that.
@A. Marie, I definitely remember. My paternal grandma always needed to watch it when she stayed with us. Such a nice memory
@Liz B., same! Dolly is a veritable quote machine and a very generous philanthropist, supporting a wide range of causes. I'm most familiar with the ones related to reading and education.
@A. Marie, I remember too!!
@A. Marie, I do! I do! He was quite the character. I heard an interview with her where she said the song "I will always love you" was written for him when she decided to leave his show.
@A. Marie, My daughter, believe it or not. Old country is her “thing.” She probably knows more than people who lived when it was new.
@kristin @ going country, if your FFA advisor is not compensated for gas, perhaps parents could pitch in for a gas card?
@A. Marie, omg I do remember. She was sooo much a better entertainer than he was.
She grew up dirt poor, is not resentful she grew up dirt poor, knows people are still dirt poor (and not because they are lazy), and does her best to help. Unlike so many, she walks the walk.
I'm most thankful today for the birthday wishes I received yesterday from an old friend who I haven't seen in more than twenty years. She moved to the other side of the country and lost touch over time with her friends here, but she decided to try to track some of us down. It was wonderful to get her email yesterday. (I'm also thankful that I've never changed my email address!)
And thank you Kristen for the lichen photo. Whenever I see lichen I'm reminded that it's a relationship between two different organisms and if they can find a way to work together for their benefit maybe people can as well. (Sorry, I'm a little philosophical this morning!)
@Darlene Too, birthdays are a time to reflect, and that results in philosophical thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
@Darlene Too, Symbiosis! Not just for lichen, people!
@Darlene Too, Happy Belated Birthday!
First, I love the photo/comments about Chiquita becoming an RN! You could write a book series for kids about her nursing adventures and use them to help make going to the doctor/hospital less scary.
My thankfuls this week mostly revolve around a big occasion in our life.
- We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. I do not take this lightly and am thankful to be able to make this milestone. But we really can’t be that old!
- We were able to spend a couple weeks in Florida. After the first week being very cold and wet, the second week was warm and sunny.
- On our return from said trip, our daughter wanted to meet up for breakfast. While we were at the restaurant, in walked our son and oldest grandson, who had flown in from Kenya as an anniversary surprise! We had no clue! Our daughter and son had conspired to make it happen without anyone spilling the beans.
- We had some wonderful family times and made lots of memories in the short time they were here.
- Thankful for those who were kind and gracious when my husband and I cleared our schedules at the last minute to enjoy these few days of family time.
-They made it safely home to Kenya yesterday.
@Addy, Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful surprise!!! Cheers to many more healthy & happy years together
@Addy, 50 years is a Big Dang Deal! Maybe you got married when you were ten years old. . .
@Addy, Happy Anniversary! Your post brought back happy memories of my parents' 50th. And 60th!
@Addy, congratulations on your 50th and on all the happy celebrations.
@Addy, that is an amazing surprise. Congratulations on 50 years!
Happy no school day for ice! 🙂 I do sympathize with those who have to make childcare plans, or struggle to get safely to/from work in snow or ice, but I'm very thankful for those issues no longer applying to me now that my kids are all grown and moved out. And because I work in a school, I get a free day off with a calendar built-in snowday.
that our daughter is getting good medical care for a painful shoulder, and thankful for our medical insurance under which she's still covered
that I ran all my errands yesterday evening when the roads were clear of people and ice so I have the essential (in my mind) milk, eggs, bread, fruit & veg
that our almost 1 yr old kittens and our 18 yr old cat all get along so well
And...looking forward to being thankful for the potential snowdays next week with the forecasted storm Tues & Wed. (Although anymore days off after this one will require online school because all built-in days off will be used up.)
@Beth, I’m glad you got to enjoy a day off and stay out of the bad weather. I love being cozy inside when the winter weather hits. Our schools were closed recently due to extremely cold temperatures (unsafe for walkers and waiting at bus stops), but they made everyone do e-learning. My son said it was all the torture of schoolwork without the benefit of having fun with his friends.
@JenRR, My sons say the same thing about virtual schooling. It killed snow days. BOOOOO.
