Thankful Thursday | this feels like home
This week, I am thankful:
that my rental is feeling like home
On Mother's Day this year, when I moved into my rental, I was having an unexpectedly rough time.
(In retrospect, I should have anticipated that this would be a hard day. Ahahaha.)
Being at my old house, packing my things up, I was barely holding it together. And when my sweet sister-in-law (my brother's wife) gently asked me how I was doing, I burst into a mixture of angry and sad tears.
She gave me a hug and said to me, "Kristen, you made this house into a beautiful home, and you will do the same in your rental."
At the time, this rental house felt like a strange, unfamiliar place, and man, I felt so angry that I was having to start all over when I had already thoroughly feathered my nest at my old house (I lived there for almost 17 years.)
And I really wondered how this new place was going to feel ok, like home.
But now, five months into living here, I can say that my sister-in-law was right; I am feeling so happy and comfortable here. I really love my little house!
Now that I have feathered my nest here, I often find myself noticing how comfortable and homey it is, and the more I settle in, the more that is true (like whenever I finish more furniture!)
You know the feeling when you get into bed on a cold night and snuggle in under the covers and then you feel all warm and safe? That's how I feel in my rental now.
Plus, I love my neighbors, I love my neighborhood, and I love my location.
I still have plenty of days where I cry as I process all the hurt of what has happened, but overall, I feel such a sense of peace here and I am thankful!
for lovely weather to walk to school
The weather yesterday was so, so nice; definitely a good day to walk rather than drive.
for granola
Man, I forgot how much I like this granola! I have been happily eating bowls of homemade yogurt with fruit and granola. SO GOOD.
Here's the granola recipe, in case you missed it.
for leftovers
Yesterday I was very happy that there was leftover lasagna at lunchtime. 🙂
for phone scanning
I have to submit my written notes for each chapter in microbiology, and my phone makes this so quick and easy, especially compared to the clunky scanning I remember back in the old days.
for the cat. always for the cat.
She has our hearts. 😉
I am thankful for my lovely, energetic students, they light up my day.
I am thankful for the people who cross my path with kindness.
I am thankful for my car, it just keeps on keeping on.
I am thankful for butternut squash soup, man I can't get enough of it!
Coffee
@Karen, thank you for such a happy post. I think I need to make some butternut squash soup myself!
Kristen--You are amazing and an inspiration. I wish the most beautiful future for you and thank you for all the meaningful words you have written for us to read and think about. Much love.
@Gail, "meaningful words" epitomizes Kristen!!
Aww, you guys are so kind; thank you!
@Plaidkaren, I love your name. I'm picturing a lovely tartan-colored skin. 😀
I can't believe you've only been there for five months! It looks and feels like you've always been there and I know all of that nesting as you put it takes time and energy. I'm amazed that you are able to do it while going to nursing school, blogging full time and raising your children through such challenging life circumstances. I've been a long-time reader, and I know that one of your main values in life is to be of service to other people. I'm so thankful that you have found a way to continue blessing others and that those blessings are coming back to you in such full measure. You deserve all the beautiful things, and you especially deserve home.
@Becca, what a lovely comment and my sentiments exactly. Thank you for putting it into words!
I feel the same...like, wait, it's not even been six months yet?? So weird.
And thank you for all the kind words!
I am so, so happy for you, Kristen. What a blessing to feel peace and at home where you are. Praise the God of all comfort for bringing this to you.
This week I'm thankful for:
* My best friend. In the past week we've taken our kids to the zoo together, spent time talking at the playground after school, I've let out her puppy when she was at a long doctor appointment, and today she's watching my youngest while I work a lunchtime shift. Her friendship is a blessing to me and I love having friends that can help each other out and rely on.
* The joy of a fun song! We've been playing "Gobble Gobble" by Matthew West on repeat and the kids just love it.
* Warm sunshine.
* The fun that my husband brings to the family. I'm not always good at being the fun parent, so I'm thankful for him being better at that.
* The joy that I'm finding in coaching my third grader's volleyball team. It's been a long time since I've coached but I'm loving it!
Kristen, I'm continuing to send you virtual hugs and unnumbered blessings. So happy you love your new home.
You have a lot of fans out here.
I love that you’re always looking for the positive in a situation even when it’s a hard situation. And your SIL is right, you’re making the rental “yours” and it’s adorable.
I am so happy that your house feels like home. I hope you will always feel peace and contentment during your time there. I admire how you have made the best of a difficult situation.
I sometimes wonder if we unconsiously pick up and leave our own scent marks, just like cats do, and that makes us feel more at home the more time we spend at home?
This week I am thankful for helpful and cheerful colleagues, and for getting more work done than I thought I would, and for some meetings being cancelled so I can get more work done than I thought I would 🙂
Thankful for a short coffee break from work, reading the FG posts and the responses from the readers. I am often touched by the kindness and courtesy that I read in the responses. I love that thoughts are expressed without being judgemental. I learn from this blog in many ways.
Thankful for skilled plumbers, for snuggling on the sofa while the autumn wind is blowing, for the feel of soft wool when I am knitting, for a good brew of coffee.
*I'm thankful to be able to read all of these thankfuls. It sounds silly, but it's uplifting (even when I'm not down).
*I'm thankful for continued small improvements in my face.
*I'm thankful for the beautiful sunrise I saw yesterday.
*I'm thankful for the (half of a) beef we're receiving today.
