Thankful Thursday | 57? Yes, please.
This week, I am thankful:
for how beautiful the weather has been
It has been delightfully cool and not-humid here. SO LOVELY.
I know next week's forecast is full of humidity (boo!), but this week has just been perfectly wonderful.
In fact, I have not driven to class once this week; it's been nice enough for me to walk and not show up at class dripping with sweat. 😉
that I got an A on my first exam
Last semester, my grade on the first exam in med-surg was the lowest I've ever gotten in college.
Soooo, I was a little skeered for the first one this semester (mental health/med-surg 2). But it wasn't as hard as I expected, so I got just a few wrong. Yay!
It's verrrry nice to not start the semester out in the hole this time.
for my clinical group friends
We get put into different groupings for clinical each semester, and I like the way it helps me get to know a new group of people really well.
And it's nice to have a little group chat so we can text each other if we have questions or we want to commiserate about things like the nursing school workload.
that we have more time to prep for exam #2
Our exams are every two weeks like clockwork, so we don't technically have more time to study for exam #2.
But it feels like we have more time because during the first two weeks we had orientation, the math exam, and competency testing, and three labs, plus all the lectures.
This time around, there's less of all that extra stuff going on, and I think that's gonna make it easier to keep up with studying!
for a solid anatomy and physiology background
I know I have said this over and over, but I am so grateful for my two great anatomy and physiology classes. I worked hard in those classes, yes, but I also had two very good professors, and so a lot of my A&P knowledge has stuck in my head even three years later.
I use the info from those classes all the time in nursing school as I'm trying to think through disease processes and treatments.
I will never, ever understand why people think those classes are a waste of time as a prereq!
that it's easy for me to chat with new people
My mental health rotation has made me especially thankful that I have a chatty personality because a lot of what we do involves just having conversations with people.
I really enjoy sitting with patients, asking them questions, and getting to learn about them!
for the way my Hungry Harvest boxes make me eat more produce
Since these boxes arrive every two weeks without fail, my fridge is always stocked with some kind of produce, even on weeks when I don't get to the grocery store.
This means I eat a lot more produce than I would otherwise, and as we've already talked about, eating more produce is an almost universally-agreed-upon way to improve your diet.
(I know the carnivore diet people would disagree, but they are a minority.)
Someone asked in the comments recently if I track things like vitamins and minerals and the answer is...nope! I just eat produce with every meal and often in between meals too, and I figure that has me properly covered.
for the beauty in each season
Fall colors haven't really started to show up yet, but they're coming! And in the meantime, there are beautiful late-summer things to see.
I am thankful for the wonderful weather we had been having. We've had windows open some days and it is wonderful to have it nice outside all day long.
I am thankful we had relatives in town over the weekend. It was good to spend time with them without their everyday responsibilities keeping them occupied.
I am thankful we have a new porch. Our previous porch needed a lot of work and we went ahead and had it replaced.
I am thankful for lunch with old friends yesterday and plans to get together more frequently.
I am thankful for another birthday. While I don't like the numbers I appreciate that I've had another good year and that so many people reached out to wish me a happy birthday.
I am thankful that I am nearing the end of the beginning of the school year extra. Tonight is back to school night, so the next 15 hours will be exhausting, but then things will start to fall into a more reasonable routine.
I am thankful for:
1) My new job!!! This opportunity came out of nowhere and I had not even considered doing this as it involves a lot of time in court and I am generally a shy person who hates conflict. But I’m finding that I love this position and the people I work with and it’s been a surprisingly good fit.
2) Like Kristen’s job, it is a public-facing position. I have so many opportunities now to improve my customer service and conflict resolution skills.
3) I need a lot of lawyer costumes for my new job, so stopped by my favorite thrift store and found a suit in my size in perfect condition for $26, which is crazy. It is usually very difficult to find not only an appropriate suit in good condition but also one that fits. There is far less room for error in a suit vs a wrap skirt.
4) While at the thrift store browsing through potential attorney disguises, I started chatting with a gentleman who was about my fathers age. He asked what I was looking for and I told him about my new job. A few minutes later, he came back over and handed me a small gift bag and told me congratulations on the new job. Then he left the store. He had picked out and had wrapped a glass that said, Be Bright, Be Happy, Be You. It was such a kind and thoughtful gesture from a stranger. Also he did not stick his his phone number in the gift bag so I feel confident that he was just trying to be kind and not creepy.
5) It’s been a mostly rough time with my 12 year old lately. I was praying about this after a particularly eventful morning and God said, “however hard this is on you, it’s harder for him.” I said, “seriously? Did you just see that kid?” And I heard, “yes- but you know this is temporary. He doesn’t.” And I went right back to early adolescence and remembered how incredibly miserable I was and how I just believed this is how life was now. I’m so thankful for that answer to prayer.
6) 12 year old and I have been having great conversations lately (late at night of course when I want to be in bed.) Somehow, it’s easier for him to relax and open up in the dark after I tuck him in. Or maybe he’s just stalling bedtime- either way I’ll take it.
