Thankful Thursday | In a hurry
I have exactly 30 minutes before I have to leave to go get a tooth filling taken out and replaced, so...I'm gonna speed run this post.
Ready, set, go!
This week, I am thankful:
that my neighbors will mow my yard
My two nearest neighbors both have riding lawnmowers, and they volunteered to mow for me this summer so that I won't have to buy a lawnmower.
Did I cry when they told me this?
Yes, yes, I did.
SERIOUSLY SO KIND!
that Lisey is here
She arrived this week and will be living with Zoe and me this summer. She'll be working, of course, but it will still be nice to get to see her so much!
for access to dental care
I do not love getting work done in my mouth, but I am grateful that I am able to get my teeth taken care of.
for a successful semester for me
We got our final class grades this week, and I ended up with a 99.75%. I am so happy with that, particularly because this was a very, um, challenge-filled semester.
for a summer break
I am very happy to have a little breather from bi-weekly exams!
that this house is starting to feel like home
It was a little rough for the first few days here; this house felt like a strange place to be. But it's been 2.5 weeks since we moved here, and now it's feeling much more welcoming and familiar.
that I have my piano here!
I have always had a piano everywhere I've lived; without a piano, a house doesn't feel right to me. So, I am very delighted to have my piano here in my office now.
I still need to get it tuned (moving a piano tends to screw it up a little!), but at least it is here.
for all the abandoned house treasures that are blessing me
When my brother first bought that abandoned house, I had fun sorting through its contents with my sister-in-law, but I had no idea that I would actually NEED some of those things.
I am so grateful for the furniture, dishes, silverware, mugs, and more.
My brother really blessed me by buying that house! 😉
for the lovely walking trails here
I have found more and more paths in the woods as I've been exploring, and I am delighted!
for the chairs my parents are letting us borrow
My table is done (I will show you soon!), but I have not even started on the chairs.
It would be rather sad to have a lovely table, but not be able to use it for lack of seating. So, my parents sent a few of their extra chairs over here, and now Lisey and Zoe and I can actually eat dinner while seated at the table. Yay!
*I am thankful you have your piano. I was wondering about that.
*I am thankful my daughters are now taking piano lessons. Their teacher called me after their lesson yesterday to tell me how much she enjoyed working with them and how well they are doing. That meant a lot to me.
*I am thankful my son has a job which is paying more than $3 an hour more than his last job. Plus he has been averaging more than $2/hour more in tips. (He has this year's college money saved up already; now he's working on money for the extras and next year's school.)
*I am thankful that my friend who has cancer is still able to do many of the activities she loves despite the treatments.
*I am thankful for the volunteer lettuce that came up in one of my raised beds this spring. We enjoyed a lovely home-grown salad for supper last night.
*I am thankful I liked Mansfield Park better on my second reading. (Yes, A. Marie, this one's for you!) I see so much more to admire in it than I did the first time around. Re-reading rocks!
@Jody S., so glad you liked MP better this time around. (Most people do, if they're willing to give it a second chance!)
And Mrs. Norris gets my vote for the wickedest older woman in the novels. She's even worse than Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
@A. Marie, I think I agree about Mrs. Norris. I love the ending of the book, especially the part about Mrs. Norris and Maria!
@Jody S., yes, JA knows how to give everyone their due, doesn't she?
I'm thankful our water was only out for a few hours yesterday. I discovered at 4:00 am that we had no water. When I called to report it there was already a crew on their way to the water main break. Our water was back by 6:30 am. That's something we have rarely had to deal with and I am grateful for that.
I'm thankful for the results of my SIL's scan. She has a cyst on her liver and nothing more.
I'm thankful I saw a pair of bluebirds last night. They're the first I've seen in Maryland and it's only the second time I've seen bluebirds. We have spent some money buying a bluebird house, a made in USA bird feeder, a pole to hang the bird feeder on, a baffle to keep the squirrels from climbing the pole, and of course bird seed and meal worms but it felt like a triumph when I saw the bluebirds. I also have been enjoying watching baby birds flying. They don't fly very high/far but they keep at it.
I'm thankful Pilates classes returned to my yoga studio about a month ago. The teacher is wonderful and I'm glad to back to doing mat Pilates.