@Beth, I love, love, love working at a school. My coworker and I laugh so much. Between the kids and the parents, there's never a dull moment. So very thankful to spend my days there.
@BJS, "never a dull moment," what an excellent description of working in a school!
I’m so glad my husband is back from his trip. It’s good to have him home. And I’m grateful we both had safe flights back.
I’m grateful for my parents for watching my dog while I was gone.
I’m so glad I got to see a college friend while traveling.
I started teaching a new yoga class in January and I think it’s going really well! I’m grateful for the opportunity to try something new.
I’m veryyyy grateful husband filed our taxes for us. One less hassle to worry about. Also, we have just a small refund which means we don’t need to change our withholdings!
I'm thankful to be hosting friends for dinner this weekend and to try out a new board game that they're bringing. I'm also thankful for time to deep clean the entire house, both for our guests and in anticipation of a busy March. We own our home, but I still refer to this level as "We'd like our deposit back, please" clean vs. the regular daily tidying and weekend bathroom cleaning routines.
@N, that level of cleaning feels so good when you finish. I’ve been thinking that my level of home cleanliness is deteriorating faster than I can lower my standards these days.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Haha, this gave me a good giggle, thank you. Kind of a rough start to the day for me so the belly laugh felt good.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I just had an iced tea spit-take.....that's exactly my situation! 🙂
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, literal lol!!!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I just spit on my screen! So funny.
P.S. When I repeated your comment to my husband, I was laughing so hard I had to repeat it for him to understand what I was saying. We also laughed at N's “We’d like our deposit back, please.” Much needed levity.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Good line, I had a huge smile on my face and thankfully nothing in my mouth. It's exactly where I'm at w cleaning. I keep planning on getting help but I have to do a certain level of organizing and purging to GET to the actual cleaning...
I'm thankful:
1. That à sickness I thought might turn more serious healed itself.
2. Traveling and we were concerned about the weather and road conditions, but I think it's gonna fine.
3. My new hat that makes doing (or not doing) my hair easier.
4. Gonna see my family tomorrow!!
5. Coffee
This week I am thankful for sunshine and the energy it brings. The first green shoots are showing themselves in the garden. Also, a very big thankful that I survived yet another restructuring round.
@JNL, congratulations on surviving the restructuring - can feel very tenuous these days!
Kristen, those ice photos are so beautiful! The first one made me think of nebulas in space.
This week I am thankful for:
- The sunshine that hits my desk in the early morning as I work. It warms my body and lifts my spirits.
- A medical test came back negative and that's a good thing.
- The snow this morning did look pretty, even though it's now a slushy mess.
- A good cup of tea with breakfast.
- Colleagues who are always willing to help. They make the tough days easier to bear.
Kristen, surely Chiquita can't have needed that lecture on leadership and delegation? Cats are BORN bosses. 🙂
This week, I'm thankful for the gift of humility, as I wade into trying to make sense of NDN's finances (the law office wants a ballpark idea of these before we take NDN there for a consultation next week) and make the occasional mistake. Also, again, thankful to have CF for a teammate as we start down this road, and for both of us to have NDN's trust.
And thankful as always for my birds, who are currently brightening my spirits in spite of a shower of sleet.
@A. Marie,
You and I had the same thought about Chiquita.
I've been enjoying the hairy and downy woodpeckers visiting my feeder, and the lone Baltimore Oriole. I feel for her - how did she get separated from her group? - but she seems to be doing pretty well hanging out with the finches, doves, titmice, cardinals and chickadees.
I think Chiquita already knew how to be a boss. She probably could have given the lecture.
I'm thankful this week:
1. For getting to work with no incident in the thick, dense fog this morning.
2. Because, when my daughter's flight from Arizona to Atlanta was delayed due to mechanical trouble and she missed her connecting flight from Atlanta to Florida, she was able to keep working with the airline until they got her a seat in first class on a flight from Atlanta to Florida, scheduled six hours later than her original flight. She still got home before midnight and didn't have to rent a car and drive home from Atlanta to Florida. None of us enjoys driving in and around Atlanta and it's really no fun to do after a long day of hanging out in airports.
