Friday night grateful moment

t's raining on my summer. Hard. Buckets. With thunder and lightening to boot. What's up with that? Seth and I went out to pick cherries tonight and got a few pounds picked before it started up in earnest, and now it's blowing and cold and I can hear cherries splitting from the raindrops, even as I write...

OK, confession: I love it. But, it is getting in the way of weekend plans, in the sense of sitting by a pool and all, like I had planned, with girlfriends. Ah well.

Regardless of the weather, the thankful list this week is easy...

My men. Seth has been such a help at home these past couple of weeks, and husband has been so supportive at work. It's made my daily juggle go more smoothly, for sure. I am so appreciative of them both!

My health. I haven't mentioned health in awhile, which means I must be taking it for granted. (Tsk tsk.) I am, however, very grateful for good health--when I stop and think about it. I accomplished a great deal of lifting and hauling and shoveling last weekend, and didn't end up any worse for wear! I *did,* however, take a spectacular tumble in Home Depot on Sunday. And by spectacular, I mean, Olympic-medal-level bumbleness. I was more stunned than mortified (that particular emotion kicked in later), but the poor young man that was trying to help me looked a bit traumatized. (He saw me later when I was checking out and couldn't make eye contact, the poor guy.) All that is to say I have had a whopper of a bruise on my knee this week, and am glad it's healing up well. Still waiting to outgrow the awkward phase...

Our setting. From the immediate yard and garden, and our progress there, to our field of peas and beyond to the beautiful fields and pastures, Blue Mountains, etc., I am grateful for the view that surrounds us, every day. A lot of places in the world are beautiful, for sure, but I am glad to have found a home in this particular pretty spot.

Family. Beyond the three of us, I'm thankful for the support we have from our family. Near, far... (I almost launched into "wherever you are." Aren't you glad I didn't?) it is always good to know we've got a net of love surrounding us. Maybe a bit hokey on the mental image there, but the sentiment is heartfelt. When I see people more obviously struggling with daily life, whether because of mental illness or life choices, etc., it reminds me that life doesn't always deal the same hand to us all, and to appreciate the support that has been so readily accessible to me, my whole life.

Flavor. I am cooking up some salad and sandwich and appetizer and dessert goodies to take with me to visit the aforementioned girlfriends, and was reminded of all the familiar and lovely ingredient combinations that make me happy. Whether it's what cheese to put in the sandwich (you knew I'd have to go there) to whether the cherries should be in a trifle or a cobbler, and should I make three salads or four... I love cooking, still.

Memories. I had a memory this week that I recounted to a co-worker, of an experience when I was actually younger than Seth and I acted in a wildly irresponsible fashion... I was left alone for the first time EVER overnight, and took the opportunity to drive in to town (20 miles) and pick up a girlfriend to come spend the night with me. We told both sets of parents that she would be taking the bus to my house. (Never mind that the bus didn't actually come to our house... I suppose we must have said I'd meet her at the closest bus stopp--a half mile away--and we'd walk the rest.) I am absolutely floored by that memory now, that I actually undertook this level of deception and, more to the point, that I accomplished it, safely, and didn't get stopped by the RCMP (or my parents, who I think I informed when I was safely living in another country, at 20+ years of age). Crazy. And grateful. It does make for a good memory, though... (Good thing I know Seth doesn't read my blog. I would not have shared that story if I thought he would get wind of it.) I don't often trip down memory lane, but when I do, I like to think of the ones that bring a smile.

Friendship. I'm always grateful for my friend time, whether is a coffee or a spontaneous fro-yo moment, a FB note or a text. I saw this on Pinterest recently, and it encapsulated some of my thoughts on the kind of friends I have, and the kind of friend I want to be:

friendship

And speaking of Pinterest (which is never far off in any conversation, am I right?), here are a few more of my recent-favorite wordish pins to take you into the weekend...

journey

awake

humble

tribute

text

On that note, I shall say good night, have a lovely weekend, and peace all around!