I'm thankful my second Covid booster went smoothly. From the wonderful local pharmacy where you don't need an appointment to the lack of side effects (I followed the advice to drink a lot and stay active) I'm grateful. I have another layer of Swiss cheese protection.
I'm thankful for cooler weather this week after a very hot weekend.
@K D, Make sure the baffle is snake-proof. We had such drama a week or so ago with a black snake repeatedly getting into our bluebird house where there were baby birds.
Oddly, I have seen bluebirds somewhat regularly in the last few years, which has surprised me! I never remember seeing them when I was a kid.
So glad you got some in your yard!
Thankful for:
The gift of my life.
The beautiful spring temperatures this season.
My colleagues, those that are helpful and those that need my help.
Seeing my daughter for a road trip this long weekend!
Coffee
Karen
I am mostly thankful that this time next week my thesis will be handed in. So excited for my semester to finish! I am thankful that my family and friends are willing to hear my vent about it and thankful for chocolate.
Congratulations on your grade!!! 99.75% is seriously amazing, and you’ve every right to be proud of yourself. I hope you and the girls do something to celebrate!
I’m so happy that your neighbors are so supportive of you. Re: your rental feeling like home, I think that between its happenstance appearance, your neighbors, and the treasure house’s many gifts, “home” is doing its darndest to find you and to help you land softly. HUGS What you put out into the world is simply coming back to you, and it’s wonderful to see.
@N,
To say that “home is doing its darndest to find you and to help you land softly” is one of the nicest things I’ve heard in a long time — and right on target.
I also believe that what you put out comes back to you in spades.
Thankful:
1. It is much warmer and flowers are blooming. So cheerful.
2. I've been watching a little brown bird build a nest in my front hedge.
3. I was offered a part time writing gig yesterday--only problem is the very low pay. Not sure whether I'll take it or not. Still, nice to be asked.
4. Three day weekend coming up!
5. I'm continuing to make it through the rental nightmare. Yesterday had to sign an affadavit rebutting the sociopathic grifter who rented from me's claims, including the mental anguish I purportedly caused him. It is to laugh.
6. Son is at Cannes Film Festival having an absolute blast. Wish I were there.
7. I did sign up for an online needlework course involved advanced embroidery I don't know how to do. So staycationy.
8. Gus, the Trash Kitten, was fine after his, um, de-masculinization surgery yesterday. I picked him up and the vet said, "He's a little hissy after anesthesia," I said, "Hi, sweet boy," and he hissed at me. But he was his normal adorable affectionate self after we got him home and fed him.
@Rose,
Poor little thing! But your extending his lifespan. Tom cats will roam wider and get into fights if they are not neutered. Hope Gus is soon back to his usual self.
@J NL, Oh, he's an indoor-only cat. But still, don't wanna chance anything and I don't want him spraying either.
That abandoned house is the house of many blessings, for sure.
This week I am thankful for the rain that's knocked the pollen out of the air, a peaceful work situation, for being able to feed my family well in the face of rising food costs (a roast chicken can be stretched so very many ways!), for finding a handful of loose change while cleaning -- yay! And lastly for it looking like we'll be approved to adopt a new rescue kitty. Our old cat is lonely. His companion cat died a few years ago when he was more robust and he seemed fine, but now that he's quite old himself, he wants company. We think we've found the perfect friend for him.
I actually feel like you would be awesome at having a furniture restoration side gig!!! i would buy an FG piece in a heartbeat.
I know some people do this kind of thing locally; they trash pick furniture, then rehab and sell it. But I wonder how much I'd end up making per hour. It might be kinda low!
Thankful for all Kristen's thankfuls, for her and her girls' sake.
Thankful that a house wren couple is having a lively discussion in my back yard about the best place to settle. I'm hoping they'll pick my long-disused birdhouse, but it seems that, like human house hunters, they're considering several options. At any rate, they're hanging around. (Also, the birdhouse is now surrounded by thorny black raspberry brambles, which should provide some protection against cats. No major issues with snakes here,)
Thankful for an overcast, pleasantly breezy morning for gardening. Already this season, there have been some days when I've had to stop at 9 am or so because of the heat.
Thankful for my first homegrown salad, which I'll be having tonight. I'm growing lettuce in an old washing machine tub, with a trashpicked fire pit cover over it to keep the critters out of it.
