I heard someone say recently that the older one gets, the faster time seems to pass. That is certainly true! It seems to me that I'm posting every day, but to the younger people out there, you might think I'm only posting about once a week. I have an idea to help me post more frequently--stay tuned to see if I can pull it off!
Before I get into this week's Ten Things of Thankful, I unfortunately have to retract a statement I made last week about no one being hurt in the mudslides. One man apparently was washed away in the flash flooding; as far as I know, he has not yet been found. In another tragic event, a man was found dead in his van, after his vehicle was found buried in mud. This did not happen on the closed highways, but rather in a catch basin located not too far from my neighborhood. Everyone is stunned.
1. I am still thankful for emergency crews who have been working to clear all the mud and debris, and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones.
2. I'm thankful for a church community that quickly and willingly springs into action. Not only have I read about members of a nearby ward who helped a family that was impacted by mud, I had occasion this week to watch my own ward rally around a family who had a different emergency arise.
This week was comprised not just of heavy thankfuls, though, but also a number of lighter ones.
3. I'm thankful for cooler temperatures and dampened ground which made yard clean-up more enjoyable. The front is looking much better now. (I recognize that cooler is relative. I'm talking about 70's and 80's.)
4. I'm thankful for a short line at the Costco gas station--and it was even a line which had the pump on the correct side of my car!
5. I'm thankful for cushioned running shoes. One of my feet has been bothering me lately (plantar fasciitis, if my Google-searched self-diagnosis is to be trusted). I've taken the week off from running--I have a 10K run next month and I really want to be healed by then--and I bought a new pair of shoes (on sale--another thankful!) which alleviated much of the pain.
6. Speaking of running, I'm thankful for the medal holder that John made me this week to hold my running bling. My running medals are now displayed, instead of being shoved in a drawer, and they help me remember to view myself as a runner. I have a hard time embracing that image, but yet I know each of my medals represents a run I've completed. Who can argue with that?
7. I'm thankful for a new kitchen gadget: an electric pressure cooker. Even though I have used pressure canners in the past, I've never had a pressure cooker, and quite frankly, the noise of the stovetop ones is a bit scary. An electric pressure cooker is quiet, and I've enjoyed cooking beans and whole grains this week in record times. I also cooked a spaghetti squash perfectly in 8 minutes!
8. I'm thankful that John had a chance to take a day off of work this week. He had been super busy, and finally things lightened up a bit. You'll not be surprised to learn we went to Disneyland for the day. You might be surprised to learn I learned a new vocabulary word while I was there. Do you know what pulchritudinous means? (It means "physically beautiful, comely.")
9. And now the thankful you've all been waiting for: I'm thankful I got to meet the puppy truck yesterday and pick up a new guide dog puppy to raise! Meet DeeDee, a cute, 9-week-old, female black lab! (We might have some confusion in our local puppy-raising group. One of the raiser families has a career-changed dog named Dee. Dee is a yellow lab, though, so at least we should be able to tell Dee and DeeDee apart!)
I'm going to be co-raising this puppy with Donna, another raiser in our group. She will have DeeDee on the weekends, and I will have her during the week. I think this arrangement will work well for both of our families. I picked up DeeDee from the truck, then took her to Donna's house. I'm looking forward to getting the puppy back on Monday!
10. I'm thankful for John, who not only indulges my interests, but embraces them and celebrates them. Whether it's blogging, trying out a new kitchen gadget, deciding to run, wanting to go to Disneyland yet again, or bringing a new puppy into the house, John is right there beside me, supporting me and offering encouragement. He even gently leads me outside my comfort zone, and I find that things can be fun there, too.
What are you thankful for this week? Any new puppies in your life?
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Before I get into this week's Ten Things of Thankful, I unfortunately have to retract a statement I made last week about no one being hurt in the mudslides. One man apparently was washed away in the flash flooding; as far as I know, he has not yet been found. In another tragic event, a man was found dead in his van, after his vehicle was found buried in mud. This did not happen on the closed highways, but rather in a catch basin located not too far from my neighborhood. Everyone is stunned.
1. I am still thankful for emergency crews who have been working to clear all the mud and debris, and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones.
2. I'm thankful for a church community that quickly and willingly springs into action. Not only have I read about members of a nearby ward who helped a family that was impacted by mud, I had occasion this week to watch my own ward rally around a family who had a different emergency arise.
This week was comprised not just of heavy thankfuls, though, but also a number of lighter ones.
3. I'm thankful for cooler temperatures and dampened ground which made yard clean-up more enjoyable. The front is looking much better now. (I recognize that cooler is relative. I'm talking about 70's and 80's.)
4. I'm thankful for a short line at the Costco gas station--and it was even a line which had the pump on the correct side of my car!
