Ten Things of Thankful - Bookish Thankfuls

Dyanne of Backsies Is What There Is Not, and who is the host of the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop planted a seed that perhaps there are times we might consider ten things, other than what we had experienced the previous week, etc. Her example was a list of ten books that had somehow impacted her life.  I am linking my Bookish Thankfuls to Ten Things of Thankful. 

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Holy Bible

(My parents had asked me what I wanted for a gift to celebrate my graduation from high school, and I said, "my own Bible." Until then I had only had one of those little red Gideon New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs pocket sized Bibles.)

Book of Mormon

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

Cry My Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Corrie Ten Boom, Her Life,  Her Faith by Carole C. Carlson

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

A Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Leaves of Gold, An Anthology of Prayers, Memorable Phrases of Inspirational Verse and Prose Edited by Clyde Francis Lytle

(The first year of our marriage, my husband asked me what I wanted for a gift on one occasion, and this book was what I wanted and what he got me.) ❤️

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Ten Things of Thankful

What are you feeling especially grateful for this week, or are you still trying to figure that out? That is  okay as this  blog hop doesn't close until Tuesday, so you still have time to link up if you wish. I am linking my post to Ten Things of Thankful hosted by Dyanne of Backsies Is What There Is Not.

1. Another shopper who recently saw me struggling with trying to open the plastic bags provided for produce shared a tip with me to make it easier. Save one of the wipes provided at the entry of the store for wiping the carts and use it to moisten your fingers when you need to open one of the plastic bags. When I saw a shopper  struggling to open a plastic bag this week, I was able to pay the idea forward. Here is another way to address the same problem. I will soon try this one out too.

2. Most of the week was filled with beautiful sunny days but is ending with some refreshing  drizzles of rain. . .before the thunder and lightening storms forecast for tomorrow.

3. A granddaughter’s surgery this week for her broken bones went  well.

4. I was able to be worked in to see the ophthalmologist the same day as an alarming (to me) vision occurrence happened. It seems that I am experiencing migraines in one of my eyes while not experiencing the typical headache variety of migraine.  Fortunately there was pain in the eye just for maybe 30 seconds the first day, but I was left with black zigzagging lines only visible to me in the affected eye that seem to vary somewhat as to the number from hour to hour and day to day. The good news is that the doctor said that my eye looks good and I am still able to read the vision chart. 

5. Some may think that having a problem is a horrible thing, but this week I heard or read a comment that caused me to think. It went something like this. We need problems in order to find answers! Then of course, it is up to us to decide what to do with the answers. I am thankful for those little ideas or comments shared by others that make me think.

6. There is something fulfilling about being able to provide a meal to a family close by who welcomed a new baby into their home this week when I was unable to do the same for a grandchild and her new baby far away in another state. It is with the hope that there will be someone nearby to do the same for her.

7. Safe travels for some of our family this week when they needed to travel to other states

8. A new kitchen brush that Vic ordered to clean our cast iron skillets that does a better job than our old way of doing it

9. Referrals, whether it be to a specialist or for someone who might be able to answers questions you might have, or someone who has more experience solving a particular problem

10. Vic, our family, and our friends, known and yet to make

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Six Sentence Stories - Effervescent

There are a few memories bubbling up today all because of Denise of Girlie on the Edge's Blog. Her prompt for all of us who enjoy writing short stories including a certain cue word was the instigator. You can read other Six Sentence Stories - Effervescent at this link. Enjoy.

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She loved eating breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa’s house when she was little because Grandma always asked her how to fix an egg knowing full well what the answer would be. . .poached! At home Mom fixed poached eggs in an egg poacher pan, but Grandma just used a small sauce pan and quickly swirled the boiling salted water just so to create a little well in the center before adding the egg, and after the egg was done, she poured the egg and the water into a cereal-sized bowl and added a dab of butter and little pieces white bread or toast to be sopped up by the water.

Fixing breakfast was just different in her grandparents’ kitchen, starting with the toaster which didn’t look anything like the one her Mom used where the toast popped up at the top when it was done. Grandma had to watch carefully to know when the bread was toasted sufficiently before flipping the sides of the toaster down in order to grab the hot toast before it burned.

The most amazing thing to watch was what Grandpa did many mornings as he stood by the sink holding a glass of water to which he added some lemon or orange juice followed by a small amount of baking soda. She never did understand then why she wasn’t allowed to drink what looked for all the world to be the most delicious effervescent drink a child would ever want to drink, thinking it must surely taste like her favorite soda that on rare occasions she was allowed to sip.

