Thankful Thursday | I have a chest freezer!
This week, I am thankful:
for my new chest freezer
Last Friday night, I was sitting at dinner with the girls and I said, "You know what? I am really tired of not having a chest freezer. After dinner, I'm gonna go buy one."
(Why yes, I doooo know how to party hard on Friday nights!)
I did a minimum of research (mainly checking if Home Depot had one in stock) and I went over and picked one up.
It actually worked pretty well to go on a Friday night; apparently, that is not a hot time to be at Home Depot so there were plenty of employees available to help me and to get the freezer down from the super high rack where it was stored.
Friday night freezer shopping: 10/10.
I considered getting this upright, manual defrost freezer because it takes less floor space.
But it was $100 more, and I didn't like that there were no big compartments.
So, I opted for the cheaper chest-style option.
I got a 7 cubic foot freezer, which feels very small and cute compared to the freezer I had at my other house.
But it's a perfectly fine size for the girls and me, and I am so happy to have a place to store things on a longer-term basis.
(Because someone asked about this last week: a self-defrosting freezer goes through thawing and freezing cycles to prevent frost build-up. This thaw/freeze cycle causes freezer burn on food over time, so it's not good for long-term storage of frozen food.)
My new freezer fits perfectly in my unfinished laundry room, and since it's fairly small and light, I can take it with me wherever I live next.
that my two exams are done
I had my first chemistry exam and my first microbiology lab exam on Tuesday of this week, and I also had a bunch of notes due for microbiology lecture on the same day.
I personally think that is TOO MUCH science for a single day, so I am very, very thankful that day is over.
Now I just have a psychology exam on Monday and a microbiology lecture on Tuesday, and then I have a little breather from exams. Yay!
for cat snuggles
Always and forever on my thankful list. 😉
She's been very into sitting on my lap lately, which is cute. She stayed there for my whole online chemistry class this week.
that Zoe and I did not catch whatever Lisey had
Lisey came down with some kind of bug last week (not Covid! we checked.) and I thought for sure Zoe and I would catch it, especially me since I share a bathroom with Lisey.
But it's been over a week and a half since she got sick, and Zoe and I are both fine. Whew.
for sunny, temperate weather
We've had a lot of lovely sunny days in the upper 60s and I think that is very perfect October weather.
that Lisey is coming back tomorrow
She's been at my aunt and uncle's house this week, taking care of their chickens while they are away.
But tomorrow she's coming back home, and Zoe and I are going to be so happy to see her!
for this extra year of time with Lisey
When she moved out last fall, I figured that was the end of having Lisey at home.
But a silver lining of all this family upheaval is that she decided to take a summer break, and then she decided to keep staying here with Zoe and me through the school year.
So, we get a bonus year with Lisey and I am thankful.
Yay! for your freezer! Now you can be rocking the bargains and future meals for when you are super busy. And your feline study partner is so cute!
I've had a frustrating week so far and am thankful that the workweek is nearly over. I'm taking next Monday and Tuesday off with my husband and we're going to tackle cleaning out and organizing the garage. (Fun togetherness activities for a pair of homebodies!) Also thankful that we finally had some rain last night after about a month and a half without any, which is very unusual for where we live.
A resounding GOOD FOR YOU on the Freezer purchase!!! Having an extra freezer is so useful for being able to take advantage of the best sale prices and for batch cooking! Good for the wallet and good for busy schedules 🙂
1. I am thankful that I listened to my instincts and went back to the doctor to get meds for high blood pressure and anxiety. Almost no one talks about this kind of stuff but when you need it, you need it! I have a family that counts on me and I need to be here for them AND I want to feel better. What a joy it was to wake up yesterday morning for the first time in over a year without a screaming headache!
2. I am thankful for all of the fall colors we are seeing. October is my favorite month and driving down a country road in the afternoon with my favorite music on, sunroof open, and the most beautiful light and colors just bless my socks off.
3. For the cooler temps. I can sit outside with my dog and enjoy the evenings.
4. Thankful that the sinus funk I am struggling with is just a sinus infection and not Covid! It is not as bad as it was last year but golly it is zero fun.
5. For modern medicine, helpful husbands & sons, grace, mercy, rest, soup & hot toddies in the evening.
Happy Thursday friends!!!
@Angie,
Waking up without a headache is certainly something to be thankful for!! I'm glad you're finding some relief!
@Angie,
High five to you for getting the care you needed for your high blood pressure and anxiety. I started taking medication for anxiety about a year ago, and it has made a huge difference. You're so right - no one talks about these things, but I hope that's starting to change!
@Angie, You were smart to go to the dr. Dh wouldn't go and had a stroke SOLELY because his high BP and diabetes went untreated too long. 2 simple meds could have stopped this. I hope this is a lesson no one else has to learn the hard way.
My son and I didn't get along so well while he was in high school, and right afterward graduation he went into the Marines. However he got out three years later, and I let him come back since he really had nowhere else to go. He was kind of in and out for about two years before he got his house in the next town over, and I was pretty grateful to have that extra time with him! Now my youngest is going to be 16, and I already told him there is no huge rush on leaving. I've got a big house, and when he goes I'll just be here by myself. What is the huge rush to make him go, if he doesn't necessarily have a reason to leave??? Sure I want him to be on his own, but at the same time if anything happens to me and he's over 18 - the house will be his problem, and his brother's problem. Someone might as well be here! I already told him I expect him to have a job, and to help chip in - which I think is fair! I don't expect him to be here in his 30's LOL, but what IS the big deal about a couple extra years - REALLY? My mom booted me out at 18, and it really wasn't a very nice thing to do. I just don't have that same animosity towards my kids . . . so I'm going to enjoy my bonus time with them IF I get it!