3. That brushing my dogs' teeth is getting easier. I still don't do it as often as I should, but I'm working on that. My newer dog originally panicked whenever I tried it, but now he pushes forward to get some of that yummy dog toothpaste.
4. For lint rollers. I have two dogs, see above. 'Nuff said.
5. For my big Amish-made folding drying rack. I've had it a long time and I use it at least twice a week. It was a good purchase.
@JD, driving **anywhere** around Atlanta is a major PITA. I'm glad your daughter was able to avoid it.
@JD, Lint rollers are a necessity in my house too. Rescue Pup pyrenees- labrador mix. I only need to walk through the house, and I will have white hair all over my black pants.
I’m thankful for all the responses to my question yesterday! I loved reading all of them!
I’m grateful for my husband, who is always there to talk me out of dark places.
I’m thankful we didn’t get the predicted freezing rain yesterday.
I’m thankful I got to watch my daughter at her roller skating lesson yesterday (so cute!) and that she made a new friend in class. It’s her third lesson and I am also thankful that she has learned to *mostly* not fall down!
I’m also thankful that my teenager was brave enough to ask his crush out, and go on his first date ever. I’m sure this sounds weird, because my mom heart was also crying that my baby was growing up. My husband and I were both very shy kids and I suffered from paralyzing social anxiety, so I truly appreciate seeing my kids hit normal social milestones.
@JenRR, congrats about both kid achievements. my 16 yr old daughter is beyond shy. she had one friend in elementary school none in middle school and now 2 in high school. my son is mr personality and loved by all. thank g-d.
@Anita Isaac, The crazy thing is, my son is shy, so this was especially brave of him. He’s always surprising us with what situations make him shy and what don’t! My daughter is a quiet friendly. I think I may have two shy extroverts! I feel for your daughter, though. I hope her two friends are great foe her and that she finds her people soon.
@JenRR, That was an unfortunate typo. I meant good for her!
@JenRR, thank you so much. i hope so too.
Extraordinary photos! I’m thankful that you posted these.
When I was walking Rescue Pup yesterday morning, I saw two mature bald eagles fly overhead. I know they have a nest nearby and I often see just one eagle. However, I have never seen two together here in Florida. I am thankful for this beautiful sight.
I am thankful for the birdbath by my kitchen window. Yesterday there were a pair of Cardinals bathing. It was very fun to watch.
I am thankful for my sister who lives nearby. Yesterday she drove me to my MRI. I’m a bit claustrophobic, so I took a Xanax before going in. Unfortunately, I did not see the email that notified me of the change in my MRIs location. It was not at the main Medical Center, but at a satellite 45 minutes away. I had to reschedule my imaging for later in the month. My sister just laughed, and I took her to lunch. I was a total goofball after taking Xanax.
I am thankful for an exceptional night sleep last night. I closed my eyes at 9:30 and did not open them again till 630 this morning. I feel great!
Wishing you all the blessings of peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee,
Bald eagles have had such an amazing success story. There are several known nests in my area (SW Ohio), and I was lucky enough to see two perched very high in two different trees last year. There is a mated pair at Carillon Park in Dayton, Ohio, that attact a lot of birder's and bird photographer's attentions, too. They are truly majestic.
I am so thankful for freelance work, even if the wax-and-wane of it can be two kinds of stressful. And I am thankful particularly for coffee in this waxing stage. 😉
Dolly Parton is such an amazing person. She uses her money and fame to do so much good in the world. I am thankful my grandson receives a book each month from the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
- I'm thankful that I finally got a surveyor scheduled to do a land survey for part of Mom's estate
- I'm thankful that DH not only agreed to attend my company's annual party but actually thinks it might be fun (we're doing a murder mystery party)
- I'm thankful that the plumber is scheduled to come tomorrow to fix a leak at the valve in the powder bathroom and install a new kitchen faucet. That needs to be done before we host grandson's first birthday party in a couple of weeks
- I'm thankful that Mayo clinic has finally decided to schedule DH with a different department so they can do more testing to try to figure out what is causing all his ills. DH has been going to Mayo for over a year, and we still don't have a diagnosis
- I'm thankful that I did not catch the stomach bug grandson shared with his mom and other grandmother
I've got a few things on my mind to be thankful for, I guess.