*I'm very, very thankful for my dad providing piano lessons to my 2 daughters. The gift of music is a beautiful gift, and they are enjoying it so much. (My, how they've improved in the last 6 months!)
I am thankful for:
Wonderful November weather. October was cool and gray but so far November has been wonderful.
For finding a new hiking trail. The paved trail we intended to walk was closed so we hit a nearby hiking trail. It was a wonderful place to walk. We will return.
Freecycle. It allows me to keep items out of the landfill (and hopefully bless neighbors).
Trick-or-Treaters. Some years we don't get many but this year I stopped counting. I am thankful that we're able to give out full size candy bars as it's fun to see the reactions.
For early voting. We did not sign up for mail in ballots but did early vote over the weekend.
Friends and family. Always and forever they are so important.
Antibiotics. DH had a nasty infection and antibiotics have been effective. Thank goodness for modern medicine.
Thankful for:
My 10 day cold from heck is getting better.
I can hear today! Plugged ears are such a drag.
The weather has been so good dogs can get walks 2 times a day.
Our neighbors brought over the handle to our mower that they found in the back yard. They said they were in back taking selfies in front our our trees. Great colors this year.
Thankful hubs cooked a couple of days that I couldn't.
Kristen,
What scanner app do you use on your phone?
I am thankful for Florida warmth.
I am thankful for the support of my family.
I am thankful to be employed and for my home.
I am thankful there are still people blogging for me to read everyday!
I am thankful for you Kristen.
I just use the notes app on my iPhone!
@Jan, if it's helpful, I use the free Adobe Scan app on my Android, and it's so helpful.
I am thankful that when I fell on Saturday and fractured my ankle that it was not worse. So thankful, I'm telling ya because I've heard horror stories! I went to step down off my porch onto a stepping stone and stepped on the edge of the stone and heard a crack and fell. Again thankful that I was carrying the recycle bin to the car and didn't fall all the way down and couldn't get up!
Thankful for my husband for helping me out with everything. When I called him to come home from work on Saturday, he didn't expect me to have a fracture. He said it was a bad sprain. But when the MD said fracture, he was shocked. He has really, really, really been helpful. When push comes to shove, he is a person that helps out. And his family knows that he has their backs too.
Thankful that we went to get a knee scooter yesterday. So helpful to get around and be able to carry a few things now - it has a basket! Hurts the arthritis in the knee, but I can handle that for what I have to do around here.
Thankful for work from home. I've been doing it for 20 years at the same company, so I am forever grateful that I can work and not loose pay. And the people on my team tend to work when sick. It's nice to know that we don't share our germs among our co-workers.
Thankful for the beautiful weather for the upcoming week. I know it can change, but around here its supposed to be in the high 60's/low 70's which is amazing for this time of the year. We get to visit our granddaughter in Western NY this weekend and don't have to worry about it snowing!
@Maureen, Oh no! Wishes for speedy healing. That's a real bummer.
@kristin @ going country, I ditto Kristin's comment. Ouch!
@Maureen, your story is scary--not least because it sounds exactly like something I might do myself. Good wishes for speedy healing.
@Maureen, if you had to fracture your ankle, I'm happy it all worked out well for you. Brought back memories of my mom's broken ankle. She walked out to the car in the middle of a blizzard, fell and had to crawl back inside to call an ambulance. Dad was at work and I couldn't get there from my house. Also her break was bad, needed surgery and screws. She was off work for two months. (That's my horror story to add to your collection.) Hope you heal quickly!
What a difference a few months makes, right?
Right now I am really thankful I am in a much better place now financially than I thought I would be - this morning I realized that since I have no truck note, there is no need to use my credit union's skip-a-pay for the first Christmas holiday in YEARS.
Thankful for health insurance and an appt to get my knee checked out.
Thankful for delicious dinners in my cozy home after a long day's work.
And yes, actually thankful for my stressful job as it has been both a distraction and a source of income and I have friends there who understand.
I am thankful for the beautiful weather-after a horrid hot 4 months.
I am thankful for the beautiful butterflies that have been swarming my flowers-so cool to watch.
I am thankful for the nearly 4 inches of rain last week. (Pray more will come)
I am thankful my first “Christmas” fruit cake of the season is done ( always have to get myself in a certain mood, then after the first, I’m in the baking spirit for the 7 more-this is a tradition from my mom that I’ve continued-even to using the same tube pan!)
I am thankful for my Sunday School class/ friends-we started meeting outside ( in my teacher’s beautiful tree-shaded backyard) shortly after the start of the pandemic when inside church activities were not possible-and we are still meeting outside except for cold weeks when we zoomed/zoom instead.
I don't want to be thank today. I want to be angry and exhausted and frustrated.
And... I can do both.
I'm thankful I've learned I can hold multiple emotions a at one time and they can all be valid.
I'm thankful for a fun game of bananagrams last night with my husband.
I'm thankful for baby snuggles during a visit with a new friend yesterday.
I'm thankful for the no bake peanut butter chocolate bar recipe that will come wit me to the office today.
I'm thankful my ladies' small group is tonight and I can have a good cry and receive empathy, perspective, and encouragement.
@Dorinda, definitely can be thankful and feeling all the other feelings too. Hoping things get better for you!
Hugs to you. Yes, yes, yes to the fact that many emotions can exist together. I have plenty of angry/exhausted/frustrated moments too...I think they are like waves, and you just have to ride the waves when they come.