@Michaela,
I think that’s a great decision. Especially in this day and age, it’s difficult to get established on your own as a young person, and like you say, there is nothing wrong with having that extra time, as long as you are both contributing respect and love in a good relationship. Our time with our children flies by all too fast. I think the way your mother did things is a fairly harsh way and you’re turning that around with your sons, it sounds like.
@Jem,
You said that just right.....all of it. Breaking those cycles is so important.
@Michaela, my parents had a similar policy as you. My older brother went into the Navy after high school and I could stay in the house for free as long as I was working full time or going to school/ any combination of those two. If I quit both I would have to pay rent. I moved out when I got married at 22. I plan to do the same to my 2 children as they reach 18.
@Jenn W, my youngest son also has autism, mind you he's high on the spectrum! He's not in any way incapable of doing what he needs to do! I just think the extra time would be more beneficial, than harmful! As long as we can be a team, and play our parts here, I'm fine with him staying home a little longer. I'll never understand my mom, literally booting me out the moment I graduated and was 18. I literally had three hours to pack everything I could, and leave. If it wasn't for kind people, I would have been homeless! I get wanting your kid to be out, but I was working, and helping to pay bills. I thought I was doing everything right! And then #BOOM - get out! She did the same to my brother, except she literally moved out, and told him "I sold the house, so you better go!" He ended up in my driveway, sleeping in his car! I just have no desire to repeat that kind of thing! Even when my older son and I had a strained relationship, I didn't want him to be without a home! I'll never understand why my mom felt she had to be the way she was towards us!
On a further note - congrats on your freezer! I actually have one sitting in my basement - UNOPENED. Waiting for me to get my life together, to get it out of the box, and plug it in. I know that sounds terrible, but I have been working on house renovations all year. I bought it on sale, and life was terribly hectic for the last couple months. I am hoping this winter to get it all set up, and filled LOL! But at least its here! I also have paint I bought, so I could paint this fall and winter! I purchased it when it was hot, and I had no desire to paint all summer! So here is to a productive winter = HOPEFULLY! LOL!
1) Grateful that my 16 year old got his license yesterday! And, that my 7th trip to the DMV in 2022 is now complete. (I also have a 15 year old, and it took them both a few tries to get the permit, and we had one failed paperwork expedition.) The DMV is not my favorite place. And, now I have a bonus driver! Given how much driving we do, this is incredibly exciting.
2) That I had a chance for a very impromptu weekend with my family & BFF. We had a great time, and I had zero expectations, since I bought my flight on Wednesday.
3) For my body, for allowing me to do a 10k, without any prep. I do workout daily, and running is a part of a class I take, but I don't run regularly at the moment. I have lupus, so I'm extraordinarily grateful that my body is healthy & I can be active like this.
4) For fall weather. I love the change from summer, and it's been great lately - cool and foggy in the mornings, and gorgeous & sunny in the afternoons.
5) For a more mellow work week. Most of my team is in Tokyo this week. Double bonus: grateful I opted out of this trip. It's unusually quiet at work this week, fewer meetings, & much more enjoyable!
Congrats on the new freezer!
@Hawaii Planner, way to go on the 10K! Do you have any tips/resources for helping teens learn to drive?
@Hawaii Planner, I also have lupus and agree with you - every day of activity and health is a HUGE thing to be grateful for! Working out daily and especially a 10k is a huge accomplishment- congrats!
@CindySW, oh my. This is so location dependent, as the rules vary so much by state. In California, you take an online, 30 hour class to get your permit. Then, take a written test to confirm you learned. You must have one drive with a driving school, and then your permit is "activated/official". After that, you have two drives with the same school, and need six months, plus something like 40-60 hours of drive time, 10 of which needs to be at night. So, I'd research & understand the rules of your state, as this was all new to me when our first went through the process.
As for helping them learn to drive, a few things... lots & lots of patience. What feels natural to us, is something they need to practice. Things like: approaching an intersection & noting that the light has been green for a while, and is likely to be turning red soon. That's new to them, and something they've never done before. How to pace your car to successfully merge. How to decrease speed slowly, as you approach an intersection. How to quickly eyeball how fast someone else is traveling, and whether you'll have time to merge. All of that is built off of years & years of practice. So, plenty of patience. I found that we did best with lots of frequent driving, but in low risk situations, until they were more comfortable. I also worked hard to stay as calm as possible while we were driving. Keeping my voice calm & measured, and sharing tips & feedback in a mellow way. I also booked one extra driving lesson, right before the behind the wheel test, which really helped.
Good luck! Teaching the kids to drive has been quite an experience!
@Mia B., thanks, Mia! Very much agree - every day we can be active & healthy is a win. I fall into routines, & try to remind myself how lucky I am to be healthy enough to do (almost all of) the things I want.
YAY for kitty snuggles and a chest freezer! I am thankful for a clear mammogram, for fall weather, for only feeling bad for one day after getting a flu shot and covid booster, for my comfy bed and for working from home and for myself so that when I have a day when I don't feel great I can take the time off that I need to and just stay on the couch. Happy Fall!
Thankful for warm cozy clothes! I was always cold for years and last year I decided to really work on getting more warm comfy layers. So now I am so warm and toasty and not cold I didn’t even notice our heat wasn’t on this morning.
Thankful for the beautiful fall trees. The colors are breathtaking.
Thankful for our last minute fall camping trip. We were really worried it would be too cold (32 degrees the first night), but it all worked out and we stayed nice and warm and everyone had a good time. I think it went as smoothly as anything can with two little boys running around. Also I’m grateful my husband got a few days to get away from work. He has been working on a big project and I think he needed some time away.
Thankful for the library and for more free time to read books. I got some parenting type books last week and reading them has been very helpful and uplifting.
Thankful my kids enjoy drawing and painting and such too. It is a hobby of mine and it is fun to be able to enjoy those things together.
