I'm linking my post as always to Ten Things of Thankful hosted by Kristi Brierley, who also has her own blog, Thankful Me. Some of those who show up at Ten Things of Thankful each week are serious writers, i.e. have written books or are working on one. Kerry Kijewski, an amazing participant here and on other blog hops is a member of the Canadian Federation of the Blind, and with her brother even does a podcast, called Ketchup on Pancakes. Others, like myself, participate in a blog hop or two because it is a fun way to express oneself through writing and sometimes through photography. Although I am retired, and even sometimes tired, that is not a requirement to participate in this blog hop. Ages of participants cover a broad spectrum. I enjoy that diversity of ages, experiences and the interests of the participants. I hope that some of you reading this will know that there is a place here for you to join in and share some of those things for which you are thankful. Your comments are welcome and they do matter, as do you.
This bird, a fearless red-breasted sapsucker, that didn't mind that I was only 12 feet away and taking multiple photos
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| A red-breasted sapsucker on a maple tree trunk |
This deer, one of three that came by when I was taking photos of the red-breasted sapsucker, and the sunshine that made it possible for it to step into its shadow
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| Blacktail deer stepping into its shadow |
Going to the temple Thursday and experiencing no pain when I was driving there, nor while I was inside!
Physical pain has been something I have been trying to rid myself of the past couple of months, so being without it for a whole morning was wonderful. Not only that, but the pain has been very minor since Thursday.
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| Portland Oregon Temple |
Having a great visit with my mom on Friday
A great visit with my 102-year-old mom means, she really gave me a broad happy smile, stayed fully awake during the hour and a half I was with her, tried to say a few words, and seemed to find an appreciable interest in watching Youtube videos about quilting! Alzheimer's doesn't always grant such wonderful visits.
Being able to find someone who might like having old worn jeans that still have a lot of usable good denim in them
In an attempt to get rid of things that are of no longer of use to us, I cleared out an area of a closet. In the past, I might have cut the jeans up and repurposed the fabric, but I knew that I would not be tackling that kind of a project right now. A friend, who does a lot of sewing, gratefully took them off my hands.
Youtube videos that demonstrate how to make 5-minute quilt blocks and another Youtube video that showed how to connect quilt blocks via folding and then sewing rather than lining raw edges up followed by sewing
I wish I had known about these easy quilting tips earlier! Then again, I loved the excitement I felt in discovering them now!
Writings that have been written somewhat on the same subject but at different times and for different reasons in one’s life
One day this week I went searching through some boxes of photographs, scrapbooks, and such, and came across histories written by my mom and some others that were written by me. I found it interesting to discover how these writings differed. Some things were completely left out one time but included the next time. There were times when the details of events didn't quite match between the stories.
It kind of reminded me of an interview I recently listened to of a renown reporter. He told of going back to interview a person over a period of time and how he kept asking the person the same question. It took a while for him to get the whole story.
No surgery needed so says the surgeon
Yeah!
Discovering an old letter that verified where my grandfather and his family were living in the census year the census taker didn't find them
A podcast, Approaching with Kindness, about the importance of saying thank you
One of the speakers told of his journey to say thank you for the coffee he drank in the morning (to the person who fixed the coffee, served it, delivered the coffee beans, to the person who paved the roads that the driver drove on to deliver the coffee, etc.). He went to great lengths to find individuals to thank in person.
What stood out to me is how making the effort to do that is contagious! We can change the world one thank you at a time.
Who knew moments!
Two coffee beans are actually two coffee seeds which are inside the pit of a cherry that grows on a coffee plant
See you next week! I'll finish up with one huge thankful for my husband, and my family! Love makes the world go round and does it one person at a time.
No surgery is surely one of the best of things.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea, that 'thanking all the people involved in the coffee he drank...' Back to and including the person who picked the beans and such... v cool
While surgery is sometimes the only option, if it isn't necessary, I am all for avoiding it. :-)
DeleteAnother thing that I liked about the story of the guy doing all the thanking was that it was his child who pointed out that it would be better to thank the people, not just make a general statement about being thankful for his coffee.
I always love your nature pictures :) Amazing that you got that close to that bird!
ReplyDeleteYay! for no surgery. I'm sorry that you've been in pain.
How wonderful to have a good visit with your Mom. Moments to cherish.
Amen to YouTube!
I began zooming in on the bird from our front door, a distance probably amounting to five times the distance when I stopped approaching him. I think I could have possibly gotten even closer, but then I started taking photos of the deer. Another interesting fact about the red-breasted sapsuckers is that the males and the females markings are identical, making it extremely difficult to tell which is which.
DeleteThat visit was definitely filled with moments to cherish.
Although making a quilt isn't on my to-do list right now, I may have to try at least a block of one of those quilts, because it looks so much easier.
I love that your mum is 102 years old - wow. And that you had some enjoyable moments with her - so much to treasure. My mum and dad died three years ago. They were both eighty three. I miss them so much still...x
ReplyDeletegramswisewords.blogspot.com
How sad to lose both of your parents in the same year. That must have been so hard for you. Sometimes it seems that when either the husband or the wife passes, it isn't too much longer that the their mate joins them. Then other couples have a long separation from the time of the first one passing.
DeleteSo nice to see you here again on the TToT blog hop.
How wonderful for you that your pain has lessened. I hope it continues to go that way.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law has Alzheimer's, she remembers very little now. I feel for you.
wendy from picnicwithants.com
I am still thankful for the days when the pain seems to disappear. Unfortunately, it did come back, but I take each day as it comes.
DeleteAlzheimer's is a journey for many, the individuals, their loved ones, their friends, and their care givers. I hope your mother-in-law has moments when she seems more cognizant, even though those moments may quickly escape. Moments like that are to be treasured.