Gratitude

Thank you so much for your generous comments about my pic of Leonard.  It was just one of those lucky things but I learned something very valuable (to me, at least).  I had taken a short video of him and he didn't know it.  Then I taught myself how to capture the exact pose and turn it into a still shot.  You've probably known about that forever but I didn't.  Also, because he didn't know I was doing the video I was able to capture a very good shot of him which seems to me much better.  Again, thanks a lot - you're great!

Last Night

 We had the grand total of two trick or treaters.  This is our neighbor and his little boy.  Gradin was dressed as a little skunk.  What a cute little stinker he was.  He had an awful time trying to hold his sucker in his "paws". 

......and Kiddo.  She's a Yorkie and I think Rascal likes her.  She's littler than he is and he was so excited to have another real dog in his house.  He would run over and grab his toy and look at her and then bark. 
Oh, I forgot.  Leonard looked out the front door once to see if there were any other kids in the neighborhood and there sat Luna, our other neighbor's cat so I guess that makes 3. 

Halloween has changed and probably for the better.  There are so many community events planned for the kids that they would rather be there than in an old neighborhood like ours.  But next year I'm NOT going to stock up on so much candy!!                             Diane

Gratitude - the occasional feeling of peace and well being that sometimes settles upon me

Happy Halloween

The month of October is winding down and the Halloween fun will soon be over.  It's been fun here in the blogosphere with all the cute things that have been designed and the graphics have been so incredible.  We have very few trick-or-treaters, things are planned for them at the churches, nursing homes as well as haunted houses and parties.  I hope you have a fun Halloween if you're celebrating it and if you aren't I hope you have a great evening, too. 

Gratitude for today - Fun.  It's just nice when people can laugh and be silly sometimes  Laughing is so good for you.                            Diane

Summer's Gone

Killing frosts, layering coats when I walk Rascal, cold nose.  Time to put summer away, what's left of pots, hoses, furniture.  Now the leaves are beginning to take over and if we're lucky we can get them raked up before the first snowfall.  It's over for this year - the bees, butterflies, roses, morning glories, sitting in our sanctuary - over until next year. 

Gratitude - The changing seasons - each bringing it's own beauty and traditions
                                                                Diane

A Different Experience

Today I got a Bountiful Basket to see how the setup

worked.  When I picked ours up it was well worth the $19.50.  Ordinarily

it would have cost me $15.50 but I had to pay a first time $3.00 charge.  The

process was not hard and we ended up with almost a laundry

basket of beautiful fruits and veggies.

We're going to be eating very healthy for a while. 

People had told us about it and I had to check it out for myself.  I would

recommend it if you have it in your state. 

The pickup wasn't until 6:00 p.m. which seems a little late to me

but that's about the only negative.  Diane 

Bountiful Baskets

Gratitude - Home

My bed
Our bathroom
Our quirky kitchen floor which was once an old
porch and still has the slant to it
Getting in the door and being home
Everything that's wrong with it
Everything that's right
My gratitude today - home

Diane

Gratitude - The List Gets Longer

Warm coat on a cold day
My little dog not far from me whatever I'm doing
Books
A good car to get me places
Technology
Good, fresh, real food
That first sip of coffee in the morning
Coffee
Finding a parking place when I need one

For these things I'm thankful. 

Diane

Gratitude - Surgery's Over

Just to let you know that Cathy (Catherine) is through with the surgery and will be going home tonight.  As far as we know it was successful, she'll know more next week when she has a doctor's appointment.  I'm thankful that it's over and that it sounds good.  I know there will be other treatments after this but this part, at least, is behind us.  Thank you so much for all your prayers and concern.  God is good. 

I gave her the book that I made of all of you and your comments and prayers and she was so touched.  I was, too, as I pasted and wrote and put it together.   Again, I'm so thankful.           Diane

Gratitude - Flowers

I may have done one already on flowers but if I did I think they're worth doing again.  The beautiful ornaments of our world, thanks to supermarkets we can now enjoy them year round.  But in the spring, summer and fall we can luxuriate in their glory.  I'm thankful for their many splendored beauty.  Diane

Black and White

Everyone comes to the back door.  I repainted the little, mostly enclosed back porch to make it more welcoming and exchanged the red cupboard with a black piece of furniture.  It really needed a place to put something down when we unlock the door.  This black basket is a simple decoration as it holds a couple white pumpkins. 

Gratitude for today - Rest for the weary

Happy Birthday 4 Times

 We went to Billings, Montana today to celebrate our four October birthdays.  Godfather's Pizza graciously allowed us to sit and visit a while and the pizza was delicious.  This is everybody except me - starting on the left Cathy, her daughter * Lindsay, Tatum, behind Tatum is Hannah, across the table coming down - *K.C. our grandson, his monther - Leonard's daughter Rose, * Leonard, Perry (Cathy's husband) and *Don, Rose's husband.  * indicates birthday child. 

