much to be thankful for...

 This year is different..but, still, we have much to be thankful for

Sometimes we forget about the daily conveniences like

  running water ( plumbing )

  electricity ( let there be light )

  wood / gas  ( heating things up )

  plus, we have food on the table, clothes in the closet and gas in the car. 

Then the day comes when you get an extra reminder to be thankful

Sometimes it starts ahead of time.

This year it started, sort of, one day early.  (ok little details like shopping and lists and planning, but some of the fun part )

Thanksgiving   

 
Then some sparkles 

Then we spent a little time checking out my toys and things.  These little angels bring much sweetness to my life

                                                          

  Happy Thanksgiving

The table is set   This morning it is a brunch for the sweetest little family next door. But I did not think to take a picture around the table.

Hubby lit the patio torches 

Granddaughters pumpkin bread all the way from Minnesota 

And the party can begin 

Sweetness abounds 







On to the Big Bird and Beyond 

My girl knows how to arrange flowers  

                         And set a beautiful table 

This is just a peek into the prep this man did for our meal
Turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, ham, deviled eggs ,Brussel sprouts , rolls, pecan pie and three flavors of homemade ice cream.  I made sweet potatoes. 

Check out the way he craved the bird !

It was a very memorial day

memorable in a good way

I live an exciting life
I hope you do too 

And I am very thankful 

just checking...

 hi Marti...

Thinking about you as I often do...and wondering ...

when we dropped by to see you the last time we were in Spokane, did I leave you a little jar of Fig preservers,  or a little loaf of banana bread?

The reason I am asking is....

all summer long I have been baking banana bread and sharing it with kind neighbors and friends for any reason, or not reason at all.    So, say since May, baking 6 little loaves every week, sometimes 12, that amounts to....about 186 loaves.   I have printed out " Always a good time to be a good neighbor" 

and then Proverbs  ??;??..  and put the sticker on each loaf. 

Well, yesterday I got a phone call from Angela. I had tucked a loaf into a package for her and she was calling to say... " I always like to find the scripture in the Bible and read the verses around them and, I think maybe there was a typo "   

So, I checked and  NO..What was I thinking !   It was not at all related to being a good neighbor.  No, it was not in chapter 5 or 7, but that is the closest clue I am giving .

Now, I just want to make sure that if you also got that little sticker, you just enjoyed the words and meaning and  did not check out the scripture.

Enough said

Todays verse is:   

November 25  Youngest grand turning 9 !
Proverbs 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver
( clear as crystal )

Spending time

because

it takes time to learn about  friends

And I am still learning 

Here is what happened.
Last Saturday I was out walking in the mall.

I do that

Usually on a Saturday, sometimes mid week

I can walk a couple miles in comfort

and

in safety

Most often, I just window shop

That is what I was doing on Saturday

and suddenly, there was Heather !

 Turns out she was just out walking too.   And we both had time to stop for a cup of soup. We chatted for a while.  No deadlines, no phones, no masks  ( oops, that was just for eating our soup)

It wasn't until I got home and started thinking about that special time

I do that

I sort of relive the conversations of the day
Wonder if I might have talked too much or too little
Did I interrupt?  
Was I listening, carefully and not assuming?

On Saturday I just felt happy.  Content. Heather had shared some hard things with me  ( sh!  I can keep a secret, so don't even think about asking )  I had confided in Heather.  There was a trust level, like when you don't have to say "this is private".   You know that it is just between us.

I was also  reminded that I value one on one times. Especially in person.   ( Do you call a phone chat one on one? )  In a group I usually take a back seat  ( hubby likes to be in the front row, but that is another story )  

Then I was trying to put that into a personality...

not introvert, 
not sanguine ( unless I am nervous, very nervous and talk too much, way too much
advocate ?  Hey, I like that, but, might be a little out of my league
protagonist ? Ok, I was checking on Wikipedia..

Well, I don't have to fall into any group.   

One  thing that was reinforced.....friendships take time
Sharing and listening and learning about each other, well it is priceless.  Oh, sometimes, it takes time, but then, that is time well spent. 

 It  is worth it !

p.s. little did we know that when Nikki ( my favorite server) said

" see you next week"..... the Grill and all restaurants in the state are closed to inside service !  UGH !

But, we have memories to hold on to

I live an exciting life

 

A Sunday word..

 

Yes,,, number 322...And harps of minstrelsy

I don't think the hymnwriter used this  dictionary 

noun

1. 1.

   the art or occupation of a medieval minstrel.

   "a tradition of oral minstrelsy stretching back for centuries"
2. 2.

   the form of entertainment associated with minstrel shows, featuring songs, dances, and formulaic comic routines based on stereotyped depictions of black Americans and typically performed by white actors with blackened faces.

   "it was a counter to the proliferation of racist caricatures, particularly in blackface minstrelsy"

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Definitions from Oxford Languages

But, after singing that line this morning, I thought I should add it to my word collection

Anyone have another definition?   

who is coming..

