Friday night grateful list

Oh lovely weekend, welcome. My arms have been wide open, waiting to welcome you, since at least Wednesday. Thanks for finally showing up!

It's been a wild and wooly week, as my mom used to say. Lots of unusual things popping up to be handled--nothing too unusual, but perhaps it was the volume? Buckets instead of cupfuls, or to have a happier metaphor: a giant rainbow cake of awesome "things that need to be handled." No cupcakes around here, oh no. Whopping layers of cake. Yum.

Meanwhile, the grateful. Such a glorious time of year around here. Long, long days, with lots of light to wake me early, and keep me awake on the other end too. Very grateful for the blinds we have in our bedroom that help keep the light out--this week it had to keep out that strawberry moon business too, from Monday night. Seth and I were out for a bit of exercise when the moon rose, and it was lovely to see it rise in that harvesty way that is mammoth and warm.

And early in the mornings too, when I'm out with the dogs and the chickens, I'm struck by how green and beautiful everything is. We haven't ramped back up the HOT weather yet, just lolling around in the low 80s. Very hammock weather. I walk past our hammock. That's about how hammocky my week was. (Insert wink emoji here.) (I really want to wake up one day in a post-emoji world, but then I think to myself, how on earth would I add an extra "touch" to my texts?! Amiright, Ma?!)

Having Seth home is such a gift. There's really no other word for it. Just knowing he's here, even when he's not in the room with us, makes me smile. He started his new job this week, as a WalMart cashier. I saw him in action tonight as I got a few supplies. He was intent on his scanning responsibilities, and I kept the proper Mom distance. There's a rule that family and friends have to avoid their relative worker, so I behaved, even though I was sort of tempted and if caught would have pulled out my ID--look, different last names, we're not related. You can see I thought through this a little bit. Such a silly mom. Such a silly, grateful mom.

Seth and I are on track to eat a record amount of watermelon this summer. If there isn't a watermelon currently cut up and being eaten, there are leftovers in the fridge, or another one on the counter ready to cut, or both. Of course it's a little early for truly local melons, but we have been enjoying some real gems who have taken a trip north to our bellies. The other food item we are quite ahead of the game on is pesto. The one thing I got planted early is basil, and it is beautiful, bushy and fragrant. I love keeping it trimmed of its blossoms, and having the lovely scent on my hands for awhile after. Happy summer days! So grateful for produce, especially the local farms.

For this week especially, my grateful list includes (but is not limited to!):

Sweet husband and his thoughtful ways.

Our haven of a home, where I can tuck away for a day of rest and come out the other side energized.

Friends who drive hours to come to town for lunch and a visit and a laugh. Who can cut through nonsense in zero time and get to the heart of whatever really needs discussing.

Our pups and their unconditional love. Nothing like the greeting those three give us all at the end of the day. Is it about food? Possibly--especially for General. But those border collies, boy do they embody the "love is love is love is love is love is love" philosophy.

Cold brew coffee. The perfect summer drink. Easy to make, oh-so-easy to drink.

Early morning energy.

Instagram.

Coworkers who put in extra when needed, without being asked. (It's the "without being asked" that's especially awesome.)

Berries. All. The. Berries.

Summer rain. The smell, the feel in the air, the lovely morning after.

Wishing you a joyful, restful weekend.

Peace.

Thirty days of gratitude: Day 4 (catching up)

The word for today is art.

When I was in New Orleans last spring, I discovered these blue dog art pieces--all over the place! This trip it took me just a few hours to spot the pups again, in different locations than last time, even.

Art is such an interesting and complex topic, one that brings such emotion and subjective opinions with it. I don't pretend to have any agenda where art is concerned--if you like it, you like it. If you created it, good for you.

“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” -Stella Adler

Friday night grateful moment

There was this thought, while I was on the road, that I might actually blog... seems almost humorous in retrospect. My days away were filled with meetings, learning, listening, absorbing. The evenings were filled with walking and eating. Blogging? Just didn't fit into the mix, especially with lack of pre-planning.

