With a voice of singing

Day 215

I am thankful for an evening with choir.  We learned a new song, prayed together, and enjoyed some fellowship time.

Not to worry

Day 214

I am thankful for tuna salad and meatloaf.  It is delightful not to worry about how I'm going to fix a meal.

Now it's summer

Day 213

I am thankful for air conditioning.  We're having our first very hot day.  Almost July, right on schedule.  Thankfully the humidity has dropped, too.   Quiet day, not enough sleep so I napped quite a bit and read a bit.

Busy, fun, busy, fun

Day 212  Happy Birthday to Me!

I am thankful for another sister day.  We had a busy but fun day.  Sis usually helps me do some organizing when she comes.  I am grateful for her help.

The last of the Apricot harvest.

It was quick this year-less than 3 weeks

start to finish.

 We picked the last green ones because the birds were getting so many.

Sis

Day 211

Sis is here!  I am thankful.  We went shopping and she cooked!  I'm set for the week.  Yay, Sis!

Another type of family

Day 210

I am thankful for my choir family.  A welcome visitor brought me small get well gift and card this afternoon.  I wandered out to pick apricots and found this lovely:

Ahhhhhhhh

Day 209

I am thankful for my cast coming off!  I'm still very restricted in a splint but it's oh, so much nicer than the cast!

Home is where your heart is.

Day 208

I am thankful for love and kindness.  A new but familiar adventure tomorrow retuning home but still in a cast.  I've been pampered here!  I am at home with family.

Simple comforts

Day 207

I am thankful for peanut butter sandwiches, and the company of a dear one, and a nap, and avocados.

Blessed

Day 206

I am thankful for resources.  Today I have enjoyed a wealth of resources from spiritual devotional literature to the Word of God, to the blessings and kindness of family.

Family

Day 205

I am thankful for a wonderful weekend.  I spent a lot of time with Brother and Sis (in-law) comfortably chatting.  My wonderful brother and nephew got me up and running with my laptop.

Adjusting

Day 204

I am thankful for balance.  I did better today not doing too much but not just sitting, either.   I am amazed at how much my left hand does!  It especially wants to help when I'm typing.  Amazing these bodies of ours.

Resting part means resting all

Day 203

I am thankful for family and the ease they bring to resting.    I am learning to let my left hand rest even though the rest of me doesn't want to be resting.

Recuperating

Day 202

I am thankful for quiet rest and activity.  (family, walk, flowers, read, lunch, byes to niece, nephew and J., laptop, chatting, dinner, and basketball)

3rd day post surgery

Day 201

Letter to the Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire."

2nd day post surgery

Day 200

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!  ~Henry Ward Beecher

2nd travel day-off to sis' house.

1 day post surgery

Day 199

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day after surgery, travel day.  

Surgery Day

Day 198

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Surgery Day.  Grateful for the skills of the surgeon and the means/insurance to be able to do this.  Not to mention thankfulness to Sis for coming over to be with me.  

Prepared is not ready.

Day 197

I am thankful that hand surgery day is tomorrow.   Kitchen is clean, bathroom is clean, living room is more picked up, bedroom, is....well, things got dumped somewhere.  Clothes are picked out, travel clothes and such are in or near the suitcase.  All that and I still don't feel ready.  I am grateful to still have the time, the doc, and everything else lined up and available, covered under insurance.  I am beyond grateful to my Sis for coming over to be here and then take me back to her house in a day or two.  Yay, Sis!

Harvest update:

Kitchen succulent:

Early Summer

Day 196

I am thankful for long days with lots of light.  I've been trying to keep busy this week getting ready to be one handed for a couple weeks.  I've been very scattered but I think most of the important things are done.

Like this:

I'm glad I get to start the harvest.  

Peace Rose

195 Or, is that 170 to go?

Day 195

Wow, that just snuck up on me.  Two hundred days of thankfulness.   There has been a lot of overlap but it's only been more than a thought on a handful of days what to be thankful about.  Usually I start writing, "I am thankful for..." and it appears.   Cool.

I have nothing planned to commemorate 200 but to keep on going.  Ah, I've still been counting wrong.   Corrected at top.

I am thankful for things to be thankful for, for family, friends, work, faith, home, church, activity, song and music, bells, flowers and plants, apricots, travel, a Kindle and other assorted gadgets, down time, busy time, housework, shopping, and all the little gifts of each day. 

Helpfulness

Day 194

I am thankful for helpful friends.  I mentioned to a friend that I was on my way to get my car's blinker fixed.  Her husband offered to replace the bulb for me.  All I had to do was go get it.  That took 3 trips and completely illustrates that I should stay out of hardware and auto parts stores.   Even with help from the auto parts guys I walked out with the wrong bulb, twice!

Don't they look yummy?  A couple more days....

Getting Ready

Day 193

I am thankful for shoes and shoe stores.   I've been trying to think ahead to what I might need to do differently after hand surgery next week.  So far, hair cut into a shorter do, buying shoes that don't need tying, and buying a laptop so I can entertain myself while one handed and staying with Sis.  Oh, and having a neighbor look after the house, mail, and plants while I'm gone. 

It's a bit cooler today and will be even cooler tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to opening the doors and windows in the morning and airing out the house. 