For not having to worry about Football. I know some people who are legit upset about who's in the game or what the score will be and while I am not raining on their parade, I am just happy that I don't get upset about it.
For not having to go anywhere this weekend. We are expecting a bit of a heavy snowstorm from Saturday into Sunday here in the Northeast so hopefully
That winter is half over. I hate winters so I am SO ready for Spring prep to be happening.
For a chill wife who does some awesome things for me. I try to do the same for her as well. Hopefully going to do something nice for Valentine's Day.
I also do not care about football, which is convenient because I have clinicals Sunday and then I gotta study for my exam which is at 8:30 the following morning!
@Kristen, and unfortunately another level of added security and distraction from the game itself is occurring. I have to work a night shift 4 Sat-Sun a year. Have a co-worker out on leave so I get an even odder night shift (again). Will have time for a morning nap and after lunch nap. Better half has quite the spread of food planned, there will be leftovers. And it is not turkey though I would be thrilled if it was lol.
Taking a cue from Kristen and Dolly:
~I'm thankful for the gorgeous views I saw on my walk this morning. We were supposed to get a snow/rain mix. However, the snow didn't really materialize. But, the trees were absolutely stunning all covered in ice.
~That my dog, despite her age and multiple past health issues is still able to go on long walks. I really cherished or walk this morning (I think she did too).
~That my husband got home earlier than normal yesterday-this meant we ate dinner together-a very rare occurrence during the week.
~For my kind and gracious co-workers-they make work fun!
Chiquita is so cute helping you study.
Pets are the best. So my first thankful has to be my two dogs. I was sick one day this week and both my dogs crawled up on the sofa to cuddle with me.
For our emergency fund. We had a couple of unexpected bills this week and being able to pay them without too much stress was a big blessing. I remember a time when that wasn't the case.
That I recovered quickly from my day of feeling bad.
For the perspective that comes from being older. I was helping a friend who wants to learn to make bread. She was very impatient that her first attempt did not turn out well. I tried to reassure her that she would get better with practice. I thought of all the things I do well now that took time to learn (baking, sewing, gardening.) Those experiences make it easier for me to tackle something new, and give myself time to succeed.
For the lovely weather we've been having.
Thankful for the current cat craziness going on. My 2 beasts make me laugh. For continuing involvement by the young adults in our young adult group. For a fresh layer of snow. For my needs being met. We have food, housing, shelter, and employment, as well as good health. It can be easy to forget about those things, but many people don't have them. For a hot cup of tea. So comforting!
am thankful for u.
that my m-i-l is still around.
hopeful that hubby is ok, possible prostate issues. we find out in a few weeks. he has already had surgery a few years ago.
that hubby and i are creating made from scratch meals from recipes we find. it is so much more fun when he does it with me. although our kitchen is the size of a postage stamp.
for the commentariat who make my life so much less lonely. have lost many friends lately.
my son who is a whiz in the kitchen but constantly leaves his socks under the dining room table. training him for his future wife is not working at all.
for my daughter who is such a dear. sweet angel despite many health challenges.
for our 3 yr old cockapoo buddy who had horrible health issues on christmas eve day.
incredible hubby was able to get him to a vet and he is now his adorable, loving, zoomie self.
i love dolly parton. my dad was driving me to college back in the day. we stopped at a kmart. i picked up a million of her albums but kmart didn't take amex. had to put them all back. amex was the only card i had cause it had to be paid back in full. i hope to get to dollywood some day. it is on my bucket list. almost everything else has been accomplished. don't think i will get to galapagos or retire to panama. but you never know. i am 70 years old with 2 teenagers in a one bedroom apt. the only thing i wish for and will never have is two bathrooms.
Kristen, your photos are so wonderful - thank you!
Also thankful for:
• 2 book editing jobs, and a flexible schedule to tackle them.
• my studio, where I can edit without distraction.
