Haphazard Homemaking: Thankful Thursday

Showing posts with label Thankful Thursday. Show all posts

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thankful for Abundant Strawberries

What started as a single strawberry plant purchased at a Master Gardener's plant sale about 6 years ago has turned into two full-to-the-brim beds of incredibly healthy strawberry plants. Even more, these strawberries have spread so far and wide that I have been able to share starts with many friends, helping them start their own strawberry beds.

I have been asked several times what the key to my amazingly healthy strawberry plants is, and my primary response: neglect. Now, don't get me wrong. I do take care of them about once a year. In the spring, I sprinkle Black Lake Organic's strawberry fertilizer over the entire beds and then attempt to brush most of it off of the plants. Then I give them a thorough dusting of mulch, again attempting to shake the majority of the mulch off of the leaves and down to the soil. That is about it. Many people space their strawberry plants perfectly and meticulously remove runners. I don't. I generally figure, the more plants the merrier! So far my lovingly neglectful treatment of my plants has worked out very well.

Last year, though, the deer discovered my strawberry beds. Many mornings I walked out to my garden and ended up nearly (or completely) in tears as I saw the devastation caused by the deer. My view regarding the peaceful deer has changed. I no longer see that as peaceful, lovely animals. I now see them as pests, monstrous rodents. As a result of the deer's new found infatuation with my garden, we only ended up getting a handful of strawberries.

For some reason, the deer must have found better gardens to visit this year. My garden has been blessedly deer free so far this year. After last year's pitiful harvest, I have a new level of gratitude for the sweet berries we are picking.

Today, as I really picked our berries for the first time, I found myself truly thankful for our strawberries. Yes, Ayla was a little over-zealous in her picking. In her excitement, she decided that it was better to fill her bowl than to make sure the berries were completely ripe. Even so, I am thankful for our early, abundant harvest of strawberries.

Don't forget to go enter the giveaway for the travel/children's pillow!

What are you thankful for today?

Come join me (and my friends at Adventures Of Raising A Baby In The City )! ~~Ever~~y almost every Thursday, I will post something for which I am thankful, and I would love it if you participate as well. It is medicine for the soul to give thanks and, when practiced regularly, results in contentment. It can be anything: silly, personal, or blog related. Just take a moment to give thanks!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thankful for the Birth of Kittens

"When will Rosie have the kittens?

For months now our family has been anticipating the birth of kittens. I know, a cat isn't even pregnant for months, but it is still true. Our girls knew from the day we brought Rosie home as a kitten that we were planning to let her have a litter of kittens.

I am just as excited as my girls are. (This is a first for me too.) Last week I told my girls, "I am so excited that I have butterflies in my tummy!"

To explain how her tummy felt, Ayla responded, "I have butterflies and flowers and hearts..."

It was still another week before they arrived.

"Mom, Rosie is having kittens! Right now!" This is how Kylie woke me up yesterday morning. She was the first to discover the event.

I plopped in my contacts, put on my robe, and came to witness the birthing of kittens. When we arrived at the birthing box, Rosie had just birthed her second kitten. As we watched, Rosie silently labored, birthing a total of 5 kittens.

The following video is not very good picture quality, but it sure is cute hearing Kylie call Nana and tell her about the kittens.

Rosie has been such a good momma cat. She took care of each one of her kittens as they were born. I love to listen to her; as her kittens nurse, she purrs and purrs.

In the end, Rosie had 2 black kittens (one with a white tummy), two tabby kittens (one with white paws and a white tummy) and one kitten that is an almost black tabby. We are in love.

We are so thankful for each one of these kittens and that we had the privilege of witnessing their birth.

What are you thankful for today?

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thankful for Goodwill Dishes

We have been so blessed in the dishes department. When we were first married, my aunt gave us some dishes she found at a garage sale. The set wasn't complete or perfect, but it served us well for several years. Then a couple of years ago my aunt's friend passed away and we inherited her very nice set of dishes. Dishes are fairly expensive and I am very grateful that we have not needed to purchase them.

Recently, though, a few of our small "Bread and Butter" sized dishes have cracked. Some of the "fault lines" have been visible for a few years, but just recently have they completely lost their structural integrity and bitten the dust.

I thought this provided the perfect opportunity to add more dishes to our nice, relatively new set. (That set only came with 2 dessert sized plates.) The way I figured, I would just round out the set by ordering 6 more Bread and Butter sized plates. As I searched the internet, the cheapest plates I could find were $7 each before shipping. Yikes! That adds up fast! I was looking at at least $42 plus shipping!

At that point I decided that the plates didn't need to match perfectly. I would be very content with whatever I could find at Goodwill.

I couldn't find a set of 6 matching small plates, but I brought home 3 sets of 2 plates. And they only cost $ .59 each!

So today, I am very thankful for my Goodwill finds. I am thankful for small, inexpensive plates.

What are you thankful for today?