For example, sometimes, I'm doing just fine and then something triggers a painful memory from my marriage, and alllll the unpleasant feelings come up. Then I gotta ride the wave of that, do the crying and the processing, and eventually I return to being fine again.
I hope your wave subsides soon. <3
@Dorinda,
Thinking of you with love.
I can have directly conflicting feelings at the same time, too. I endorse Kristen’s "ride the waves" processing method.
Thanks to Dorinda, Kristen, and all the others here "riding the waves" with very mixed emotions. I still have to do that too sometimes, with regard to Alzheimer's disease in particular and life in general.
In fact, I found myself riding a wave of combined sadness and amusement yesterday, when it was jukebox morning on DH's ward, and the following three songs came up in succession: "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Jailhouse Rock," and "Rescue Me." I emailed my siblings with this story, and my middle sister suggested adding "It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To."
Saw a pic of Candy Cane Jo-Jo's and had to have a good cry the other day. My ex loooooved Trader Joe's and there's none closer to here than 2.5 hours, so I never go.
@Dorinda,
I agree with what Kristen and other commenters have said......it's entirely possible to feel all the feels, sometimes all at the same time. I find I'm easily triggered - not always related to a loss - but related to feelings of often feeling like an outsider (even within my biological family - long story there), things that remind me of an awful prior relationship that ended badly, etc. Much like Kristen's "ride the wave" idea, a good friend told me to feel it, acknowledge it/own it, and then put it aside and move forward with life. That has helped me a lot. Hugs to you.
This post made me tear up a bit.I am so very happy for you and yes, so very proud! You have taken a tough season with grace. I love the entire post and it is so good to see you in a happy place.
Just Love, love!
Last week, my daughter's cat unexpectedly died. I'm grateful that I have a location on my property where we could bury him, provide a marker for his grave, and plant flowers close by to remember him. I'm also grateful that she and my son-in-law allowed me to share their burden of grief. I'm coming up on a year after the unexpected death of my own cat, Pip, and I've grieved heavily over the past year--more so with him than I have ever done with any other pet--and I'm grateful to have people in my life who can understand my grief over the loss of a cat. At the same time, I'm grateful I still have my other three cats in my life. Living alone, especially during the pandemic, their company has been a saving grace many days.
This coming spring will mark 14 years that I've been in my house--longer than I've ever lived anywhere. I've done a lot of work on it over the years, but I'm still just as much in love with it as I was when I first walked through the door. It doesn't seem like nearly 14 years, but it does seem like home. I'm so grateful I had the sudden mental and emotional desire to buy a home. I never wanted to buy--I was always content renting and never wanted the responsibility of owning a home...until one day I did. I'm certainly glad I found this home, as it fits me to a T.
A couple of months ago, my daughter and I accidentally stumbled upon a family with a daughter a bit younger than my granddaughter. From our end, we found a recipient for all my granddaughter's outgrown clothing and toys, but when the family shared how excited their daughter was to get "new" clothing and toys, it made us so happy. I'm so grateful we've connected with this family and they've shared their joy with us.
I love that you can walk to school, I find walking is so calming.
- Thankful that my sisters family recovered okay from Covid. This was my sisters 2nd go around of it (1st time in January of 2020) and she had it really badly this time; my niece & her husband had it mildly, including the 3 month old baby, so thankful he recovered well.
- Thankful for the lovely memorial party for a friend who died very unexpectedly. I love his friends (from school days), Steve would have loved "his" party, he was a social butterfly & the glue that held everyone together.
- Thankful for the 4 jars of pickled beets (I LOVE them) from my SIL. My BIL and her have the BEST vegetable garden ever!
- Thankful for my 2 cats: senior cat (18) is a challenge everyday but I'm grateful that she's still with us.
- Thankful for the (free) iphone that my brother gave to me, but there is a learning curve going from Android to iphone, I am mastering the changeover fairly well. Also switched to another service provider which went smoothly, the c/s rep was absolutely fantastic in helping me!
- Bonus thankful: my very handy husband MacIvered me a new set of headphones: he took the ear pieces from the good set (the band across the head had broken), and the band across the head from the bad set (the ear pieces were broken), and I've now got a lovely new headset.
Love that your house feels like a home! What a wonderful thing for you.
1) Grateful for my parents, for taking care of our kids while we were on vacation. They do at least as good as a job as we do - they are amazing grandparents & everyone loves the time together!
2) For the independence our teens now have. Driving themselves to friends on Halloween, getting themselves to school on days with rain and/or soccer tryouts...it's a lot less logistics, planning & driving for me.
3) I say this often, but always grateful for freezer leftovers. Always!
4) For a warm & cozy house on a chilly fall day
5) Still a few garden items, although we're at the end of that phase, so I'll enjoy the last few remnants
Your posts, Kristen, are the perfect mix of upbeat and sensible in tone, and I am thankful that you blog every day.
So thankful that your load is lightened more and more by your ability to thrive under adverse circumstances.
I am so, so thankful for a possibly better outcome being worked on by a specialist and for a wonderful GP who sends us to the experts. And for great health insurance.
I am grateful for prayer.
Always: my family, books, and coffee.
Erika, you are always so kind. Thank you.
Specialists are the best, aren't they? I am always so happy when I can see one; a person who has spent their whole career working on exactly what ails you? So good.
A house is not the same as a home. As a fellow homebody, I applaud you for making yourself a new home. There is no refuge without that.
