Thankful Thursday | some sun? for real??
This week, I am thankful:
that today, we are finally, finally promised some sunshine!
We have had rain and clouds for I think the last 11 or 12 days here.
And while I recognize this experience pales in comparison to the hurricane-related suffering elsewhere (understatement of the year!), I still have been feeling a little deflated by all the clouds.
And my deflated brain will be delighted to see the sun today.
that there are lots of sunny days in the forecast
Today is not just an isolated event; I see lots of sun icons in my 15-day forecast!
that I do not live in a place where cloudy weather is the norm
I seriously might develop a case of depression if clouds dominated my local weather; I do not think I am built for a life under cloudy skies.
for wet mosses
I am weary of the wet weather, yes, but I can appreciate how lush the moss gets with so much moisture.
And I am always admiring the porcelain berries too.
for weather warm enough to wear my blue stripey dress again
I went to a symphony concert on Sunday (thank you, free student ticket!) and since it hasn't felt very autumnal here at all, I decided to wear my blue and white striped Target dress one more time.
I'm sure this breaks some antiquated seasonal dressing rules, but I don't care. 😉
that I'm getting faster at clinical paperwork
After each clinical day, we get sent home with paperwork assignments, and I must say, I am getting faster at them as compared to first semester. Yay me!
that I felt better in simulation lab
I think I told you last week that I am amazed to see how much more comfortable clinical rotations are for me now that I have worked as a tech.
Well, this week we had simulation lab at school (we run through fake patient scenarios with actors as our patients) and whoa, I felt way, way more comfortable doing those than I did before.
I think the tech job just made me so much more confident and comfortable talking to patients, and that's translating over even with patient actors in a sim lab.
that I have a quiet weekend to study
I have minimal plans this weekend, which is good because I have an exam on Monday AND on Tuesday of this coming week.
So, I'm gonna be spending 90% of my weekend studying.
for this funny picture of Lisey's cat
She sent us this picture of Piper and it made us giggle. She looks so judgmental. Heh.
So of course I asked Lisey if I could share with you all!
Congratulations on getting faster with paperwork! I remember spending my entire first weekend as a teacher frantically working on lesson plans, and a few weeks later I could polish it off in an hour. It makes you realize practice makes perfect.
I'm thankful:
* My daughter had fun at Special Olympics bowling. We've had some big issues with her lately, and I wasn't sure how it would go. But she bowled well and listened to the volunteers redirecting her if she got distracted.
*the high schoolers who volunteered at the game. They were good humored and patient and supportive.
*We finally have an appointment for my daughter to see a specialist about her issues. It's 6weeks+ out, but at least we have a way forward.
*I spent some time with a friend who retired from work over the summer. I miss chatting with her every day, so dropping in to see her was great.
*my friend's dogs loved me and bgged for pets. It's nice to feel wanted!
I have some very big thankfuls this week. Last Sunday, the 29th--the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels--four devoted friends and I interred DH's ashes, according to the plan I outlined back in August when the local medical school returned his ashes to me. He now rests in a lovely meadow behind the country home of our friends who used to own llamas, next to one of the llamas he loved so much.
I picked "Michaelmas" as the date not only for its Jane Austen associations (lots of things happen on Michaelmas in JA's novels, especially changes of residence), but for St. Michael himself. This archangel is usually depicted as a knight with wings, and DH always saw himself as a "knight errant." (In fact, he used that phrase to describe his occupation on his nametag for a building performance conference he once attended!)
The Bestest Neighbors joined me and the homeowners for the occasion. We read four of his and my favorite poems. I then recited the prayer I've read at several family funerals ("O Lord, support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes..."). And after the actual interment, I laid my traditional herbal posy--rosemary for remembrance, sage for wisdom, thyme for immortality, and basil for entry into paradise--next to his simple stone marker.
So I'm immensely thankful that my beloved DH now "lies where he longed to be," in the words of Robert Louis Stevenson (whose "Requiem" for himself was one of the four poems we read). I'm deeply grateful to the homeowners for granting me this privilege. And I'm grateful to them and the BNs for their support down through the years and on this particular day.
@A. Marie, thank you for sharing the beauty of this special time with us. What a lovely and tender tribute to your dear husband!! Wishing you comfort and peace- and joy from many happy memories!
@A. Marie, hugs to you. It must have been one more difficult day, but when you do it the way you and your husband wanted, it surrounds you with a feeling a peace and love. You have wonderful friends.