Well, top of my thankful list this morning is the fact that there was a meeting going on at church last night when I went to set up for handbell choir rehearsal so I was not alone. Why, you ask? Let me set the scene - I walk into our 130-yr-old sanctuary, put my things on the tablecloth of the bell table, and think, did that bump on the tablecloth just move? I nudge the bump and it definitely moved. After screaming, I walked calmly into the meeting of town leaders and ask one of our church members, Millard, to please help me. I got the butterfly net(we're used to dealing with bats in our building) and he got to work. It took a couple tries, but the critter was escorted out. I'll be going in this morning to clean up all the bits of foam, but I am so incredibly thankful that I didn't have to do the catching myself. Today, I am thankful for Millard.
Just realized I forgot to say who the critter was - it was a squirrel, making a nest in the foam under the tablecloth.
@Kate,
I'm glad you came back with that! I was wondering what it was.
@JD, Me too!
I had flashbacks of reaching down to a shelf in the garage to pull out some tarp and being electrified by a toothy hissing possum face (definitely would have been thankful for a Millard; glad you had help, Kate!)
@Suz, that's awful! Not sure I'd ever be able to go in the garage again!
@Kate,
Squirrels!!! They are THE WORST!!!
@Becca, yep, not a fan. The last time one showed up in church - also during handbell rehearsal - it RAN. ACROSS. MY. FOOT. Thank goodness I was wearing high boots so my legs were all covered...and that the handbell table could hold my weight because I jumped right up on that thing when I saw/felt the squirrel.
My son drove up from Indiana to Maine to spend a week of his vacation time with us. I am so thankful that my adult kids consider spending time with us worthy of vacation days. It's been great to have one on one time with him and spoil him a little bit.
Yesterday, my husband was able to get in with a specialist for a finger issue that has been bothering him for over a year. He will likely need a minor outpatient surgery, and the doctor said she'd probably be able to fit it on this insurance plan year. Since we have a really high deductible, this will help a little. We also have the deductible amount in our emergency fund for "such times as these," so even though we hate to spend a few grand, it will be worth it to have a working finger again!
I was able to stock up on a lot of food for the holidays yesterday using some coupons/apps/sales. It seemed like a lot of money (well, it was a lot of money!), but I know I'll be thankful come December to already have these items in the pantry, and who knows what the next few months will bring price wise.
The autumn colors are just spectacular. I've taken time to marvel every day in this 2 week peak window. We are supposed to get rain today, which will likely take a lot of the leaves off, but I am thankful for eyes to see!
And yeah for the chest freezer!!! I am so tempted...
The kitty image, looking as though she’s studying too, is delightful.
I’m thankful for a super fun visit from family members all last week. The antics of a three-year-old are sweet and her joy at practically everything new to her makes us all laugh along with her.
Very thankful for books—mine, those of the public library, and online ones. And coffee and tea to go along with them.
Does anyone else try to "like" pictures on blogs? The cat watching the laptop did it for me.
I am sick this week, but it's not COVID, so that it is a big thanks in my book.
Ds, who is a senior in college, chose to stay home this semester and I love having him here. He cooks his own meals, does his own laundry and I may not see him every day, but Mama's, knowing your baby is safe under your roof is a salve all it's own.
My Kindle is a lifeline for me. I love to read, but my vision doesn't allow for regular books. I take it with me everywhere.
I'm loving these cooler days, less a/c usage is a bonus.
Our insurance has been a lifesaver. Just yesterday, Dh had a routine injection that he gets every 6 weeks to relieve pain related to his stroke. I had to go pick up the meds at the drs. office and take them to the office where he was getting the injections. On a lark, I opened my GoodRX app to see how much I would have had to pay. For the two 100 unit vials, the price would have been $982. Our copay of $35 covers the vast majority and for that I am even more grateful.
BONUS: The GoodRX app has saver us thousands since his stroke 5 years ago. Our pharmacists have used it for regular scripts and when insurance costs are higher AND when insurance will only cover a certain number of pills and you require more.
I've never had such a small freezer, but I can see how it would be useful, and thanks for the tip about shopping Home Depot on Friday evenings!
This week I am thankful for excellent healthcare. Hubby, who is finally 6 weeks out from liver surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, suddenly got hit with vertigo and took a fall on Thurs. Fortunately (but not coincidentally). he already had an appt with his PCP for that afternoon. Labs were drawn and all were good, vitals were good, so doc referred him to PT for vestibular (inner ear, etc) eval. I called on Mon. and scored a cancellation appt for Tues morning (yay!), and that is indeed the cause. It is a condition that can be treated and reversed, and we have started the process.
In addition, hubs also broke a tooth just before the surgery, and it has been scraping an area on his tongue, making it difficult to eat, and even to swallow. Hospitalization, and a stent in a skilled nursing facility, plus follow-up appts have slowed down the process. We didn't have a family dentist, and our only policy is through Medicare, which is not always accepted. I researched dentists in the area, and my call to the first dentist on my list was not very successful, but the next office on the list was a winner. Not only are they working him in this afternoon, they offered a stop-gap measure to stop the pain, a plan for going forward, and an in-office type of assistance for those without insurance. I didn't even know to ask some of these questions, but the office assistant was personable and knowledgeable and very easy to work with. This speaks well for the dentist, whom we haven't met yet, but I am already very impressed.
These folks, plus my husband's urologist, oncologist, surgical team, and the SNF caregivers have all been top notch in caring for him and working with us. His complex medical history, as well as some cognitive issues, make it a challenge to keep things coordinated, and in the past I have sometimes been dismissed as the Pesky Wife. But we have been blessed with current caregivers who will listen to him AND to me, and work with us in overcoming obstacles and adapting his care as needed. When it works, it works!
