Some days what I am grateful for is not immediately clear to me and I have to stop and think about it. Then, what I think I am grateful for sounds so mundane and boring and.....well....... a little trite actually. But I continue to think about it and it really does sorta light me up. So I find, I really AM grateful.
Today, I am grateful for an empty house.
My niece is staying with us, has been for the past week, so she is here in the mornings until around 1015am, then back around 430pm or so. DH, as we all know, retired this year, so he is usually around, underfoot, making me twitchy. But he is working this week, so is gone when I manage to get out of bed. I do have a dog, lazy, mangy mutt that he is, but I like having him around.
Oh! Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike having my niece stay here, it's kind of nice, usually. She picks up after herself, usually does the dishes after dinner. Gives me neck rubs and back rubs and those are very nice. It can begin to be irritating, sharing your living space, your life, with someone who is not a part of it, but so far, we are dwelling nicely together.
And I love DH. Everybody knows that. God only knows why, but I truly do. But having him underfoot every day, all day, after awhile I just want to scream at him to "GET OUT!!" So usually I leave. Go off on my own for a few hours and get it out of my system. So it is nice when he works one or two days a week, or even a full week, like he is supposed to do this week.
But yesterday we went to the storage unit and I brought two boxes home with me. I would've brought a couple more but we had a car stuffed full. My car seats six, or four and has storage space in the back. DH, niece and I met brother and other niece at the facility and we went through a few things and he wanted to take some stuff home with him. And he doesn't drive. Oh joy.
I shoulda made him take all those bags home on the bus. Lord knows he's taken worse home on the bus. But I digress. Less than a week into this year and I find I am digressing quite a bit. You'll get used to that.
Anyhow, I told him I would take the bags to his house. He and niece were going to catch the bus home because, guess what? I didn't have room in my car for him. But he looked so pathetic and sounded so forlorn, I told him we could squish together and get the two of them into the car and take them, and his bags, back to his place.
So DH is driving, of course, and brother and niece squished cozily together in the one left over back seat and other niece and I are left to share the passenger seat. Which does not make DH happy. Anything I do slightly outside..... well, the law, makes DH unhappy. But I persevered and got myself over onto the console enough that niece could fit in and she could close the door. And we are not tiny little skinny things, either, so it was quite a feat. Once in, with the door closed, I dropped my right leg down between hers, lifted my butt off the gear shift, told DH to "Put it into gear, dammit, and hurry!" and away we went. It was only 6 or 7 minutes, not terribly restricting, and finished safely. I'll probably never hear the end of it. But we got brother, niece and their bags home safely and then DH got us safely, and legally! home and our two boxes deposited into the living room.
Which brings me to what I am grateful for and why.
I hate cleaning or putting away my house with pests underfoot. So I was ever so glad when both DN & DH took themselves off to their respective places of employment/learning today and left me in the quiet solitude of my little house to listen to CSI and my dog snore as I opened boxes and sorted and cleaned and put away and threw away. It was relaxing, it was rewarding, it was accomplishment. I liked it.
Today, I am grateful for an empty house.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday November 6, 2011 11:00pm
Today I am grateful for my Seahawks.
Even when they lose (and they usually do), I love my Seahawks. Of course, I taunted my son yesterday that we were going to pound his team and now have to live with the aftermath of that. But strangely, he has yet to neener neener me. Maybe it is because he is just embarrassed that he actually roots for the Dallas Cowboys. I mean, who wouldn't be? Especially living in Washington. How, you ask, can he be a Cowboys fan coming from Washington? Well, back when Washington had no team, his father was a Dallas Cowboys fan. Still is. Thus his son is now, too. Sadly, I could never break him of the habit. Kind of like hating tomatoes because his dad does. But I digress.
Sundays and Seahawks! Oh what a grand and glorious day. Maybe this is one of the reasons I love Fall so much. Lazy hazy stay-in-your-pj's Sundays watching the 'Hawks.
Todays game was early, 10am. I barely had a chance to get myself situated before it was time to settle in and cheer. Watching each play, rewinding and dissecting with DH. Arguing over how it should've gone. Hearing the collective moans of hundreds of thousands of fans across our state as a pass is missed, an interception is fumbled, a foul is called.
Yelling at the top of my lungs and wondering how my upstairs neighbor can stand Sundays when we are at home. I am a very vocal fan. Good or bad, I have something to say, and usually at the top of my lungs. DH and I have had a few discussions about that.
"Calm down!"
"No way! Did you see that?! How the *beep* can the ref CALL THAT?!! Is he *beep*ing STUPID?!"
"Stop yelling!"
"Are they *beep*ing paid off EVERY week?! What the *beep* is wrong with them?! Oh, back it up! I missed that!"