@A. Marie,
I hope you will find comfort in having him brought to rest in such a dignified and intimate ceremony.
@A. Marie,
How beautiful! I'm sure your Knight Errant and St. Michael and the angels were smiling down at you and your dear friends. May your dear husband rest in peace. Sending hugs and good thoughts to you.
@A. Marie, as PD said above thank you for sharing this lovely tribute to your DH with us.
But this is just the end of the story of how gracious and thoughtful you were handling the whole decline and death of your husband.
I love the herbal posy. I grow many herbs and will remember this.
I hope this final act brings you some measure of peace.
@A. Marie,
Well, that just caused my eyes to fill up. How sweet! I'm so looking forward to the day the kids and I can go scatter DH's reserved ashes to sprinkle at his parents' gravesite in the church yard, where the ashes of one of his sisters are also spread. You had such a lovely little ceremony - I hope I can do half that well.
@A. Marie, Sending you hugs and thanking you in turn for describing one of the most beautiful services I’ve heard described. So personal, so meaningful at every step, he was honored by each of your special touches. Thanks for sharing.
@A. Marie, St. Michael is a powerful saint in the Catholic tradition, and one of our favorite household saints. His prayer is one I pray a lot ("St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil . . ."), and I love that you chose his feast day--and that of all angels--to lay your husband to rest.
The traditional Catholic prayer for departed souls is another good one, and one I pray for your husband: "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
@A. Marie,
Thank you for sharing your experience. May your beloved husband rest in eternity and his memory be a blessing to you.
@A. Marie, this is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this special day and your love story with us. May your memories of DH always be a comfort.
@A. Marie, I'm glad your husband has such a beautiful resting place.
@A. Marie, sending a hug your way. This is very moving. Beautifully done.
@A. Marie, what a loving tribute and time to remember and celebrate his life.
@A. Marie, oh, that is the sweetest end of life ceremony. He would have loved it. (((Hugs)))
@A. Marie,
What a beautiful farewell to your DH....I'm in tears reading this. So very thoughtful, intimate, and moving.
@A. Marie, What a wonderful tribute to your husband. Thank you for sharing the details.
@kristin@going country, I love that you shared these prayers!
@kristin@going country, Thank you for sharing this information and especially the prayers.
@A. Marie, that is a beautiful story about your husband. Hugs to you!
@A. Marie, what a wonderful way to lay your DH to rest. I’m sure he was smiling down on you and your friends. The day sounds like it was very special and perfect. I’m so happy it went so well.
I love everything about the way you honored your DH.
@A. Marie,
Knight Errant I love it! and for it to be on his name tag. <3 hearts and hugs. I am glad he is resting in such a lovely place. <3
@A. Marie, this week, I am especially thankful that you have shared your journey with all of us. They say " like attracts like" and I'm grateful that Kristen has created a warm, supportive environment where people can share the burdens of life as well as the joys. I hope there is much joy in your memories and in your future.
@A. Marie, thank you for sharing so much if your journey with DH. Your authenticity, wisdom, intelligence and kindness shows in every post you make. I often learn something from your posts. Blessings to you.
I am thankful that the local gray and wet weather is forecast to be over. I am also thankful that I have been able to walk outside at least some every day.
I am thankful for good health.
I am thankful for my siblings. Both of my brothers celebrated birthdays this week.
I am thankful for audio books. They allow me to enjoy books while do other things.
I feel SO judged! Piper, I promise to try harder, next time.
I am, as always, thankful for my lovely office-mate, who makes my workdays pleasant.
I am also thankful that the rain has stopped. The hills in WV are back to turning green. We were in a heavy drought since June and everything was brown and dry. And it is so sad what happened to all the people in the way of Helene. Just complete devastation. And green hills do not compare to the devastation those people are feeling.
My husband is now considered "full time" at his retail job and will only be working during the week -- mostly doing deliveries. And if there are no deliveries on Fridays, he will not have to go in at all, which is nice. And he will be away from the house while I try to work here, which is really nice because I really appreciate not having any distractions.
Thankful that we are going to visit our daughter and family this weekend. Can't wait!
Thankful we are taking the dog to the vet today for his regular checkup and have money to pay for it. Thanks to being very vigilant on our sinking funds account.
Thankful that I have the energy to exercise everyday. After last night's 15 mile bike ride, I was exhausted and my body hurt. But I did it. If we are not riding, we are walking with the dog. Work is having a Move It October that I am participating in and it is helping.