Finally, but most importantly, I am thankful for praying friends. I have shared some of our circumstances with them, and although they always offer help, most of what needs to be done can only be done by me. However, these prayer warriors have my back, and I can feel it, and know I can call on them anytime.
@Stephanie D, That's fantastic re your health care and sounds like a great new dentist.
I have been faraway Pesky BFF for my friend with terminal cancer. Her oncologist doesn't get back to her, her pain isn't well managed, her PCP dismisses her pain as chemo, which it isn't, and now and then I have to make a call to Alabama to yell. It's maddening.
@Stephanie D,
From one pesky wife to another, bless you! What you are doing is INVALUABLE!
@Stephanie D, fellow pesky wife high-five! A much older friend gave me invaluable advice when my husband’s medical adventures first began: “Be firm about your/your loved one’s needs. Doctors work FOR YOU, and some need reminded of that—or replaced if they won’t listen.” Indeed, the ER secretary was politely skeptical when we walked in and I told her I thought my young, strapping husband was having a stroke. I pointed out his slack right face, his dragging right foot, and garbled speech. She brought him back and asked him a few simple questions, which he bombed with a 10,000 yard stare. The “Oh, $&*#, you’re right” look she then gave me is burned into my brain forevermore. Firmness or bust with medical issues, always!
@Stephanie D, I have a pesky husband who has saved my life at least once and made my medical life easier countless times. Stay pesky!!
Thankful my own bug, which was just horrible on Sunday, seems to be abating. I was scared it was Covid again (it wasn't), which destroyed my already poor health two years ago. There's not much left to take!
Thankful it's not summer so I don't feel the pressure to have fun/make the most of the beach/good weather etc. I am not a fall lover, since it leads inexorably to winter, but staying inside on a blustery day like today is very cozy.
Thankful for my mom. Text from Mom re her screaming neighbor in the nursing home: "I'm playing Black Sabbath! She's been going on straight for more than four hours and I finally thought the hell with this! The aide asked me to turn it off and I said “No I'm not turning it off, if she screams then I'm listening to Black Sabbath.”
That's all I got.
@Rose, I found the image of your Mom playing Black Sabbath to drown out the screaming neighbor to be quite amusing!
@Beverly, Sometimes she moves on to Led Zep or Cream.
@Rose, I'm finding that the playlist on the jukebox in my DH's dementia ward is shifting from golden oldies to boomer music, given the shifting demographic. When I'm visiting him and the jukebox is on, I sing along for him with the songs I know.
@Rose, thanks for this post, it brought a smile to my face and your mom rocks!
@CindySW, Quite literally- her mom rocks!!!
@Rose, she has good taste in music 🙂
Mom took up guitar around 1970 intending to become Jimmy Page (who is almost exactly her age). Spoiler alert: she did not.
@A. Marie, I sometimes wonder if I'll be listening to the Cure in a nursing home one day.
Come to think of it, when I was in the hospital in 2002, I was stuck in the geriatric ward because that was the only bed they had available. A day later I got a roommate, an elderly lady who moaned Mama, Mama incessantly. After a day of this, I went to the nurses' station and said, "Either she goes or I go. I will sign myself out AMA." They moved me. Then the man across the hall would continually mess something up that beeped loudly and yell I CAN'T BREATHE. This was about every five minutes or so. Good times. I felt like kissing the ground when I got out after 10 days of that.
@Rose, I hope they have Nirvana and Pearl Jam on the jukebox when I'm in the nursing home!
@Ruby, and @Rose,
Fingers crossed for the bands already mentioned, plus The Smiths and The Clash. 🙂
@Rose, one of my favorite videos. So apropos to this discussion.
https://youtu.be/Z3_lIPESVTw
That freezer will be so useful for you! Easy meals, leftovers and good bargains. It will pay for itself.
I love the cat, like a purring hot water bottle. Ours totally dictate the household.
Thankful for living in a home we love with a garden we love with the people we love, and having good neighbours.
Thankful for a lovely weekend away with plenty of excercise in the sun, and a sea bath, and music, and good food, and great company.
Thankful for good medical care and relatively short waiting lists.
Thankful that our +10 year old cats are still around, and still playful.
Thankful for sleep. I had forgotten what it feels like to wake up in the night only once. Deep sleep and vivid dreams bring me so much rest, I really missed this over summer.
@J NL,
same with me! During those endless and dreadful heatwaves I sleep very badly. But now with cooler weather I get up well rested in the mornings. I am very thankful for this
Congratulations on your freezer! I am still looking for one for me that won't break my bank account. I want a bigger upright one to replace my old little upright freezer, and I want it to be manual defrost (for reasons mentioned above) which is hard to find. Also, I want it to be less than the prices I've been seeing. I know, the longer I wait, the more they will rise...
1) I'm thankful for the meal out with a daughter, especially since, as I said Tuesday, she paid for mine. I almost never eat out, so this is a real treat.
2) My daughter and I were also there to meet her teen daughter, and my granddaughter's friends, once they'd finished their homecoming dance primping. These girls were engaging and patient and cheerfully allowed us to take numerous non-social-media photos, with and without families. I'm so thankful that these teens aren't embarrassed at being seen with family taking photos in a public spot. I would have been embarrassed, when I was their age, I regretfully admit.
3. My husband's big thermal cup with handle has disappeared from his room so I'm glad I found another one on sale. I wrote his name all over it and the lid this time. I'm thankful because the one on sale I found is easy for him to open and shut the lid's opening for drinking. So many of them are fairly stiff to open and shut, and his hands are too weak to manage that kind well, so this ended well.
4. I never thought I'd say this so soon after the wet weeks of summer, but I'm grateful we had rain last night after a rather long dry spell.
5. And finally I'm very grateful that an MRI of a younger grandchild was clear. She is very slow-growing, and the possibility of a tumor on the gland had to be ruled out. Thankfully, there was none there.