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thankful for Spring Flowers

I admit it. I love flowers. I love growing flowers in my garden. I love looking at flowers at a farmers market or nursery. I love displaying cut flowers on my kitchen table. I love smelling the strong perfume of flowers.

It is currently spring, but the weather does not seem to be aware of that fact quite yet. Just yesterday we experienced sun, rain, hail and snow. Yes, you read that correctly, snow. In the midst of season confusion, I am thankful to see the bright, spring flowers in my beds. They add bright spots of color and their fragrance welcomes guests to my home.

I am thankful for this frilly daffodil. It is the only daffodil in my yard that has decided to bloom. (For some reason daffodils and I don't get along very well.)

I am thankful for these fritillaria. Their dainty blooms and checkered petals make me smile.

I am thankful for hyacinth. It wouldn't feel like spring without their bright spots of color and amazing fragrance.

I am thankful for spring flowers.

What are you thankful for today?

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thankful for My Laundry Sorter

When we first moved into our house 8 years ago, we had one laundry basket and I sorted our laundry into piles in our master bedroom. And since I am the disciplined, on top of it person that I am, there were times when those piles would take up precious space in our room for *ahem* days at a time. Add a baby to the mix and I had a real laundry mess on my hands!

While shopping at Fred Meyer one day, I bought this little laundry sorter in desperation. It didn't look like much. In fact, I have to admit that it looked a little cheesy to me. All it consisted of was white PVC pipe and 3 white mesh laundry bags.

I had no idea that this laundry sorter would save my life. (Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. At least it saved the laundry aspect of my life.)

Now, as we throw laundry in the dirty clothes, we sort it. One quick glance at the laundry sorter shows me if I have a full load of laundry or not. (And in my home with 2 little kids, I almost always have at least one full load of laundry.) No more throwing dirty laundry all over my bedroom floor to get a handle on the laundry situation. At least twice a week I grab the laundry basket from my girls' room and sort it directly into our sorter and I am ready to go.

I am thankful that the laundry is organized. I am thankful that it is easy to see if I have a full load of laundry. I am so thankful for this cheap little laundry sorter!

What are you thankful for today?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Thankful Thursdays - My Bumper Sticker

Almost 6 years ago we began our search for the perfect family car. The transmission in our current car was going out (it had a manual transmission and first gear was gone). We also found out that I was pregnant with our second baby. Those two factors required that we get on the ball and search for a safe, reliable car. My husband asked his mechanic friend which cars he recommended. Of course Toyota and Honda topped the list, but they are extremely expensive. Following those, he suggested Subaru. After researching and looking for cars, we found a 1997 green Subaru Outback. It seemed just perfect for our little family.

The one thing that always seems to happen when you buy a car is that you suddenly notice that everyone else seems to have done the same thing. Copies of your new car begin to appear all over the place. (Well, it might just be that all of a sudden your powers of observation for your particular type of car have dramatically improved.) The difference this time, though, was that our friends and family noticed the same thing. We seem to have bought the most common make, model and color of car in our city. (We are one of at least 4 of the exact same style and color in our neighborhood alone.)

To be able to differentiate our car from all of those similar ones out there, we put a simple bumper sticker on our car. This, of course, only serves to differentiate it from a distance. If you want to walk up and look in the windows, our car is easy to spot. It has two booster seats and a pile of kids clothes, toys and papers on the floor in the back. Apparently those who are responsible for our car are not very good at keeping it picked up and clean. I am thankful for our bumper sticker, that it individualizes our otherwise commonplace car.

Even more than just setting our car apart from the masses, I love what our bumper sticker says. It is simple. It isn't complicated. You don't have to squint and get close to read it. (If you do need to get that close, you really shouldn't be driving and you need some new glasses.) In fact, it is only one word: Grace. It is only one word, but it carries a lot of meaning. A few of the definitions of grace from dictionary.com include:

a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
favor or good will.
a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior.
mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
Theology.

the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

Frequently, while driving, I am thankful for my bumper sticker. This sticker is not on the paint of our car, but on the window. (Yes, so that it will not ruin the paint.) The unintended result is that every time I glance at my rear view mirror, I see my bumper sticker.

I am reminded on the road to extend grace to the other drivers. There are many times on the road when I need to extend my good will, my mercy, my pardon, my temporary immunity. You know those times when someone cuts you off and is completely oblivious that they did it? Yes, that is an ideal time to extend grace. Driving is the perfect opportunity to practice showing grace to others.

And for those times when I am a less than stellar driver, when I am the one accidentally cutting someone off, I am asking for grace. I hope that as I wave my apology through the window, that there is a chance they may see this bumper sticker. We all make mistakes. We all need grace.

I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker identifies my car. I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker has changed the way I view other drivers on the road. I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker asks other drivers to extend grace to me when I make a mistake. I am thankful for my bumper sticker.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Thankful Thursdays - Ayla

Today I am thankful for my little Ayla girl. March 17 was my due date with Ayla, but thankfully for mommy, she was born 2 days early. Happy 5th birthday, sweet girl!