And thankful as always for Jane Austen, inspiring lively discussions here and everywhere since 1811. According to this morning's blog post from Deborah Yaffe, author of a book called "Among the Janeites," they're even discussing her over on TikTok!
@A. Marie, My son is enjoying frogs' legs, foie gras, and steak tartare over in Cannes. I bet your kids would like those! Me, eeeeeeeeeewwwww NOPE.
wrong person to reply to. SIGH. doof. sorry.
@A. Marie, Excellent place for me to bring up a question for you. I was sorting through all of my books last week and going through a strong cull to make more room in my small place, and was reminded I have an entire shelf of JA fan fiction that I reread. I ADORE JA fan fiction. It's like you get to check back in with your favorite characters to see what else they have done, or track them in the chance they made an alternate decision in life. Or a minor character is brought forward and given a whole life to live. For me, it's like a further gift from JA that isn't from JA.
But I was wondering if there are purists out there who are offended by them?
What say ye?
@Anne, I don't object to the idea of fanfic per se. In fact, I've written one piece myself: a "backstory" on Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lady C's life from nursery days to her first appearance in P&P). And there are some genuinely good ones out there; among my favorites are There Must Be Murder (a sequel to Northanger Abbey by a JASNA friend, Margaret C. Sullivan) and Longbourn (a reworking of P&P from the servants' point of view, by Jo Baker). But--remember that I'm a tough audience--I find a lot of fan fiction lacking in faithfulness to JA, historical accuracy, good taste, and various other things.
@A. Marie, @Anne, do you know of any fan fiction going in the direction of a murder mystery with Frank Churchill as the bad guy? (I think there is enough motivation in Emma for him to have murdered his aunt. Re-read the part about his aunt's death---awfully convenient for her to die just then, and she was doing so well until he went to see her.)
@Jody S., I don't know of any such, but I think it's a great idea. Would you be up for having a go at it??
@A. Marie, love love Longbourn. Not sure about historical accuracy, and not sure about lacking in faithfulness (????), but I have never come near anything that was in bad taste. (Ala "Bridgerton", in my opinion.) Sorry to hear that.
Oh! I read the Longbourn book; I haven't read much Jane fanfic, but I can check that one off.
@Jody S., THIS is why there is so much good fan fiction out there. There are so many good ideas floating around.
@A. Marie, I would feel so inadequate to write historical things. I do not have the historical accuracy. But I wouldn't mind a bit if you wrote about it and let me read it 🙂
@Anne, what is your favorite fan fiction?
@Jody S., well Longbourn is a cut above and if you haven't read it, see if you can find a used copy. I do have a few by the same author but no one really stands out. I have never had a disappointing experience with JA fanfic and I own about twenty. I go back and reread when enough time has passed that I have forgotten the plot.
But my favorite JA novel is Sense and Sensibility and I actively search for fanfic derived from that novel. Although, I have always wondered if my love for "S and S" isn't partly due to the incomparable production, from the '90s, I think, with Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet and an entire host of other fine British actors.
@Anne, JA is one of my favorite authors, and my husband has also become a great fan. Any discussion of character in or out of her official work is a welcome focus in our time of greedy, corrupt, amoral and immoral jerks, so I vote in favor of the extended discussions. They vary in quality, and I haven't explored many of them, but the JA characters are part of our everyday perspective on real people we know and encounter. We can hope that good behavior and loving kindness will always win the day!
@Anne, I just ordered it from our library, so it will be read soon, I hope. Thanks (both of you) for the recommendation.
I’m glad your new place is starting to feel like home.
1) I’m thankful we successfully got through our first full in-person school year since Covid. My kids were so happy and we very thankfully managed to stay healthy. I’m also grateful to get a couple months break from getting up at 6am to make breakfast, lunch, and get everyone off to school.
2) My garage sale is finished. I managed to make some money and get rid of a whole bunch of clutter.
3) I completed several listings on eBay last night. I really dislike the process, but have some items that are no longer useful to us and need a specific new owner.
4) My garden is getting green again! My seedlings are growing (along with the weeds) and I’m starting to harvest lettuce. Pretty soon we’ll have raspberries! They are a family favorite.