The sugar maples in our backyard are stunning right now! I find myself constantly looking out the windows just in awe of all the pretty colors in the neighborhood.
My son had three soccer games in a town 45 minutes from home last weekend. Lucky for us, my grandparents live in that same town. We spent a lovely afternoon between two games with my grandparents and my grandma was even able to come to a game.
We had my son’s parent/teacher conferences this week – now that he’s in middle school these check-ins are a little less intensive, but it was good to put faces to names. He’s doing well in all his classes and we found some additional ways we can support him at home.
I finally found a couple books that really piqued my interest. I’ve been trudging through my reading pile and just not connecting with most books but the last two have been great!
Coffee, always coffee!
@Geneva,
Always coffee! That cup of coffee gives so much joy.
This week is a fall-themed list. I am thankful for having my first pumpkin spice latte of the season while picking up groceries on a cool morning. It hit the spot!
For my late afternoon jogs in this the mild weather.
Loads of apples picked up at a U-Pick-It farm outside the city in the mountains nearby. So far this has yielded two jars of apple sauce, apple banana muffins, and plenty of snacks. I am going to try my hand at making apple empanadas next!
Thank you for posting about the freeze/thaw cycle of self-defrosting freezers. I thought I was packaging items wrong because I kept losing them to freezer burn! This never occurred to me but now it seems so obvious! Quick thankful list:
1) To still have my mom around. Even though there are days she pushes my patience to the limit, I know there will come a day that I won't have her, so I am grateful I get this time.
2) Car repairs that turn out to be less expensive than expected. Yay!
3) For Kristen and The Frugal Girl. I've learned so much from this community (see opening remarks)!
4) For the capacity to learn new things!
5) For my Kindle and books! As a voracious reader books are my zen place. And since I can't get to the library very often, my Kindle and the free books I can borrow as a Prime member have been such a blessing!
Chest freezers are great. Those freezers attached to standard size refrigerators are just too dinky.
1) I forgot to mention this in a previous week, but I’m extremely grateful my in-laws and their home made it through Hurricane Ian unscathed. They wouldn’t leave their house in Sarasota, which was supposed to get a direct cat 5 hit. Somehow, they just ended up with one broken branch that didn’t hit anything. They didn’t even lose power. Also thankful, that they have now agreed to leave town the next time a hurricane is coming their way.
2) I’m thankful I’ve been able to start regularly volunteering at one of my kid’s schools. With my agoraphobia and social anxiety, it can be hard to start new things, but I’ve been doing clerical work to help out teachers, which fits well into my introvert tendencies.
3) We’ve been experiencing mild temperatures lately (upper 40s to upper 60s). Our house has only been getting down to the upper 60s while we sleep, then the sun warms it enough during the day, that it doesn’t get too cold again the next night. It’s been fantastic to give both the AC and the furnace a break.
4) I now have a clean sunroom/computer room/playroom. My daughter had been building elaborate towns for her animal toys and was overwhelmed with cleaning everything up by herself. We teamed up and got everything organized and put away. I love having all the toy baskets sorted by toy type! It’s one of the simple joys in life.
5) I am now able to get my van into the garage! We put away the bikes and I packed away most of my gardening supplies, so I can now fit into my indoor parking spot. I’m thankful everyday I can get into a not-freezing car and not have to scrape the windows to get the kids to school (or do anything else that requires leaving home).
I’m thankful I was able to go on a long weekend trip with my 2 besties, and the weather was beautiful. We’ve known each other for 44 years since we attended nursing school together. I’m thankful that the awful cough and sneezing and sore throat was not Covid. I tested negative. It’s allergies and acid reflux. Over the counter meds are helping thankfully. I’m thankful that we finally have a start date for our kitchen remodel. The contractors seem skilled and listened to our needs and ideas. (I’m thinking the upcoming stress of no kitchen for a few weeks is causing the reflux, ugh). And finally, I’m very thankful I can even afford a vacation with friends and a kitchen remodel. My younger poorer self could never have imagined such luxuries. Kristen, you have me thinking a small chest freezer would be good for us as well. We never have enough room for all the batch cooking.
Congrats on getting a freezer, they are quite handy to have. I do not love a chest freezer, I'm too short to reach the bottom! Obviously, that is not an issue for you!
This week my list is mostly focused on being thankful for doctors and modern medicine
- I am thankful that when our son had an allergic reaction to grapes (we did not know he was allergic to them), he was with a friend that drove him home to get his Epipen
- I am thankful that we live close to our son, so my DH was able to pick him up and take him to the ER quickly
- I am thankful that we have already met our out-of-pocket deductible, so the ER visit didn't cost us anything
- I am thankful our son was able to get an appointment with the allergy doctor to go over his recent episode and determine if additional allergy testing is needed
Bonus thankful - I am thankful that we picked up take-out and enjoyed celebrating our son-in-law's birthday dinner with him last night.
@Beverly, you might want to look into the Auvi-Q. It's an epinephrine injector but, unlike epipens, it's shaped more like a deck of cards and can actually fit in a pants pocket. I found my husband and son much more likely to carry the Auvi-Q than an epipen. Also, when you take off the cover a recording walks you through the instructions of how to administer it.
@Kate, Thanks for that info. I have struggled to figure out how to get our son to safely carry an Epipen since it can't be left in the car due to changing temperatures and it doesn't fit in his pocket. And right now, the pharmacy is unable to fill his Epipen prescription for some reason so maybe Auvi-Q is the solution to that problem as well.
@Beverly, you're very welcome. Good luck!
Your cat is so cute. I specially enjoy the picture with her white paws placed so neatly on the table in front of your laptop.
Thankful
For my youngest son. He is medically fragile and his bday is TODAY!