@Tarynkay,
Congratulations! Good luck in your new job-
@Tarynkay,
Your #5 hits home. I will have to remember this with my 2 younger ones! It puts a lot of their attitude and emotions in reality for my self as I parent them!
Congratulations on the new job!
@Tarynkay, Such a beautiful, thoughtful post. Thank you!
@Tarynkay,
Your post is lovely. People can be incredibly kind sometimes when you least expect it. What a lovely gift from a stranger!
Having raised 3 children, I remember that 12-13 were difficult years especially with my first son. Just as I had never been a mother before, he had never been a middle schooler. Growing up was hard sometimes for both of us. You are doing a wonderful job keeping the lines of communication open.
BTW, congratulations on your new job.
@Tarynkay, Congrats on that new job! What a lovely gesture that man did in the thrift store! I know you’re in tough times with your boy, hang in there, keep firm, KEEP TALKING WITH HIM!!1 and this shall pass.. these are rough years and what crazy times to be an adolescent,I think somehow we had is much easier when we were growing up.
During the toughest times when dealing with our son’s illness in 2021-22, PRAYER brought me through! I pray daily, and have a “rosary” a day practice as well.
HAVE FUN with your new job!!
@Tarynkay, I too applaud and appreciate your comment today. Your #5 particularly resonated with me, because "however hard this is on you, it's harder for him" would have applied equally well to my situation in caregiving for DH. At least I knew (all too well) what was happening; he didn't, poor darling.
@Tarynkay, Congratulations on your new job! And yes, I would bet that gentleman was just being kind. And how great that God gave you that insight. The teen (and pre-teen) years are tough!
@Tarynkay, great comment —thank you for every single piece.
@Tarynkay, Gosh what a great post. I wish you well on your new job and also wish you continued wonderful blessing coming your way. Great stories.
@Bee, too young to drive, too old to ride a bike. That is how I sum up being that age. Toss in puberty for good measure.
@Selena, You're never too old to ride a bike! 😉
Yay for your exam results! By the way you have nice legible handwriting. Unlike some in the medical profession.
This week I am thankful that I got to swim in between showers, and that dry weather is forecasted for next week.
Thankful that I enjoy my job. Thankful that I can work from home as a rule (enabling me to go for swims in the morning and walks at night). Thankful to also go to the office soon to meet in person with my colleagues.
Thankful for book suggestions on this blog. Read several recommended here (and am presently reading "When breath becomes air").
Thankful for the litte sparrows in our garden, I love seeing them flit about. Not so happy with the magpies and crows however as they tend to eat whatever I put out as bird feed! I am brooding over a magpie- and crow-resistant place to feed the small birds. But the Corvus family are very clever, and I am not sure that I will be successful.
@JNL, I have to mention this funny story in connection with medical handwriting. I was a medical assistant to a Korean doctor whose last time consisted of two letters. Since he signed his name many, many times over each day, his signature looked like just a circle. I teased him frequently that I knew how to "forge" his name. Well, actually a kindergartner could do it, but it still was a running joke with us.
Congratulations on the A!
I am extremely thankful to everyone who took the time to encourage me and give advice about getting back to being more frugal. Thank you, all!
I got ill this week. I'm not thankful for that, but I'm thankful that I can take time off work until I feel better.
...and I am thankful to already be feeling better!
I'm thankful for some cooler temperatures but still to have sunshine.
I'm thankful for helpful people in the supermarket. Having worked retail, I know how thankless it can be.
I am so very thankful that we survived our first hurricane (Francine) with no damage to property & no loss of electricity!
@LDA, what a relief for you!
- I'm thankful that the buyers agreed to our revisions to their request for repairs. The one item that we refused would have been extremely expensive and time consuming to fix. Thankful that our contractor explained why the fix was not structural and that he did not think it needed to be fixed and they agreed.
- I'm thankful that the contractor finished all the items on the repairs list yesterday. Next stop is closing in two weeks then we can be mortgage free again!
- I'm thankful that our weather was cooler than normal this week, so we were able to sit on the porch and celebrate all the good news on selling the house.
- I'm thankful that our adult son asked for us to reinstate regular family dinners. We had stopped getting together because the move was taking up all of our time. It will be so nice to see him more often because I really miss him. I see our daughter a lot more often since I help out with the grandbaby.
- I'm thankful that the company we purchased the crib for the grandbaby from has such excellent customer service. The hardware pieces to put the crib together got lost in the move and they sent us a new set free of charge. Their products are expensive but are high quality. I highly recommend https://www.happiestbaby.com.
I am thankful
1. I got some seeds in for a fall garden. The weather is warm and if I water lightly in the morning in seems to encourage growth. And gardening encourages my growth.