• a husband who fixes dinner most nights
• a neighbor who meets me at o-dark-thirty each morning for a walk in the cold by flashlight
I can envision Chiquita wearing an old-fashioned white nurse's cap (adorned with a red cross) as she fulfills her Feline RN duties. LOL!
1. Thankful I got a devotional writing published, at long last. Even if it is only a few paragraphs. Even if the pay is only $20.
2. Thankful for Large Print books and Little Free Libraries. And good things to read!
3. Thankful for wealthy people such as Dolly Parton and Mark Cuban who see a need and fill it when the government and/or other organizations won't. (Dolly for her Imagination Library and Mark for his discount Rx mail-order pharmacy. I'm sure there are many more on the local level, too.)
4. My health: Thankful I am cancer-free and about to turn 70. Thankful for cataract surgery; without it, I might have gone blind by now. And thankful for Medicare that helped me pay for my cancer and eye surgeries, doctor's visits and medicines.
5. Thankful for blogs like this. You are my therapy!
This week I am grateful for the person who told me how to disable activity tracking on Facebook (which I use solely for Buy Nothing, otherwise I'd delete my account). If you're interested, follow these steps: 1) Go to Facebook settings. 2) Scroll down to select "Off-Facebook Activity." 3) Select "Clear previous activity." 4) Select "Manage future activity" and then "Disconnect future activity."
It’s been a very rainy week here in Northern California and I am thankful for the beautiful sunny day yesterday between storms.
Thankful that my oldest son has found a med that will hopefully work for his skin issues.
My oldest and I spent a nice afternoon together after his Dr appointment getting him some new clothes (he literally had not one pair of jeans that fit) and getting poke bowls for dinner. It was really nice having the 1:1 time and he was so happy with the purchase of 2 pairs of jeans and a hoodie.
I’m grateful for the busier days this week after losing our beloved family dog last week. She was literally with me all the time and I’ve been really struggling we all week. Yesterdays sun and busier day helped lift my spirit.
Chiquita definitely looks like a boss!
1) Grateful for soccer spectating friends. I will miss not going to games & having friends to catch up with.
2) We also got a ton of rain (and, are getting more). I know we need it, so I work on being grateful, even though it interrupts my outside time & vitamin D consumption.
3) I've had so many people offer to help with networking for my job search, which I really, really appreciate. Also a great reminder of how I can be helpful to others in the future.
4) So grateful that I will get to see DS18 this weekend, when I'm visiting him at college!
5) Grateful for tech advancements. When I was at college, the school charged an absolutely obscene fee for calls made from the dorms. I remember spending most of my college fund (intended to be spending money for the year) the first month, because I had no idea how much it would cost to make calls, and I was homesick. DS18 is not homesick, but we can call or text any time for free.
My kitty is soft and fluffy and warm. Lately when I wake up she’s sleeping right on top of me. Hopefully I will stop screaming in my sleep so she can relax her vigil. But until then thank you comfort kat.
Thankful for Thankful Thursday. Reading everyone's posts is such a delightful way to start the day. Thank you for sharing!
If nursing doesn't work out, I think you might have a future in Fungi Photography. 😉 I'm seriously amazed at the varying types of fungi you come across and share.
There are so many wonderful little things to see out on the trails! And thank you. 🙂
Clark must have taken a class in leadership before we adopted him; I know of no other creature who can compel me to get out of bed at 6 am.
I'm grateful:
--that the freezing rain we got last night had all melted by this morning, making our commute to chem lab safe;
--that DS#2 and I were able to partner together today, unlike last week when the professor wanted us to pair up with students who had missed the first lab.
--that lab was easier than last week! Probably because I didn't have to mess with a buret, and have the spigot fall off while handling it. Quantitative separation of solids was much easier.
--That DH was able to take leave this morning to be home while I headed out. While DS#1 can certainly supervise things with DS#4, it's much nicer for DH to have a morning at home.
What a great quote, thanks for sharing!!
I’m thankful for:
• The variety of classes my son will be able to sign up for in high school. Aside from the core curriculum, the electives he has to choose from look like FUN (and educational, which makes my heart happy)!