Perhaps this is why we don't share our love of Seahwks with family and friends.
Fall. Beautiful colors, crisp mornings, Seahwks.
I am grateful today for the Seahawks.
Even when they lose (and they usually do), I love my Seahawks. Of course, I taunted my son yesterday that we were going to pound his team and now have to live with the aftermath of that. But strangely, he has yet to neener neener me. Maybe it is because he is just embarrassed that he actually roots for the Dallas Cowboys. I mean, who wouldn't be? Especially living in Washington. How, you ask, can he be a Cowboys fan coming from Washington? Well, back when Washington had no team, his father was a Dallas Cowboys fan. Still is. Thus his son is now, too. Sadly, I could never break him of the habit. Kind of like hating tomatoes because his dad does. But I digress.
Sundays and Seahawks! Oh what a grand and glorious day. Maybe this is one of the reasons I love Fall so much. Lazy hazy stay-in-your-pj's Sundays watching the 'Hawks.
Todays game was early, 10am. I barely had a chance to get myself situated before it was time to settle in and cheer. Watching each play, rewinding and dissecting with DH. Arguing over how it should've gone. Hearing the collective moans of hundreds of thousands of fans across our state as a pass is missed, an interception is fumbled, a foul is called.
Yelling at the top of my lungs and wondering how my upstairs neighbor can stand Sundays when we are at home. I am a very vocal fan. Good or bad, I have something to say, and usually at the top of my lungs. DH and I have had a few discussions about that.
"Calm down!"
"No way! Did you see that?! How the *beep* can the ref CALL THAT?!! Is he *beep*ing STUPID?!"
"Stop yelling!"
"Are they *beep*ing paid off EVERY week?! What the *beep* is wrong with them?! Oh, back it up! I missed that!"
Perhaps this is why we don't share our love of Seahwks with family and friends.
Fall. Beautiful colors, crisp mornings, Seahwks.
I am grateful today for the Seahawks.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Well, it's not the end of the day but I am pretty sure I know what I am grateful for today.
Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op I became active in about 2 years ago. I found the name and link on Craigslist, looked it over and decided to give it a try. I paid for my first contribution and waited patiently to pick it up on the upcoming Saturday.
I left early, thinking I knew where I was going but totally did not. I drove around, in the general direction I thought I should be going and finally I found the place. I waited my turn, collected my basket of produce and fell in love at first site. It's been love ever since and no looking back.
I eventually started my own site and have happily been the Volunteer Site Coordinator for more than a year now. When we started out our site was only every other week, but about a month ago we changed vendors and started participation every week. It was a very exciting change for us because along with the weekly distribution we also began having access to all of the extras the rest of the country was enjoying.
Now, every week, for a mere $15 anybody can have a basket of fresh produce. We usually offer 10 to 12 items, roughly half fruit and half vegetable. When compared to grocery store produce and prices, our basket routinely has larger items and much much more for the small cost. I have priced a basket several times, at various grocery stores, and find that what I get in a weeks distribution would've run me anywhere from $30 to $60 at the grocery store.
And now we have the extras. A typical weeks extra offerings might consist of 9 grain wheat bread, 5 loaves for $10. Ciabatta bread, 5 loaves for $10. BB Granola, 2 lbs for $10. Cinnamon Bread, dense, delicious and just $10 for 2 loaves. Tortillas, 13 dozen, differing sizes, at least one dozen corn, just $10. Cranberry Orange Loaf & Cinnamon Pumpkin Loaf Pack, $10. A fruit lovers pack or a veggie lovers pack can be added to your conventional or organic baskets for only $10 more.
These extras are amazing! I have tried the cinnamon loaves, the ciabatta bread and this week I tried the granola (so good!) and the Loaf Pack. The Cinnamon Pumpkin loaf is amazing, truly a life altering experience. And the Cranberry Orange Loaf is awe inspiring. These are items I am going to hoard for myself. So glad DH does not care for the sweet breads. Or any breads, for that matter. I gave away two loaves of the ciabatta bread to my Back-up Site Coordinators last week and have savored every bite of the remaining three. One loaf left and I must make it last till next Saturday and hope they offer it again next week!
Saturday mornings make me very happy now and every time I am out there, directing my wonderful volunteers, watching our participants arrive and line up, I know I am truly blessed. And I know what I am grateful for.
Today, I am grateful for Bountiful Baskets
Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op I became active in about 2 years ago. I found the name and link on Craigslist, looked it over and decided to give it a try. I paid for my first contribution and waited patiently to pick it up on the upcoming Saturday.
I left early, thinking I knew where I was going but totally did not. I drove around, in the general direction I thought I should be going and finally I found the place. I waited my turn, collected my basket of produce and fell in love at first site. It's been love ever since and no looking back.