Apricot Season!

A day at home

Day 192

I am thankful for a Tuesday that feels like a Saturday.  I slept in, ran errands, got a haircut, and not much else.

Just a few days until Apricot harvest begins!  These are the ripest two apricots, front side and back side.

The second generation of Calla Lilies has surprised me three times.  The flowers seem smaller and less robust than the first bloom but still pretty.  I can see why these are used for weddings and for funerals. 

A Whole Lot of Driving Going On

Day 191

I am thankful for Dress Barn Outlet Stores.  I spent a long weekend with Dad and we had a pretty good time.  I'm back home after a relaxing breakfast with Dad and FyKB and a bit of shopping at the Dress Barn outlet in Lancaster.  I'm a fan! I found some capris and t-s that will be handy after the upcoming surgery on my left hand.  (Monday, June 14)

It's very nearly Apricot season.

 Now my pinkie doesn't look huge!

Two more late Callas, the one on the left is nearly white. 

 

On the way home from Bell Choir:

Let the driving begin

Day 190

I am thankful for a good drive.  Dad and I, after getting gas in my car, drove up Goode Hill to stop at the California Aqueduct so I could take a few photos.  Then we continued up the hill turned left toward Palmdale and took a little drive.  Even though most wildflowers have finished blooming the hills are still pretty with greens turning to browns.

(click on the photo so see it in more detail)

I don't think anyone anticipated homes reaching right into the foothills 35, 45, or 55 years ago but here they are.  I was a little sad.  Even though it was still a beautiful clear day some of the expansiveness of the view is lost when you're looking out over houses.

After we came home my brother and his kids came and picked Dad up for lunch.  I had a memorial service to attend and to ring with our handbell choir.   When I came back Dad was restless so we went out for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery until his wife returned from her trip.   She did and he was so happy to have her home.  I'm so glad that we, Dad's kids, have the time to be with him and let her have a good break.

From the drive to home and back, near Gorman:

Southernmost San Joaquin Valley, CA:

A Golf Education

Day 189

I am thankful for time with Dad.  This morning we went on a wild good chase looking for a charger for my phone.   Two stops are my limit.   Now that chargers are getting more universal my goofy, wierdo charger is no longer kept in stock or in the back room of stores.

After that we spent of lot of time watching The Golf Channel   I enjoyed the Jack Nicklaus Memorial Tournament because of the mix of younger and older golfers.  The network had interview with various players, time with the Nicklaus family, and quite a few very funny commercials.  The network bounced back and forth between a few tournaments which made it difficult to figure out sometimes. 

No photos of the day.  It was quite blustery and after our morning goose chase Dad and I stayed in.

Summer!

Day 188   Friday 6/4/10

I am thankful for the official, in school year terms, start of Summer!  It feels like summer is here.  The temps are coming up. 

After the staff breakfast and a few good-byes I came home and finished packing for my weekend with Dad.  When I arrived my Sis had her Peru photos all ready on the computer ready to view.  It sure looks like a great trip.  And....she brought me yarn for my birthday.  Alpaca yarn straight from Peru.  What could be better!  After a nice dinner out with Sis and Dad she left for home and Dad and I settle in for the evening.   I'm also thankful for family and the time to be with them. 

From my backyard:

Next to the garage:

On the way to Dad's:

I'm thinking that's not Owl's Clover on the hillside but I don't know what it is.  I enjoyed the change of colors in the mountains from greens to tawny tans and in the valleys from spring green to summer sage.

ZERO days of school left-one staff breakfast and the year is over!

Day 187

I am thankful for my very helpful classroom assistant.  We made countless trips from classroom to small moving truck today.  Because of her help the classroom was finished and I am checked out for the school year.  Yay!

Here is me adapting to the use of technology to record the before and after mileage of the rental truck:

Before I started packing my camera along everywhere I go 

I wouldn't have thought to use it this way.  :-D

ONE, one more school day!

Day 186

I am thankful for chocolate cake.  Yum.  And, I'm thankful that my classroom is mostly cleaned and packed.  My assistants and the kids did some crafts for a bit this morning while I sorted through more classroom detritus.  Then, they all left!  I was able to get most of the room packed, boxes labeled and sorted, and start a list for tomorrow.  Whew.  This afternoon I reserved a truck and rented a storage unit.  Principal checks me out at 3:20 tomorrow afternoon.  Whoop!

I found a surprise this afternoon, well, two surprises:

Yet another new pink Calla Lily:

And this small fella, about 2 inches long was 

in one of my potted plants.  He hopped out as I 

was watering.   With our long, wet spring it's nice to

provide habitat for a mosquito eater!

TWO, two days and counting!

Day 185

I am thankful for photos.  The mom of my bell choir friend who recently died sent out a call for pictures.  I'm glad I had several and that there were several more at our yahoogroups site that I was able to send to her.

I learned that my teeny tiny Santolinas are related to daisies and sunflowers.  No wonder they make me happy.   Sunflowers and daisies make me happy, too!

Bigger!

And it might be a trick of the light but......

I think they have a yellow tinge.

I've decided these are Trinity Lilies.  (instead of Easter Lilies)

Last three pink Callas.  Now that it's getting warm I don't expect
more pinks.  Still hoping for yellows, though.