Ten Things of Thankful

 It has been a busy week, but I enjoy pausing to review and consider some of those things for which I am thankful. Here is another post I am linking to the blog hop Ten Things of Thankful hosted by Dyanne of Backsies Is What There Is Not.

1. Earlier this year I started a project to try to transfer an old cassette tape to another medium. One of our daughters had recorded some of her college experiences the beginning of her freshman year in college. She had not even turned 18 yet when she recorded it. My health got in the way of me completing the project as soon as I was expecting. Add to that the fact that I had a bit of a learning curve to tackle to learn exactly how to do that and make it available to her and to her siblings. This week I completed the project. I learned how to use Garage Band, how to edit out pauses, save it into an mp3 format and share it via Google Drive, thanks to YouTube and some advice from our kids. One even offered to do the whole thing for me, but I really wanted to learn how to do this as much as possible on my own. (Yes, in case you haven't guessed, I do have a bit of a stubborn streak.)

2. We found someone who seems to have the experience and business skills we are looking for as well as having a lawn/property business which is licensed and insured to help us do some of the things we have difficulty doing anymore. This is a relief to have finally made this decision.

3. I am thankful for the outside temperatures that are are ideal to my way of thinking, meaning not too hot and not too cold. The latter part of the week and the beginning of this coming week is filled with days like that.

4. The realization that if it were not for the voluminous amount of letters I wrote and received beginning over 40 years ago, my family history research would be considerably more confusing to unravel at this point in time when so many records have become available online and I realizing just how many people there are living in the same areas and time period that have the same names makes for a HUGE thankful to self! This week it was the unraveling of the Olives.

5. When a new baby is born healthy and the mom comes through the experience okay too and prayers are answered

6. When there are those within the extended family who have knowledge and training to possibly assist in answering questions and/or address emergencies that arise

7. Shorter grass/weeds thanks to a tractor with an attached large mower that reduces the task time considerably comparing to the old days of pushing a mower by hand

8. Although it seems that a descendant of the very annoying window pecking bluebird from last year has inherited the same behavior, it has a much lighter tap and seems to be giving up the habit much sooner. 

9. Because of being fully vaccinated now, I felt like I could venture out and attend church services in person today and not just Zoom it. Of course masks are still required and sitting socially distanced is required which I appreciate. Another plus today was that the hymns that were selected were ones in which the melody is in a lower range, ones that I find easier to sing now.

10. Vic, family and friends, always and forever  

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Six Sentence Stories - Walk

Perhaps those who venture to read the various posts to this week's Six Sentence Stories - Walk may feel they have been on a walkabout. Time will tell. I am thankful for Denise of Girlie On The Edge's Blog who every week hosts this blog hop. Click the link and you will be able to read the other stories written only in six sentences including the cue word for today.

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It wasn’t just the visible barriers that lay in sight that should have concerned her, but those hidden underneath which continued to quietly gnaw away at the roots others had established.

Taking the path of least resistance certainly had its advantages but not being willing to face the problem square on perhaps would only lead to bigger problems later on.

Neither is zigzagging exactly the fastest approach to reaching one’s goal, but sometimes the adventures encountered in doing so bring their own rewards, while in other instances, the tiniest zig leads one on a road to ruin or sometimes death. Best to consider carefully the worth of a zig.

She eyed the gravel road to the small cemetery but today she decided not to walk up there. Instead she chose to turn about determined to stay on the straight and narrow road with a resolution to somehow make things right.

Ten Things of Thankful

Why the number 10, one may question. To be honest I have no idea, other than the first host of this blog hop may have proposed that number. Whatever the case may be, the tradition has continued, even though the hosts have changed over the years. Currently Dyanne, of Backsies Is What There Is Not, is our host along with several co-hosts. Although the number ten is in the title, it really isn't set in stone, so don't let that keep you from participating. The main idea is to share those things for which you are grateful. I am linking my post to Ten Things of Thankful and invite you to write a post on your blog and link up if you like, or at the very least just jot down on paper why you are thankful. 

Narcissus Delnashaugh a Double Daffodil

1. We have some weeds that the little goldfinches love.  They like to eat the buds on the plants. (We have been told that it is not a weed to have around if you have cows or horses, and thankfully there  aren’t any in the neighborhood.)

Common Groundsel (Senecio Vulgaris)

2. The deer seem to naturally avoid these plants, so I suspect they instinctively know not to eat them. I don't know if there are any studies done on whether the plants are poisonous to deer, but I do know that animals sometimes do avoid eating certain plants. 