 Lindsay, my oldest granddaughter and Tatum (refusing to smile) Hannah is still behind Tatum.  She works at Target and got to run over and join us on her lunch hour (note the tee shirt with targets on it)

And here's Mr. Cheeseburger himself, still refusing to smile for me - he did have a lot of fun. 

Gratitude - Family Diane    Oops! I almost forgot Lili, Rose and Don's daughter, here she and Tatum are in the game room

Today

This is one of our side yards this morning early.  The little apple tree was so pretty I slipped outside and got this shot.  It's such a pretty time of the year when there's some green and some blazing colors.

Gratitude - Disasters that never happen.  Like today when I dropped my very long pointed paper scissors and they landed point down right next to my bare foot.  How many times do things not happen that could have.  For that I'm ever thankful.

Gratitude - Bees

This picture was taken today, the bees were in the alyssum, I don't blame them, 

it smells wonderful. 

These tiny little creatures, yes, the ones who's sting can hurt so bad, are some of our best friends.  With the devastating loss of so many of them comes a reminder of just how important they are to us.  Without them we would have no food, the crops would not be pollinated and basically it's the growing things that keep us all alive, including other creatures.  So, we would starve to death.

Occasionally I can smell some poison that some neighbor has sprayed to kill the "insects" and they never think nor care about the consequences.  The bees are welcome in my yard, dandelions and flowers grow and the bees are welcomed.  I'm thankful for the bees.        Diane

The Mail

"Arnold you got the mail yesterday.  It's my turn, now quit racing me."
"Lookout, Helen, you're in my way, maybe there's a check in the mailbox! Move!!"

Gratitude - Mail, packages, magazines, even some catalogs
Isn't it nice to wonder everyday what will be delivered?

Gratitude - Flowers

Here it is past the 15th of October and my pansies are still blooming as fresh as if it was the first of June. Such happy little flowers with their eager faces, what a joy they are.  I'm grateful. 

Update - Cathy will have her surgery next Tuesday the 25th.                  Diane

A Different View

I drive over the creek here at least once a day and every time I do the creek is so pretty from the bridge, it doesn't matter what time of day it is.  This is the first time I deliberately took my camera to get a shot.

Gratitude - I'm grateful for my neighborhood.  We live kind of on the edge of town and the creek meanders around through our neighborhood.  The creek attracts all kinds of wildlife and so far has been kept natural.    In the spring when the water's high it's kind of a worry but the rest of the year it's just such a blessing.  My neighborhood is quiet and out of the way although we're only one block away from a main artery.  When I turn off of that street back into where we live I can just feel the noise fall away.                    Diane

Gratitude - Abundance

Gratitude for God's abundant bounty and for my precious blogging

friends.

My husband read an ad in the paper last week which lead us

on an odyssey this morning.  We drove about 33 miles north into Montana in search of

Hutterites selling fresh frozen chickens. 

There in the road into a ranch next to a haystack and a pickup

stood a farm stand, manned by grandpa, dad and young son. 

It was slightly raining but they had a beautiful stand set up.  Leonard

got 7 frozen chickens.  My purchase was all the things above which included the

largest loaf of bread I have ever seen.

We shall eat like royalty.

Thank you all so very much for your kind notes and comments about Catherine

as she makes this journey into unknown territory. 

Your love and prayers are more appreciated than you will ever know.

You are my rocks.        Blessings, Diane

Gratitude

 Thank you, each and everyone, for the sweet birthday wishes yesterday. 
I'm so grateful for having you for blogging friends and and for the richness you add to my day.

I wish for peace and beauty in your life today.  Diane

Peace

I was reminded again today just how precious peacefulness is. I met one of our neighbors on my walk with Rascal. He is an elderly gentleman and he had fallen last night and bruised his face and hurt his head. I asked him if I could help him, "No, honey, I just need to get in the house and rest." I knew he wouldn't accept my help and I knew that he knew I cared. As we walked on home an overwhelming feeling of joy and well being crept over me. I know this was God wrapping his arms around me. I know he will wrap his arms around my neighbor, too. I was so thankful that I wasn't hurting and that I still have a few years before I'll be in his age bracket. I guess that might sound funny or better-than-you but it wasn't that. It was just a reminder of what I have right now in my life and how very thankful I am.

This evening I called to check on him anyway. His wife answered. She has had some strokes and he's been taking care of her. Now she's taking care of him. She said, "We try to get by in the between spells". She said he has a bad stiff neck but he's going to be O.K. Bless their hearts. God bless yours, too Diane

Gratitude

God loves me
Hi, Mom.......Amanda
Blogging friends
A couple books from Salvation Army
Supper turning out
A sunny day
A lovely walk with Rascal
A sweet husband who puts up with me
Projects to do



I hope you had some things to be thankful for this day.
God bless you, Diane