 Who is your company coming to your banquet table? Interesting seating arrangement       She said 

And I said:

( first the long version )

This past summer, during Covid, a Christian neighbor ( Jan ) invited Darrell and I over to a back yard, keep your distance, supper.  It was very fun, but that is another story.  They also invited Linda R, who I know from BSF, and Janet D. I had never met Janet, but found out, just before we left, that she enjoys cleaning houses and has time for us.

So, sure enough, she came the next week and has been coming every other week since then.

On  Sunday  I called  Jan to check on  a few things and she reminded me that when we left her house this summer, we agreed that we should do it again.  Why  not when Janet is here?  Why not Tuesday ?  

Jan had a little glitch in her memory.  She thought that M & R had come to her dinner.  I remember it was Linda.     She had already called M & R and they were eager to come so...

Fine.   So, I set the table...for 7 with spaces as big as I could manage.  On short notice and giving myself permission to make it easy, I pulled a meatloaf out of the freezer, Nita brought some of Christians home baked rolls ( on Monday when she dropped Tanner off...I know this is getting complicated, sort of.. but read on ) also found a pumpkin pie in the freezer and made a quick trip to Trader joes for fresh fruit, flowers, and heavy cream to whip.

I usually have party favors, but I did have cute napkins and once we give thanks, I do not apologize or complain.   

They came at 2:00...kind of late, but Jan set the time.  We sat around the table and talked and talked and pretty soon it was 4:00.  I went to the kitchen to find something to snack on... first M & M's, then Jan pulled out the peanut butter pretzels she brought and... about 5:00, they were out the door.

Janet stayed to help clear the table, but she lives at least 40 minutes away, it was dark and, thankfully she let me do  the rest.

enough

And here is the short version:

I set the table for 7 friends coming for lunch.   We kept our distance and talked and ate and talked some more.

I live an exciting life 

The End of October

 Where does the time go....

well, it happens, and this year has been different and this last day of October was a little different, but somewhat the same.

Prep:  50 treat bags ( usually over 100, but pretty sure the count would be down ).   Pumpkin lights on the path ( new this year from the dollar store )   Pictures from past years posted on the door 

And dressed for the occasion,  

(this little yellow number was a bridesmaid dress from long before Belle. It was a great price, at friends garage sale,  and it works for me )

A clear night and a full blue  moon ...the first in 76 years ! 
   blue moon, as in the second full moon in the month, otherwise, every 19 months 

  READY

                                        Picture posted with permission   

And this is our first guest...and she brought a treat to us !  A pretty bag full of at least 35 pieces of candy

I felt obliged to try one KitKat, one Reece's, one heath bar ( oops, make that two, now I remember why I never buy them, I would eat the whole bag )   Many thanks Robin

The next fella came without shoes or his costume

came back latter in his "donut " and "french fries"  ....he lives across the street

then, little one came inside and took her cape,  shoe and sock off before sister could tell her this was not a usual visit... more candy... get movin...   ....they live next door  

And it was not the usual number and lots of parents in the mix. I do have a few shots to post for next year...  the following does not require permission.

And so another end of October event is in the books.

OH  and the winter blooming camellia ...yep, in bloom

And Tinkerbelle....she comes back every year when the blooms appear... 

and this one, from a few years back...

Pretty sure this will be the favorite for years to come
         but I do have a very creative family

I live an exciting life

A terrible, horrible, no good very bad day

 

Might as well talk about it

Yesterday 

It started about one in the morning with a headache

I am not one to pop pills, but I had big plans

Two tylenol...

Cleaning princess was coming

Cousins from Denver were coming for lunch. ( table set the night before )

Double batch of banana bread in the afternoon ( most ingredients tucked in the closet to pull out after guests had gone)

Pack suitcase for early morning take off for Spokane

But

Plans can change quickly

And they did

Yes cleaning princess came and I said hello and she took charge

About ten o’clock I realized that the bellyache was not going away, so cancelled the lunch date

two more Tylenol

The door bell rang and rang. Then cleaning princess answered ... the little angles who live next door wanted to visit on the bench . So, they had a little visit, and then  back to work for Janet

I could hear a little bit of activity,,,the land line,,my cell ....the door bell ...but I just laid on the floor in the bathroom

Waiting

Waiting

Then hubby came home and asked what he could do.

Please bring me a little can of Coke

( that has a story, but I won’t go there now )

So he did. He poured a little bit in a glass and I had a sip, maybe two and

Bingo. Up came my dinner

Pretty close to an immediate recovery

Took a while for the headache to leave completely. 

But awe what a relief

( am I the only one, or does this happen in your house.....

if you are reclining there are no expectations from the peanut gallery....but once you get up and are maybe standing at the sink, or sitting at the table, you are back on your own, so to speak )

Hubby heated some chicken rice soup and I packed for Spokane

Then I opened a little package left at my door.. my cousins from Denver had come by with a gift package. 

Hand made scarf, wrist warmers and cloth credit card holder

Feeling better and better

End of story

I live an exciting life