2. I have a little time to do some diy projects that have been left hanging or undone.
3. I am going to breakfast with a friend tomorrow. Free therapy for both of us.
4. I haven't been to nearest big city in over a month. I used to work there.
5. The library
@Amy cheapohmom, your #4 really resonates with me. I sometimes tally up how long it has been since I went to any of the larger towns and pat myself on the back when it is a month or more.
Congratulations on “A”cing the exam!
Thankful for:
*We have had lovely weather here as well. Definitely not the usual early September weather we experience. We have been able to turn off the AC on several days and open up for the non-humid breeze.
*I am 3 weeks post knee replacement and doing quite well. Ditched the walker last week and now only use the cane when walking longer distances or when I’m tired.
*My hubby has been the best caregiver, and has now transitioned to mainly chauffeur duties. I can’t drive until after October 1, so he has to take me anywhere I need to go.
*Our aviation mechanic son had a big oral/skills exam as part of getting certified in Kenya and he passed on the first try. Lots of prayers went into that one. Of course, that makes me think of Lisey!
*Colored leaves! A lot of maple trees are turning early here in the Piedmont of NC and they are so beautiful.
@Addy,
When I was in NC last week, I noticed the color change.
Sometimes you have small blessings you need to notice:
1. The ittiy-bitty light purple flowers that just popped up in my lawn.
2. That one rose bush -- actually, it looks like a giant stalk -- has a very tiny red rose bud on top.
3. Finally getting in to see the eye doctor...and then the sinus doctor later this afternoon.
4. Living so far inland that I don't worry about hurricanes coming our way. (OK, that's a big one...and I hope those of you in its path don't have any real damage.) Wish we'd get a little rain from it, though.
5. Being able to quickly brew a cup of coffee and enjoying it on the patio....I'm headed out there now.
I'm thankful for nurses who are chatty. I am extremely anxious in medical scenarios, and the chattiness is an extremely helpful distraction that can make the difference between me fainting or not. So one more reason to be happy that is part of your personality, Kristen!
@Carla G, agreed. I always ask them (or the doctor) to talk to me but NOT about the procedure (such as blood being taken).
@Sophie in Denmark,
When my late mother had hip surgery, she was very pleased with her local anaesthesia - she thought is was so interesting to follow the precedure and listen to the surgical team!
@JNL, that's cool! I usually read about the procedure beforehand but not in massive detail because a lot of it grosses me out.
@Sophie in Denmark, yes talk about anything besides what they are doing!
@Sophie in Denmark, my husband showed me a YouTube video to explain fainting because he thought it would help me if I understood what was happening. Instead the video freaked me out so much that I fainted!
It's good we are all different. I'm never going to be a nurse. :-)
@Carla G, right?!
Thankful for lower humidity, for the chance to catch up with friends, for my husband, for my kids settling into their college routines, and for my coworkers.
I also LOVED my anatomy and physiology classes so much! They will come in handy forever in your nursing career!!!
Thankful:
1.That I get to visit my sis in law for a whole week soon! We have museums,dinners, family visiting time, card games, and the beach all planned and I am over the MOON to get to spend time with her! I will also get to visit with her sons, my god son and all the wives and kiddos. YAY!!
2. Grateful for the change in weather here in Arizona . The heat doesn’t bother me as much as others..I just jump in the pool 3 times a day and don’t run around mid day.BUT when it shifts to autumn, it is delicious and so this morning I am having coffee on the patio once again!!
3.So grateful my husband and I are basically healthy as we move into our 70’s. We stay open minded,mentally, physically and spiritually and keep ourselves moving!!
4.Grateful that our grown son has recovered in many ways from a serious pandemic “jab” injury he acquired in 2021, some problems still, but major improvements!
5. Grateful for early mornings, my favorite time of day.
It's hard to believe you are already into year 3 of nursing school. The time sure does seem to be flying by. 😉
Thankful for the warm 80s temps we are continuing to have. Little/no humity/dry & no rain. But the leaves continue to fall more each day.
Thankful that teen vehicle will be (hopefully) road safe/new wheels & tires & front end alignment complete today. Teen likes driving my vehicle (only other vehicle to drive & learned to drive with) but is happy to have own vehicle & not feel like leaving me stranded because teen needs to drive (somewhere).
Thankful all my regular monthly bills paid for September. Now start paying on medical & credit card extra payments.
Thankful getting my outside "To Do" list is getting shorter as being home & nice weather helps to keep me motivated. I have always been a yard proud person & enjoy landscaping & yard design that brings me joy when doing the yard work. For me it's nice to be outside & enjoy your space.
Continued thankful for Kleenex with lotion as allergy season continues to wreck havoc on my sinuses & head.
Thankful for nice surprise this week when found mums plant/flower with a card on my front porch. A neighbor had left for me thanking me for being me. 🙂
Thankful that teen is doing well in school & college. Teen is making time to do high school activities & has already completed 1/3 of college course work that signed up for.
Thankful for teen & recuse dogs who love me & give me entertainment lately.
And always, for Kristen's blog where we can learn & share safely.