And now for my thankfuls:
--That the Halloween marathon is over. Too much going on last weekend. It was fun, but I'm glad it's over.
--That hunting season is almost over. Between my sons' hunts and my husband's, there's been a lot of extra trips, packing snacks, people getting home late and being tired, and young ones kinda mad that they keep getting left behind. Over it. This weekend is the last hunt. (And the last chance to actually get something. Nothing so far, despite all the hours at water holes.)
--That I happened to have my car at work yesterday so I could drive my son home at lunch when he was feeling sick. Usually I ride the bus and don't have any transportation during the day. Also, that my husband was home with our daughter--also sick, which is why I drove myself in--and could be there for our son so I could go back to work.
--That we only live ten miles from the school. This seems like a long way for most people in suburbs or cities, but here, we live very close to the school. Most people are 20 miles or more. And we are halfway between the two schools in the county, which is important because most of the sports stuff happens at the school ten miles in the other direction from us. This has been so convenient during football season, and now coming up on basketball season. We didn't really know what a big deal that would be when we bought our house, but we're grateful for it all the time.
--That I don't have to work today. We have a high wind warning in the afternoon, which will mean indoor recesses. I am (among many other things) the recess monitor, and I really dislike indoor recesses. So loud and hysterical. Not my problem today, though! 🙂
I'm also thankful that you are feeling at home. That makes everything just a bit better, doesn't it? From what I've seen and heard of your rental, it sounds like a really nice place to be. Is there an option to stay longer than a year, or is that something you would even consider?
1. I'm thankful that my daughter could leave work and pick me up at the body shop to take me to the car rental place yesterday. Somehow things got fouled up and I was sent to body shop A near car rental store A, but told to rent a car from the same rental agency's store B, which is across town near another franchise of that same body shop chain. Rental store B refused to meet me at body shop A, and nearby rental store A is much smaller and was already out of cars that day. It was frustrating, but my daughter made me feel better. I'm thankful that this all goes on the insurance of the guy who hit me, instead of mine, although I'm a little sorry for the guy. It was a moment of his not thinking, and no one was hurt.
2. I'm thankful that I have the freedom to vote.
3. I'm thankful that I found a sale-priced remnant of heavyweight, washable cotton at Joann's, so I could make a tote bag to go in the Operation Christmas Child box. I found instructions earlier that show how to make one in less than half an hour, so I was able to make it after work. And I'm still thankful I bought my new sewing machine last year.
4. I'm thankful that low-carb diets have become more popular - it makes it easier to find a few snacks for my husband that don't push his blood sugar so high.
5. I'm thankful that my daughter and teen granddaughter enjoyed the game for which I'd given my daughter tickets as a birthday present. They were in a good section, we won the game, and they had a fun day together. I don't like going to college football games in person, but this daughter and her daughter love it. I got the tickets through a special deal at my credit union.
P.S. - one of my sisters sometimes has very insightful thoughts. Once when I was talking about buying a cheaper sewing machine, she said, "It's funny. We don't question our husbands when they spend $500 on a needed, quality tool that will save them money in the long run and last a long time. So why do we hesitate when we think about buying ourselves a more expensive, quality tool, like a better sewing machine? Why do we think we shouldn't spend that kind of money on our own tools?"
This would have fitted better with Kristen's post about buying quality kitchen tools, but I just remembered this because I am still so glad I finally spent money on a good sewing machine after years of struggling with cheap ones.
Yes, once my lease is up, I will go month-to-month, so it's not like I HAVE to leave once the year is done.
I'm really glad to have some flexibility because I think there are going to be a lot of moving pieces next year, and I have no idea when all of those pieces will settle down.
And yep, I agree with your sister!
@JD, Most sewing machines these days are made so poorly, you pretty much have to spend $$$$ to get a good one.
Personally I am a fan of the 1960s all-metal heavy old warhorses, which do all I need. Plus they're often free or $25 or so.
@Rose,
Some of the really old ones were almost indestructible. I grew up watching my mother sew most of our clothes, and learning to sew for myself, on our ancient black and gold Singer that was electric, true, but barely past the age of treadle machines. She used that thing for over 40 years. When it had an issue, my dad could easily work on it and clean it, and it was good as new. She finally got a new Kenmore in the very early 70's, to have more stitch options besides "straight." It was metal and sturdy, but she hated it, and wished she'd just kept her ancient one.
@JD, We have the old treadle one my great-great grandmother made her living on. Or rather, it's in my sister's garage and she won't let me have it, even though I sew and she doesn't, and my daughter is a textile artist. We're having a big dispute about that.
@Rose, I have only ever had my mother's "White" that she bought in 1964. My main problem is that it never did well on stretchy materials, but I still used it for many years. I stopped sewing a couple of decades ago and none of my granddaughters seem interested. It's hard to pass on many of the traditional skills that women used to need to run a home. The world has changed so much.
@Anne, Clothes are so cheap and disposable nowadays, sadly. Younger women are getting into crafting a bit more lately (seems to go in cycles) and I hope some of them take up sewing. It's really very satisfying to make your own clothes. In fact, come to think of it, I think I will give my daughter the printed silk she wanted last year to make a lining for the black wool capelet she designed.
@Rose et al., I almost flunked out of 7th grade home ec because I couldn't figure out how to thread the #@@$!! sewing machine. But I agree that some of the old machines are things of both beauty and utility.