Thankful for:
- Sunshine
- Special moments with the kids
- A crazy week of extracurriculars going...okay
- Some great thrifted finds
- Walking daily; I needed to get back to this
- Yin yoga. It's a new addition to my life and I'm loving it
- Sleep
- The coffee I'm drinking right this minute
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Sunshine. Again. Always!
Goodness, Piper is a tough critic!
I'm obviously thankful for so many things around Helene. I guess I can be thankful that during three hurricanes, I can still find reasons to be thankful, such as:
1. My new roof and new windows (thanks to Idalia) held up very well during Debby and Helene. Idalia and Debby "prepared us" some for stronger Helene, in that many weak and diseased trees were already down and the items at our homes needing attention were already brought to our notice before Helene hit. There is still a lot of damage, but we were spared some, at least.
2. Helene went over us in a hurry. If she had sat on us, the way Idalia did, the destruction would have been even worse.
3. That in spite of losing 90% of the homes, many of which were full-time residences, at the beaches, there have been no deaths reported so far.
4. That Florida is managing hurricane recovery so quickly these days. In fact, some Florida crews are now in the flooded regions north of us, helping with rescue there.
5. For my family's safety and minor property damages. For the many volunteer organizations helping out. For the courage of those facing yet another terrible loss. For the prayers and kindnesses of strangers. For the opposing high school football team that just played our team (at their field, of course; ours is a mess again) and instead of charging admission fees to the game, asked for supplies such as packs of water, cleaners, diapers, shelf-stable foods, etc., which they then loaded on our team's bus and sent back home with our team after the game.
@JD,
#4 - Florida launch Operation Blue Ridge just 3 days after Helena hit. They have sent excess equipment and personnel to Western North Carolina. But importantly, Florida Residents Can request assistance for family members in Western Carolina here.
https://www.floridadisaster.org/operation-blue-ridge-relief/
@JD,
That was really sweet of the opposing team! Like Mister Rogers says, when things go awfully wrong, look for the helpers.
@JD, I applaud your #5, especially the opposing HS football team's thoughtfulness. We need a lot more of that sort of spirit, around the nation and the world.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Lovely example of caring among young people. Always loved that quote of Mr. Rogers.
I am thankful I found a competent trainer online to help with a stiff hip/leg problem I have been having. He offers lots of free youtubes and they are helping so much!
I am thankful for my kitties companionship.. love your photos of Lisey’s cat and also your two sweeties!
I am thankful that I have a roof over my head,enough food in my pantry, clothes to wear, and relationships that nurture me. Feeling grateful for simple pleasures these days.
I am sooo grateful I still have time to use up an $800 “fitness “ allowance on my Aetna medicare advantage program!! I can use it for yoga classes,pickelball, or to purchase trackers /safety devices such as an APPLE WATCH! Yikes! Aetna is NO LONGER OFFERING THIS BENEFIT in the coming year so I purchased my watch and am immediately sending in docs for reimbursement.Aetna has been good about processing reimbursements this year.. but this benefit is, alas, gone after December!
@Madeline, Would you mind sharing the link to the Youtube videos? This is something I sometimes deal with and should be working on.
Piper: "I don't always judge you, but when I do, it's from far away."
Thankful that we were only without power for a short time after Helene...many in our area are still without 6 days later.
Not thankful that my fridge died this past week when I'm selling this house soon, but thankful that we were able to buy one and have it delivered....especially with the port strike, those types of items may be hard to come by in the future. Ours was already in stock and only took a few days to deliver.
Thankful that although the house we are looking to buy revealed a few items in inspections, so far the sellers are working with us and hopefully all will be resolved so our loan people will approve. None of the items were major fixes for the seller (less than $200).
Thankful for good insurance and easy access to medical care. I had a reaction to a new medication yesterday and broke out all over. $23 and an hour of my time, I had seen a doctor at urgent care, received treatment...went to pick up meds for $1.52. It isn't lost on me that some just stay home and hope it doesn't become life threatening. Also, thankful that I'm not still bright red all over this morning.
Thankful for options in life. There was a time I didn't feel like I had many options to make choices...now I feel like all options are on the table for work/life/home/etc. That feedom is a nice thing.
That look from Piper as if to say "what the..."
Thankful that I got to talk to my Aunt (in Florida) & to hear her voice! 🙂
Thankful for my Aunt's neighbors (who live on higher ground) not only got her out of her flooding house, they are letting her temporarily stay with them (MIL room).
Thankful my Aunt has flood insurance & will be paid. Many others do not have flood insurance (only homeowners) & will have to figure out what to do (financially).