For FALL in all of its forms
That parent teacher conferences are almost over. 55 hour work week this week!
Hooray for chest freezers.
@Stephanie, Happy birthday to your son!
Congratulations on your freezer, Kristen. And I hope you gave your cat extra treats on the 10th (National Tuxedo Day)! BTW, what is the kitty's name?
Thankful for friends of Ms. Bestest Neighbor, who (a) in return for temporarily storing their vintage Mercedes convertible in my garage, just brought me a lovely tablecloth embroidered in Celtic designs; and (b) bought one of DH's three shop-vacs from me. (It turns out to be missing a crucial connector part, and if they can't find the part online, I've agreed to swap another of the shop-vacs for this one.)
Thankful as always for Upstate NY's autumn colors. We're just about at peak this week.
Thankful that the thunderstorms predicted for today seem to be holding off long enough for me to get Bailey dog walked. I'm only letting her out in her backyard because she's in both a body suit and a cone of shame after surgery to remove a lump on her belly, but even a brief backyard stroll with all that equipment would be unpleasant in pouring rain.
And thankful that Bailey's lump was removed with wide margins and she should need no further treatment for it.
Yay for the freezer! I do adore kitty photos too!
My Thankfuls for the week:
1) The public transportation has been arriving on time and our son can get to college without me driving him there.
2) I'm grateful to be visiting with my twin sister again this year. We talk everyday but still....
3) I'm thankful to be growing vegs and herbs, despite the cold weather. The plants seem to be ok so far and my mini greenhouse has been covered in plastic to keep the plants going....
4) I've been working 2 departments due to staffing issues and have been quite tired but am glad that they want me to continue and even offered overtime.
5) We were able to locate a rental apartment for a friend and she is thrilled to be moving.
-I'm so thankful for a little rain this week. I live on a gravel road & the dust has been horrific. We didn't get a lot...still burn bans on....but the dust is mostly settled.
--I'm thankful for cool sunrise walks through the woods.
-I'm thankful for an understanding husband.
-I'm thankful that my son seems to be healing from a harsh divorce even when more stuff keeps getting dropped on his head.
-And I'm so thankful for friends who encourage me on hard days & laugh with me on good days.
Funny story about that up-right freezer in your picture and Home Depot.
We went to look at rugs at Home Depot one Sunday afternoon. And we left with an refrigerator/freezer combo and a puppy!
Since we don't have a basement and needed something to look nice next to the refrigerator, we had been wanting an up-right, stainless steel freezer and thought we were purchasing one, but they gave us a refrigerator/freezer combo instead and we didn't realize it until after we got home and started to unload it. UGH!!! Called them and they put a freezer on the size for us and I was able to make the exchange the next day.
When my husband went to get the car in the Home Depot parking lot, it was parked next to a truck and the 2 people there had 2 brother puppies that were approx 8-10 weeks old. These people said that the guy bought the puppies for $20. each from a lady for his girlfriend, but she was not allowed to have puppies in her apartment. They claimed that the puppies had their shots and did not have flees - wrong on both accounts. And they looked like the kind of people who would leave the puppies on the side of the road which guilted me even more. I wish we could have taken both, but could only take 1 as we already have a senior dog. They also said it was a boxer/lab mix which we can see. He is a great addition to the family and does keep the senior dog lively, but I still feel bad about the brother puppy.
So be aware when you go to Home Depot!!!
Anyway, I am thankful that this puppy is making my senior dog feel young at times, which is the reason why we wanted another dog.
I am thankful we made it home from our trip safely. We all have colds (not covid), but it did not put a damper on our trip to France. And it is not lasting as long as previous colds, which is good.
Thankful that my nephew's wedding was a joyful time for all. My sister is divorced and her ex is a jerk, but we all had fun and were on our best behavior for the bride and groom. They also caught the cold that is going around.
Thankful that we came home to a beautiful fall. Loving all the colors around our new home and that we are here to celebrate fall. Florida does not do fall at all, no matter how much decorating you do, so I am so appreciative of the change!
@Maureen, please clarify who caught the cold? (Hoping it was the jerk ex-husband, but things don't always work out that way.)
@A. Marie, he was one of them from what I hear. And the bride and groom because my grand daughter was the flower girl.
Yay freezer!!! 7 cubic ft is a great size—big enough to be practical but small enough to move. Our freezer is the same size and was a freebie from a good friend who decided to replace theirs with a larger one. She was able to bring the freezer to us in her station wagon, and we were able to fit it in my husband’s Jeep when we moved.
Fun fact: If ever you get tired of the freezer’s color, peel-n-stick wallpaper is magic! Our freezer had to be in the open when we were still in the apartment (tiny kitchen + old wiring = we needed the freezer on a different breaker), and I got tired of the big white box sitting in the corner of our dining room. $20 for two rolls of Art Deco paper was worth it to me, and it withstood being manhandled/moved surprisingly well!
Thankful-wise, it’s time to register our vehicles in our new county—I *just* got home from updating my husband’s ride. I’ll gladly take a $70 DECREASE in registration costs vs. paying over $100 per vehicle! I also weirdly look forward to our property taxes (under $400) next year. I’m so thankful we looked outside big city limits to find our little castle!
When I saw your title, I literally said "Yay!" out loud. My family already know I'm crazy, so it's totally fine and I'm that glad you have a freezer now!
This week I am thankful for healthcare and the helpful woman in member services who got my mystery unpaid bill changed from 40.00+ to only 5.00. I am also grateful for my excellent doctor. Being sick is not fun, but I'm so glad my doctor listens and is willing to go the extra mile to make sure I am well.
Hooray for your new freezer and for extra time with Lisey!!
This week I'm thankful:
* For the refreshing weekend away we had as a family.
* That it's October and I can do laundry and dishes anytime of day I want without worrying about it being peak energy cost time. There were times it was burdensome or created guilt and I'm glad to be done with it until next summer.