@JenRR, I am SO there with you on the school front...my kids both did get COVID from school but luckily we had mild cases all around. I am definitely looking forward to sleeping past 6:00 every morning to get us all ready for the school day!
The cake cooling upside down on the bottle photo brings back such memories for me!
When I was little, I didn't understand how the 7-Up bottle my Mom used would somehow transfer some flavoring from the pop into the baked angel food cake.
I still remember the smell and my fascination with a pan that came apart but didn't leak the batter out.
@Heidi Louise,
I had a angel food cake fall out of a pan once. It was quite the experience. Lol. Now I always make sure they are cooked completely, almost well done. (I just had to share).
@Kathy, I can imagine the potential mess! Definitely a learning experience. I like the crunchy-browned edges, so I would prefer a well-done angel food cake.
I grabbed the cake out of the oven and went to put it on a bottle I'd selected...but oh no, the bottle cap was too big! So I hollered for Zoe to ask her to help me find another bottle that would fit.
Since so many bottles have plastic tops now, it's harder and harder to find one that works for holding an angel food cake.
And yes, it is so odd that angel food cake batter never leaks out. Maybe because it's so foamy and light?
Oh the piano makes me happy for you!
Hooray, you have your piano! I, too, had wondered about that. Congrats on the grades! I can't believe you didn't want that wooden duck hanging on the wall in the picture of the abandoned house (tongue firmly in cheek as I say that).
I can be thankful the French Country Blue and Mauve/Ducks/Geese/Spongepainting decorating trend is gone.
But for real: thanksgivings -
1. I forgot in my frugal list this week that as I tossed a piece of paper into a trash can outside of Publix, I was surprised to find a neat stack of coins on top of the can. There was no one around but me. I am thankful that someone left their change for the next person to use that can.
2. I am thankful that the massive amount of paperwork regarding my husband's transfer to a nursing home, and payment for it, seems to be done.
3. I am thankful that my credit union is finally back online, although the site traffic is so heavy I have not used it yet, and the mobile app still doesn't work. Last time I checked going online with them, at 6 a.m. today, I was #14,643 in line to gain access to their site, so I chose to skip it. I'm thankful that my direct deposits and autodrafts worked anyway throughout this, although I couldn't use the Billpay feature.
4. I am thankful for being able to attend the little end-of-school-year cookout at my daughter's house. There were six children there aged 10 to 2 so it was noisy, but fun.
5. I'm thankful for the rolling thunder I hear as I sit in my office. We've not had that much rain recently, so rain is good, but beyond that, thunder is one of my favorite sounds.
Hahaha, duck decor is SO 1990s!
I am so thankful your house is becoming a home for you!
I'm thankful for messages from God/The Universe that show me I'm headed in the right direction with some client issues.
I'm thankful for our camper van that allows us to head down to our favorite getaway spots.
I'm thankful for this LIFE.
And while there are so many sad things going on in the world I'm thankful for this blog and this group 🙂
I'm thankful at least Fage still tastes good even though you now only get 5 ounces in the 7 ounce cup.
I'm thankful fresh blueberries are still in the stores even though I can't find any that taste good.
I'm thankful TVs still come with off buttons.
I'm thankful for cozy cotton clothing, fluffy warm purring kitties, and smart ass sons who keep me laughing.
I teach/am head of school of a co-school, where kids go 2 days a week and are home the other 3. We're a mix of a private school and home school. I'm head of high school there. So I'm super thankful we are done with classes, my grades are done for my class, my senior passed Pre-Cal and Economics (he was mentally done with school this semester and it showed!). I'm thankful Graduation planning is coming together, for getting things checked off the To Do list, for a back porch to work on and older kids that can help with chores! 🙂 This has been a challanging year and I'm thankful parts are ending, even as I know we have a busy summer ahead!
I love seeing pictures of the trails near the new house, amazing! Keep sharing the beautiful things you find! 🙂
@Tina, my senior is the same way! He just finished his last math test, and he has one writing assignment. I need to get on the graduation planning more, but I think it will come together. I suppose since this is the first graduate for our homeschool, we don't have a certain standard to live up to. On the other hand, whatever we choose to do will likely become the norm for the next 6.