Thankful my dad (20 minutes east of Tampa) had minimal storm damage.
Thankful my dad is driving 2+ hours every other day to help my Aunt. My dad helped get my Aunt insurance claims started right away & hopefully she will get paid (as) quickly (as insurance companies will be flooded with claims).
Thankful my dad calls me & gives me updates on what's happening & actually listened to my concerns & did what I wanted to do---add my Aunt on phone plan (she has prepaid with limited minutes) & get her new phone so she can reached without fear of not being able to use phone because no minutes/too expensive go use ($1/minute).
Thankful my Aunt has options since she has decided that she is not going to repair/rebuild this house & is going to look for rental apartment since houses are just so exspensive. She has had too much with the hurricanes & flooding. She can sell the house "As Is" & still get decent amount of money from sale of house.
Thankful for all the people volunteering to help with their resources. All of the helicopters showing up from all over the country to help with search & rescue, bringing in supplies, taking people to safer areas. ***It has been a long time dream of mine to learn to fly a helicopter for that reason of being able to get in & out of areas. Of course, I will need to get over my fear of flying (bad childhood experience in a small airplane) AND I WILL NEED LOTS OF MONEY to do it.
Thankful teen doing high school activities today. High school has Career day at school & has a Military Black Hawk Helo (helicopter) that came in & landed right in parking lot. The kids really enjoy being able to watch & see the helicopter. For all of the colleges & military programs to take the time to come to the kids (at school) who otherwise might not have this ability to find out information or access to possibilities.
Thankful for the slightly above average temperatures. We had few 80s & now mostly 70s. Yesterday was 60s & 39 over night (close to normal in Michigan for this time of year). Luckily I knew weather forecast & was able to close everything up before cooled off & did not have to turn on heat. Brought my succulent plants inside for the winter.
Thankful we are somewhat stocked up on food & supplies as the Dock Workers Strike began Oct. 1 @midnight on most shipping ports in USA. Not looking forward to price hikes or products not available because of no/limited supply, including the gas we get from over seas.
Fact---for every day ports are closed it will take 5+ days to get caught up once ports reopen.
Thankful (as always) for Kristen & her site to be able to share & learn from all of you.
Not thankful that I had to retype whole post again because my phone decided to go back out of site/blog & all of my Thankfuls disappeared. Maybe human error pushing back button/key? Luckily I can type at decent speed.
Have a great weekend!
@Regina, thanks for the reminder about the dock workers' strike. If this goes on for any length of time, belts may need to be worn even tighter this winter.
@Regina,
I am so glad you were able to speak with your aunt. There is something about hearing your loved ones voice that is settling. It is also extremely smart to put her on a phone plan!
I went to Costco earlier in the week and purchased a few things. I was especially concerned about coffee and toilet paper. These are two things I feel like I always should have on hand. There was no TP to be found!
@Bee,
I have heard it might be important to stock up on coffee, OTC meds (like ibuprofen, allergy meds, etc), and imported wine.
I will DEFINITELY be stocking up on coffee AND OTC meds myself....DH and I go through a ton of ibuprofen and Arthritis strength Tylenol.
@Liz B.,
Oh, and chocolate!!
@Bee, Toilet paper shortages are about panicked hoarding rather than anything else. We don't import toilet paper so has nothing to do with the strike.
I'm thankful for:
*a really fun time at the children's museum with my two girls. And I'm also thankful for Kids Free October here in San Diego.
*how much my 16 month old loves dancing. It always makes me smile.
*the weekly storytime at the library and time to catch up with a neighbor while we were there
*reading together with my husband
Piper should be captioned "I am the world's most interesting cat." 😀
@Ruby, Piper's pose reminds me of the look I often get from my own Betty: "Me. Betty. The Cat. Now hurry with that food!"
@A. Marie, my Dora Kitty is a cloud of perpetually sweet- natured fluff. Her buddy Ollie, who passed away a few months ago at just about 18 years, was a stunningly beautiful Russian blue and he could give us some very haughty nobility looks. His nickname was "the Tsar" and he lived up to it when the mood was on him.
My cat Chai often makes the same face as Piper. Cats are so expressive!
Thankful for:
- the basically perfect scenario of closing on the house we are moving to 10-9, and closing on the house we are moving from 10-21. Just enough time to move everything over, but we don't have to pay excessive overlapping utilities or mortgage.
- that both house inspections are complete and we are officially officially moving forward!!
- for my husband for taking on extra tasks when my Hashimoto's is flaring up and I feel exhausted <3
- that I got to help with the next round of yoga teachers in training at my studio last weekend!
- I've got three projects to present for publication in two weeks, and all the authors are really kind and pleasant to work with. Their books are all going to help populations that need help, too!
- I finished a really good book by Ann Patchett this week, Tom Lake. I can't wait to read more of her work.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, Congrats on the great news about the closings on the old and new homes!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, the Ann Patchett that I loved was The Dutch House. It made me go and start reading her other books.
@Angel, The Dutch House was good.
Lisey's kitty's pic could be a poster haha. One of those motivational ones from bygone days. What personality!
Thankful for tenacious medical personal working to solve my gait problem. Slow but sure wins the race I hope.
Thankful for the Comentariat, who provide so many great ideas and solutions to requests, and in a gentle, conversational manner. So not the norm online. And for our fearless leader Kristen, whose personal stories, awesome nature images, and kitties lead the way so well.
I have several large things that I am thankful for this week.
First and foremost, I am thankful that my son who lives in Western North Carolina is safe. I was able to speak with him at length yesterday for the first time. I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it was to hear his voice.
I am thankful for the thousands of people who give of themselves in times of crisis to help others. In this world, there are those that run towards danger. I appreciate the sacrifice that they make for others.
My husband works for a large corporation that was purchased by a foreign entity. I am very thankful that he survived the restructuring that occurred following this purchase. He is at that age where he is too old to really look for another job and too young to retire.
I am thankful that in my little piece of heaven, everything seems to be okay. The world is troubled, but here the sun is out, the birds are singing, and people are smiling. I am truly blessed.
Wishing everyone, peace, good health, and prosperity. Sending prayers and love to all those in need.
@Bee, I'm thankful your son is okay!
@Bee,
Your number 1 is fantastic! I can't imagine what you and your husband were going through until you could talk to your son.
@Bee, my son also lives in Ashville, in fact just moved there 3 months ago for a job. We did talk to him once he is OK. Since he currently has no job hopefully will find out something soon, he is volunteering with local hospital and Samaritans Purse.
BTW Samaritans Purse HQs is in Boone NC and they due wonderful relief efforts all over the globe. These people know what they are doing. This is the same operation that does Operation Christmas Child.
@karen, @Sophie and @JD —
Thank you. It’s been a bit unsettling. Even though he is an adult, I never stop worrying about him or his siblings. Once you are a mom, you are a mom forever.
Karen, I’m glad you were able to speak with your son and he is well. Samaritan Purse is an amazing organization and it’s beyond wonderful that your son is working with them. They are do some exceptional work in Western Carolina — volunteers pilots are airdropping food and water to areas that are completely cut off, they’ve set up field hospitals, gotten oxygen to those who require it, they have helped people with cleanup and comforted those in need. I really can’t say enough about that.❤️
@Bee, Very good to hear that your son is ok. Until you reach them they’re your little ones even when adult. We’ve been there (Twin Towers attack) and remember the feeling of helplessness well.
Love the judgemental cat photo!
-We lost power yesterday, and it was 100 out. It was a long, hot night without a fan or AC. Grateful that power is back on!
-Grateful that we randomly had pizza leftovers in our fridge (never happens), so DS17 & I could have an easy (if not overly healthy) meal option. I did also cut up an apple. Cold pizza, ftw
-Super grateful I can have coffee this morning, with power & all.
-I have a doctor's appointment for something that's been bothering me for a month now. It's so hard to get an appointment, so I'm grateful that the time has finally come.
-I heard back on a couple of potential jobs, and the news on both was positive.
-We are DONE with all of DS17's college applications, minus the one international one that hasn't opened up yet!!!
@Hawaii Planner, Re: doctor appointment. For "reasons" I cannot begin to fathom, my insurance company took it upon itself to reassign me to a ... wait for it ... pediatrician as my primary care provider. What the *!#%? So today I am thankful I was able to undo that, and that it took only 2 1/2 *!#% hours to accomplish.
@JDinNM, I’m so sorry that borders on the absurd. I hope you can get things worked out soon.
@Bee, I'm not sure who at the insurance company took it upon themself to not only change my doctor but my entire provider network! But I did get it fixed, finally. I added it to My Very Long List of Times I Should Not Have Had To Spend Countless Hours Cleaning Up Someone Else's Mistakes. Volume IX.
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of "SpongeBob SquarePants", various restaurants are offering special foods.
