One of the wonderful things about counting your blessings, is that everything counts, no matter how small or insignificant the item might seem. This morning, as I unplugged my Fitbit from its charger, a message appeared on the screen: I LIKE YOU. I get plenty of positive messages from my family everyday, but I still appreciated that affirmation from my exercise tracker.
1. I'm thankful for little messages that make me smile.
Monday night, our valley had such a spectacular sunset! Though I'm really not a desert girl, I must admit that the sunrises and sunsets here can be breathtaking.
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| Photo: Sunset (taken while I was a passenger in the car) |
My church ward has been putting together a cookbook over the past few months. The cookbook committee did a great job collecting recipes and typing them up. The vast majority of the task was completed when one after another, those most heavily involved in the project moved away. I finished up the few recipes that were left to insert. Nothing like participating in a little behind-the-scenes project to recognize just how much work those that went before had done!
3. I'm thankful for those who shared recipes, and those who took the time to organize and type up the recipes.
I received another update about DeeDee this week. She is doing really well in settling into her new home, and I am just so pleased that the perfect match was found for her. As a puppy raiser, I recognize that the puppies are not mine, but belong to Guide Dogs for the Blind. Ideally, I hope that the puppies will go on to become working blind dogs, or fill other service dog needs. Sometimes, though, the puppies are just not suited for those tasks, and they are career-changed to pets.
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| Photo: DeeDee sleeps on the floor of her new home, after spending some time at doggy daycare. |
5. I am thankful for the puppy placement department at Guide Dogs for the Blind, who never pressure puppy raisers to take puppies they have raised, and who are committed to finding the placement that is the best fit for the puppy.
As summer ends, and autumn begins, the days get a bit darker. Sometimes, though, that darkness has not so much to do with the seasons, and everything to do with the need to replace lightbulbs. I realized that 3 out of 4 lightbulbs were burned out in our bathroom, and if I didn't do something about it soon, the day would come when we would (literally) be in the dark. What a difference a
6. I'm thankful for light.
I love a good bargain. Occasionally I will visit the nursery for the express purpose of seeing what is on the clearance rack. This week, I found a container of succulents in a cute, black ceramic container. The only problem was that the container didn't have a saucer to catch the water run-off, and the container was oddly-shaped. I still purchased the plants, though, and decided to look at a thrift store for a rectangular tray that might work to set under the plants. I didn't find a tray that would work, but I did find something that worked even better! Can you believe how exactly the black container fit into this grey one, and how nicely the colors go together?
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| Photo: My bargain container of succulents fits perfectly in a gray ceramic pot |
I spent some time this week with my sewing machine, tackling my mending pile and finishing up another project that had been staring me in the face for months. One of these days I'll learn that the "I'll leave this here so I'll remember to do it" really just means, "Let me leave this here until it fades into the background and people will just think I'm decorating with piles of fabric."
8. I'm thankful to have cleared some cluttered space, and crossed items off the to-do list.
Although I like pumpkin, I'm not one who normally jumps on the "Ooh, it's fall! Let's eat everything pumpkin!" bandwagon. This year, however, has been different. Pumpkin frozen yogurt, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin juice (at Universal Studios, and at home trying to recreate the recipe), and pumpkin smoothies have all been enjoyed. I'm not sure what's up, but my weight will be if I don't get a handle on this.
9. I'm thankful for pumpkin.
John continues to work hard. I sometimes forget that contract work is often punctuated with times of unemployment, because John's job has been--and continues to be--unusually steady.
10. I'm thankful for John, not only for the temporal support he provides, but more importantly, for the friendship and love we share. I like him even more than my Fitbit likes me!
So, how has your week gone? I'd love to hear about what you are thankful for!
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I always enjoy reading your thankfuls, Kristi. I did some mending and completed a sewing project this week as well. I also just called my sister and told her if she wanted to begin sewing the covers for pillows on her couch we had planned awhile ago, I was ready. She said, never mind, "I got a new couch." Ha, ha. I'm a frequent plant clearance visitor. The succulent looks marvelous in that container.
ReplyDeleteYour couch story is funny! Reminds me of my own projects planned and forgotten over the years.
DeleteYour thankful about the lightbulbs cracked me up. Happens all the time around here. The funniest is in our bathroom. Bryan will replace the bulbs, and the first time I go in, I'm blinded. It's like being on the surface of the sun after being stuck in a cave for months. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso laughed at the "Let me leave this here until it fades into the background and people will just think I'm decorating with piles of fabric." line. I decorate with random things that I don't know where it's "home" will be just yet, until Bryan gets tired of it and the home becomes the trash or Goodwill. :)
That was a perfect find for your flower pot!!! Don't you just love it when things like that happen?
We are walking on sunshine here now, after a blitzkrieg of lightbulb changing! :-)
Delete"decorating with piles of fabric" made me laugh! I do that too, and piles of books. I'm thankful for cheerful folk like you who lift my spirits.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget my worst offender of all--piles of papers! :-)
Deleteamazing photo (sunset)...and, of course, DeeDee very good that she has a forever home.
ReplyDeleteWe are totally in the grip of Autumn here in New England... I think it gets dark at 2 these days*
Good listation
* a little exaggerated
That sunset was so incredible!
DeleteThe clutter is a never ending war here....not to mention the seasonal darkness....
ReplyDeleteI think I need to pretend we are moving--nothing like a move to encourage major decluttering!
DeleteI love pumpkin too, Kristi. Pumpkin leaves are excellent when fried! That picture of the sunset is absolutely gorgeous. Have a great week ahead!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of fried pumpkin leaves! I think I would need to grow my own; I don't know anyplace that sells the leaves.
DeleteSome wonderful thankfuls here, Kristi :) I love succulents and what a perfect fit you found for yours, they're lovely!!
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased to find that container!
DeleteDecluttering and mending---two things I dread, but feel so good after I have tackled.
ReplyDeleteLove the plants. I also like to hit the sale as they are clearing them out. One nursery here calls it their annual Lemon sale....not a lemon in sight!
A lemon sale without lemons--that's great! :-)
DeleteI do enjoy those FitBit messages...although I have to admit I've sort of abandoned mine. For some reason, since getting my new computer, I can't get the FitBit to coordinate with the computer site/app and that frustrated me. I suppose I could start using it again...
ReplyDeleteAlso love a good surprise bargain!
Church cookbooks are the best. I remember my Grandmother's parish having a great one years ago - I'm sure members of the family still have copies somewhere. I also have one from my husband's synagogue and (best one) one that has recipes from a local restaurant that served PA Dutch cooking but closed many years ago. It was an area favorite and there is now a cookbook with their recipes - so cool to have!
I haven't synced my fitbit with the app for a while. I need to do that. I just like to keep track throughout the day.
DeleteOur porch light is burned out and I am very thankful for a husband who will soon replace it! It is getting darker earlier and staying darker in the mornings. The cats - who do have a cat door to the backyard - often insist on going out the front door and they like me to turn the light on for them! At least that is what I keep telling Hubby!
ReplyDeleteA working porch light is almost a necessity to be able to see where to put the key! :-)
DeleteI love sunsets and the sunrise too. I feel them less than I see them these days, but they are still two of my favourite things.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wish I had tried pumpkin juice at Universal in Florida when I was there. I went for the butter beer instead. Bad choice.
:-)
Did you not like the butter beer? I liked it, but didn't think it was all that different from a cream soda.
Delete