My mom had one of those black and gold Singers JD mentions that were among the first electrics, and she used it for decades. And you may recall the photo in my "Meet a Reader" of my cat Betty with the old New Home treadle machine DH found in a rental property. It's now a plant stand and an objet d'art.
@JD,
I, too, am glad about the low-carb trend, for your same reason. What are some snacks that help in this regard and that you like, if you don’t mind sharing!
@Erika JS,
Fancy cheeses, cheese sticks and cheese "crackers", which are really just baked, grated cheese.
Sugar-free puddings and yogurts *sometimes* are lower carb, but I have to read the labels. Some are better than others.
Some jerky snacks.
Veggie chips or dehydrated veggies - again, I read the nutrition information.
"Gourmet" pork rinds
Lily's brand of candies are somewhat low-carb- they are made with stevia and erythritol. It depends upon the candy, of course.
There are low-carb granolas, based on nuts instead of grains.
Protein drinks are often low-carb
Pickled okra or other pickled veggies, as long as they don't make it a sweet pickle
I can't remember the brand at this moment, but there is a brand of low-carb cookies in light blue bag and I've found a few nut-based crackers that aren't so bad for carbs.
My DH likes roasted nuts, but has trouble with them these days, so that's out for him. He has the same issue with celery, which he used to love.
There are some summer sausages that aren't high in carbs.
I hope this can get you started! Some of these are more easily found in "health food" stores or a place like Whole Foods. Some of them can be made at home if you do a search for recipes. I'm always on the look out for new ones to help brighten his days.
@A. Marie,
You may be glad to hear that new ones have threaders that do it for you, or at least the ones I've looked at, and my own new one, do. Threading that needle by hand was always so hard!
@JD,
Many thanks for these suggestions!
Your participation in Operation Christmas Child, and the care you take with the box's contents, is emblematic of your kindness.
@A. Marie et al, a friend of mine has her grandmother's old black and gold Singer - her grandmother was a seamstress, and my friend was given the sewing machine after she passed. My friend had it serviced, cleaned, oiled, etc., and it's still going strong, though my friend is not an avid sewer. Those machines are near indestructible.
Thankful for:
Kristen’s oh so easy granola recipe!
My little (7 1/2) does not have Covid just a nasty cough and cold.
It is beautiful outside today.
Dinners are planned for the next two weeks.
That there is as much joy in little things as can be found in bigger things. ❤️
It's fun to watch the transformation from house to home, Kristen. It's looking very cozy now!
So thankful for a lovely weekend in Michigan's UP last weekend. We visited my son (thankfulness #1), had unbelievably gorgeous weather (#2), were able to spend 2 nights instead of one due to my daughter having a 3-day weekend, which was a new thing for our district this year (#3), found a couple of new-to-us places to hike, one of which overlooked a couple of smaller lakes in the foreground with Lake Superior in the background--amazing scenery (#4), and last but definitely not least, when our car tire picked up a screw on the way there, we were almost to our destination so we were able to arrive safely and find a local tire repair shop. The shop was amazing and yes, I wrote a nice review for them. We were in and out with a repaired tire in under an hour. We could hear the air hissing out of our tire so this was not a case where you could periodically put air in and drive a few miles. All in all, it was a great weekend getaway, which I needed. 🙂
Thankful Thursday- some weeks it is easy to feel thankfulness, other times I have to really think about it. But this week I am thankful for-
1. FaceTime. It’s almost as good as physically being with the other person. And since my sister & her family and our son & his family all live out-of-state from me, it’s great to be able to see, as well as hear, that they are doing well. Plus, live shots of puppies & grandchildren are always fun!
2. Home. Like Kristen, I have been “feathering my nest” lately. It’s mostly cleaning & organizing but I always want my home to be a warm, inviting, welcoming place.
3. Our cars. Mine is a 2010 model & DH’s is a 2015. They are both reliable & still look nice after all these years.
4. Wildlife. We live in the suburbs but our house backs up to a creek & wooded area. The latest creature spotted was a possum, but we have also seen deer, fox, turkey, skunk, raccoon & all kinds of birds.
5. Bible study class. The one I’m attending at present has really made me think about some hard truths.
6. Creature comforts. I guess this could fall under #2 but I’m really thankful for coffee, a fireplace, snuggly blankets & a good book as the weather continues to cool in preparation for winter.
Have a great day everyone!
I'm so extremely thankful to have my car repaired. It went into the shop, then several of the mechanics/workers were sick with COVID so it took much longer than anticipated because they were so understaffed...9 days instead of the predicted 3 or 4. We managed but it was a challenge to be without it for 9 days! Actually 10 days because we had dropped it off early for the work! When we picked it up, they gave us a little apology discount. That was nice of them.
I am thankful that after a tough year regarding the rental cottage, it's all behind me now. I have settled with Nightmare Tenant (netting me a grand total of $0, but chances were nil I'd ever see a dime anyway) and the cottage is completely redone and looks great, with new kitchen, new bathroom, new floors, everything. Which means...
I am thankful to spend a little time and money fixing up the main house, which I live in, finally. Paying the carpenter to redo the kitchen ceiling (has several large holes cut by plumber which I've been living with for a while) and having him build a few shelves and install my antique fireplace mantel in the dining room.
I am thankful for my cat. Since we found him January 2 and the vet said he was about 8 weeks old, we decided 11/2 was his birthday and we stuck a candle in a can of cat food for him. He's a fluffy, affectionate lump of love. (I don't know what that means either but I like it.)
