Picture Crazy

Friday morning.

I've been taking lots of pictures.  So glad I always have a camera in my pocket.

Thanksgiving was very low-key.  Our across the valley family came - how fun for them to stay for a while.  Our live-in daughter was so so so sick.  She spent the day coughing in her own quarters.  Her son kept her company.  So Thanksgiving dinner was just the two of us.  And it was fine.  I'm still perfecting my skills at lowering expectations.  It isn't a requirement to have a huge "do" for holidays such as this.  When I keep my expectations reasonable, I'm much more at peace.  A place I truly enjoy.

Friday Afternoon.

We had plans to go out a little on Black Friday.  Went for a lovely walk in the morning.  Then the snow started and we opted to shovel the accumulations instead.  (The red berries on the tree looked so pretty against the fresh snow!) So happy to stay at home. It is still my favorite place.

Friday morning

We did go out on Saturday and bought a couple things. We're spending less and less for Christmas.  In fact, Sunday evening we had a somewhat soul-searching and frank conversation about spending and gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Have somewhat come to a conclusion.  After listening to friends about their gifting practices and thinking about all the agonizing I do to find "just the right thing" only to have it be a flop (that would be my fault), we've almost decided to go all cash.  I think I would enjoy the absence of anxiety.

Monday's sunrise

Spent some time yesterday at the hospital with a friend.  Have another friend in another hospital.  Did I mention that I avoid hospitals?  They're definitely not on my "favorites" list.  I was aware enough when I left St. Marks Hospital yesterday to thoroughly wash my hands.  Sickness is not on my agenda.

And after a couple seemingly mentally-involving days, today saw some good things.  I stopped at the store and bought another pair of readers.  Dropped by the eye dr.'s office with the broken pair and asked about swapping out the (prescription) lenses.  With a smile and kind attitude and within ten minutes I was walking away with my favorite readers.  The Rx in them for my astigmatism makes things just that much crisper and clear.  So happy to have them back, I've missed them.

Turned out well.

Stopped to pick up the cross-stitch I'd had framed.  It turned out so well.  I had made a goal to do one  cross-stitch for each of my granddaughters, this was the last one.  I lost count of the hours it took to finish, but it was fun. Picked up a $10 box at UPS for shipping and packed it nice and tight.  We had just the perfect sizes of packing materials.  We winced a bit (actually a lot) at the shipping costs.  Hopefully the granddaughter will like it.

A friend had given me a plant when we moved.  It was a new sprout from a plant of her own that I had admired.  And here we are, roughly 18 years later.  She'd mentioned that she would like to have one of those plants again, so I've sprouted one, it's done well and she now has it in her possession.  What a lovely hour we spent visiting.  We can go for a while without seeing her, but when we get together, my heart feels a connection - we laugh and thoroughly enjoy our time.  I was the one who came away from our visit feeling blessed and uplifted.

Loved the snow on our tree.

Then:  treat time!!  It's the season for Chick-fil-A to have their peppermint chocolate chip shakes.  We sat and chatted and totally enjoyed our own shakes.  Didn't even share, we each had our own.  What a lovely day this has turned out to be.

I'm so grateful for a heart that is warmed by the kindness of others.  Particularly when that kindness is freely given.  I'm so grateful for an evening in, for a dinner invitation from our favorite friends and for some books from the library to read.  And...for peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes!