Thankful Thursday | Carrie + me
This week, I am thankful:
for a fun visit with my friend Carrie
She spent the weekend at my house, and we had such a fun time together.
Unfortunately, we only took one picture together because we were just so busy chatting. I only remember to take this one right before I dropped her off at the airport!
Carrie and I are both the opposite of night owls, and when she started yawning around 8:30/9:00, I felt very validated. Normally I am the only early bird in my house, so it was a fun and interesting experience to have a fellow early bird here!
for an extra room for a guest
I don't think I've ever had an extra room in any of my adult houses, but now that Lisey has jetted off to Hawaii, I do have an empty bed.
So, that was perfect for Carrie's visit! She didn't need to pay for a hotel room this way. 🙂
that Zoe's fall semester books are so cheap
Several of the resources have free online access, and one of them is an affordable online access code.
Plus, we already have the TI-84 graphing calculator that she needs for her math class, which is great because those things are not cheap.
Since my books were over $1300, I'm glad at least one of us has a cheap semester of books!
for a fast DMV experience
Lisey got her car registered in Hawaii, so she sent her plates back to me.
And I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the front desk person was able to quickly do my plate return as soon as I walked in. SWEET.
I am always happy to have a speedy experience at a motor vehicle government building. 🙂
for an upcoming insurance refund
Her insurance got paid for the year shortly after she moved to Hawaii, so now almost the whole year's amount is getting refunded back. Excellent.
that it's not always this humid
The other day I woke and as I was getting ready to go out for a walk, I noticed my front windows looked like this:
And I knew I was in for a very humid walk!
But luckily, this level of humidity is an anomaly.
Also: it's the middle of August. That means September is comin' really soon! And at some point in September, the air will clear up a bit.
for the green caused by the humidity
I try to remember that this lush green-ness requires a humid environment.
And I DO love the green, so that helps me make peace with the humidity.
for the fun of puzzle-doing
Zoe bought a puzzle a little while back (mainly because it has a cat on it!) so she and I have been working on it together, and my friend Carrie and I did as well, while we chatted.
that my shoes got me home
I have put a LOT of miles on this pair of shoes; probably more than I should have. And yesterday when I was walking, the sole started to come off of one of the shoes.
I did make it home without the sole coming completely off, but this seemed like a clear sign that it was time to retire the shoes. 😉
Luckily I did have another pair already. I guess I was just waiting for my original pair to REALLY wear out.
for beautiful skies last night
I took my walk uncharacteristically late in the day, and the evening sky was so lovely.
that I got my car stereo working again
Oddly, when I got into my car yesterday afternoon, my van's head unit was completely blank. It had been working fine that morning, so I have no idea what happened.
I was a little stumped at first, but then I noticed a tiny hole in the lower left corner that looked like it might be a reset button.
So, when I got home, I inserted a straightened paper clip and sure enough, the system turned on. Yay!
I am very happy that I can listen to music again. Yay!
Time spent with siblings and friends is so valuable. And as I grow older I expect that time will become more precious, even as life invites us to maintain friendships with people younger than ourselves.
This week I am thankful for
A golden weekend with visits to and from a sibling and a friend;
Lovely temperatures - cool in the morning, warm during the day and early evening, and cool again during the night. As perfect as they get;
Tasting original Spanish tortilla for the first time - cooked by a very experienced cook of Spanish origin. A simple and homely food, yet so delightful;
The joy of getting more chores done, with help from my husband, and in a good and cheerful collaboration;
Our 12 year old cat feeling well again and up to his usual business of sleeping, purring, basking in the sun, "talking" to us and feeding on his usual food - no way he's taking the food and medicine he was supposed to have for a few days, as prescribed by the vet.
@JNL, I'm glad your cat is doing better! 🙂
@JNL, I completely get it about your cat's rejecting the prescribed food and medicine. Any time any of DH's and my two dogs and six cats needed special food (here in the US, the food is usually a brand called Hill's Science Diet), they'd just look at us and say wordlessly, "Shoot me now." I'm glad your kitty is doing OK anyway.
@JNL, I completely get it about your cat’s rejecting the prescribed food and medicine. Any time any of DH’s and my two dogs and six cats needed special food (here in the US, the food is usually a brand called Hill’s Science Diet), they’d just look at us and say wordlessly, "I'd rather die first." I’m glad your kitty is doing OK anyway.
Actually, the food was from Hill's. The look we got from our tomcat was priceless. We locked him up with just that food for an entire evening and a night and it was Not Eaten. And since the vet had stressed that it was important that the cat be fed/produce stool in the next day, we yielded.
Sorry, Hill's!
I am thankful for all the beautiful Black Eyed Susans (the state flower of Maryland). It must be a great year for them because I have seen them in abundance while driving and walking this week.
I am thankful for my sweet daughter. DH has been out of town this week so she makes sure I am not "lonely" in the evenings.
I am thankful for the new-ish Pilates teacher at my yoga studio. Yoga teachers seem to be a dime a dozen but keeping a Pilates teacher seems to be difficult. J started teaching at the studio last month and she is a wonderful teacher. She is clear in her instructing, her classes are challenging, and I feel stronger. She also has a great personality.