Have a great weekend. <3
I am thankful for my CSA box for the same reason you are for Hungry Harvest – it encourages us to eat many more vegetables! Some of the veggies we get are ones I normally wouldn’t pick so we have a little more variety in our diet. We do get more of some veggies that we can eat in a week (a dozen jalapenos in just one box) so I am able to prep and freeze for later use, which my future self always appreciates.
One of my coworkers gifted me a new-to-me puzzle for my birthday. It is beautiful and I am excited to put it together.
We had a little upheaval at work this month so my boss took our team out for lunch. It was a sweet gesture and let our team know she cared (we didn’t doubt it) even though some things were out of her hands.
Traffic was terrible getting to and from the office this week, but I’m listening to You Could Make This Place Beautiful and I actually enjoyed the extra time in the car. I’m so thankful for the recommendation for this book that I found here. I connected with the author on some parts of her journey through her divorce and found myself so excited when she was describing her train trip on the Empire Builder. I took the Empire Builder a handful of times during my freshman and sophomore year of college to go home to see my parents and traveled in the sleeping car she rode in. It was such a unique experience and it was fun to “remember” it with someone.
Right now, I'm honestly thankful for ...you! I'm going through a particularly difficult financial situation, and find your positive attitude and "joie de vivre" infectious and a gentle reminder of what is truly important, and the fact that beauty is all around us - if we only take a moment to see it. Thanks for being you!
Aww, I am so touched by this. Thank you!
Greetings from a very hot, war-torn and broken Israel where it's difficult some days to find good things to count as blessings, but I try every, single day. In fact, dh and I, in the dark of the night, when we're despairing about our friends and family, hostages and future of our country, we do a '5 things we're grateful exercise' which always helps!
1. I'm thankful that the weather is starting to turn *slightly* here in Israel. We've had some days over 100, but the past month has been averaging 95. As much as I hate winter, the winds that hint of the coming fall are very welcome, especially in the evening hours.
2. Summer fruit, especially mango. I had mango as my lunch today. Just that. That's how much I love it.
3. A reliable car. I've had to do a lot of driving lately and it's good not to worry that my engine will fall out on the highway or something.
4. A daughter who surprised us with a visit in the middle of the week and brought a tub of my favorite ice cream. It's the little things ....
5. This community. It's a messed up world out there and I'm grateful for the existence of this tiny little corner of sanity.
@Talia,
Thank you for reminding me how fortunate I am. I was feeling sorry for myself this morning.
I continue to pray for the people in your part of the world. It is my hope that peace will soon come to Israel.
@Talia, any time I'm tempted to lapse into self-pity, I remind myself of all the people in all the war zones around the world. And I send best wishes to you and your family in yours.
Sending love, Talia!
@Talia,
Wishing "peace in our time"
@Talia,
So glad to hear from you again! You are in my prayers.
@Talia, my thoughts are with you and your family, Talia. I hope you stay safe. Your attitude for gratitude is very inspirational!
@Talia, I guess I've missed out on your posts, or didn't put things together, but I will add you and yours to my prayer list. I do pray for Israel in general, but having a name of someone there will give me more specific requests for our Lord.
@Talia, I want you to know you are not forgotten here in my city in the US. My church group prays for Israel.
We went there in 2020 right before the pandemic and since then my husband has watched the Israeli news and continues until this day.
On a lighter note we loved the fruit everything was so fresh.
@Talia, praying regularly for Israel.
@Talia,
You are in my prayers tonight for sure!
@karen, your comment made my heart glad. Thank you!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, thank you xx
Today I am grateful that the Reno/ Davis Fire is nearly 40% contained. I have faced fire in real time as a child growing up in Malibu. I have also faced other natural disasters since in my little Nor Cal town having been evacuated twice for flooding. These events remind me "People First, Things Second." On a more selfish note: two of my pack thru trailheads are currently closed due to the fire but I believe they will be opened by the time we reach them in two weeks.
@mary ann, you are so inspiring.
@mary ann, Thank you Mary Ann. I am in Reno and my workplace is literally across the street from one edge of the evacuation warning zone. I know so many who have been evacuated. It's scary.
I'm thankful the medication the doctor prescribed my daughter to help her sleep is working. No insomnia for the past few nights, so both of us have a better mood the next day. We're hoping better sleep will help as we work out what's causing her a lot of trouble.
Thankful for teachers who are trying to help my high schooler. He's a bright guy who has such a hard time in school - these teachers are definitely doing what they can to help him succeed. (Whether he likes it or not!)
I should be thankful for the warm, dry, sunny weather, but I really could go for a cool autumnal rain right now!
1. We've been overcast and drizzly for about a week, so our temps have only been in the mid-80's F during the day. I'm super thankful for that. I'm also eager to see if the forecast for a coming night's low temperature of only 69 is correct.
2. I'm thankful for the text yesterday from my daughter, letting the family know that she just accepted the top award for "Health, Environmental, Safety and Security" in the division for the plant she manages. She's in Brussels to accept the award among other business, so we are cheering her and the plant from afar.