Wendy's has a Krabby Patty burger and a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty, "made from Wendy's classic Vanilla Frosty with a pineapple mango flavored puree swirl."
(I don't think the $1 Frosty program is still going, though).
@Heidi Louise,
Yesterday I was signed up to substitute teach and English class, but when I got there, I was not needed for that. So they switched me to an Aqua Science class.
I had to tell the students, "Not only have I never taken any Aqua Science course, but I've never even watched an episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants, so I can't help you with your worksheet questions." LOL!
Who knew that ol' Sponge Bob was 25 years old?
@Fru-gal Lisa, Hee-Hee-- I'm sure the students could teach you his theme song: "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants..."
I found it interesting that spellcheck capitalized the second parts of each of his name. I think to make it into spellcheck means one has arrived in the world.
@Heidi Louise,
I remember buying one of my sons SpongeBob SquarePants boxers. He loved him.
@Heidi Louise, my teens classmates he grew up with (all now Seniors in high school) will spontaneously break out into song singing Sponge Bob Square Pants. Of course they grew up with Sponge Bob & I remember in middle school teen & group of friends did talent show rocking out to Sponge Bob. Hilarious that they actually won the talent show.
@ A. Marie, such a lovely post re your late husband. Blessings to you!
Thankful this week for
- a night out last Thursday with DIL & granddaughters. Their happy faces & pure joy were priceless!
- that I was able to babysit sick grandson this week. One of the reasons for our move to SE Louisiana was to be available at times like this.
- that I am finally established with a primary care physician & she made referrals to the various specialists that I need to see for different health issues, none of which are life threatening but still need to be monitored on a regular basis.
- for a good night’s sleep last night. 10+ hours! Woohoo! (I needed it!)
- for all the work crews & volunteers who are helping all those affected by Helene. I appreciate their willingness to give their time & energy to help everyone in need.
May everyone here have a blessed day.
You would not want to live here if you dislike clouds! Having said that, I am thankful for beautiful autumn sunshine this week!
I am also thankful for a run in said sunshine this morning. And I'm thankful that I always feel good after a run, even if the run itself isn't always fun.
I'm thankful that this week is better than last week and thankful that it's nearly the weekend!
Piper looks like she’s hiding her double chin for the picture! Lol
Thankful for:
No real bad weather here. High wind warnings but it didn't get too bad.
Enough left on Amazon gift cards that I was able to purchase supplies to donate to the Cajun Navy to help with their hurricane relief efforts.
Finally getting an update on my oldest's dermatologist referral, which was basically they got the referral but it may take 30 days before they can review and set up an appointment.
Potty training is going decent. As long as he's naked it's not a problem, but he will just not go when he has underwear on and uses it in them.
Feeling a little bit better after several days of yuckiness.
I love Piper! She is definitely judging all of us.
I had never heard of porcelain berries. Always nice to learn something new.
I’m thankful:
- we were finally able to get the payoff information for the mortgage. We wired the money yesterday and are now officially mortgage free again!
- we have friends and family coming over this weekend to help us celebrate selling the house. buying the new house, being mortgage free, and my birthday
- for my DH who was very supportive when I called him yesterday crying from frustration about my tasking at work. Talking to him always makes me feel better.
- for new tasking at work. Now I'm not frustrated and wanting to quit or retire.
- my sister was finally discharged from the hospital after almost a week.
@Beverly,
Hooray on being mortgage free!!! It must feel great!
1 While I'm thankful for every substitute teacher job I can get, I'm also thankful that I can cancel them when I'm just too weary to work.
2. Very thankful I'm not in harm's way when it comes to hurricanes, and, as always, praying for those who got slammed this time around.
3. Thankful that I've been able to watch Scripps News (nee Newsy) for free. It is an unbiased news channel that is over the air. Excellent reporting. Watch it every day. Sadly, they are going to discontinue it after the elections. What a pity. (I don't stream. I don't pay for TV viewing. I have rabbit ear antennas.)
4. That I found a programmable remote control for my TV. It doesn't do everything that needs doing but at least I can turn the set on and off, control the volume and switch channels.
5. That I kept my old coffeemaker. The wonderful new mini-Keurig has stopped working. Its lights blink but it doesn't brew.
@Fru-gal Lisa, didn't you just get the Keurig recently at back to school time? I would return it & as for refund or another one if you feel you still want one.
Do you know why is Scipps News not going to be on air after election? I thought they were good news station & reported news unbiased. This is a surprise to hear.
Thankful always for this site and the kindness and concern for each other.