Yay!! So glad you can turn over a new leaf with the cottage.
@Rose, I'm glad for you that the s**tshow with Nightmare Tenant is finally over, no matter how you had to settle it. You've suffered long enough with that.
Thanks, guys. It's been a hell of a year. Now struggling with when to visit BFF before she dies. She begged me to make sure she doesn't die alone.
@Rose, that is so sad. I hope you are able to plan a trip to her.
@Sarah K, I can. I am just struggling mightily with how long to stay--till the end? What kind of caregiving do I have to do? I hate hate hate caregiving adults. After two weeks of caring for my paralyzed mother on my own I was ready to kill both her and myself. What about leaving my two kids alone? all they do is fight. What about my feral cats? I just don't know what to do and I feel paralyzed with stress and worry about it all day every day. It doesn't help so many people telling me oh you will regret it every day if you don't go etc. Well, no I won't. That's not how I roll. But it just adds to the stress. And BFF doesn't want to ask me to come down to Alabama for possibly months. I'm usually decisive.
@Rose, a dear friend of mine is involved in a program in our city called. “Never Die Alone” (NDA).He has been with multiple people at the end stage of life. In his case it’s generally the very end that he will be present. He does it at one of the city hospitals close to his residence and he goes at whatever time of day he is needed. The nursing/ hospice staff are familiar with the bodies signs when it is shutting down so able to call when the time is coming closer.
The hospice organization in our city has volunteers to be present ( mainly daytime) during the final days. They are present for families to take a break or like in the Never Die Alone scenario because some times the situation warrants volunteers to assist someone not being alone.
The palliative care unit that I was familiar with when asked “How much time will they have left?” Usually replied “Is there something you need to speak with them about?” If there was, it was gently suggested that they might want to come while the patient still was cognizant and could have a conversation. Sometimes it doesn’t work to have a death bed conversation and still be there for the passing.
Sometimes a volunteer like my NDA friend would be present but would be able to have the family friends on a video chat for entire days towards the end. Kind of like popping into their bedroom when people used to die at home. There is a solution out there you and your BFF will be in my thoughts as you look at options. Blessings for you to come to some peace about your BFF passing and that they know how much you love and care for them and will miss them oh so much.
@Rose, If she has hospice they can tell you when. A friend died this summer and I was shocked when she told me "its going to happen this afternoon" and it did.
@TEG,
That sounds like an amazing and compassionate program. I have a friend who is afraid of dying alone (she is healthy and not anywhere close to dying, by all outward signs, but has expressed this fear to me more than once).
@Rose,
I just had a thought - and I realize this might cost a lot - but would it be possible to visit your BFF now (or in the near future), and stay for a week or two (or three?) - knowing that you'll come home, and re-visit/be with her when she's closer to the end?. Maybe that's not the best way to handle it, and I totally respect your choice to reject this suggestion.
My father has been in the hospital since last Thursday and ICU since Saturday. I'm thankful this week that the doctors and nurses have been kind, gentle, and helpful. I'm also thankful for the hospice staff -one has come to the hospital daily to check on dad (and me, when I came), and the other has called me daily to get updates. Truly amazing people. I'm thankful for my husband, who made the trip with me and has been supportive. Finally, I'm thankful that I have been able to communicate and coordinate fairly well with my sister for health updates and for visiting our dad in the hospital.
I am so so so glad you're loving your rental house! I'm thankful you've settled in there AND that you have the kitty back!
I'm thankful for our little house too. Every day I seem to love it more.
I'm thankful for the cold and rainy weather that's coming today because it means cozy meals and snow!
I'm thankful for my clients and for the work I get to do from home.
I'm thankful for my blooming Russian sage that is adding a lovely pop of purple to the yard even as we prepare for winter.
I'm thankful for electric tea kettles. Let's face it, nobody wants to wait for a pot of water on the stove to boil!
I have read your blog for years and enjoyed all of it.
I saw this other blog post - https://mymodernmet.com/aaron-kuehn-typograms/ - and immediately thought of your education to become a nurse - some of Aaron Kuehn's work is right up your alley.
I'm thankful for getting some word from my daughter's school. The short answer is she's ahead of where she should be in June! So she's definitely smart and ahead but we're getting an IEP started for because she needs more advanced work but also because she has some ... social issues, I guess. So we're on top of that.
Thankful my wife's car has a battery and I don't have to worry about her being stranded.
Thankful that I'm in a good financial state that while I'm not rich I can finally call myself stable.
That I might be going to a meetup this weekend. I don't get out much lately so I'm happy that it will happen.
@Battra92, I had to get IEPs for both my kids. My daughter never had any friends, though, until she went to college except for a few she made in gifted-kids camp. Though even at gifted-kids camp she was often an outcast. For instance, she showed up on the college campus one summer and her entire hallway was all decorated to look like Hogwarts. OK, except she hadn't read the books. She liked Jane Austen instead. All the inclusiveness talk is such hogwash.
Point is, it's all pretty painful to think about, really. So my sympathy.
@Battra92,
Good luck with the IEP! My daughter has one for her profound needs, and I have found that my district is easy to work with. I heard so many nightmare stories about IEP meeting that I was prepared to go in and fight tooth and nail, and instead I got a lot of support. My son has a 504 plan - similar document without quite the administrative weight behind it - for social issues (very bright kid, but issues from elementary school became magnified greatly when he started in the big public high school.). If nothing else, it gave us and the teachers a chance to talk about my son and have plans and accommodations in place, so they didn't have to start guessing what's best to do. (We're bringing him to a counselor to see if we figure out more ways to help him.)