3. I'm thankful that I was able to somehow dodge a certain car crash yesterday when someone in traffic beside me made a really stupid move. It was 5:15 pm and traffic was very busy, so it could have turned our quite badly.
4. I'm thankful for the late summer blooms as well. Yellow lantana, white yarrow, red native honeysuckle, rosy-red roses, purple coneflower, lavender spotted bee balm/horsemint, cream-colored okra blossoms with burgundy throats, pink impatiens, fuchsia four o'clocks and soon, ivory loquat blossoms, really cheer up my summer-weary yard and this very summer-weary owner.
5. I'm thankful that when a neighbor's tree dropped a limb on my daughter and son-in-law's property during a storm, the worst damage was a shattered windshield on their car. No one was in or near the car when it happened so no one was hurt, and the glass stayed in the windshield instead of going all in the car.
@JD, I just found myself singing "cream-colored okra...with burgundy throats" to the tune of "My Favorite Things"--although I don't think that either the original Maria von Trapp or Julie Andrews would know okra if it waved at them. 😉
Hehe, I will never be thankful for okra. 😉 Except for being thankful I am an adult and don't have to eat it!
Maybe I just have never had it prepared deliciously.
Kristen, stick around with JD and me, and we'll teach you Okra Appreciation 101.
@JD, it has been raining in Northeast Florida for 10 days. We are averaging over an inch a day. The endless gray sky and drizzle is beginning to have an impact on my mood. @Kristen, I also dislike okra. It’s the only vegetable that I will not eat. I’ve pickled it, roasted it, stewed it, and sautéed it. I just can’t eat it. Maybe that is because it’s furry.
@Bee,
The slime always got to me, until I discovered that roasting, grilling, and frying helped control the slime. Pickling is a favorite way of mine to eat it, too. As A. Marie notes, use some bacon grease for frying, and I can eat almost anything.
The fur.... I don't know what to suggest there.
@JD, wow, #3. And on okra, oh major yuck. My mom tried to disguise it in every possible manner, but if she could disguise the slime, the taste was still completely unpalatable. In recent years, I bought her a Christmas ornament that was a dried okra pod, painted as a Santa. That got a good laugh!
@Bee, you missed deep fried. Only way I like it. I didn't grow up around it. So, I don't have the on going dislike. Asparagus is to me like the okra is to everybody else. The only time I ever had asparagus I liked was when my stepdad made it once. I never asked him what he did to make it that way or ask him if it was fresher than normal asparagus. He's gone now so I can't ask him now.
1. A weekend at home (even if it was still hot)
2. My hardworking husband with insurance so I could pursue art (he’s retired now)
3. All the faithful and friendly delivery drivers in town —UPS, PO, FedEx
4. The heat has abated!
Thankful, as Kristen is, for dry and pleasant weather now (and for the next week or so, according to the 10-day forecast). I'm looking forward to some garden cleanup--and to some processing of my dried herbs, since dry weather is best for this. When you dry herbs in bunches in the attic, as I do, the process is relative-humidity-dependent.
And thankful that I've played a small role in getting my city council to consider a pilot program for deer control in our area. I'm keeping fingers crossed that the council approves both the program and the funding for it. But we are absolutely up to here in deer (my total count for the month of August was 91!!), and we absolutely gotta do something.
@A. Marie,
That's a lot of deer. May we ask what the pilot program may be? Congratulations on getting heard by the council. That can be hard to do.
@JD, the city has been culling deer with USDA sharpshooters for a year or two now--but our area doesn't meet the state requirement of sharpshooters' being at least 250 feet from any building. So the pilot program (if it's approved and funded) will be taking an approach called "bait/trap/euthanize." Explaining it here in detail would be a bit long, and might not work for the squeamish. But here's what I said in an email to my street's Google Group today:
"For folks who may have some qualms about bait/trap/euthanize, I admit that it won't be particularly pretty. Neither is sharpshooting. But then, neither is the constant risk of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases (at least four neighbors that I know of, including myself, have had Lyme). Neither is the increased risk of chronic wasting disease and other diseases among the deer themselves as overcrowding increases. Neither is the massive damage done by deer to our gardens and yards, and to the green environment in general. And neither is the growing number of deer/motor vehicle collisions (I myself have seen two near-misses in the past month).
"Finally, consider this statistic: My total number of deer sightings for the month of August, as reported to the city in my deer diary, was 91. That's too many deer, my friends. So the pilot program looks to me like the best chance we have of making at least a dent in the deer population, and I heartily support it."
@A. Marie, will they give the deer meat to the food pantry?
@A. Marie,
Oh, I see; that makes sense. I had figured hunting wasn't doable since you live in a neighborhood. Chronic Wasting Disease is now reaching our local deer, sadly. Your proposed deer program is similar to the trapping of the abundant feral hogs around here.
The large population of feral hogs does support the panthers living here, though, so we don't want to trap all of them.