I eventually started my own site and have happily been the Volunteer Site Coordinator for more than a year now. When we started out our site was only every other week, but about a month ago we changed vendors and started participation every week. It was a very exciting change for us because along with the weekly distribution we also began having access to all of the extras the rest of the country was enjoying.
Now, every week, for a mere $15 anybody can have a basket of fresh produce. We usually offer 10 to 12 items, roughly half fruit and half vegetable. When compared to grocery store produce and prices, our basket routinely has larger items and much much more for the small cost. I have priced a basket several times, at various grocery stores, and find that what I get in a weeks distribution would've run me anywhere from $30 to $60 at the grocery store.
And now we have the extras. A typical weeks extra offerings might consist of 9 grain wheat bread, 5 loaves for $10. Ciabatta bread, 5 loaves for $10. BB Granola, 2 lbs for $10. Cinnamon Bread, dense, delicious and just $10 for 2 loaves. Tortillas, 13 dozen, differing sizes, at least one dozen corn, just $10. Cranberry Orange Loaf & Cinnamon Pumpkin Loaf Pack, $10. A fruit lovers pack or a veggie lovers pack can be added to your conventional or organic baskets for only $10 more.
These extras are amazing! I have tried the cinnamon loaves, the ciabatta bread and this week I tried the granola (so good!) and the Loaf Pack. The Cinnamon Pumpkin loaf is amazing, truly a life altering experience. And the Cranberry Orange Loaf is awe inspiring. These are items I am going to hoard for myself. So glad DH does not care for the sweet breads. Or any breads, for that matter. I gave away two loaves of the ciabatta bread to my Back-up Site Coordinators last week and have savored every bite of the remaining three. One loaf left and I must make it last till next Saturday and hope they offer it again next week!
So this days blog seems to have tippy-toed away from what I am grateful for and become a full-blown testimonial for Bountiful Baskets. Well, it is certainly worth it and something I am so happy I am involved in.
Saturday mornings make me very happy now and every time I am out there, directing my wonderful volunteers, watching our participants arrive and line up, I know I am truly blessed. And I know what I am grateful for.
I am grateful for Bountiful Baskets.
Friday
November 4, 2011 11:00pm
I've been thinking a lot about the things I am grateful for. The thoughts have been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now. This has been a year of great ups and great downs for me and it all has been a lot on my mind. With this way of thinking lately, I couldn't help but begin to think of the things I am grateful for.
I have been feeling a bit like Pollyanna, day to day, thinking of what I am grateful for and I knew I had to write it down. But it just seemed a little.... I don't know... simplistic, I guess, writing a page full of things I am grateful for. So I thought I would write down just one major thing everyday that I am grateful for. I am hoping it won't turn into a list of just the things I like....you know "I am grateful for Rocky Road ice cream!" No, I want it to be something special, something that lights up my day, something that comes along on that particular day and might never happen again. Or may happen daily, or weekly.
Today, I am grateful that my daughter called me. Through all of the pain and heartache we have been going through, I am profoundly grateful she called me to chat. She lights up my day. Through my trying times and triumphant times and my down times, today, the only thing that lit up my day was my daughters phone call.
I've held it in my heart and mind all day, like a little treasure. It is what I will think about as I drift off to sleep and I think it will help me have a little brighter outlook tomorrow.
I am hoping I can be grateful for her phone call again in the future, but if not, for tonight, I am grateful.
I've been thinking a lot about the things I am grateful for. The thoughts have been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now. This has been a year of great ups and great downs for me and it all has been a lot on my mind. With this way of thinking lately, I couldn't help but begin to think of the things I am grateful for.
I have been feeling a bit like Pollyanna, day to day, thinking of what I am grateful for and I knew I had to write it down. But it just seemed a little.... I don't know... simplistic, I guess, writing a page full of things I am grateful for. So I thought I would write down just one major thing everyday that I am grateful for. I am hoping it won't turn into a list of just the things I like....you know "I am grateful for Rocky Road ice cream!" No, I want it to be something special, something that lights up my day, something that comes along on that particular day and might never happen again. Or may happen daily, or weekly.
Today, I am grateful that my daughter called me. Through all of the pain and heartache we have been going through, I am profoundly grateful she called me to chat. She lights up my day. Through my trying times and triumphant times and my down times, today, the only thing that lit up my day was my daughters phone call.
I've held it in my heart and mind all day, like a little treasure. It is what I will think about as I drift off to sleep and I think it will help me have a little brighter outlook tomorrow.
I am hoping I can be grateful for her phone call again in the future, but if not, for tonight, I am grateful.
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