• Our puppy started doggy daycare this week. He’s going twice a week so I can go into the office. He’s been completely worn out at the end of the day and is finally sleeping through the night.
• The upcoming snow this weekend! It’s been so cold that it will be nice to look out the window and see a reason for the cold. Fresh snow is also beautiful.
• An overall feeling of contentment.
Thankful that out of negative temps & at least above zero (feels like).
Thankful teen college class flexible when bad weather (ice lately).
Thankful utility bill not as bad as expected (continued polar vortex temps).
Thankful for our house & the heat to keep us warm & dry. Though the neighbors might think I'm a little off using the leaf blower to clear the light snow instead of shoveling/sweeping with broom. Made quick work this morning before salting the paved areas since got ice accumulation last night.
Thankful for teen & rescue dogs bringing smiles & sily/playfulness to our home.
Thankful for Kristen & her site for all of us to learn & share. 🙂
Have a great weekend
When DH gets home today he will hook up my sink/dishwasher/garbage disposal and my kitchen will be almost functional again! Yay!
Not thankful that 2 weeks in a row my younger son has woke up in the middle of the night with stabbing stomach pain that radiates to his back. We spent 5 hours in the ER last night with it. Thankful all of his bloodwork/urine looks good and that he is able to get in with his doctor Monday. No answers for now though since they didn't think he needed emergency surgery, so they did no imaging....
Thankful that the cooler weather hasn't been here the past week or so. My new house has propane for heat, and we ate through it during January. Propane is not cheap! Getting quotes to have that changed out by next winter (unit is only 4 years old, but it cost more for 6 weeks of propane than I spend in 6 months of electric costs).
Thankful my new kitten and my other cat are getting along. After our dog passed, our cat was seriously gloomy and had taken to sleeping all day, gaining weight, just being sad. The kitten has perked him up! And really thankful that the kitten seems to be sleeping through the night now (or at least not bothering us and crying when she wakes up).
Thankful for the lovely weather this past week that allowed me to get a lot of yard work done, burn a HUGE amount of sticks in the yard (years of fallen sticks/logs/limbs in this yard from before we bought it). I've been burning wood debris every few weeks and have put a serious dent in the amount from the yard.
- I easily rescheduled an appointment this morning so I didn't have to drive on icy roads, also that my husband doesn't have classes this semester, so he didn't have to go out either.
- A new recipe I tried this week was a keeper. My husband has A LOT of food issues, so finding a recipe that only needed me to swap out the kind of pasta to make it safe is a minor miracle.
- A bunch of warning lights came on in my car, but all I needed was oil, which was quickly and cheaply determined and my niece was able to handle the situation when I was a bit overwhelmed (we were 3 hours from home, in the middle of a long-planned fun trip and I didn't want to ruin things)
- I found a perfect red cardigan at a consignment shop for $9
- I may have, after 13 months of looking, finally found a mother-of-the-bride dress for my daughter's wedding. There is no shortage of unattractive ones out there!
This week I am thankful . . .
-For a bunch of interviews/interest in hiring me/personal connections happening right now. I appreciated your post earlier this week about second careers. I am not in a second career, but I am in the second big pivot point in what is so far a winding and wonderful career. I'm ready for a new challenge, and really ready to make some money after being underemployed for thirteen years.
-That I got those thirteen underemployed years. I spent them in graduate school and several years of postdoctoral positions afterwards. It has been deeply satisfying to become a historian. If I end up leaving the typical path for academic historians at this juncture, I will not regret for even a second that I got to walk it thus far. And I am so grateful that those years gave me the flexibility to have our babies and get them all into school.
-That it is raining and not snowing. We even had a peak of sun an hour ago. I like cooler and darker weather more and more as I age, but at this point in the year I am dreaming of May warmth.
-For the Lord of the Rings. I started reading the books with our boys back in the fall. We are all enjoying it so much, and it is bringing me so much joy to enjoy them with the boys.
Woohoo for promising job opportunities for you!
Timely rain? A church youth group was holding a car wash. It started to rain. They were concerned that people wouldn't come. So they made a sign. "We wash; God rinses."