I am thankful for the lower humidity days we've had. August weather has been decent for the Mid-Atlantic region.
I am thankful for being 15 minutes from the airport. When we lived in the Midwest we were 1+ hours from the airport. Though I don't go there often, it is nice to have it so close.
@K D, I love Black Eyed Susans, and another name for them is Golden Jerusalem, which I think is so pretty!
Thankfuls: Back to School Edition
--That my first work "week" back to school is over. The first week is exhausting, and I only work two days. Poor teachers. And kids. They're all droopy by Thursday.
--That we still only have four-day weeks. It used to be somewhat common in rural districts, because of the distance involved in transporting kids every day, but it's not popular with state education departments and they really push five-day weeks. Thankfully, our school has held the line and worked around the new requirements for extra instructional time while still maintaining that four-day week.
--That a new family started at our school with four kids around the ages of my four. This means all of my children have a new kid in their classes. This was a particularly big deal for my 8th grader, who was the only boy in the middle school (this is a REALLY, REALLY small school--we are actually labeled a "micro district") and not happy about it. The very first day, he was telling me what a nice kid the new boy is, and I am so happy he has a friend around his age at school now.
--For the new school cook. The lady I've been assisting in that position for the past couple of years really wanted to retire, and they finally found a replacement for her. I was not willing to be her replacement in that position, so I'm extremely glad this new lady came to work with us. Surprisingly, it's much harder to hire for the support staff--office, janitorial, kitchen--than actual teachers in our rural district.
--That we figured out what was wrong with our eldest son's feet. He had so much pain he could barely walk, and x-rays revealed a somewhat rare congenital condition of an extra bone in each foot that was being pulled on by tendons whenever he ran. Like, say, for three hours at football practice. Yikes. He's still in pain, and definitely sidelined for any sports for at least this year, but we have an appointment with a podiatrist in about a month and we hope to get some more answers about treatments then. He may have to have surgery, but at least this is a fixable thing. And he has full coverage health insurance. The whole thing is a bummer, but there are still many things to be thankful for in the situation.
@kristin @ going country,
There is a little boy, elementary school age, in our church who had something similar. At first they tried some kind of braces, but then he underwent surgery last spring. He was in a wheelchair for a couple of weeks, then he walked slowly with corrective shoes, but now he's running around with the other kids and playfully chasing his brother just like nothing happened! Those doctors can do wonders for these kinds of things, and I hope for a similarly great outcome for your son.
@kristin @ going country, I'm so glad the doctors found out what was causing your son's foot pain. Hoping for a good outcome.
@kristin @ going country, Is it a accessory navicular bone? I have the same issue, in my right foot, and I didn't know about it until my third pregnancy, when I had a 12 pound kid and all that weight aggravated the tendon. He may have to wear a foot brace for a while---that's what I did--but sometimes they can just prescribe custom orthotics to support the tendon, rather than surgery. Best hopes for a good outcome!
@kristin @ going country,
Wow! Things like that make me glad to live in this century. A problem like that would probably lead to perpetual disability, without the access we have now to surgery and braces. Good luck to him, (and you). ♥☺
@Karen A., Yes, that's it. He has it in both feet, unfortunately. It seems it's asymptomatic for most people, but I suspect it couldn't have been for him, as active as he is with three sports and a summer fencing job. I don't expect he'll ever not want to be active, though, so I guess we'll do whatever needs to be done for him to do what he wants to do. I sincerely hope he can just wear a foot brace for awhile like you did or get custom orthotics, but we'll know more when we see the podiatrist.
@kristin @ going country, Oh, ouch. Having it in one foot is a pain, but both is hard. And yes, activity makes it worse--I had to give up running and just accept that walking and biking are going to be my cardio! I did wear a foot brace for a while to take the weight off the tendon, and then custom orthotics. After a while, though, the orthotics were causing me more pain and difficulty walking, so now I just wear them in my boots, which are a size too big anyway. Ha. I always make sure to get shoes that are designed for overpronation, which is a side effect of accessory navicular syndrome. Good luck at the podiatrist!
We're camping this week and everyone else is still peacefully sleeping, so I get to do a thankful Thursday list! I'm thankful:
* that my kids really enjoy camping.
* that we've had some great swimming, even though the weather hasn't been great the entire time.
* that we've done enough camping that rain here and there doesn't phase us.
* for safety. Early on in our trip I turned to help my middle child and my 5yo rode her bike down a steep hill in the campground that I wanted us to all walk down. She couldn't stop and was going to reach the bottom the same time as a big truck was about to pass by. Thankfully, the driver was paying attention and also had his window down so he could hear me yelling. So even though my daughter couldn't stop, the driver did and they didn't collide. It was really scary and I'm thankful that it turned out fine.
* that the campground hosts here are such nice people. We don't always interact with the hosts, but we have this time and they're wonderful!
* that Michigan has so many amazing places to explore and so much freshwater coastline.
* for all of the camping knowledge my husband's parents passed down to him. He's really good at this and it helps makes the experience great.
@Ruth T, What a scary experience. Whew! Glad your daughter is ok.
Which side of the state are you camping on this time? We sometimes liked to go to campgrounds with inland lakes--it's a different experience after spending so much time at Lake Michigan (and the water is generally warmer).
@Kris, Thanks! The thankfulness for how it turned up has run through my mind over and over.
We're at Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin. The beach here is a lot like Lake Michigan, way better than I expected for Lake Huron! Our campsite is super close to the beach, which has been so nice.
@Ruth T, I grew up on the east side of the state and we vacationed at Tawas State Park. There's a bay there, which is nice for swimming, and also a lighthouse which you can walk to from the campground. I've heard good things about Port Crescent and am glad you are enjoying your time.
@Kris, oh cool! We will have to check it out.
My eighth grader is also the only boy in his class and has been for several of the years from k-8. (The class has 7 girls so it can be stressful to deal with all the girl drama.) It's not easy even for a great kid. I'm glad your son has a new dude in class; middle school is hard enough.
@mbmom11,
This was meant as a reply to Kristin above.
I'm thankful for an easy drop off for my college freshman, and only a few calls home from her so far.
That my son returning to HS has had a good first week. It may not last, but I'm hoping a good week will help establish some good patterns for the rest of yhe semester.
And regarding TI84 calculators, Target usually has them on sale right about now- about $99 instead of $149. It's the cheapest I've seen it ( unless you can find it on a clearance each or buy one used).
@mbmom11, I saw a TI84 calculator on BN and a few asks for school supplies.
Today I'm so thankful for cooler temperatures, and for the rain we've had the last two days. Cloudy skies have made these brutal summer days so much more manageable.
I'm thankful for the kindness and persistence of the two maintenance guys who fixed our window. It's such a pleasure to be around nice people!
I'm thankful that my husband and I have been able to watch the women's World Cup games. Not to mention that our broadcasting is in Spanish, which is highly entertaining to us. Thank you, Peacock!
I'm thankful that last weekend we had a last-minute getaway. It was so hot, but we got to swim in a pool and eat some yummy meals and not worry about our stressors for a couple of days. We also got to visit a Goodwill that was on our way home, which is one of my favorite things to do.
Thankful for the mix of rain and sun we’ve been getting. Great for the crops and lawns.
What exactly is a plate return?
@Linda, Each state in the US issues its own license plates for cars. Since Lisey is now registering her car in Hawaii, she needs to return the plates from Kristen's state.
Yep, yep! And I couldn't cancel the car insurance here until the plates were returned. Now she's got Hawaii plates and Hawaii insurance.
I'm thankful DH, DS, and I were able to stop by to wish my MIL a happy 90th birthday. The whole family will go visit her this weekend to celebrate since DD couldn't make it earlier this week.
I'm thankful to have found a new hair stylist after the one I've used for many years retired.
I'm thankful DS can use my camera for his photography class so no need to buy one.
I'm thankful we've had a couple of days of lower temperatures and humidity. Of course, the heat and humidity will return this weekend but the short break from it was nice.
I'm thankful that I got a coupon for a free cleaning and sanitizing of our garbage bin. After having the ruined 1/4 side of beef in it for 5 days in the summer heat, it definitely needs a good cleaning.
@Beverly, I again sympathize with you re: the ruined beef. And I also sympathize about the smell. When the Bestest Neighbors gave me the shells of four lobsters to make lobster stock earlier this summer, I made the mistake of putting the shells and other stock-making residue (bagged up on their own, but still...) in an outside garbage can 6 days before trash day. The resulting smell was bad enough to gag a goat.
When I've had leftovers from picking crabs, I've usually put them in my chest freezer until trash day. Otherwise like you said the smell is ferociously bad.
@A. Marie,
I second Kristen's suggestion to bag used bones and other meat trash in the freezer until garbage day. It's what we do and we also keep our compost in the freezer. We started putting compost in the freezer on vacation so we could bring it back home with us and realized that we were also eliminating smell and fruit flies with this method, so we kept it up when we came home. We've been freezer composting for a little over a year now and I highly recommend it. We just put everything into a plastic salad clam shell (the big kind because you know we love our salad around here) and take it out to our outside bin a couple times a week when it's full. If it gets super gross, it's easy (and free) to replace the bin and it has really cut down on the general funkiness of summertime composting. When vacationing, I reuse bread bags for any compost and then use the frozen compost "cubes" wrapped in their plastic bags to insulate any fridge leftovers that I need to bring home.
--that a call from a debt collector was actually NOT for us, but for somebody with a similar name to my husband. (How does this even happen? They need to check middle names and birth dates, not just first and last names!) Still, whew. Also, this spurred him to remember about a smallish dental bill he hadn't paid, which wouldn't have been enough to warrant a debt collection agency, but still getting it paid is good for peace of mind.
--For my oldest who kindly took his younger brother on a tour of the college campus so he knows where his classes are now that he has to go in-person for his sophomore year. This is the college in our town, and our oldest graduated from there and still lives in town, so the two of them had a nice adventure together.
--The college charged us for health insurance for our college sophomore (he did his freshman year during high school for free with College Credit Plus). Said sophomore didn't read the bill and so we just paid it...then he learned if he submitted proof of being covered under our health insurance, they would refund the insurance money. He sent in the proof and we got the money back. And he learned a good lesson about reading your bills! Yeesh.
--My youngest really enjoyed going to volunteer with me at the cat shelter--we clean the rooms where the cats reside, and interact with the cats, and he got to hold kittens! I wasn't sure he would be up for the long ride, but he's been talking all week about how tomorrow is "Kitty Cat Day" so he's enjoying it immensely obviously. It's a good activity for us, and then afterwards we go out for dinner with DH, which is a new treat for us. I'm thankful our kids do still like to hang out with us.
--For sleep--i was going through a rough period where I was waking at 4 am or 3 am, unable to go back to sleep. Lack of sleep for me=migraine. Happily I switched my magnesium supplement and I think it's helping. While I still sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, I can go back to sleep more easily.
@Karen A., We had the same situation with debt collectors on two different occasions. One kept calling about a person with our last name but a different first name. The other was for a distant relative we knew was a deadbeat. I got very angry at the repeated calls especially since we have a stellar credit rating. I took matters into my own hands and tracked down current addresses and phone numbers for both individuals. The debt collectors were ecstatic and we haven't had a call in several years. I agree they should be more careful. I found the delinquents online through free sources. There's no reason the debt collectors couldn't have done the same thing had they actually made the effort.
Kristen, it is so great that you got to hang out with Carrie.
This week I am thankful for a few days of cooler weather that made finishing some house repairs so much easier. Also for the container garden of tomato plants that keep producing goodness. And always for my sweet family, our pack of rescued pets, and a return to good health.
Ah, those steamy windows! I wake up to them some days, too. I'm sooooo ready for autumn.
How nice that you had a good visit! That sounds like you had a lot of fun.
1. I'm thankful that - once again - I can see the humor in this situation and brush it off, whereas years ago I would get a bit offended. Yet another person earnestly argued with me that two brown-eyed parents (DH and me) can't be the biological parents of one child with yellow-green eyes and another child with gray eyes (which we are) because "brown eyes are dominant." I still don't know if people who argue with me about this realize what they are implying, and I don't know how they don't realize how silly it is to argue with the living, breathing proof that they are wrong. I'm just grateful that I no longer get my feathers ruffled over it. It's such a tiny thing in life; there's no point in fussing over it.
2. I'm thankful that although we still have above normal temperatures forecast for the next two weeks, this weekend is supposed to have lower humidity. If true, that means watering plants might be needed, but at least the humidity won't be at suffocation levels.
3. I'm thankful yet again that my experience with DH's health issues is helping my sister, who is struggling with her husband's Parkinson's and Parkinson's dementia. She's had a rough few days, lately, and we talked quite a while on the phone last night.
4. I'm thankful that my deep-brunette granddaughter has decided not to join in the almost universal practice among her friends of highlighting their hair. She has beautiful thick, dark, glossy hair, and she's finally realized that it doesn't need a thing done to it.
5. I'm grateful that I recognized another scam attempt in my work email and deleted it quickly. I also got a scam attempt from the "US post office" on my cell phone, but luckily spotted an extra letter in the web address and deleted it instead of opening it. Scammers disgust me!
@JD,
My parents both have blue eyes. My sisters and I are all brown-eyed. My sister’s 7th-grade biology teacher announced in front of the entire class that genetics made it impossible for our father to be our father. My sister came home crying and my parents were mortified! This was 40 years ago and we lived in a small town where news travelled fast.
My dear dad paid a visit to the teacher and calmly explained dominant and recessive genes using a Punnent square. The teacher was asked to apologize and admit her error in front of the class.
My goodness that is terrible.
Sonia has blonde hair and blue eyes and since I have brown hair and brown eyes (and so do most of my other kids) I heard SO many "jokes" about the UPS man or the mailman, as if it is so hilarious to joke about me cheating. I really do not understand why people think it's so funny.
@Bee,
OH MY GOSH!!!!
That tops them all - it just absolutely tops it.
@JD and @Bee, these stories about people leaping to judgment over other people's familial eye colors absolutely floor me. And loud cheers for Bee's dad for the calm and well-informed way he dealt with the teacher.
@JD, @Bee, that's insane that people do that!
People have argued with me and my sister that we're not full siblings (which we are) because she "looks more ethnic," whatever that even means. If they're particularly annoying, we've started to telling them that every family only has so many boring white girl features to go around and I used them all up before my sister was born. That usually results in at least a few seconds of stunned silence.
Even if someone was sure, and right, about a child's parentage, it's certainly not a stranger's or teacher's place to share that information.
@JD, Don't those ignorant people know about recessive traits? We learned about that in sixth grade Science!
Also, I am aghast that teachers would do that. I am adopted and it disgusted me that I felt the need to fib about where I get this trait or that trait. I hated the assignments with family trees, who was blue eyed and who was brown eyed, blonde or brunette, short or tall, etc. The insensitivity of such assignments is appalling!