Thankful to have a good report from one of my health specialists yesterday. She is always very kind and complimentary. Seeing her is always an ego boost.
Thankful to see that while FEMA says they are not going to have enough money for all of the help required to make up for damages caused by Helene that the American Spirit and generosity far surpasses them.
I am thankful to be able to give to Samaritan's Purse. And to have enough to also give to the Humane Society in. Both have jumped right in the mud and mire to be of benefit to hurting people. I also admire the Cajun Navy 2016. I know there are many more helpers.
Thankful for "October's Bright Blue Weather." I am and always will be a summer fan (Hah, a pun) but I also like the beauty of October.
Piper disapproves of everything you're doing 🙂
Stop admiring porcelain berry as it is highly invasive!
Me admiring it or not has no effect on its existence. 😉
@Kristen, I think that I recently read somewhere that you can eat those berries even though invasive plants. Please double check before if planning on eating. I was quite surprised when I read that. For some reason when I think of invasive plants I automatically assume not good things.
@Regina, untrue. Garlic mustard is edible as that is how it ended up in the US.
@Kristen - you won’t admire the damage it can do to trees. To the point that a dead tree will snap but a six foot section of dense hard wood is hanging by a porcelain berry vine. No play zone for my kids until the vine dried out enough. I cut it and sprayed any re- growth
I still am befuddled about how me admiring the beauty has anything to do with how many porcelain berries there are invading my area. I took the picture on a walk, and the porcelain berries were lining a public walkway, so I couldn't exactly remove the plants. 😉
I wish that they were not here, but I don't see any harm in enjoying the beauty they provide.
Now, if I was out here planting porcelain berries, then I could see the error of my ways.
@Selena, as in the 6 foot section fell to the ground
@Kristen - with no action on dealing with them or other invasives (buckthorn, bush honeysuckle aforementioned garlic mustard), the native plants will be gone. Speaking as someone who has seen the return of native plants as we’ve removed all the aforementioned. The number of ramps we have is beyond my expectations.
Our forest preserve routinely has staff and volunteers pull garlic mustard.
Miss Piper looks like she is saying "you're going to do whaaat??"
I'm thankful for crisp nights for good sleep.
Crisp blue skies and gentle breezes and a strong leaf blower.
Cleaning up the summer garden, taking care of the fall garden.
Field guy who brought his newly acquired smaller tractor w/rototiller and other nifty attachments to play. I pay for his diesel, to which I picked up 50 gallons yesterday at a ridiculously frugal price.
We filled 2 large box trucks with medical equipment, generators, bedding, clothes, OTC stuff for a group heading to ravaged North Carolina & Virginia. God Speed.
-Thankful that our area of NC had only minimal/moderate damage from Helene. Several power outages due to trees down, but our power flickered several times and never stayed off. Now we are trying to help those who suffered such devastating losses.
-Thankful our granddaughter who has been very ill with bacterial pneumonia is finally on the mend.
-Saw my surgeon on Tuesday and he is very pleased with my knee replacement recovery. Had my last PT appointment today and am released from care until the second knee gets replaced in November. Whoo hoo!!
- Thankful for some upcoming cooler weather!
Thankful:
1. That the husband and the quartet he sings were able to fly to Portland this weekend, geeking out with other barbershop singers at a regional contest.
2. that when our food bank ran out of carrier bags, which are essential to delivering food. they put out a FB call for plastic grocery bags and within a day were flooded with bags. It was somehow heartening to see so many people dropping off boxes full of bags they have been stockpiling, and also to know the bags are being recycled by the food bank instead of being thrown away.
3. that husband found a replacement seat for the van for a much more reasonable price than what the dealership offered. The current seat died by the mouth of the Dane.
4. that we are done with the garden and with mowing the yard until May. The clean up every fall is a pain so we are happy to see it completed for the year.
5. for the husband, always the husband.
NOT thankful that the dog figured out how to open the window where he sits in the van. He sits in a seat behind the driving husband and used to tap his shoulder with his paw when he wanted the window opened. Sometimes it was okay but other times it is too cold or we are going too fast, so his request was denied. The last few days it was in the 20s when we were out running errands, so too cold. Dog kept tapping insistently, to no avail. He barked in the husband's ear, still no. So he started pawing at the buttons by his side and damn if he didn't open the window. Husband closed it and we thought it was just a coincidence. Nope. Now the dog opens and shuts the window as he sees fit. We are searching out how to use the child proofing that will stop him from being able to mess with the controls.