* That the rain we've gotten this week wasn't heavy enough to bring down all of the leaves. They are so incredibly beautiful right now!!
* That my 4yo doesn't get tired of me pointing out all of the beautiful trees as we drive around.
* For community.
* For sunshine and coffee.
* For my church.
I envy your collet temperatures, we’re still in the 80s here in Portland, which is unheard of. (Literally, since the beginning of record keeping!)
I love my chest freezer and rely on it greatly. You must be so happy to have one again!
I'm thankful...
1. To only be taking one class this quarter as I transition back to nursing school after a medical leave of absence.
2. That my lupus markers have dropped for the first time in 3 years!
3. To live with my sister and that we get along so well.
4. For good health insurance for myself and my children!
5. For knitting to keep my hands busy and my mind calm.
So glad you got a freezer and that Lisey was able to be there this summer!
Our family had two chest freezers because of our big family, living out in the boondocks and having butcher hogs and beef, and chickens. Even as a single person, I could not live w/o a freezer and inherited/bought one of my parents newer ones when they passed. I am thankful to have it. It is a chest freezer and I am short, but I learned to put some things in bags and can reach the handles. Was especially beneficial when I baked wedding cakes and had a job schedule to work around.
I am thankful for my dog. She sheds like crazy, but she sheds just as much love and hugs.
Was thankful to be able to take a load of things including double sheet sets to a mission outreach. I was organizing the linens to switch summer for fall and thought, "What in the world do I need with eight sets of sheets?"
Still thankful that our weather has been "in the middle" neither too hot for a/c nor too cold for heat.
Can I just say that while I admire "Black Sabbath" Resident's hutzpah, I have been the nurse in that type of situation. The hollering is often a dementia issue that a Dr. or state guidelines do not want to sedate needlessly even after physical needs have been met (hunger, pain, toileting). To add to that the loud music makes the situation a nightmare for other residents and staff. May I suggest headphones to block out the noisy neighbor and provide Mom with what she wants to hear?
@Chrissy, Of course it's a dementia issue. Doesn't make it any less unpleasant for everyone else who has to listen to it. Why would it be OK to make my mother whose mind is as sharp as ever room next to her? Put her somewhere else. And it's difficult for Mom to put on or take off headphones as she's paralyzed. Nor should she have to. The home seems to assume that everyone who's there is mentally incapacitated.
@Rose, It is a difficult issue for all involved. In my capacity, I have to advocate for both parties.
@Rose, I really want to say this gently and lovingly, but as awful as having to listen to someone yelling and screaming, for me, listening to ANY kind of rock music is just as much torture. I don't know what the answer is.
As someone who is on the opposite end of the chest freezer situation, I envy your small one. I got a pretty large size one as wedding gift years ago, thinking I would use it for baby food storage and potentially buying a quarter of a cow. Joke's on me now that 7 years later we don't have kids and I don't really eat meat anymore.
I am thankful for:
1. A good conversation with my mom. My mom and I are on opposite planes of pretty much everything and our relationship the last few years has been......tenuous. But I had a really good and pretty normal phone conversation with her this week.
2. Dumplings. I went to up work craving dim sum or dumplings (which is just not something that can be fulfilled in a rural town in the high Sierra's), but the craving did not cease over 7 days. So I treated myself to some takeout dim sum for dinner when I was on my way home and wow did that hit the spot.
3. New baby smell. My best friend had a baby and I just got to meet her (she was keeping her close to home until she got her vaccinations) and man, there is nothing that can beat a cuddly baby.
4. My husband. We have been going through a rough patch because of a lot of life changes, but he has really been the best lately. It reminds me that I said for better or worse and how much I appreciate him
5. Kindle Unlimited. I am getting into the Halloween spirit with a string of spooky reads and Kindle Unlimited is allowing me to get my fix without breaking the bank. Though if I do really like the book, I will buy it for a re-read. I want to support my indie authors.
I think that the freezer is a wonderful frugal tool. Congratulations on your purchase.
I am thankful for a week off from work. I have had to adjust my expectations of what I can get done with a bum knee but its nice to have time to catch up on some personal projects and stuff around the house.
I am thankful for a good weekend weather forecast so that I can safely drive over the Sierra to California to visit family this weekend.
I am thankful for a wonderful primary care doctor that always seems to stay on my provider list no matter how many times my insurance changes. Also thankful that my doctor's office switched from mostly walk-ins to appointments only during the pandemic and so I never have long wait times to see her anymore.
I am thankful for a neighbor who helps me out, unasked, with things that need to be done around my property.
I am thankful I had guesstimated correctly and set aside just enough for my professional tree trimming in my home maintenance fund.
Thankful for:
1. You tube people who post "You can fix this" videos that have saved us tons of money over the years and about $150 this week.
2. Our town's tool library, where you can check out all sorts of tools that you may only use once. This week we borrowed a shop vac.
3. The folks who volunteer and run the tool library, including cleaning and fixing tool donations and making sure the tools you check out are in tip-top shape.
4. Our physician and her wonderful staff, who go out of their way to call to see how you are doing after you start a new med, call as soon as lab results come in so you are not wondering what the blood work shows, and who follow thorough when the insurance company needs hounding. It still amazes me when I answer the phone and my doctor is on the other end checking up on me/us.
5. The pound hound's enjoyment of life. We stopped by the dog park and even though it was 27 degrees, snowing and windy, he ran and ran and ran. Watching him filled us with joy.
6. The husband, always the husband.
@Lindsey, loud cheers for all--especially the doctor/staff, Pound Hound, and the DH!
@Lindsey, What! A tool library! Brilliant.
@Karen.,
I just discovered that our library has tools, too!