I hope you find your district is helpful and not obstructive in getting a plan for your daughter!
@Battra92,
We had IEPs for both of our sons for giftedness and the extra things they got to do were wonderful and fulfilling for them. No more being bored at school. They went on to first-rate colleges and both have awesome jobs now. Your daughter is on a happy journey, I’ll bet.
@Rose Oh boy, do I feel for your daughter. I really never had friends in school and when I got married I really had to search to find anyone who would be a groomsman. I have no real relatives that I'm close with either, not living ones anyway.
My bother made friends with a lot of older people and sadly they've pretty much all passed on now.
@Battra92, what is an IEP?
@Anne, Individualized Education Plan - sets out goals and accommodations for a student with differences that impact their educational experience.
I am thankful for kind people: friends, family, and professionals.
I am thankful for our "Ladies Group" that can text each other to pray for one another at a moment's notice. A dear friend's in-laws farm caught fire last night losing two barns, and burning the Farmer, but not seriously enough to remain hospitalized. The Firefighters and family were able to save the home and machine shed with big equipment.
I am thankful for my job. Some nights are not easy, but working nights gives me an opportunity to greet several sweet residents in the early morning as they awaken.
I'm thankful for my beagle-poodle mix dog. She's a cuddler by day, a bed hog at night, and sheds a lot, but is a good friend.
I am thankful for hearing aids that I just got this morning. I honestly did not know I was missing so much! My kitchen floor creaks!
I'm so happy for you that you had made the rental into a beautiful home.
I'm thankful for this blog. Kristen does an amazing job of blending frugal advice and how to live a contented life.
I'm thankful for the beautiful weather
I'm thankful that the vet did not find anything seriously wrong with our son's cat
I'm thankful that DH is so easy going about what we have for dinner and is always willing to help out with cooking
I'm thankful that DH and I were both able to schedule to be off the day before Veteran's Day, so we'll have a 4-day weekend. I would have preferred to take off the following Monday, but DH has to support the Artemis launch that day
I am thankful to see your candle holder hanging on your wall. That tells me you are home.
My husband had a meeting last weekend that could have gone poorly. I am so thankful that it went well and his words were not misinterpreted.
I am thankful that I made some big progress on a work project.
I am thankful for weather in the 70s over the weekend. We were able to get a lot of yard work done in very pleasant weather.
I am thankful for my morning cup of tea.
I am thankful for our modest amount of leftover Halloween candy. It's not so too much--just enough to be savored for the week.
Just have to say how inspiring you are to make a new and comfy life for yourself. Anyone "starting over" for any reason can use you as an example.
I also sense you are personally changing, too.
Bravo!
I wondered if you’d share what
You had to be the one to leave your home?
I can’t imagine you were kicked out for something you did?
Either stay or sell and split proceeds are what I’m accustom to reading in typical “wife” situations. It all seems quite vague and maybe that’s on purpose?
I am thankful for glorious October...& now November days. The weather has been divine & though we experienced so serious drought over the summer, we're having some nice color.
-for a week off. I've had a week of no babysitting & have accomplished so much! It makes me feel so much happier to be home when I get some things done.
-that the garden is put to bed. I love my garden but I love the break. I even have my winter crops & cover crops planted...which need almost no care through the winter.
-for my dog ( always my dog! 😉 )
-for good health. My 60 yr old husband is a type 1 diabetic, still works full time, still does all the heavy work around home, still goes the extra mile for our son & grandson...he feels pretty bad at least once a day but we're so grateful for how strong he is.
Same for me....I am grateful to be strong enough to do what needs to be done.
This week I'm thankful for:
The end to the work day.
I'm thankful for more than that, but after the last two days, I'm really just glad there's always an end to my work day.
This is the greatest post! I’m so happy that your rental home now feels like a cozy nest.
He repeatedly refused to leave the house.
So I chose to keep things simple rather than going through a legal fight over it, and I found a place to rent during the required year of separation before I can file for divorce.
The house is obviously marital property in the most literal sense of the word, so during the divorce proceedings, he will have to decide if he wants to pay me my half of our house's value or if he wants to sell it and split the proceeds with me. I will not be requesting to have the home; I have moved out, processed the loss, and at this point, I don't ever want to live in that house again.
I am being somewhat vague because I am trying to be kind, not because there is anything I am ashamed of or embarrassed about. People close to me know the whole story, but it's not something I can share on the internet.
I apologize if you've answered this before, and I apologize if you find it too personal a question. Why were you the one who had to leave your former home? Asking with love. Also want to say I hope you have enlisted legal help so you will be treated fairly.
I hear your kind heart in the question, so no worries. 🙂
I tried to plead my case to him so that I could have the house, but he repeatedly refused to leave. I did not want to go through a court battle to try to get the house for the year of separation, so I chose to get a rental. Obviously, this was still a choice on my part (I could have tried to get the house through legal routes), but I felt a deep sense of distress that he was not willing to go find a place to live so that the girls and I could have the house.
At this point, I do not want the house anymore; I've processed the loss, and going back there would just cause more pain. So, during the divorce proceedings, he can decide whether he'd like to buy me out by paying me my half of the house's value, or we can sell it and split the proceeds.