Ayla has always been a physically active girl. As a baby, she would kick one leg the whole time she was nursing. She crawled at 6 months and then walked at 9 months. At 13 months I found her in a windowsill in our living room. In fact, her 1 year old class Sunday School teachers nicknamed her "kamikaze" for a very good reason. At the park, other parents would frequently comment on how extremely active she is. Now, she has been riding a Razor scooter for over a year and enjoys doing "tricks" on it. Her most recent physical accomplishment is learning to ride her bike. It took her under 5 minutes to learn (including starting and stopping on her own)! I am thankful for my squirmin' wormin', my crazy girl.

Being physically active has never stopped Ayla from loving all things sparkly and pretty. She is just as happy playing dress up as she is riding her bike. For Christmas of 2009 she received a box of dress up clothes and I wish I could show you a video of how frantically she changed outfits. It looked like she was in some sort of world record outfit changing competition. What is a beautiful outfit without high heels? She loves the click clack sound of high heels (real or dress up) as she prances around the house. For such a physically active girl, it never ceases to amaze me that she enjoys getting a manicure or pedicure with grandma and will sit completely still for it! I am thankful for my little princess.

Ayla loves to help in the kitchen. She sits on the counter while I cook, suggesting spices or ingredients to add and stirring for me. I am thankful for my kitchen assistant.

Ayla is my snuggly girl. This girl could not survive without her daily dose of snuggles and "skin" time. I am thankful for my snuggle bug.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Thankful Thursdays - Candles

Today, I am thankful for candles. I am not sure how or where candles originated (and I don't really feel like doing the research right now), but I am convinced they must have been divinely inspired. In the beginning their purpose probably was primarily to provide light. Today, though, candles seem to mean so much more.

I love how lighting candles changes the whole feel of a room. As a candle burns, it emits such amazing fragrances. Sometimes candles will convince you that cinnamon rolls are baking in the oven, fresh fruit has recently been sliced, sugar cookies are cooling, or a fresh pot of coffee is ready. (Or, as has been the case recently, a burning candle can cover offensive odors such as fresh or cooked onion. As much as I like onions, I don't prefer for my house to smell like onion for days.)

When the lights are out or dim, the flicker of the candle's flame can be mesmerizing. The light dims and brightens with each flicker. As a child I remember celebrating the arrival of a storm. In preparation, we would dig through cupboards and bring all of the candles to a central location, lighting a few just in case the power went out. Without power, almost all of our light source would be from candles. By candlelight we ate, played games, read books and once I even tried to put in my contacts. As much as a I love candlelight, when first learning to insert contacts, I really don't recommend it.

Today, as I walk past my kitchen table with candles burning in the middle, I glance over and smile. Candles just make me happy.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Thankful Thursdays - My Husband

This week I am thankful for the love of my life: my husband. Today is his birthday and seems like the perfect opportunity to express how thankful I am that he is in my life.

I am thankful for Daniel as my best friend. There is no one else I would rather spend my free time with. Throughout our relationship, we have both grown and changed in so many ways. I enjoy him and our friendship more each year. He is goofy and makes me laugh. He holds me when I cry. He is willing to listen to me, even when I get talkative too late at night.

I am thankful for Daniel as the amazing father of our girls. He spends time with the girls, even when he is tired after a long day at work. The girls love doing projects and playing games with their daddy. He snuggles them when they need snuggles. He appreciates their artwork, gets excited about lost teeth and the acknowledges the efforts they make.

I am thankful for Daniel as my husband. He works hard to provide for our family. He is honest and trustworthy, a man of integrity He is faithful and reliable in all he does, both at home and with others. He is incredibly humble and has such an easygoing personality. In my tendency to get overexcited or upset about things, he is solid, secure and steady. In the midst of insecurities, I feel secure and confident in his love for me.

I am thankful for my husband.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thankful Thursdays - Snow

Picture and idea taken from my friend, Abbey.

Come join me! ~~Ever~~y almost every Thursday, I will post something for which I am thankful, and I would love it if you participate as well. It is medicine for the soul to give thanks and, when practiced regularly, results in contentment. It can be anything: silly, personal, or blog related. Just take a moment to give thanks!

Today, I am thankful for snow. The power of snow never ceases to amaze me. It brightens an otherwise dark night, generates excitement in children and adults alike, draws us outdoors in the winter cold, and completely transforms the world around us. As I think about the beautiful, transforming effect of snow, I am reminded of a poem I studied in high school by Emily Dickinson.

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face	5
Of mountain and of plain,—
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,	10
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem,—
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were,	15
Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen,—
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been.	20

Despite the difficulties snow may cause, I am thankful for snow. I am thankful for the beauty it creates. I am thankful for the joy it brings my children.

Now, to go outside and enjoy the snow with my kids... this is the ultimate expression of my thankfulness for the snow.

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

What are you thankful for today?