5. I'm thankful for cushioned running shoes. One of my feet has been bothering me lately (plantar fasciitis, if my Google-searched self-diagnosis is to be trusted). I've taken the week off from running--I have a 10K run next month and I really want to be healed by then--and I bought a new pair of shoes (on sale--another thankful!) which alleviated much of the pain.
6. Speaking of running, I'm thankful for the medal holder that John made me this week to hold my running bling. My running medals are now displayed, instead of being shoved in a drawer, and they help me remember to view myself as a runner. I have a hard time embracing that image, but yet I know each of my medals represents a run I've completed. Who can argue with that?
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| Photo: Running medals hang from a wooden pegged board. |
7. I'm thankful for a new kitchen gadget: an electric pressure cooker. Even though I have used pressure canners in the past, I've never had a pressure cooker, and quite frankly, the noise of the stovetop ones is a bit scary. An electric pressure cooker is quiet, and I've enjoyed cooking beans and whole grains this week in record times. I also cooked a spaghetti squash perfectly in 8 minutes!
8. I'm thankful that John had a chance to take a day off of work this week. He had been super busy, and finally things lightened up a bit. You'll not be surprised to learn we went to Disneyland for the day. You might be surprised to learn I learned a new vocabulary word while I was there. Do you know what pulchritudinous means? (It means "physically beautiful, comely.")
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| Photo: A sign from the General Store at Disneyland, which reads: "A Main Street Tradition A Pulchritudinous Selection of Merchandise Accept No Imitations" |
9. And now the thankful you've all been waiting for: I'm thankful I got to meet the puppy truck yesterday and pick up a new guide dog puppy to raise! Meet DeeDee, a cute, 9-week-old, female black lab! (We might have some confusion in our local puppy-raising group. One of the raiser families has a career-changed dog named Dee. Dee is a yellow lab, though, so at least we should be able to tell Dee and DeeDee apart!)
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| Photo: A series of photos showing the hand-off of black lab DeeDee from the puppy truck driver's arms to mine. |
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| Photo: John and I standing in front of the puppy truck, with black lab DeeDee in my arms. |
I'm going to be co-raising this puppy with Donna, another raiser in our group. She will have DeeDee on the weekends, and I will have her during the week. I think this arrangement will work well for both of our families. I picked up DeeDee from the truck, then took her to Donna's house. I'm looking forward to getting the puppy back on Monday!
10. I'm thankful for John, who not only indulges my interests, but embraces them and celebrates them. Whether it's blogging, trying out a new kitchen gadget, deciding to run, wanting to go to Disneyland yet again, or bringing a new puppy into the house, John is right there beside me, supporting me and offering encouragement. He even gently leads me outside my comfort zone, and I find that things can be fun there, too.
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| Photo: John, wearing a huge smile, and me, grimacing, plunge down Splash Mountain at Disneyland. |
What are you thankful for this week? Any new puppies in your life?
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70s and 80s sounds wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the "cooler" temps to do your yard work.
ReplyDeleteThat puppy is beautiful! Nice to be able to share raising duties.
I think co-raising will work out really well. I'm looking forward to having DeeDee here tomorrow!
Deleteno new puppies, but I will say, you have an excellent looking dog on your hands!
ReplyDeleteThat little paw on your arm (in the photo) speaks to a fairly confident dog, no?
I think DeeDee is fairly confident. It seems that most of the guide dog puppies are. She comes to my house tomorrow, after spending the weekend with Donna, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her.
DeleteI didn't even realize that there were electric pressure cookers. That should speed meal time preparation! (I just baked a whole butternut squash in the oven last night and it took over an hour to bake it. Making soup with it afterwards was very quick. Are you able to pronounce that amazing long word? :-/ Even if I learned to say it, remembering it again might be a problem. Clark may have that right - confident, alpha dog. What a nice medal holder! There are some great inserts for your shoes that can help with the plantar fasciitis. Sorry you are having to deal with that issue. My turn to say, take it easy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize it either, until I went to Chef Brad's class at BYU's Ed Week this summer. I have been using it all the time now--whole wheat, oat groats, kidney beans (and then chili), spaghetti squash, "baked" whole sweet potatoes, etc. Everything cooks so fast, I don't have to plan ahead! It really makes using food storage easy!
DeleteI think Val is right with her pronunciation: pul-kri-TUDE-in-us.
DeeDee just wanted to lick me to death on the ride to Donna's house, but I do think DeeDee is a confident puppy.
I think my foot will be better soon. It's improving, rather than getting worse, and Ivy gave me some advice, too, that should help.
What a great week. There are so many things in your week I want to comment on. The 70's and 80's are my preferred temperatures. I've never used a pressure cooker, but I remember my mom had one of the stove top things and it was a big heavy metal pot with a rubber valve thing on the top. The electric version sounds interesting. Those medals look wonderful hanging on the pegs. You are a runner, for sure. Pulchritudinous sounds like a Clark word. I don't even know how to say it. Pul kri tude in us. ??? How's that? A new puppy to train is exciting. It must be hard to say goodbye. Have a good week. Yay, for John and all our devoted hubbies.