But I am here to share tonight! And looking through my pictures was a quick walk down recent-memory lane. You know that feeling, when you're home only 24 hours and it's like you were never gone? Trip? What trip? Yeah, that. That's where I am tonight...

But entirely grateful to be here--home, safe and sound!

This week held a great deal of interesting talk about all things "client." If you're in business, you have clients. And they have an "experience" with you. What is that experience, and how can you make it better? (Gone are the days of just calling that customer service, by the way.) Just when I thought (at the end of day two) that we couldn't possibly peel that particular banana any more, in unique ways, there were interesting and thought-provoking presentations on day three! Go figure. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to listen and learn, and to be reminded that the work I get to contribute to is quite interesting, in the spectrum of industries. Working for a big conglomerate making widgets, running call centers all over the country (or India)? Not for me.

Had to share this picture of the group we shared some space with on Wednesday:

Didn't actually see any men in black, though...

In the evening my work colleague Molly and I walked and talked and walked some more. And ate. We looked at a hundred (really) different menus online and on the sides of restaurants, looking for interesting, healthful food. I know, healthful? In New Orleans? Fresh ingredients don't just grow on trees down there, apparently. Or if they do, they drop directly into a deep fat fryer on their way to your plate! Our persistence (or was it pickiness?) paid off and we had really good food.

We went to Mr. B's Bistro, a little French restaurant with a sweet courtyard called the Grapevine, Cafe du Monde for beignets, and of course, Emeril's. Everything was entirely yummy.

A few of the sights we took in:

We took a streetcar out St. Charles Ave., to see beautiful old houses and ride past Tulane and Loyola. But about halfway out, the streetcar stopped, and the conductor told everyone to get off, that he wasn't going any further as there was work being done to the tracks out ahead. Meanwhile, we could see the other streetcar ahead of us, continuing on... something didn't add up. But when the guy tells you to get off, you get off. And catch another streetcar back into the city. We chuckled and thought he made a pretty good example of what not to do, from a "client experience" perspective...

I took quite a few pictures of houses as we zipped along in the streetcar, but when I went back and looked at them, they all looked the same. Essentially, part of a house (never got my trigger finger timing down perfectly) with trees and sidewalk, and the houses are very similar: most have columns, are taller than they are wide, and on narrow lots, with porches and shutters. I felt a little like we were in the middle of a movie set for something like In the Garden of Good and Evil, which I barely remember, and it's set in Savannah, not New Orleans. But, still...

I came home Thursday from an oddly quick-but-long day of travel to flowers from my sweet husband (he missed me!), a clean house and the anticipation of Seth coming home this afternoon. Grateful grateful for my guys. I am blessed.

And, pretty much immediately upon touching back down in the Valley, I stopped by the Blue Mountain Humane Society and picked up a little furry friend who had been waiting to come foster with us this weekend.

Meet General:

General is a seven-year-old Corgi who was surrendered by an elderly woman going into assisted living care. He's sweet as can be, and best of all, Chief seems to like him pretty well. There's the usual need for reassurance and affection, but no real overt snipping and jealousy. They seem like they will get along and become buddies, and it already feels pretty natural to have General here. I'm stepping out in saying that, as we're not being all official-like until the weekend is over, so keep your fingers and toes crossed that all will go well. So far so good, and whoo-hoo for not having to go through the puppy stage; I'm very grateful for that! 

I hope your grateful list is long as you head into the weekend! May you find rest and peace and anything else you're looking for! I will be looking for some extra zzzzzs to catch up on; travel is never kind to my sleep schedule.

Peace.