Stunning photography, both nature and kitty. Chiquita is personality plus. I don’t think I ever realized just how many hours nurses work. I know I never imagined the degree of difficulty the nursing program involves. Super kudos to you for acing your way through. And, for dining exactly what suits you career-wise.
So, today I’m thankful for the nurses and other medical personnel that endure the shifts to help us recover from illnesses. They are like personal first responders ha.
This is an exercise I definitely need today! It has been a very trying time as of late.
I was very publicly thrown under the bus by someone who is subbing for me at my job for the next few days. This after, on a day I was training this person, they tried to throw one of my staff members under the bus for something that was the subs fault. I’m grateful that my staff is fantastic and knows that I admit to my mistakes and support me. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for those above us.
I am grateful for the time I had with my beautiful, sweet dog. She passed away recently and I miss her terribly but I have wonderful memories and she gave me a tremendous amount of love.
I am grateful for a wonderful family and an amazing group of friends. I would not want to be going through these tumultuous times without them.
I am grateful for the basics. I have clean water to drink, a warm place to come home to and food on the table. That’s a lot more than some people have right now.
Aww, I'm so sorry to hear of the difficulties at your job!
@Kristen, thank you. Some days are a real challenge but the main group of people that I work with day to day are pretty great.
@Pattilou, so sorry for your loss and and for the stuff happening to you at work. not all people believe in kindness, unfortunately. i hope the sun comes out for you soon. it really sucks when doggos go to dog heaven instead of being here with us.
Dolly is the Best! Dolly for President! The one person who can Unite us!
A truly non-controversial political opinion!
Kristin, I really appreciate that you are thankful for the moss and the lichen and the fungi. Thanks for reminding us to notice that of course there are the little things to rejoice about. I got some big news about a major loss yesterday and I’m just wanting to sit in my grief and sob and accomplish nothing else. Surprisingly, no one else that this news touches seems to feel as deeply about it, and the loneliness of that compounds the need to cry. Which of course there is a place for but at the very same time, there’s still beauty and gratitude to notice.
I’m thankful for my warm, cozy home while there’s a snowstorm outside
I’m thankful that my world isn’t actually falling apart, even though loss makes it feel that way.
I’m still standing.
I’m grateful that I can make a meal plan and grocery list today without worrying whether we can afford it
I’m grateful that my kids feel safe and secure here
I’m thankful that I’m growing in mindset maturity
I’m thankful that we all seem to be pulling out of the sicknesses that have been going around
I’m thankful that I have a hardworking husband who is committed to selling his scallop catch, even in a snowstorm, and even after having to tow in another fisherman today. He’s so reliable.
Oh, that is so hard when you feel alone in your grief. It's kind of invalidating, and it's hard not to wonder..."Am I just too sensitive?"
Sending you love, and I hope you can find a space to cry and let it all out.
I’d like to give these to my aunt for a useful, no buy birthday gift. Thanks. Jennifer
I’m thankful that my daughter and son-in-law’s high rise apartment building management has stepped up to do the right thing—- their apartment and some others were flooded two weeks ago when a sprinkler system malfunctioned on a floor above. Their own renter’s insurance is paying a claim, and the apartment management is upgrading them to another apartment on the same floor, for the same cost. ( their current apartment will have to be gutted)
I’m thankful that three family members with the flu type A, are recovering well.
Also, that my 11-year old grandson, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy ( SMA) and was diagnosed with scoliosis late last year, had another MRI yesterday and results say he DOES NOT have scoliosis; that the issue is that his hips are misaligned and he needs physical therapy. It’s maddening and shocking that such a misdiagnosis was made; but we’re thankful for this outcome.
@SandyH, sad to say medicine is not a precise science. Which can make it frustrating.
I am thankful that my menu planning is working out so well. Our 3/4 size refrigerator can't handle the random cooking I was doing before, so both the pantry and the fridge work better with a plan.
I am thankful to be invited to talk to my sewing guild about up cycling and recycling fabrics. I learned a lot about this by accident (being very poor), and it feels good to recycle that feeling into accomplishment and useful "new" stuff, and share.