@JD, my husband and I are both brunette and my daughter is a red head. I have gotten sooooo many comments about the milk man or mail man. The worst was a man who asked my daughter if her daddy had red hair and when I answered no, he just looked at my daughter and said that seems like someone is lying huh? Shocked and speechless. What 3 year old needs to be asked that or even have that comment made to them?
It's so insulting to the moms to make jokes like this. I hope one day people will realize this and just stop!
Thankful that I'm at the end of my relay training. It's next Friday, so we are in the home stretch! While I consistently work out every day, training for an event requires much more structured workout plans, & I miss the flexibility & ability to adjust my schedule around personal & work commitments. There are mornings it's just hard to get in 4 miles & get showered & to work by 8:30.
We have DS16's ENT appointment today, after months & months of waiting. His ear drum ruptured on a flight in April, and while they think his hearing has recovered, this will give us peace of mind & also a chance for them to check out his adenoids.
I happened to notice that the senior portraits (DS17) needed to be completed relatively soon, and most of the appointments were during the school day, which seems inconvenient & puzzling availability. I was able to find one for my son today, and take him at lunch. One less thing we need to juggle during the school year.
I've been doing a lot of outdoor running, and am thankful we have such a lovely area to run in. It's also hilly, which can be less desirable. However, my runs will also be hilly, so this has given me a good chance to train on hills.
Thankful that both teens received their requested classes for the school year. That doesn't always happen, so it's super nice when the stars align & the schedule gods are able to work that out.
Wow, you must get a VERY early start to get all that in before work!
Life has been busy.
I am thankful that summer is nearly over. We have been under excessive heat warnings for most of July and August. This summer was one to be endured rather than enjoyed. I’ve nearly made it!
I am thankful for air conditioning. Always. Always. Always.
I am thankful for all the individuals who work in this heat day in and day out to keep out community humming along. I cannot imagine putting on a police uniform and vest when temperatures are 100+ or working for the DOT to mow the roadways to reduce the fire hazard.
I am thankful for the huge thunderstorm that we had last night. It dumped 1” of much needed rain and cleared the air. The expected high is only going to be 89 today.
Wishing everyone peace, good health and prosperity.
I think about that when I see landscapers out there in long sleeves and long pants in the summer heat. I don't know how they do it!
@Kristen, Long pants and long sleeves are actually cooler than getting burned to a crisp. I wear them pretty much every time I go outside here where the UV is always cranked up to 11.
Thankful that my next-door neighbor's (NDN's) other close friend (CF) and her husband were available yesterday when NDN had a plumbing emergency I couldn't deal with. Also thankful that CF and her DH, when they couldn't deal with it either, called in their own plumber (to whom I may switch; he was considerably quicker to respond than mine usually is). The problem is currently being dealt with.
Not thankful that the broader issues of NDN's obvious decline and what to do about it remain unresolved. But I think CF and I are going to be pulling some strings and rattling some chains in the next few days.
@A. Marie,
I'm both inspired by your help for your neighbor and sad that this situation is happening. Thank heavens for the friend and her husband, though!
This week:
*Last night, I slept for almost 12 hours. Boy, it makes a difference in my outlook. Yesterday I was miserable and grumpy and feeling extremely sorry for myself and today I feel much brighter and happier.
*It's cooler out. I think I will take my kindle to the beach. Nothing hurts when I swim.
*The crushing anxiety I had seems to have lifted.
*Just a few more weeks of being invaded by tourists. This town was named the most expensive in the entire US for a beach vacation. And yet they keep on coming.
YAY for sleep!!
I saw that picture of you and Carrie and I thought "I know that woman." I finally realized I used to read her blog, but when she hit a long lull I gave up. Thanks for the link, now I can catch up.
Yes, she's been through a lot in the last few years, but she's planning on writing more regularly now!
My husband is a business owner and he had a work related question that he brought up to my 12-year-old son over dinner to ask how he would handle the situation. There isn’t a “right” answer to the situation and it was great to watch my son be thoughtful and weigh both sides of the issue. I love when my husband shows my son that his opinion is valuable.
I picked my son’s back wheel up from the bike shop after getting the tire replaced – the whole repair was only $15! My husband and son worked together to put the wheel back on the bike. They even had to work through a few complications since the bike is 40+ years old, but they were successful.
We’ve had a week of relatively cooler temps which has been a nice little break before the heat wave that is supposed to hit next week.
I’ve been feeling pretty good on the hobby front: my current book is good, my audio book makes me want to take longer walks, and my two crochet projects are progressing nicely.
This week I'm thankful for:
* My job. Lately it has been really interesting and fast-paced, just the way I like it.
* The gym! I went to 2 classes this week so far (may do a 3rd on Friday). I felt great after each class. Thankful that my gym is so close, like a mile away.
* Cooler temps but still warm. The crazy hot days have been replaced with some thunderstorms and cooled off weather. Perfect for walking.
* An appointment with a new vet today for my sick cat. Hoping this highly recommended vet can help him.
* A great book! Started a new book on Sunday, finished on Tuesday, I couldn't put it down.