Friday night grateful moment

he was indeed a precious, sweet doggy. A very unique dog in many ways, not your average affectionate, "pet me now, please" kind of pup. Nervous around people, anxious from birth, she was happiest with her brother, Jack. So when she passed this week, almost exactly 3 months after Jack, and at the ripe old age of 13.5 (or as Seth likes to put it, "almost 98, Mom.") it was both sad and awful, and not surprising. We will miss your sweet spirit, Darby, and your jumpy, dancing ways. I am grateful you were a part of our lives.

I'm greatly thankful for Chief, our one remaining dog. He brings comfort and lots of opportunities for petting, indeed. The past week he has been aware that lots is up, and seeing him alone in the yard, without his pack, is quite disheartening. So he is with us as much as he can be, and it's good for him, and good for us too.

I'm thankful for my men, who are kind and thoughtful and protective of me. They both looked out for me this week, in my more tender times... I am one lucky and very blessed girl. And our sweet Valentine's moments made my week brighter, for sure.

One of the things on my list this week, one of my favorite things, is an annual fundraiser I help with for a local non-profit, Children's Home Society of Washington. I wasn't able to be AS involved this year, especially on the day-of, because of work commitments, but I enjoyed attending and appreciating the stories shared about the difference individuals can make in the lives of children. I'm grateful for our community, and the strength in numbers when gathered together--both figuratively and monetarily!

 source

Seed catalogs! I am SO grateful for those little reminders that show up in our winter mailbox, happy, sunny reminders that spring is coming. No surprise that they put beautiful, colorful flowers on the front most of the time... But then I turn the pages and all the fun vegetables pop out at me too--should I do two-toned radishes? Purple carrots? Striped beets? Yes, please, to all of that, and more. Can't wait for those warmer days (and nights).

I'm grateful to have spent the bulk of the week with four guys who, while often speaking a different language than I (computer language stuff), were able to dissect and discuss and probe and question and challenge and engage... and learn. It was good. I am glad our three days in the developer "cave," as I called it, are over, but I'm also very glad they happened. Oh, and there were stories and jokes and laughter, and they were very kind to me when I got a bit mopey about Darby too. Good times.

My friends are wonderful. I may have mentioned that a time or two in the past, eh? But it's true, they are. I am grateful for them.

And, because it can't help but be mentioned at least once or twice a week, I am grateful for color. When I saw this video, I knew I had to share.




How was your week? Any fun tidbits to share? I could use fun tidbits...

What's on your grateful list as you finish out the week? Tell me! And above all else, have a great weekend. Peace.

Grateful for doggies

I just love this little guy. What persistence!

Chief went to the vet yesterday afternoon. Just his usual annual check. No shots, but we wanted to make sure all is at least stable with his hip, and he had a funky spot on his sweet white nose a while ago, so just wanted a thumbs up on health. While we were there another doggy was on his way in for his last visit, so to speak. A very sweet, very old and sick dog. Chief and I shed a little tear on the way home (he's quite sensitive like that), and came home to an enthusiastic greeting from the pack. Hugs all around.

So as they are annoying me in the coming days, whether barking at coyotes or digging for gophers in the lawn, or chewing on sprinkler heads, I will be grateful for their happy greetings, their desire to kiss me and their sweet dispositions (for the most part). Now, must go give the morning meds.

Order has been restored to the universe...

Fog's gone, for the moment. Take a look at that tail end of the sunset tonight. Much better. I know, you really wanted to see what the shop looks like (not!), but we were zooming home (quite literally) tonight from basketball practice and barely got this shot before all the color was gone...

Here are a few other pictures from our Thanksgiving time, that wouldn't load via dialup, go figure:

Seth making himself useful on the little tractor! And posing.


The dogs are ready to go. She who is known as RubyBadDog is in the middle. Check out her dirty snout. Who knows where that's been... Peaceful Jack (right) and little Darby are just ready to be home!


And Chief is annoyed with me and won't look at the camera. He hopped in and got Seth's seat all muddy in his eagerness to get his prime position for the ride home... and got a little scolding from me for his muddy paws. So he's withholding affection for a few minutes to punish me. He's almost human, that one.