3. I do enjoy watching the goldfinches landing on the somewhat flimsy plants causing  the birds to bob as they feed on the buds. Picture a miniature bird carnival playground, as these birds arrive in flocks and feed and bob. Sorry, I don't have a photo of this activity. 

3. After switching from using a big chest freezer to only using the freezer above the refrigerator, I knew that I truly  needed some kind of an organization plan, so things didn’t try to escape whenever I opened the freezer door. I ordered some clear freezer bins with lids and handles. Immediately after they arrived, I sorted my frozen packages into them creating order  in the coldest of places. Does anyone else get excited about getting something, even small things like freezer bins, that makes life a little easier?

4. This week I was able to send an old photo as an attachment in an email to a distant relative. The people in the photo are not identified, and I am in hopes she or another relative she knows may be of help in identifying the people. If not, I may have to try Dead Fred.

5. Being able to get out and take some walks in the area this week was wonderful! Some reprieve from the pain that has been my companion has allowed me to again enjoy this kind of activity. What a blessing this is.

6. Movies that make a person think, consider, remember, or evoke feelings of happiness, as well as the great people that share their talents to make these productions

7. The flowering red current bush my husband planted years ago that has grown into a massive display of color. The hummingbirds love it!

8. Seeing the aftermath of an accident, although not a welcome sight, is always better than being in one or seeing it happen. I am thankful that the former was my lot this week, and at least as I drove by, I could say a little prayer for the victims and their families and for those on the scene helping.

9. Sharing in the happiness of others who reach milestones, and achieve goals

10. Vic and our family 

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Six Sentence Stories - Home

Here is another short story inspired by a cue provided by Denise of Girlie On The Edge's Blog. I am linking this post to the blog hop, Six Sentence Stories - Home.

 

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The builders each retrieved some of the plans from the inboxes of their minds and shared a few of their ideas with the other.

There were some who were incredulous to think that these two would be able to mutually agree as to what and where the foundation would be, based on the history of each, but they were about to prove them wrong.

The young cofounders had learned a few things from their predecessors, like the importance of branching out on their own  and showing that they could make their own decisions and implement their own plans. If they had setbacks, it would be of their own doing they thought, well except when the storms of life were also impacted by the depth and intensity of the dark days of winter of which one builder had lived many a winter and the other had experienced mostly sunny days during that time of year.

When the backers, who were much more experienced, realized the determination and perhaps stubbornness of each of the builders, they wished them well in their new adventures. 

A date was set to begin, and all went as planned, except for the torrential thunder and lightning storm that happened as they departed and made their way to their temporary honeymoon home for the next few days.

Ten Things of Thankful

The past little bit, I have been kind of missing in action. Sitting at the computer where I do my blogging just hasn't been an option, but tonight I am able to contribute to the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop hosted by Dyanne of Backsies Is What There Is Not. 

Oregon Grape beginning to bloom

1. Being fully COVID vaccinated and looking forward to times when we will be able to get together inside our home with others who are fully vaccinated

2. Spring weather, flowers and the return of many birds to our yard

3. Thanks to the prayers on my behalf and to an injection and a couple of medications I now am beginning to feel some relief from the intense pain that has been part of my life of late, and I am very grateful for all the help my husband has been to me during these past weeks.

4. Lab tests that didn’t reveal anything alarming

5. Being able to do some research via my iPad while reclining on the sofa waiting for meds to do their magic over the course of the past couple of weeks

6. Finding a link to an obituary in an Illinois newspaper for my great grandmother’s half-sister which proved some information I had received many years ago, and also provided some additional information I had not known

7. Having it imprinted on my mind the importance of searching more than one digital newspapers’ site since not all sites have the exact same collections (Yes, I knew that, but sometimes it is just easier to use the site with which I am most familiar.)

8. Humorous moments: 1) Discovering I already HAD a subscription to  Genealogy Bank, 2) A very old and long time favorite spatula broke, so I ordered another spatula only to discover a day later that my husband ordered not only one spatula, but two spatulas the same day I placed my order. They are different sizes and brands, and well, we are well supplied with spatulas now. HaHa

9. Having more than one option to watch General Conference this weekend when the BYUTV channel I was watching froze (I just watched the rest of the session online using my iPad. Later I learned that it is possible to watch it live on YouTube too.)

10. The time of remembering the day the Savior rose from the dead making it possible for all mankind to be resurrected and become immortal.

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