@Adrienne, Ooh, share the book title? I always love finding a book I can't put down.
1) That I had a four day break from work and went camping with my husband. It was great fun- lots of time beach walking and relaxing.
2) upcoming fun time with friends planned for this weekend
3) a light work schedule this week
4) a fridge full of local produce
5) my health- many friends or their spouses are not so lucky at the moment
1. For a new medicine that seems to be helping my husband handle depression and anxiety better. There are so many instances that I find myself grateful for modern medicine in and this is not far down the list. Issues like these would have meant far more drastic circumstances in the past.
2. Even though we are still in the midst of the dog days of August with high heat and swampy humidity, I know that fall is coming. The promise of relief in a new season is just such a lovely thing.
3. For more energy in my bootcamp classes, the ability to complete more exercises/challenges without breaks, quicker recovery & less soreness, and new numbers on the scale/inches lost. I am just so, so grateful for the gift of my body and the work it is doing to get healthy again. I truly have never felt better.
4. For access to healthy foods and a love to cook & bake. This is something I think we take too lightly nowadays. Cooking & baking is such an incredible life skill to have on your toolbelt. I am reminded of this so much on this health journey as I see many struggling to succeed because the knowledge of cooking is something they have never had. I love watching my son be interested in cooking! I won't live forever and I can rest easy that he will eat well all of his days.
5. For my Mom who stepped way outside her comfort zone this week and joined me in bootcamp this week. Not an easy feat at any age but especially at hers. I don't believe that she has worked out in over 40 years and she is in there with me crushing it. So so proud of her and most thankful for this answered prayer.
Cheers to the weekend ahead!
I gotta say I love the grey hair!! I wish I have the confidence to let the grey happen when it does (plus I plan on keeping the pink etc., so I really want to lean into the "wise witch in the forest vibe"). Since you mentioned Lisey, I am hoping that means she is safe and sound in Hawaii. Lord knows we need air service in that area so I am super thankful for your daughter's job right now.
This week I am thankful for:
1. My niece seems to be covid free. LA is having a pretty big covid surge and three of my friends are down for the count but so far it looks like my year old niece has bypassed it. She was in the NICU and got RSV last year, so I am really, really hoping we can keep her healthy.
2. I don't think I will have to get any new outfits for a wedding I am in. Obviously I had to buy the bridesmaid dress but I think everything I already have in my closet will work for the rest of the events.
3. On that same note, I am super thankful for lenient return policies. I don't know exactly what type of shoes I will be able to wear bc of my Idiot Ankle, so I bought 4 pairs to cover all bases. Thank god the unused will be easily returned.
4. I am finally cooking with gas (as they say) in PT. I am essentially full weight bearing in my boot and will hopefully start transitioning to shoes next week.
5. Used books. My delightful husband finally installed the wall to wall bookcases of my dreams so I can have a library/reading area in my office (gotta love Ikea Billy bookcases that are all over FB Marketplace), so now I am on the hunt to fill it with all the used books I love.
Yes, she is on Oahu, so thankfully she is ok.
Yay for PT progress for you. I bet you are so so happy!
A short trip to the DMV is always something to be grateful for!
My thankful things
-Another week of beautiful weather: 70’s and mostly sunny. It’s so nice to stay cool but be able to enjoy the sunshine.
-Living 10 minutes away from my sister. This is the first time since college that we’ve gotten to live in the same state, and i absolutely love getting to see her so frequently.
-My washer and dryer. Every week (every day) I’m so grateful for them.
Thankful for the break in the heat we've had for the past few days. Not having to use the A.C. and have the windows open has been refreshing. Have slept good, albeit sleeping pattern is not always easy d/t working nights. We had several days of rain prior to this that kept me from mowing. Because my yard is a sanctuary for pollinators, birds and little animals I mow less than the average person in my community. I saw a dragonfly this week, first one of the season. There are usually several and they are good to take down the mosquito population.
Thankful for Molly's groomer. Molly is reputed to be a beagle/poodle mix and the only reference I see to either in her appearance is her beagle shape. She is white with black patches and sheds like there is no tomorrow. Getting her groomed on a regular basis helps a lot and her groomer treats her as if she were of the finest pedigree. It helps that she is a total cuddle bug. She is aging and cannot handle jumping up or down from the couch or bed like she used to. I can still lift the 30lb. furball. It gives more opportunity to love on her.
Thankful for new neighbors. The house to the north was for sale for only a couple of months. A family of five has moved in. I made the first move and dropped off a peach cream pie and some of my home grown tomatoes. The couple and one of their daughters returned the pie pan and introduced themselves. I'd met the other two daughters when I dropped off the goods. The encounter also gave me an opportunity to explain my lack of yard mowing and they were very understanding. My landlords used to live in the house over thirty years ago. They bought and remodeled the house I live in specifically for me and then promptly moved across town. As they were also my best friends, I cried for days. Now they don't even live in the same state! We are still close. Anyway, I have had several neighbors come and go and am always happy when the house is full of life.
Oooh, I can't wait for open window days!