Our formerly feral cat looks 100% better, thanks to the vet and her prescription diet, consumed on a regular basis. As pretty as Chiquita, maybe!
Our pipes didn't freeze in spite of temperatures 10 and more degrees below zero.
And, for my DH's good health reports recently from cardiologist, dentist, internist, and dermatologist.
Nurse Chiquita! I love it! She does look engaged in the content. LOL
Maybe Chiquita could become a veterinarian.
The last part of the Dolly Parton quote: "keeping my eyes open for the unexpected joys." Yes!
This week I am thankful for:
- The positivity of all the readers/commenters here. There are few other places online that I actually seek out the comments. I look forward to the comments section here as much as I look forward to a new post from Kristen!
- The free antivirus scanner I found to check my computer that was acting funny this morning.
- A positive meeting with the creative team at work. The artists/graphic designers are always so fun.
- On a related note, a particular person at work who is not an artist/graphic designer but whose irreverence and sense of joy never cease to make me smile.
- My husband's day off next Monday. He needs a chance to rejuvenate.
- A miraculous day this week in which I don't have anything immediately to do on the crazy project that has taken up so much of my headspace. Today I can leisurely focus on some things that have been neglected for about 2 months.
Late to the party today. But I sure have had fun reading through the Commentariat.
I am thankful I accomplished all on my to-do list yesterday, save one. It included a call to my best friends who are also my landlords. I am seeking financial advise from those whom I trust. The Uncle that I lost a couple of weeks ago was a bachelor, worked very hard, was very frugal, invested his money. Consequently, he had a lot of money. And I am a major beneficiary as his eldest niece, my Dad was his eldest brother. I am thankful for this windfall, but want to be a good steward. Anyway, I started taking action yesterday for the future.
I am thankful that my best friend also took time when my Uncle died to order flowers that arrived this morning. Timely provision after talking with her/them last night. A dozen red roses and pink lilies sure brighten the space.
Thankful, that while the house is not "clean." I was able to make it less cluttered so a large bouquet of flowers does not add to the clutter.
Thankful the glaze of ice we received yesterday that cancelled everything, melted all away today.
Thankful to see the tips of the Tete de tete daffodils and the snowdrops peaking through the earth. I am looking forward to Spring Rejuvenation.
I am grateful for Dolly Parton and her song Jolene, grateful for tap water I can drink, a working car, a washing machine. As a child there was no electricity where we lived , so I remember. Grateful to have been able to spend my life in the caraibes, when so many had to export themselves. Grateful that I am one of the best at my yoga classes but double their ages( not all my feelings are pretty) . Grateful for the blue sky, the sea and the breeze, I will take the lobster tourists with it. I am extremely grateful for books online. Grateful my husband had a full head of hair and a flat belly( get your blessings where they are. Life is such a gift, and I love rain, a other good day for my bananas.
I suspect your avocado came from CA and is not a Haas.
I like your study partner!
I’m thankful for/that ….
1) My husband is still with me after 15 years of marriage and celebrating his 42nd birthday. God has protected him and blessed us with his presence in our lives.
2) We can easily communicate with each other and resolve conflicts. Even though we may get upset and disagree, we remember how much we love each other and do our best to work through it.
3) I had an awesome helper to put away all the things from our big kids event last Sunday. She was such a great help!
4) My sweet friend who graciously gave me a couple jars of homemade applesauce and let my daughter borrow a complete set of Little House books by Laura Ingalis Wilder to read.
5) The key to the house unlocked the door and came unjammed after multiple long drawn attempts & I was able to get back in time to pick up the girls from school.
I am thankful for your blog, Kristen. It is always full of beautiful pictures and pleasant content.
I am thankful that we were able to do a phone application for my husband's social security. I DO have to do the retirement account online but at least I didn't have to do both.
I am thankful that the AAA they found in my husband is not overly large. We just have to watch it (it was the impetus for retiring).
I am thankful for my daughters and how thoughtful they are. They are always willing to help with whatever my husband and/or I need.
That avocado was PERFECT!
And Chiquita, RN, is adorable!