Ten Things of Thankful: April is Here Edition!

Low-lying clouds float in the canyon between the mountains, while a red barn stands in the foreground

March came in like a lion, then the whole zoo took over! Snow and Corona and earthquakes, oh my! However, even though it snowed a little bit two nights ago, COVID-19 is still impacting daily life, and the nearby Army Depot decided to detonate old ammunition (which made it feel like we were experiencing aftershocks), there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. Here is what I have noticed this week:

1. Middle daughter's birthday. Though we are miles apart, we stay in touch via phone calls and mail.

2. General Conference weekend is this week. Last October, President Russell M. Nelson said "general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable." That is definitely the case, and it hasn't even started yet! The music has been pre-recorded, and no one will be in the Conference Center except for those who are speaking, saying the prayers, etc. I'm looking forward to the talks. It really is the best thing to binge-watch this weekend! Feel free to join me.

3. Warmer weather. Although we have had snow this week, we've also had some sunny, warmer days. 

4. Progress on the garden. John is making raised beds, plants and seeds have been ordered, and seedlings are starting to grow inside in preparation for transplanting later. 

The view from the fire pit patio looking west shows one completed garden box

5. A Zoom luncheon with friends.  This is the same group of women I would meet with when I lived in California. Several of us have moved since then. We gathered in our homes in Georgia, Utah, and California and caught up with each other's lives. It was so good to see everyone again!

6. I pulled off an April Fool's Day prank on John. A local bakery was offering (curbside pickup) of cupcakes that looked like Chinese take-out, so I ordered a couple ahead of time, told John I was doing my civic duty to help small-businesses stay afloat and I would be back with lunch, then brought home what looked like chow mein. I totally surprised him, too!

A cupcake baked inside a Chinese takeout box looks just like an order of chow mein

7. Messages on the walking trail. I don't know who wrote them, but it is nice to see friendly greetings.

A chalk message states, "We are stronger and smarter than COVID-19"

8.The chirping of birds in the trees, quail running all over my backyard and up the mountain, and bunnies hopping in the brush alongside the walking trail.

Quail scurry in the backyard

A bunny hides near some brush 

9. The plant that sprouted from an avocado pit a couple of years ago is getting huge leaves now. I never expected it to actually do as well as it is, but it seems to like its location on a south-facing window seat. 

An avocado leaf is as big as my hand

10. The Christmas cactus that is in full bloom, and all the little starts from it that are growing on my kitchen window sill.

An old Christmas cactus is covered in red blossoms

Starts from the big Christmas cactus root in pots on my kitchen window sill

11. (Because why stop at just 10?) John. If I have to be a hermit, I'm glad I'm a hermit with him. Also, for what it's worth, we've beaten the board game Pandemic the past two nights in a row, so hopefully that's a good omen. :-)

How are you? What are you thankful for this week? 

Joining this week:
The Prolific Pulse
MessyMimi's Meanderings
Recording Life Under the Radar
the Wakefield Doctrine
Carin's Gratitude
The Meaning of Me
A Season and a Time

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