It's been so busy that I had to pull up my calendar to see what happened this past week. I guess that makes me thankful that I have technology at my fingertips to keep me on track. 🙂
My son is home safely. He returns to college (he was doing a summer internship out of state) on Wednesday. It's so good to have him around. Time with him is getting briefer each year so I try to treasure each moment.
I think I'm finally done with the saga of getting my tooth crown replaced. Yay!
Thankful for waking up to the sound of distant thunder and rain this morning. I love the summer sunshine but an occasional rainy morning is also something I enjoy. My husband is out of town and the kids and I didn't have anywhere to be, so we had a leisurely breakfast and felt cocooned in our home, safe and dry from the rain.
The three of us also had a fun day yesterday--we went to the zoo during the day, and played putt-putt/went for ice cream/saw the sunset on Lake Michigan in the evening. I'm grateful we had the time to get in some summer fun and cooperative weather, too.
Grateful:
*for predicted cooler temps for our camping trip this weekend.
*that friends we haven't connected with in a while will be coming to camp with us.
*for my hubby who is handy and able to conquer many DIY's saving us a lot of dollars.
*for my adult children who are kind and compassionate towards others
*that I no longer need to participate in the back-to-school mayhem
*for a wonderful workplace and boss
*that today is my parent's 55th Wedding Anniversary!
@Cheryl 90,
Give my regards to the "oldlyweds" on the 55th year of their honeymoon. That is outstanding!
This week I'm thankful:
That our elderly cat, Howard, is having a good week. He's 17, and his health has really started to decline, but this week has been a good week for him.
For air conditioning. It was out at work on Monday morning, and I was so happy when it started working again Monday afternoon.
That my sister and her girlfriend are coming to visit this weekend. We haven't seen them in a few months, and I'm looking forward to hanging out with them.
I am thankful that my company hired another admin. This enables me to take a longer maternity leave when the baby arrives.
I am thankful for ultrasounds. It is nice to get a peak at the baby every now and then and it is very reassuring to be able to track the babies growth.
I am thankful that the community pool added a late summer session and the lap swim times work with my schedule.
I am thankful for a young friend who helped my husband move shelving and reorganize our shed this weekend.
I am thankful for church friends who offered to throw us a baby shower next month.
1. That I have a nice doctor for my primary care physician. She took time and answered all my questions when I had my annual checkup today.
2. For win-win situations: I met a lady who was helping my yardman clean up the backyard after chopping down the dead tree. He left to get some equipment fixed and didn't come back for over an hour, so she was still sitting outside when I came back from the doctor's. Since it was 100+ degrees, I invited her in for a cold drink. We visited, and she said she had just lost her son, was granted custody of her grandchildren, and needed work. I said I still need to clean up after The Roommate From Hell. She was happy to do the cleaning and heavy lifting that I can't do due to my car wreck injuries. She sacked up half a dozen large trash bags full of rubbish -- the area that had TRFH's trash in it is now pretty much clear. (I've been trying to get this job completed since the 4th of July. I did a little at a time, but it was all too much for me.) I was able to pay her in food, including the 20-lb. sack of flour that TRFH had, for whatever unexplained reason, ordered. More than half the contents were left, but it was opened so food banks couldn't accept it. And it was in the way! I also was able to give her some other food TRFH left behind, items I'm allergic to. (And I also paid her some money in addition to the 3 boxes full of food.) She and the children she's raising will benefit. I drove this lady home, helped her unload my car, and she is willing to work for me again. Like she said, we were each other's blessing today.
3. Summer vacation is over and I start my substitute teaching job tomorrow.
4. The dead tree is all cut down! So I don't have to worry about it falling over this winter.
5. That my vision is amazing, thanks to the cataract surgery! No longer near-sighted, I could read all the street signs when I was driving the lady home, and my close-up vision is improving day by day.
@Fru-gal Lisa, your #2 is an amazing story. I'm so glad that you and this lady were and are able to help each other.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Thank you for sharing your story in #2! It was such an encouragement to me to hear of people "coincidentally" meeting and being able to help each other and bless each other. Thanks for your willingness to share the kindness of a cold drink which then opened the door to connecting with others. You are an inspiration!
It is sad when faithful footwear is no longer useful. Farewell old friends!
This week I am especially thankful for:
-a visit with a precious niece yesterday
-a visit with a lovely blog buddy today
-two weeks of babysitting, hanging out and vacationing with grandkids
-healthy maternity check ups for my youngest daughter
-this safe and encouraging blog space
It was fun to have coffee with you today!
In the midst of a terrible season, I'm finding it hard to see the positives. But here goes.
*For my working A/C. It is currently 106 outside. How did people live before air conditioning?
*The rest of a bottle of wine from yesterday. It is improving my mood.
*I bought some things at Kohl's today. $21 for 2 dresses, a top, and two packages of wax tarts. Then I cleared a few things out of my closet that I will not wear. Hooray for free time to think about my clothes!
*Picking up a prescription at work. I have good health benefits and the meds I need are easily refilled at the hospital I work at. Plus, the copays are low and my HSA card covers it!