@Lindsey, you may need to change "child proofing" to "Dane proofing." Clobber Paws is too %&$!! smart for his own good.
I'm also delighted to learn that the group your husband sings with is a barbershop quartet. In goofing around on YouTube a few nights ago, I came up with several Buffalo Bills (the quartet, not the NFL team) gems from the 1962 film of The Music Man, including "How Can There Be Any Sin in Sincere?" and "Goodnight, Ladies."
And as a coda, DH had a wonderful speaking voice (more than one friend mentioned it last year in their condolence notes after he died), but he absolutely could not sing a lick. However, since his high school girlfriend was playing Marian the Librarian in their senior class production of The Music Man, he got the role of the conductor on the train in the first scene: "River City, next station stop! River City, next!"
@Lindsey, if you figure out how to dog proof the power windows, please do share. Rescue dogs accidentally open windows occasionally but usually when jumping around when first begin traveling in vehicle, not on purpose.
@A. Marie, The husband sometimes turns off the alarm and sings me awake, often love songs or Broadway hits. (Although in December it is holiday tunes.
Trust me, you don't want to wake up to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer at 6 am) I have heard Music Man songs more times that I can count, as well as the very annoying monologue song, the start of which I know by heart, and not on purpose:
"Well, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a pool table in your community.
Ya got trouble, my friend, right here,
I say, trouble right here in River City."
@Lindsey, I would suspect there is a way to lock the non-driver windows. Many of my vehicles had that
I always love your snippets of nature! God's creation never ceases to amazing me!
I'm thankful for:
-Some packing and sorting getting done today.
- À nice walk.
- Yummy foods, been enjoying curry.
- Some new clothes I was able to buy for an upcoming trip. (mostly used clothes from the big clothes market, clothes get shipped in bales to West Africa where people resell them. Some still have thriftstore price tags on them).
Thankful for:
Our picture perfect weather.
For my son, DIL, and her parents did not have much damage after Helene. Her parents are still without power. They had lots of 100' pines down but not close to their house. They are in GA.
For a short visit with the grands. All I heard was "grandma can you...." They are so much fun.
For a hugely helpful staff member at a local bank.
For a late small batch of raspberries.
For being able to quickly resolve a $130 medical bill.
Prayers to all those affected by the storm. Many of those cities are ones we have visited during our summer trips and my heart goes out to them.
So glad you're feeling more comfortable at school and that your work experience is helping with that.
Thankful ...
1) That God answered our prayers and helped us figure out what was wrong with our car and fix it. It was making a chirping noise while driving and we weren't sure where it was coming from.
2) For a husband who knows how to troubleshoot and fix things around the house. He's been so helpful.
3) For the precious time I have alone with my husband while our kids are at school. It's like we're back to dating again before kids. We're enjoy our time together by going out for walks or bike rides. We also have lunch and do errands together.
4) That I learned a whole lot as a juror for a criminal case. It was an eye opening experience. Also loved that the people on the jury. We got along really well.
5) For the beautiful zinnias that my girls and I picked from my friend's garden. Seeing the bouquet of flowers on our dining room table makes me so happy. So far, they've lasted for a couple weeks now. I'll be so sad when they wilt and I'll need to throw them away.
Happy studying! (Gosh, I don't miss thoss days!)
Thankful for:
* My reading nook
* Having an introverted husband that understands on a deep level my need for quiet and sporadic alone time. It would be hard to live with an extrovert, I think this would be insulting for them
* Having a girl's night later today, and getting to watch a movie I've been wanting to see for weeks
* BOGO on cinnamon rolls from a specialty store
* friday = weekend at my fingertips
I'm thankful that the ophthalmologist found that my retina was not detached, as I feared. Follow up in a month.
Piper cracks me up!
Your dress is gorgeous. I wouldn't care for seasonal style rules.
Looks like work is fun lately. Always a great feeling when you get the hang of things.
That's what I figure! If I'm happy wearing the dress, and if it's weather-appropriate, who cares what the rules are?
Coming from Albuquerque, where we bask in an average of 310 days of sunshine each year and only see about 9 inches of rain, it's always amusing to witness people getting excited about sunny weather. For us desert dwellers, the endless blue skies can sometimes feel monotonous. We crave a break from the sun—bring on the clouds and rain! There’s something refreshing about the sound of raindrops and the sight of a cloudy sky; it adds a bit of variety to our usually bright days. While others are out chasing the sun, we’re here hoping for a cozy overcast day to enjoy.