ReplyDeleteThe electric version is quiet and so, so fast! I've enjoyed all sorts of whole grains, dried beans, and starchy vegetables this week.
DeleteI was kind of surprised how many medals I've accumulated. (And I have misplaced one or two, also!)
I'm not sure of the pronunciation, but I vote with you.
It is hard to say goodbye, but it is more similar to sending a child to college than attending a funeral.
Hope you have a good week, too! (And yes, hurray for good husbands!)
OMG....cutest puppy ever....I would LOVE to train a service dog, but then I wouldn't want to give him back:)
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy to send them back, but it is more like sending a child to college than attending a funeral. I think it helps to know, going into it, that the puppy is not mine. I don't know where you live, but if you are in western states, you could contact www.guidedogs.com for more info., if you are serious about wanting to raise.
DeleteI had no idea there even was such a thing as an electric pressure cooker! I'm with you about the pressure canners. They make me nervous as all get out, thinking it's going to explode and fling glass all around the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the deaths from the mud slide. How horrible. I'll keep their families in my prayers.
Repeat after me, "I am a runner". I'm not. You are.
Oh my word, I'm as excited to meet John as I am to meet you someday. He looks like so much fun. And such a good,supportive husband.
I just learned about electric pressure cookers this summer at BYU Education Week. I've been having so much fun cooking things that otherwise would take a lot of time.
DeleteI am a runner. I guess. :-) Maybe I'll believe it eventually.
Oh, I would love for our families to meet sometime! I think I still owe Cuckoo a trip to the zoo. :-)
I know when I heard someone died in the floods and mud, I was so sad. I guess I have to be grateful that it wasn't worse, but I am sure to the families involved, it couldn't be any worse. So glad you got to Disneyland. I haven't been there is ages.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment of the mudslide.
DeleteWe have been fortunate to be able to have passes, and since we do, we try to use them enough to justify the expense.
That word. It just doesn't look like a word that would describe something attractive. DeeDee on the other hand looks as lovely as her name.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It looks like putrid! DeeDee is lovely!
DeleteDeeDee is a sweetheart, and I love how she seems to be caressing your arm. I predict she will do very well in the program.
ReplyDeleteShe is a sweetheart, and I have the same prediction for her. :-)
DeleteOh, that Splash Mountain photo made me laugh! Such different reactions!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm making progress in my enjoyment of that ride!
DeleteYup, electric pressure cooker is new to me, too. My only foray into canning was doing the hot dishwasher and refrigerator canning method. That was big enough for me for now! Those pickles were amazing, though...amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love the dog - don't know how you ever give them up, but I'm glad you do because it's such a great service of love you're providing.
John is awesome. I love how you celebrate your relationship. Have to admit it's made me really think about how I value my own and reminds me to tell my Hub that. So thanks!
Your comment made me so happy!
DeleteThe last picture is a great way to end your post :)
ReplyDeleteSo another guide dog puppy! DeeDeed is so cute! I love black labs :D
I think that's an excellent idea - hanging your medals in full view. A visual statement of your accomplishments. Motivation/encouragement at a glance. Who can't use a little of that!
I'm hoping that the medals will keep me focused on healthy exercise habits.
DeleteThose poor people in the mud slides. It's never predicted what the damage will be, like with the hurricane in Mexico.
ReplyDeleteAw, Disney Land and puppies. Sounds like a great week. Glad you have a share plan for her. Good luck with her training.
I don't know how anyone could have predicted the destruction.
DeleteI think co-raising is going to work very well.
I am again this week reminded that I am really thankful for my health and for Richard's health, too. Sadly so many of my friends are not in good health and it is much easier to enjoy life and being a grandparent when you are.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. I'm glad you are both enjoying good health, as are we.
DeleteYou know I'm all about that puppy, even though she came with the wrong name :) The picture of Dee Dee looking over your shoulder is absolutely precious!
ReplyDeleteMud slides are scary. We lived in Ventura when the entire side of a hill in La Conchita came down. There was a banana plantation there. (Just for fun, I looked at La Conchita just now on Google maps and you can still see where the side of the hill swept away.) Glad you got rain but sorry for the rest.
I've had plantar fasciitis twice. It is not fun, and it usually takes a long time to heal, so be careful. Heel stretches help tremendously. Any time you think about it, stretch your toes up towards your shin. It will help.
There is already a career-change dog in our group named Dee, so Deedee is a bit confusing. :-)
DeleteIt's just amazing what can happen with a mudslide!
I'm hoping it doesn't take too long to heal--it's much better than it was, but I haven't run in over a week, either.