I am also thankful for our new freezer! It’s not exactly a chest freezer, as it opens from the front, but it has three pull out wire drawers and it’s made shopping and kitchen life so much better.
I’m thankful that I was able to get a doctor’s appointment this week as I had a diverticulitis flare. It’s very hard to get a doctor’s appointment here now.
I’m grateful we are both making a little more money in this time of inflation. Oof, I don’t know how so many people are surviving right now. It’s frightening.
I’m thankful for friends and family that came to two parties we held for Shae’s birthday last weekend. It was our first time entertaining since covid, and I was apprehensive. But it all went beautifully.
And as always, I’m thankful for my children and grandchildren. They bring so much joy, and I’m very fortunate that they are all alive and well, and close enough to see regularly.
That picture of your cat with her paws on the table is so adorable.
For my husband's continued improving health. We're coming out of a long, scary time and he's doing a lot better.
For kids who happily clean up after dinner--anyone who didn't cook dinner cleans up! They even sweep the kitchen floor and take out the trash.
For beautiful fall weather and gorgeous fall colors. Often our Octobers are very rainy, but last night was our first rain in weeks!
For neighbors who put up cute Halloween decorations. I am not a decorations type person myself, but I like to admire others' hard work! 😀
For green light that is helping my migraines; since we switched out our reading lights for Norb Green Lights, and changed over other lights to full spectrum light, I haven't had a serious migraine. I was having one at least every two or three weeks, so this is great. Well worth the investment.
I am thankful for:
1. Kristen and this wonderful group! I get so much encouragement.
2. Beautiful fall weather and trees.
3. My new grandson and his family-such a blessing to be nearby and able to help out.
4. My hard-working and kind husband.
5. God’s grace and mercy.
I am so thankful for a really good Doctor visit. There have been health issues I've been praying about and working on but today I basically got a clean bill of health. (She wants me to work on loosening certain muscles and gain flexibility but didn't realize that I HAVE been working on it. I'm just really not flexible and a number of injuries in my past haven't helped.)
I'm thankful that we are settling in to our new community a bit more. Hopefully joining the community hike group will increase our connection with our neighbors.
I am thankful that my husband LOVES leftovers as much as I do.
I am thankful for fall-ish weather.
I am thankful, as always, for morning coffee.
LOVE the kitty cat pictures.
Thankful that my dear friend, who lives several states away, was in the area visiting family. She was free last night and drove to the city where I work and we got a hotel room and had a wonderful girl's night--dinner and an evening and morning of catching up. I can't remember the last time I have done this, but it's been well over 10 years ago. That's the only thankful thing I will list, but it's a biggie!
So happy for you and your new freezer! I have one that size for the garage, I love it!
Thankful for continued summerish weather to get my outdoor chores finished...washing down the house and windows inside & out.
The roses are loving the cooler nights and was able to make 3 large bouquets for neighbors celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and retirements.
Thankful for finding peat moss at the farm supply to safely store my mom's dahlia bulbs for the winter.
Thankful for great friends who stop by for an afternoon break.
Thankful for getting an appointment for the new kitten that someone "dropped off"on the county road. He will get shots and neutered for an affordable price. He is a fantastic mouser and loves the barn.
I’m very thankful for a wonderful visit with a dear friend from out of town.
I’m so grateful to the Lord for 29 years of marriage to a gem of a husband and a nice time out dining and dancing to celebrate ( a few days ago).
I’m very thankful for frequent visits with our grandson.
I’m so thankful for good health ( for all of our family members), beautiful autumn weather and for the way our pup Wally brings us such joy.
Thankful my son had a business trip that was part way to my other son's house and decided to up drive to visit. It was so nice to see him and the grands!
We were not able to see dad for 11 days while he had covid, sadly enough now he does not appear to know us, or acknowledge us. His care at that facility was horrible. So the thankful part...our hospice got him pulled into another home in record time. 2 hours and he is at a smaller home with smaller patient/caregiver ratio. So far so good, the care there is much better. He's comfortable.
For our hospice team. Most awesome group ever. They continued to see dad while he had covid so they were our eyes and ears.
For all my sibs who were (eventually) able to agree that dad should be moved. But my sister and I did all the work..girls rule!
Thankful for my boss who is so understanding when I have to miss work last minute.
Super thankful for our local chimney repair company. They came out 2yrs ago to fix a leak around one of our chimneys unfortunately it started leaking again the last time it rained hard. They came out today and the supervisor was not happy with the way it fixed last time. He said it was their fault and didn't charge us for fixing it this time. They made sure they came out before it could leak again and it didn't cost us anything.
I'm thankful that my child doesn't have appendicitis. They ended up in the ER for 4.5 hours with pain right around the appendix, which turned out to be swollen lymph nodes.
I'm also thankful for the beautiful fall foliage where I live.
Yay for a chest freezer! I have the same sized chest freezer and it has been very helpful!
Right now I have a lot of tomatoes from the garden in it, which I washed and cored and threw in the freezer when I was sick and couldn't do anything else - those need to get taken care of! I also have 3 goose carcasses to make into broth (I got those free from someone who raised geese for meat and didn't want the carcasses, they don't have meat on them but I've used two for broth and it was very delicious!). And then of course I have other random stuff. It is harder to organize that a bigger chest freezer but that is ok! I'm glad I have it.
A chest freezer is such an advantageous tool!
I’m thankful for a gorgeous fall and lots of places to enjoy it here in my new home. And for a wet snow this morning, which seems to be part of fall here. And for the cool temperatures which give lots of reasons for baking (currently having bread doing an initial rise and bread doing a pre bake ride right now) and for all the excitement my kids and dogs have in the snow.
Also thankful that after having my stuff for 4 weeks the house is pulled together enough for guests to come over! Of course I’ll always be tinkering and organizing and improving, but the move in process is basically done.