I am in a support group for women whose marriages had the same issues as mine, and every. single. one of them ended up having to be the one to move out of the family home. It is a sad pattern, which is indicative of the situations we all were in.
I have been having SUCH a hard time feeling thankful lately, but I'll try:
1. For the pineapple guava bushes I planted. They are so pretty, they'll equally grow large enough to provide a visual barrier, and they produce food!
2. I'm finally getting caught up on my backlog at work.
3. The Kickstarter modular foam couch I bought for my kids a year and a half ago finally arrived and they love it!
4. My daughter's daycare being closed for vacation definitely makes life harder overall, but she gets so much more energy out during the day at home that she's going to bed more easily.
5. I'm so grateful to have a nice home, a good and secure job, 4 kitties and my faithful old dog, and we're finally starting to get the rain we desperately need.
I can tell you live in a climate different than mine because no one here plants pineapple guava bushes!
I'm happy home is feeling more like home for you. It looks lovely.
This week:
1. I'm thankful see your cat! What a beauty! (I'm also thankful for my tuxie cats and the other furbabies as well!)
2. I'm thankful for my job which I enjoy most days. I make enough money to be comfortable and feel like I am doing work that is beneficial to many.
3. I'm grateful for my spouse of 33 years-- what an amazing life we have had together. I want 33 more years with my best friend!
4 I'm grateful for my own comfy house that makes me feel safe and happy.
5. I'm grateful for my education--so often I feel inadequate compared to other people who went to "better" schools. But I'm a lifelong learner and I'm always learning whereas I think some of those folks don't always strive to keep learning and growing.
A lovely post. Thank you.
Moving can be hard. Home making is a slow process, but I haven't had the luxury of 17 years in one house. I am grateful that our many moves have forced me to let go of some things that would otherwise be underfoot, and my husband and I have come to know each other better from the stories about stuff.
I am thankful my husband will be away this weekend with 20 undergraduate students. Having a quiet house for sewing and piano playing gives me a peaceful break from cooking--he has diabetes and needs to eat quite regularly--even tho I miss him too.
I am thankful for some beautiful fabric that has been waiting for me for months, and for my powerful, versatile, reliable sewing machine that will help me make something wonderful to wear.
For the beauty of the maple and gingko trees in my town. The leaves are coming down but they are wonderful!
For the friendship of a retired nurse who so generously shares helpful ways to manage my allergies. She has reduced allergy misery by at least 75% this summer!
And for a reliable car.
Some commenters have mentioned sewing machines. The golden age of home sewing machines was the 1940s thru the 1960s; many of the machines made then were designed for sturdiness and for owners to do a lot of maintenance and repair themselves. Some of the newer machines use new polymers instead of metals, but they are not worse machines; many of the machines that were cheap were actually made by precision companies under contract. So, for example, the Elna company, using fine Swiss engineering and manufacturing, made many Kenmore machines for Sears. In any case, if you are storing a machine and not using it, please keep it dry, clean and oiled, and keep the manual with it. It will tell you how to wind the bobbin and thread the upper tensions. The fastest way to ruin an old machine is to store it in a dirty, damp place. If you are looking for a machine, you will get more bang for your buck if you study up a little to decide what will work for you. Since there are no longer any U.S. companies making sewing machines, all the new options come from Japan, Europe, and other countries, so we have to pay for the import as well as the machine. One of the easiest ways to compare machine quality is to look at the warranties. A Swiss company sells new machines with 25-year warranties, a wonderful clue as to their workmanship. In contrast, there are toy machines with 30-day warranties, cheap but not worth a penny. If you want to help someone learn to sew with a basic machine, the most useful stitches to include are the straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. The "decorative" stitches are not necessary for most sewing, but the more of them there are, the more expensive the machine. I love to sew, and my favorite small machine is an old portable Kenmore that stitches straight and zigzag stitches, and makes a nice buttonhole. Period. It also weighs 15 pounds all by itself! Does not skid around the table.
It costs about $75 these days to have a machine serviced--cleaned, oiled and tuned up. It is a good investment if you buy a used machine. The mechanic can show you where oil is needed, if any (many new machines have sealed motors that don't need oil), and help you keep it running well. As we like to share frugal practices, sewing saves time and money in some situations more than others--I have made lined draperies, slip covers, curtains, laundry bags, aprons and hot mitts and pads, table and bed linens, and clothing for myself and my family, often from quality fabrics that have held up well over time. The fast fashion of throwaway clothes is adding to garbage heaps by exponential tons, and sewing helps move us all into a more responsible future. Did I mention quilts? Gifts? Adapted clothing for people with special fitting needs? Decorative pillows? Fun with color? Forgive me, I really do enjoy it and miss the class I taught in basic sewing. Find a friend and start sharing a new skill. It is much more than a simple craft. Doll clothes. Event costumes. Cosplay. Cozy, gorgeous fleece sweaters...
* To have found a Buy Nothing group in my area. I was able to give loads of stuff snd and I got lucky in receiving a book for me, a new pair of sandals for DD, nice clothes for DH and toothpaste for the dog!
* DD has Covid, tested positive 2 days ago. She is not sick one bit apart from the initial sore throat and so far none of us got it. Crosd fingers!
*Amazing weather this weekend and a walk in the woods with hubby and daughters
* my king size bed
* a quiet neighbourhood despite living in a city
When Zoe had Covid, I'd never have known except that I had her tested since everyone else in the house was sick. Lucky Zoe!