Congrats to Sophie on your thesis and Kristen on her excellent grade!! Good job, ladies!!!
This week I'm thankful:
- that I have a pool in my rental community. I've used it twice this week, and it's felt amazing.
- for 2 retired neighbors that are sweet and encouraging, and that I have some things in common with them. It helps to not feel like the odd duck.
- that I was able to think before acting this week in response to a difficult situation. Phew!
- that my dad is able to take care of some things on his own. I have to help with a lot, and the things he can do independently makes my life easier....unless I have to re-do something, haha!
- that I am loved. A lot.
@Brooke, thank you! That's so kind! And congrats to Kristen too, I forgot to say before!
Thank you! And congrats to you, Sophie; a thesis is such a thing to be proud of.
1 - I started doing another delivery gig and instead of working hard and getting little to show for it, I made double the first two weeks and have already made that much so far this week. We were late on rent and some utilities last week so this is a Godsend completely.
2 - Ds1 has been working for two doctors as office staff until he can get into PT school. After getting to know them and the work they do, he has decided he wants to become a family doctor because he wants to help more people. I'm fine with him working at Walmart - I just want him happy and hearing his excitement yesterday was balm to a mama's heart.
3 - Ds2, who lives us and will be a senior in college next year is such a huge help around the house. Since I've been out hustling every day, he takes of the trash, dishwasher, sweeping, vacuuming, etc... I never asked him to do it, he just stepped up.
4 - I am seriously thankful for the milder temps this week after a brutal week last week. I spend hours in my car waiting for the next delivery so rolling down the windows is a requirement with these gas prices.
5 - Having an optimistic attitude. I have always found the bright side and lately, it has been tested, but it won out.
@Jennifer,
I am soo impressed with your boys! And your work efforts show where they got their drive from. I just love hearing about peoples' hard work being rewarded.
Woah - that's an impressive grade any year, let alone this one! Way to go, FG!!! Glad you're getting a break from school. My thankfulness this week comes from:
-these joggers that my kids and husband got me for mother's day...I NEVER would have spent that much on a pair of casual pants but they are so dang comfortable!
-thankful for the thoughtfulness that my family showed me
-even though things at work are feeling very much up in the air, my workload hasn't changed (yet) and I feel like I'm mostly on top of my responsibilities there.
-Our first zucchini and cherry tomatoes are just about ready to be picked from the garden-I didn't kill the plants!!! Sadly ALL of our pomegranate tree's flowers/budding fruits were picked off by something last week - probably squirrels. We're bummed about that but there's always next year, right?
-my rockstar kids. They bring me so much joy, pride and purpose.
-that this morning's breakfast and lunch prep was pretty easy. All those little things I did earlier made today better (bought extra pizza, pre-wrapped it in foil, cut the melon yesterday, figured out what they were going to have to breakfast last night). I'm still honing my skills around food management so it's still a relief when things go smoothly.
@CrunchyCake, are you comfortable saying what the brand of joggers you have? Thanks.
99,75%?!? Officially VERY impressed! Yay
My 5 :
* Our central vaccum broke and the patio ended up being rotten underneat and needed to be taken down and rebuilt. 6500$. I am very grateful for our frugal ways and our jobs, which permits to pay those kind of unplanned expenses without going broke. Joys of being a home owner.... Enjoy your rental!
* Having found a choir that will meet in person this summer. I am not totally comfortable being in a group without a mask (Covid), but I will go regardless, because singing makes me HAPPY
* A close relationship with both my daughters
* My body. Loving my body more and more. I spent the last 30 years hating it and criticizing it. I turned 40 and this mindset left me. I actually admire my body quite a lot for carrying my soul and having created and carried my children.
* Having friends and family coming over this weekend to celebrate DD achievement
A 99.75% is a 100 to me, congratulations!
I am thankful simply for the half and half that sill has not curdled for my coffee this morning. I always end up with lumpy creamers for some reason.
Staying in today to work from home and having that option at least for a little while longer.
That I have a three-day weekend coming up and then summer vacation for my boys!
My colleague/friend who graciously met with me to review my work plan for the summer and offered helpful tips and gave me a pretty plant for my office.
For my mom's evening calls to say goodnight (check up on me) to me and the boys.
Finally, that the sun is shining and the grass is getting greener.