@A. Marie, that would be a welcome program in my neighborhood, but we are an unincorporated town in the foothills, and the county can't even keep our roads un-potholed. Sigh.
Were you counting the same deer over and over again? How would you be able to know?? Maybe you were seeing the same three every single day in August. . . ours become recognizable, and they are so brazen.
@A. Marie, Hope your program works. My area has had some success with sterilization.
Thanks for various commenters' interest. To answer questions: First, yes, the meat will be given to the local food bank.
And re: counting, those of us who keep deer diaries are supposed just to note the number of deer we see each day. I'm familiar enough with the local deer groupings by now to know when I'm seeing the same deer twice and not to count them twice. (But, my gosh, almost all the does in our area have had multiple births both last year and this. I'm currently seeing two mothers of twins and a mother of triplets. The population is growing geometrically, not arithmetically.)
Finally, sterilization isn't financially feasible here, alas. I understand that it can cost over $1000 per animal, which my poor old Rust Belt city can't afford.
@A. Marie, yep just saw a mom with twins in the backyard last week.
And coming around the corner to my compost bin a buck with a full rack stood up and stared at me.
And last year I saw 3 bucks in my suburban backyard. I joked they were having a convention.
Isn't there supposed to be one buck in an area?
@A. Marie, I have deer. There are times when I know it is a different deer but times I don't (I even watch for scars). But at least they don't descend on you like wild turkeys - mamas and babies skittering all over. Or the years we have deep snow and a flock of 30+ descends on the yard (read: feeders).
@Selena, those stupid wild turkeys have wrecked many parts of my yard. Disgusting birds. I'm glad our founding fathers chose the eagle rather than the turkey, which they actually considered.
@A. Marie,
My understanding, while limited, is that it's not uncommon for does to have twins. Triplets, I don't know how common that is.
The lower humidity is a blessing! The mornings have been relatively cool, nicer for walks. Eventually it will be in the 70s...eventually....
I'm thankful for a good bike ride yesterday. DH rides to work (20 miles roundtrip) and the first leg of his route is same as mine to the library, so we biked to the station together, took a break and then I headed off to my errands and he headed up to work. It was nice to spend some extra time together on what is a long work day for him.
I'm thankful for DH's MacGyver skills! My back tire was completely flat, and after making sure it wasn't a valve issue, he said he'd take it to the bike store to get it replaced. Then yesterday early morning I heard him in the garage, and I just knew he was figuring out how to fix the tire. Sure enough, he found that the tires on our old three-wheel bicycle are practically the same as our bike tires. He watched a YouTube video that suggested using a special tool to remove the old tire, but figured out how to do it with a ruler and a screwdriver instead. He popped the "new" innertube in there, and my bike was good to go.
Thankful for overall good health, and for ibuprofen when my stupid ankle acts up. 😉
@Karen A.,
As always, I am impressed by how consistently you bike instead of drive. So good for you, the environment, and your bank account.
@Bee, Ha, I probably bike twice a week. DH would bike everywhere if it was feasible! I do like biking a lot. I always think of this passage from Hovel in the Hills, by Elizabeth West: "When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle."
@Karen A., Great quote!
1. For my job that allows me to take paid leave to care for my husband as he goes through another surgery to remove cancer from his body. There can be no value placed on this peace of mind.
2. For the way that cancer, even though it sucks, has brought us closer together, made family time more precious and just delivered perspective in so many areas.
3. For energy drinks and coffee cause this girl is struggling to sleep with all that is going on in life right now. In that same way I am thankful for my crockpot, one pot meals and anything else that makes keeping my family fed with healthy meals easier.
4. Faith. Prayer. Worship. Tears. Journaling. Therapy. Workouts. And anything else that helps me get the emotional sludge out of me in a healthy, cathartic way. Suffice to say I am not eating my feelings which is very typical of me historically and in that I feel very good. Do I want to eat a sheet cake? Yes of course I do. But a wild realization that it really won't make anything better is sitting on me and I can only credit that to my health journey. This fact alone makes every drop of sweat and every muscle pain worthwhile.
5. For my dear husband who is so terrified but is hanging on by his fingernails and clinging to his faith and his family with everything he has got.
@Angie,
Blessings on you and your family as you all walk this difficult path.
@Angie, As someone who has gone through cancer surgery and treatment, I know the fear your husband is going through. But having a loving wife like yourself and having his faith and family's love will go a long way in making this journey easier. I wish all of you the very best as you navigate this difficult path.
@Angie, I will add you to my prayer list, too. My hubby has multiple health problems, including prostate cancer, a cancerous tumor removed from his liver which we've been told will probably recur, and paralysis from an old stroke. He recently fell and fractured his leg, and then fell again and broke a rib. I have been dealing with a lot of caregiver fatigue these last 2 months, and I couldn't get through it without prayer, faith, friends and God-winks. Unfortunately I have been eating my feelings, and feeling the physical results, so I admire your ability to remember to care for your own health in times like this. "Be not weary in well-doing..."
