Friday night grateful moment

ou can tell from the lack of blogging this week that it's been a busy one. Well, at least I can! Lots of hurry up and go, get stuff done, ready for a few days away. And once away, it's been all chillin', all the time (so, really, no excuse for not digging through the drafts for a post or two. Come on, Sher!).

But of course, it's Friday, and if it's Friday...

I am so grateful this week for:
The first crop of summer squash and zucchini that I harvested and fried up for lunch! They were delicious and made me so happy that it's summer. I anticipate much more squashiness throughout the coming weeks...

Blueberries abound. I love knowing that they are available and accessible by the handful.

Cinnamon apple bread from the local bakery. It felt a little less apple-y this morning... I have yet to experiment with it at home, but my resolve is renewed to do so.

Stories of courage and bravery. Like Stephanie's story (that's her birthday cake above, isn't it amazing?!). And Ian's story. And Katherine's story. The stories are out there, and they are many. It's up to us to pay attention and be moved. Some days that feels like a lot of work, letting myself care about people I've never met and never will meet, when there are plenty of people I know who are going through rough times, too. But it's good work, I believe; worthwhile work for the heart.

A few days away from the usual. A break in pace is so good.

Persistence to see the irrigation issues through to a hopefully workable solution. Can't say I have a lot of faith that we've seen the end of the issues, but I know we can keep working on it.

Lunch with girlfriends who make you laugh. And laugh. And laugh. And remind you of the beauty of love. It's one thing to know it. It's a fabulous other thing to see it anew in someone's face. Special indeed.

Time and energy to give to others. It's a gift I've been given, and one I take seriously in paying forward. While I can, I will give.

Appreciation for all the little things that make us unique. I love that there are so many different kinds of people, and all the quirks that go into that "different." I appreciate it about what makes me me, and I appreciate it about you too.

Commitment to the ideal of us all being children of God, and the compassion that comes with and from that commitment. Most days it changes how I see the world, and helps inform how I move through it. Most days. (There are those days when I forget, and get mired in the pettiness of what it is to be human. I'm thankful too for the jolts of recognition that I'm way off track and remind myself to get back to what I believe.)

That my husband gets me hot washcloths when I've eaten something too crunchy or tough and my jaws hurt (still healing from that tooth extraction). He's thoughtful like that. And wow do those hot cloths work!

For the tick-tick-tocking of time while Seth's away, that we're past the half-way mark without too much fuss and the number of days til he's home is getting smaller. Yeah for that.

For books, with which I have a neverending love affair, even as I read so inconsistently. I think Leah says it oh-so-well above.

Humor. A friend posted a humorous site on Facebook this week, Catalog Living, where there are captions to accompany those very-perfect pictures you see in catalogs. The caption for this photo? "Elaine should have known better than to interrupt Gary during 'apple time.'" Ha. Good one. That bowl of apples is huge. Someone loves their apple time!

For words of inspiration and encouragement.
“Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, You who made the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety.”
-Mary Oliver

For music, as ever. This poppy piece is just right for summer, I think. I love the color and animation style too.

Hope your weekend is off to a great start, whether you're just finishing a holiday (yeah, Canada!) or just beginning (yeah, USA!) one. Peace, love and a brilliant firework show for all!

Joy art source