*Taco Salads tonight. Perfect for a hot day. Then I will watch a movie on Netflix.
Life is good. (:
For a week of really great weather, it has rained a lot but the temperature is just perfect. Can't beat a Michigan summer.
Thankful for being invited to a friends family reunion -we are kind of related but their family parties are so fun.
Thankful for my vet and that my pupper is doing better. He has some swelling going on and vet thinks it is a salivary gland.
It was quiet at work, I know it won't last but I am enjoying it.
It has been a stressful week, but I know it could have been worse.
Today I am thankful for...
1. Time to reread old books and enjoy them even more the second time. (Now it is time to pass them on for someone else to enjoy.)
2. Fantastic homemade bread bought at the local farmer's market.
3. A lazy day at the lake with my parents, nieces and nephews, and cousins.
4. A soft-serve ice cream cone (My first this summer.)
5. A cool basement apartment that helps me sleep well.
6. Decluttering some things and getting them out of my house. Yay for more peaceful surroundings!
I’ve never heard of returning license plates. This is something insurance related? Could you tell us more?
Hi
What kind of sneakers do you have?They have a wider toe bed that might work for me. Thx!
I’m on my own, too, and it’s good to see you’re adjusting to your new life. I’m grateful for mine!
I’m thankful for some extra time with my daughter. She’s still looking for a full-time job but works two part-time jobs which keep her busy. As well, she is constantly working on costumes she creates for cosplay events and for the MD Renaissance Festival. So even if we just do some errands together, I cherish the time! Today has been one of those times.
I’m grateful my son and his wife were able to do a getaway for their first year anniversary. They had a wonderful time and stayed healthy, safe and happy.
I’m so thankful for the breezes today. It’s a refreshing change to some of the recent humidity.
I’m grateful for our pup, Wally, who loves to cuddle. He also gets the zoomies which make us laugh so hard.
As always, I’m so thankful for good health. We don’t take that for granted.
I have to say that your friend Carrie has the most beautiful hair! I’m glad for both of you that you got to visit!
This week, I am thankful for:
1. An impromptu family gathering where I got to meet the newest member of our family, baby Myla, my nephews little one, only two months old. She healthy and beautiful and all the good things babies bring to families!
2. A nice long afternoon visit with a friend, she is going through some hard times and needed this visit, but it also filled my cup, because she is such a good person.
3. That my perennial gardens are doing well in this wet weather we’ve had almost all summer. My annuals are not thriving, but the perennials make up for it.
4. Our big front porch, where we both spend many hours in the summer, reading, watching the birds come to the feeders, sipping cold beverages and sometimes snoozing. It’s one of our favorite places to be!
5. A buy one, get one free sale at my favorite garden center, way out in the middle of nowhere but worth the drive. All the perennials were BOGO, the annuals $1.00, the massive, healthy hangers $10. I filled up the back of my Subaru with plants, and a couple of shrubs. All in preparation for my next garden project, two gardens flanking the porch. So, BOGO was perfect, because each plant has a matching partner! I tend to be kind of “matcha, matcha” so it works for me! Now, to get all this stuff in the ground before frost, which in Maine can happen in October.
This thankful exercise is so good for me, because I thought I had kind of a crappy week, until I sat down to write my Thankful list. Thanks, Kristen for prompting me to look on the bright side!
I am thankful we were able to get a couple kids coordinated at a play place for my son’s birthday. Trying to get multiple people to actually be free at the same time for a play date is difficult and I’m glad we were able to make it work.
I am thankful for a fun get together with two old coworkers. We have a lot in common and kids the same age so it was really a nice day, with all the kids playing at the beach and fun conversation.
I am thankful for cucumbers. Tons and tons of them! Usually all my garden gets eaten by the woodchuck, the bunnies, and the deer, but they left the cucumbers alone. So we have a big pile of them and they are delicious.
I am thankful for the late summer flowers. The goldenrod and sunflowers and black eyed Susans are so pretty this time of year.
I am thankful for my son learning to play cribbage! Playing with small children is special in it’s own way, but being able to play a “real” card game instead of endless go fish is a new level of parenting enjoyment we haven’t experienced before. Being able to do things with my kids I actually would want to do on my own is pretty cool.
Thankful for being alive and being able to spend time with hubby. He doesn't have the stress he had when he was working so he's back to being his goofy loveable self. Life is good.
Kristen what kind of sneakers are you wearing? I'm intrigued by the wide toe box. I have big, fat, flat feet so I always need to get a wide.
I’m thankful for enough time and energy at the end of a long day of driving to scroll through this week’s thankfuls to unwind.
I’m thankful for the backroads 2 of my boys and I traveled today.
I am thankful that my boys were able to see all of their living grandparents yesterday.
I am thankful for the Highway 63 Diner in Waterloo, Iowa. It’s good to eat a sandwich on a homemade roll.
I am so very thankful that dropping my son off at college this year is so different. He is excited to see his friends again and to start his classes. And this year I can blink and smile a little. And drive!
I am thankful that the other son with me is a capable navigator and a good companion for the return home. He’s also big and strong and makes me feel safe. I only wish that he could drive!