I am out of town this week on a work trip, and I am thankful . . .
For AAA because my car started making a really bad noise when I arrived. I googled mechanics close to me, but everyone was booked up. Then I remembered that we got AAA for this exact purpose. (For some reason I think AAA is only when I need a tow.) AAA towed my car to a car care center that could get me in.
For the money to cover the car repairs. The car needed over $2,000 worth of work. It doesn't surprise me because it is an aging car, and I have put a lot of miles on recently. I am back in business in plenty of time before I need to hit the road again. It is not fun to spend that much money on something as un-fun as car repairs, but having the cash sitting in the bank makes it so much less stressful.
For a week away to research and write. I think I am still recovering from trying to work while my children were home for 18 months during the pandemic. It feels so good to get lost in my work and not even have to think about the clock ticking down to when someone needs picking up or feeding or any of the million tasks caring for children take.
For my family. Enjoying time away from them doesn't mean I don't appreciate my husband and kids with my whole heart. Especially this week in the wake of yet another devastating school shooting. I don't take them for granted for a minute. Instead I am using this time to reset and refocus on work so that I can then really enjoy the summer with the kids without thinking of the million things I should be doing.
So wonderful to have some time away! I hope it's both refreshing and productive.
Your exam results are amazing Kristen. Doffing my cap to you!
This week I am grateful for a few days of leisure, for getting a lot of work done in the short working week that was left, and for steady rainfall on most days. The garden is thriving and when it is sunny again, we have a lush garden to drink our morning coffee in.
When I was reading your post, it made me so thankful at the way God loves us and cares for us, especially in difficult times. He was bringing you all those things before you even knew you would need them! And your neighbors offering to mow your grass.....maybe they're angels in disguise! We are starting through a difficult time in my family (although not the same kind of difficulty as you) and I am happy to be reminded that our heavenly Fathers knows and cares.
Yes; so many kind blessings to me in the midst of my struggles. I am grateful!
Thankful for:
1. my teenage garden helper who comes for two hours a week and does all the heavy lifting for me.
2. the greenhouse my husband built, which allows me to have tomatoes that taste better than anything we can find at the grocery store.
3. neighbors on all sides that share tools and food and do things like call when someone forgets to shut a garage door and night has fallen.
4. the driveway we had put in last year. No more trying to negotiate gravel in a wheelchair.
5. the library that hosted a seed and plant exchange.
I am thankful for the rain we have received this week even though my yard is virtually a mudhole since we were right in the middle of grading our backyard - we needed the water and my plants are happy.
I am thankful that this is the last week of school. This is bittersweet as we are finishing kindergarten but I am ready for a break and so is my son.
I am thankful that our grading project will be wrapped up soon and we can begin the hydroseeding process. I am hoping that we will have grass by the end of summer and that I can finish planting my garden and my flower seeds by the end of this month.
I am thankful for provision as we have moved into our new home in March and the projects and to do list seem never ending.
I am thankful for coffee, bedtime, a sister to talk to, an army of doctors and nurse helping me navigate caring for a loved one, birdsong, flowers growing in my yard, & my dog Luna Grace who is such a love bug.
Congratulations on such an amazing grade! I know you worked hard to earn it!
This week I am thankful that my children both at home and at school are safe and coping as well as can be expected through a seemingly neverending series of world crises. Every day I witness their resilience in action and feel honored that I get to know them.
Super congrats on your grades, Kristen! You’re on your way to a wonderful career.
I am thankful for the best husband on earth, this week and every week. So many talents but it’s his kindness toward all, and especially his family, that makes us feel blessed beyond words.
Love the image of your kitty doing what pets do best to Lisey.
Aww, I love to hear that your husband is kind; kindness is one of the best features a person can have!
Please be safe on those lovely trails. Looks kinda isolated.
Yes and no; the trails are in the woods, but they're also right by a college and some well-trafficked roads. I promise I am being careful. 🙂
Hooray for time with Lisey!
Today...
I'm thankful that I've had some time to start a new audiobook.
I'm thankful for a girl that was kind to my son when he was feeling shy and nervous.
I'm thankful for freshly-mopped floors.
I'm thankful for time with my kiddos.
I'm thankful that my second grader has friends and isn't lonely.
