This is a tough one....Thankful Thursday #322

 

I dont know about anyone else, but this week is just feeling even heavier than usual.

We have people running down airstrips, hanging onto the sides of planes

... we have women afraid that all the strives they have been given, are all now gone & they have to return to a voiceless life again

... we have numbers in the 3,000 - 4,000 range of new COVID cases a DAY around our area

... we have news that vaxed people may have to get ANOTHER shot because some wont get ONE. Its like people trying to earn extra credit so the failing student can pass the class.

... we have Governors who still want to kiss a past President's loony-tune, narcissist's behind who is no long is in office, but for some reason, want to bow at his altar of division, & instead of trying to protect people's health in their states, they decide to do everything to hurt efforts & cause more division & health crisis.

.... we have hospitals overflowing, even in people want to deny this is happening

... we have people threatening doctors  who speak up at school meetings in favor of face masks with  threats of "We know who you are"

.... we have people still fighting over dumb things - LOUDLY - especially behind a screen- & even scarier, straight to strangers faces.... side story- me & Hubby still are very adamant mask wearers (we've never stopped) & when Hubby went into a restaurant at lunch to pick up his lunch, he was the only one in there wearing a mask.  Two men each walked past him & stopped & coughed right at him - then went outside & laughed & high fived one another.... classy stuff.

... we have earthquakes leaving thousand dead, thousands injured & thousands in dire conditions.  Just devestating.

... we have horrible heat records & people getting together discussing facts & figures proven about Global Warming & STILL people fight against it & say its not true.

.... & we have the end of Love Island  the cancellation of Real Housewives of Dallas. LOL - I had to throw in some humor there. I mean, if I dont, I'm going to scream - because mentally, I'm beat. I know most of us are.  

Exhausted with the world seems more appropriate.

Its days, weeks, (Months & years?) like this that its so hard to find gratitude.  The days feel darker, the world feels heavier, people feel impossible. 

Dig in deep... that's what you have to do... search through mud to find the buried treasure there.  Even if its small... 

That's where I'm at today for Thankfulness.  Digging through mud.... so it may be short this week, but I think we can all agree, any bit of small gratitude is enough in hard days.

This week I am Thankful for:

Doctors & Scientist
Who would have ever thought these people would need police protection for doing their job. I am grateful they have the knowledge that the majority of us DONT have - even the person you get your news from on Facebook.  I'm grateful that they stand up for truth & speak out against false information - even when they know it can cause their lives suffering & threats (this just is mind blowing to me)  Keep discovering science world. Where would we be without you?

My Home
I am thankful for a safe place to live where I can escape from the world & turn off all the outside world & sit with a book, play with my dogs, hang out chatting with my Hubby... all is right in the world.

Fall Decorations
I am seeing more of them & am excited about the change of the season. I am thinking of that larger than just Summer to Fall. 

Books
They can take me away from this world. Even if into mystery books where people are murdered - its still an escape from this crazy world.

Fresh Veggies
To go with my Home thankfulness, I'll add in my neighbors - because they are the best.  Just so friendly & sharing & giving. They have given us so many fresh tomatoes & cucumbers. We've had some amazing fresh salads.  I've even just got the skin off the cucumbers & ate it like a burrito. Give me some salt & I can down it. Hubby says, "It tastes like oxygen" - & it does. That fresh, clean flavor. mmmm... so good! Grateful our neighbors have done all the hard work of gardening & we get to join in the celebration of all that nature does.

Jesus
Its where all my hope is at.  Especially in all of this.... Only Jesus. 
Come Lord - come!

Tell me something good about your week....please!

Joining with the precious Leslie at Once Upon a time & Happily Ever After & joyful Jennifer from Overflowing with Thankfulness to host all the gratitude.  Be sure to stop by their blog & see all their blessings this week.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Prime Purchases

 

Even later to the game this month
 - but still love joining in & sharing all the latest Amazon finds.

Joining with the lovely Tanya at The Other Side of the Road

Leopard Print House Shoes

I've been wanting these forever.  
I like them, except I feel like my feet are going to come through to the front.
Anyone else have similar ones & know how to fix that - I may just need to get used to them.