@Angie, I well remember when DS#1 was going through all his medical trials, that the one good thing about it (other than him getting better!) was how our family had to grow closer. Somebody was always, always at the hospital so DS was never alone. We had to communicate like crazy. And we learned to never take a moment with each other for granted--at least, I did. I hope the kids did too! Praying for you and your family.
And GOOD for you not eating your feelings! As an emotional eater I know firsthand how hard that is to resist!
@Angie, @StephanieLD
Wishing for you and your families the gifts of strength, love, and healing.
@Angie, Sending love, prayers and well wishes for you and your family. As someone who is great at eating her feelings, I wish you continued success on that front.
@Bee, I send the same messages to both @Angie and @StephanieLD.
@Angie,
Thinking of you and your family at this time. I understand how terrifying it is for him and for you. We went through and survived a time like this almost two years ago now. It was scary.
@Bee, thank you.
Thankful for safety in driving two hundred miles round trip x2 last week/weekend for family traditional get together. And for little jaunts in between while staying in that location. The family time was iffy d/t the malcontent of two of the parties involved. I enjoyed time with my nieces and nephews.
I am blessed to find joy in many things in spite of other's unhappiness. I spotted a vegetable garden that made use of the small yard in the city and a flower garden that was an oasis to pollinators. I enjoyed the yellow sunflowers and multitude of roadside grasses while driving. And I like looking at the crops becoming ready for harvest.
Thankful for oral treatment for fleas. Molly had been miserable and so had I because of her issues. She had a great time at her "motel" this weekend and seemed to miss the camaraderie of her "frens" once she came home. I am also thankful for her time at the "spa" this morning. She did not have as much extra hair as usual but I know she feels better. I can cut her nails but she likes the process better at the groomer. It is worth every penny. Plus she's such a social diva in spite of or because of her mixed pedigree.
I am thankful for my garden with okra, eggplant, tomatoes, and herbs. Also my Misfit Box with more produce and fruit and mushrooms. I also eat healthier because of my garden and the box.
I’m thankful for beautiful weather, daily walks, dance outings with my husband and a concert to attend tonight ( we’re both really looking forward to this concert!!)!
I thankful for some good conversations with my daughter lately. She still lives with us but isn’t home very often these days.
I’m thankful for good books, good friends and an upcoming getaway with my husband.
I’m grateful to anyone going into the medical field ( thank you, Kristen!). Yesterday I had a small medical emergency that needed attention from someone at our local clinic. The nurse and Dr were so kind and supportive and respectful of this older lady ( me) and they put me at ease with their attitude and skill.
There’s so much more for which I’m thankful but that’s probably enough for now.
Gorgeous weather is at the top of my thankful list, too! The mornings have been chilly, but I have been able to wrap up in a blanket and sit on the sunporch, sipping coffee, watching the birds at the feeder, and talking with God.
I'm grateful for all the healthcare workers we have come in contact with over the last couple of months; ER, PT, OT, Rehab, home therapies, and always, the Rescue Squad.
Thankful also for the health lending program, because the hemi walker that my husband swore he wouldn't be able to use, has been a Godsend.
Thankful to friends in the Buy Nothing group who have surprised me with gifts of homegrown tomatoes and peppers, and a dozen and a half eggs--and delivered them! I have not left hubby alone to go anywhere in over a month, and was really missing being able to hit the local farmer's market for fresh veggies.
I'm grateful that my husband is improving, and feeling better mentally as well. Yesterday PT walked him outside, and that lifted his spirits so much.
Thankful for:
1. my volunteer hours at the food bank. That is the most cheerful workplace atmosphere I have ever experienced. And it is very heartening to see all these businesses and local farmers donating food instead of discarding it. I know they get a tax write-off and I say good for them for taking advantage of it.
2. night time. I know I harp on about this but, honestly, it is such a relief to have darkness at night instead of incessant, intruding sunlight 24 hours a day. And we continue to lose 6 minutes a day, so it only gets better and better.
3. I was unhappy with my kidney doctor, who kept recommending some drastic procedures that are even more risky because I only have one kidney. He has a new associate and this guy's personality is a better match for mine.
4. a really good harvest from my garden this year.
5. the husband, always the husband. He is so patient with the velociraptor of a dog we adopted six months ago. Like other giant breed dogs, he is slow to train, and I find myself having to fight the urge to scold him even when what he has done occurred hours ago and he would not understand why I am mad at him at this moment. He has been so good and quiet when we are in the car that it was only yesterday that I realized it is because he has been occupying himself with eating the back of the driver's side seat off.
@Lindsey,
I am thankful that your story about your giant breed dog made me laugh. It has been a challenging werk and nothing lightens my mood more than a good dog tale. (pun intended)
@Lindsey, I'm sorry that poor Clobber Paws is in trouble again--even if you aren't thinking of him as "poor" at the moment!
I'm right there with you on the cooler weather/fall coming frame of mind. Working on the fall gardens, setting up the winter garden raised beds/hoops/panels.
Thankful for the rains that made it into the Eastern counties in Oregon to calm down the extreme wildfires.
Relieved that my sneezing fits have subsided (I sneezed almost non stop from 10:30 until 3 am). I used the nebulizer/sat in the infrared sauna and did a 20 minute cold plunge...thennnn they stopped. I feel like I did 5,000 crunches.
I think we narrowed down the cause to the company who cleaned the ducts, sprayed something, I cleaned the air filters and all seems fine this morning. Whew.
A friend sealed the ducts and is using a high velocity air scrubber machine that is normally used in clean rooms. We will camp out in the one room in the house that has it's own air handling system while this work is performed.
Got bombarded by several family members begging for my berry cobbler for Saturday's funeral. I will make a cherry, a berry and a GF peach. I made 2 gallons of vanilla bean ice cream this week to go with.
I made handmade sympathy cards for my cousin's kids, new husband and mom. I will pick a huge bouquet of roses and dahlias for the memory table.
I'm grateful for our beautiful fall weather. I know the fires are in the Reno/ Washoe area, and hope it gets contained. I'm on the other side of the Sierras ( over the summit) and know how devastating fires are.
I'm grateful we had a good and productive visit with the UCD lung cancer specialist. My husband was just diagnosed with peritoneal mesotholioma which is not a good prognosis. But we are also going to Stanford in a few weeks too.
I'm grateful that we are able to deal with this in a positve way for the most part.
@christina, may you grow in your wonderful positivity and strength as you continue with your husband's treatment plan
I’m a Dietitian and it irks me when people dismiss any fruit or vegetable!!
@Tiffany, we carnivores don't dismiss them, we just don't think they are the end to all end. There is no perfect diet. And genetics play a big role - known of couple of barely meat/got exercise folks who had the "big one". One was out jogging when his hit.
People on the strict carnivore diet do avoid fruits and vegetables wholesale. That’s what I was referring to but I probably didn’t make it clear!
@Tiffany, I HATE it that fruits often have too much sugar for people trying to get their glucose under control. I could happily live on fruit and bread. . . sigh. So when I eat fruit now, I drink water with vinegar in it to slow the glucose situation. This is something I learned from The Glucose Revolution, by Jessie Inchauspé, AKA The Glucose Goddess. And it works for me (as I learned from wearing a continuous glucose monitor).
I don't trust any diet that eliminates a specific food group. (not talking about hyper-processed or "junk" food) Yes, I KNOW lots of people have various specific allergies and restrictions. What I don't trust is the sorts of diets such as "no fat" or "dairy is bad for you" or wheat will kill us" or "the only good diet is vegan"... on and on it goes. One size NEVER fits all.
today is my birthday. hard to believe i have outlived my mother by 20 years. hubby and kids gave me a great day. the kids had music school after regular school so it was just us. but it was nice. and i got my usual lobster tail pastry from a bakery called veneiros.
am so glad kristen has time to continue this blog. happy for the chiquita photos but would love to see more of shelley.
@Anita Isaac,
Happy birthday! Glad you got spoiled.
@JNL, thanks so much
Congratulations, Kirsten! May the year fly enjoyably by!
I enjoy the thankful posts tho I can't read them all. I like how our shared thanks kind of multiply for all of us.
My 5:
1) DH is feeling better after a nasty bout with Covid. He has been very sick.
2) Thankful that I did not contract Covid. The jury's out, of course, but for now we were able to stick with our friendly joke that only one of us can get sick at a time.
3) The cat who adopted us loves to purr on DH's lap, a comfort this week and a quiet companion when he needed one, and I had to be elsewhere.
4) That my sewing skills are good. I made a sample dress to check the pattern, and as I suspected, it is wrong for me, but I finished the dress nicely and hope a friend will be able to use it. Her bosom is different from mine and I think it will fit her nicely. And I will use my nicer fabric with a different pattern. Thankful I made a sample.
5) Thankful my car is reliable and seems to be working well. It is ten years old.
Thankful for 2 weeks of 80 degree weather. It is not humid and so very nice out.
Thankful this week has not been money bleeding week.
That a friend lent us a trail cam. Fun to see the bucks at night. We have a lot of deer but hardly ever see any bucks. Apparently they only come out at night lol.
For a fun trip to the Columbus Zoo. We went when they opened and got to see many being fed. Plus they give the history of the one being fed. The grands loved it.
For a weekend with the grands. How the world looks so different though the eyes of a 2 and 4 year old.
I'm so happy that you're doing well with your classes and the friends you have in them.
My Thankful's
1) My sweet friend from church. She's such a sweet, kind and generous lady.
2) My 3 beautiful girls. They're always telling me how much they love me or how I'm a wonderful mom even though I don't feel like it.
3) For my artistic talent that God has gifted me which reminds me that I need to use it more.
4) For the nice walks I get to take around the neighborhood.
5) For the rain since it's been really hot and we've needed it.