I'm thankful for the fresh green colors all around in our yard.
I'm thankful for my planner that helps me prioritize, stay on track, and focus.
I'm thankful that my kids love playing together... Most of the time!
1. I'm thankful to have found your lovely blog.
2. I'm thankful that my husband's semester of teaching is within hours of being done!
3. Celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary today, starting with lunch out with women friends!
4. Surplus fabric in my sewing room, as I made a kind of odd caftan out of a tablecloth that looks (unfortunately) exactly like a table cloth with pockets. If I decide I can't stand it, I do have the option of trying again with new fabric and doing better. The caftan can turn into napkins or place mats. Some with pockets...
5. For the baby peaches on our backyard tree. We got 12 peaches last year, delicious!
And congratulations on your high marks! I hope you celebrate!
Many thoughts have popped up in my mind while reading this post but what stood out was your ability to still find happiness. And then I recalled how you sometimes say you don’t need whiskers to do things and I’m hoping you find it reassuring for yourself in this new chapter of your life. Change can be super difficult. Wishing you all the best.
Funny enough, I have thought about the no-whiskers thing several times this week!
Thanks for the encouragement!
99.75%?!! That is a seriously amazing mark under ANY circumstances, let alone the ones you have been coping with! A huge congratulations to you!!
Today I am thankful that my younger son is slogging his way through a three month license suspension (for an accident a few years ago in which he had a micro sleep and went off the highway in his work truck after a 16 hour day). He’s had to get another job for the three months as his family of a wife and three tiny children depend on him, so I’m also thankful that my older son helped him find a full time position he can do without a vehicle. I’m also thankful that the judge responded to the letter my younger son wrote and reduced the original six months down to three. He’s about halfway through the time now. And ultimately, I am thankful and have been every single day since this accident happened that he survived and was relatively unscathed. He was very fortunate.
That’s 4/5 one one topic!
Let me see. I’m thankful my wife has a job interview today as she is losing her current job. Here’s hoping she rocks it!
I’m thankful our 2020 tax refund finally came months after being misdirected in the mail on account of our move. It will help us through the summer as I teach less and we’re dealing with this impending job loss in a new and very expensive rental home.
I’m grateful my daughter and I talked out a few problems yesterday. Relationships are complicated.
I’m grateful for my adhd diagnosis. It’s changing my life to learn about the ways in which it has affected me and how to work with it.
Oh, and yay for your piano arriving!
I'm glad your son was able to find employment for this three-month period. Whew!
So happy that you are adjusting well to your new life and surroundings! Keep busy and time will fly by as you see. Also you have great neighbors that are willing to help with your lawn mowing, so nice of them to do it for you!! I love what you are doing with the furniture you find!!
I just wanted to congratulate you on your awesome grade! Great way to start the summer. So glad that Lisey could be with you for the summer.
Congrats on your amazing grade!!!
My #1 thankful thing is that our first baby granddaughter arrived on Thursday afternoon. She was a little early, but will get to go home tomorrow!! I was able to be there for the labor and delivery, and we have been delivering food and coffee and snacks to our daughter and son-in-law for the last few days.
Thankful for a job that I could just call and say that I wasn't going to be there for a few days...even when they kept bumping off her induction.
Thankful for a few afternoons at the pool just before she arrived.
Thankful that we have the discretionary $ to just stop and get whatever food sounds good to our daughter at the moment. That definitely hasn't always been the case, and it's really nice not to worry about our account.
Thankful for an amazing son-in-law. He is such a great husband, and he is going to be a good father. He has hardly left the baby's side when she was in the NICU.
Mine was all one topic! 🙂
I am thankful for this blog and commenters who are authentic, encouraging and resourceful. It is wonderful to tap in to that vibe on a regular basis.
I am thankful for:
1) a recent chance to get away by myself before starting a summer of difficult caregiving
2) for plenty of rain that has helped things grow
3) for my library that recently reopened after an extensive remodel. It is lovely and my happy place
4) for a 100% clean house - a wonderful cleaning person came for the first time in almost 3 years and we cleaned together
5) for the slow but steady healing of plantar fasciitis and that with good shoes I am able to continue walking and being active. A friend recommended Kuru brand and they are really worth it.