48 AA Batteries

Remember that battery holder I posted last month?
I needed to fill it up.

I think Amazon batteries are a great price for a bundle.

Insulated Lunch Box

Going back to work, I wanted to get a good lunch container because so many things are closed downtown.  I really like how this one opens - it is so wide - so it helps packing up all the things. I'm really happy with it.

Ice Packs

Got these to go in my lunch bag to keep my cold things cold & I'll add in two when I'm carrying frozen things.  They work great.  Dont take up much space in the freezer either.

Little Speaker / Radio / MP3 Player / Karaoke Machine

Hubby had a big one of these in his Man-Cave & loved  it.

When he ordered this - we cracked up!!! His old one was like hip high.... he didnt read the measurements on this one - its like 12 inches tall. 

BUT - I will say - I really like it - its got good sound & its just fun.
Hubby loves to use the microphone to yell for me when he's downstairs - so that's fun.

This would be really fun for a teen / preteen - for their room or for their sleepovers & get togethers.

Headphone Adapter

Here's another "Back to work" buy I needed.
I guess my headphone plus in my computer burned out while I was working from home & I can not work without music or a podcast playing.  My headphones would work if I used the USB port - so got this & I'm back in business

What's something great you've bought from Amazon lately?

The weekend I put needles back in my hand

 Happy Monday everyone!!!

Sorry I missed out on posting Friday Favorites this past Friday. I had taken my mom & her cat to the vet & didnt end up getting home till 10:30pm & I'm usually in bed anymore by 9:30 with the alarm dinging at 5am.... so I missed out on posting.  

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I know our schools are all back in full swing now & I'm guessing a lot of you are getting back into the school game where you're at too. A sure sign that fall is just around the corner - YAHOO!!!  I just told someone that it doesnt matter what the temperature is on September 1 - even if its 110 degrees - that will still be the beginning of Fall! 

So weekend chit-chat... kinda boring - but it was WONDERFUL for me... let's take a quick gander at the boringness.

Friday

I stopped at Pizza Hut to pick up some dinner because I was BEAT after that late night out before at the vet.  I just planned on eating & then hitting the bed.

Of course, I had to wait for it to be made so another trip to a store to pass time... ended up coming out with 2 more sticker books & had to get this bag!  Also found some yarn on clearance & I'm in a hat making mode now that I sold one. I love making things for the cooler weather headed in the next few months anyways.

We enjoyed our pizza & finished watching Loki... & I'm so confused. I need to find some video that explains the ending to me.  I dont do well with anything that involves time travel or time lines.  Doesnt matter - I love Tom Hiddleston.  Still confused about his little dating spree with Taylor Swift.... I digress. 

Saturday

The effects of all these early morning alarms have ruined  me. RUINED ME. I woke up on a Saturday at 5:15.  That is just depressing & defeats the point of a weekend.

I did get to get in some Real Housewives of New York.  I then grabbed my new Book of the Month pick that came in earlier in the week & headed out to start it.  Except, someone wasn't too thrilled about me being home, sitting outside & not giving HIM any attention.

We have a VERY needy dog.  I think working from home with him for 7 months spoiled him like no other dog we've had.  I've become quite the pro at reading & throwing balls or ropes with one hand.

It was warming up pretty good in the afternoon so I ended up going inside & decided to finish the hat I had been working on & totally forgot about.  It still kills my bicep tendon to do it for long but I just do a little bit at a time, or lean my arm into the side of the pillow while I'm knitting & that sort of elevates the pain. I can't believe after all these years, it still hurts.  I thought it would have healed or something... but alas. Every time I do anything repetitive, it just fires it right back up. Even walking more on the treadmill lately & that swinging motion of my arm has got it flared up. They had wanted to do surgery on it - that was like 8 years ago... I may have to actually consider it.... sigh...

While knitting, I started watching White Lotus on HBO because I've heard so many people recommend it.  

What a strange show. I'm just 3 episodes in  & I know I've said at least a few dozen times, WHAT AM I WATCHING? ... but I cant stop. I have to see how this all turns out.  & can I say, Jennifer Coolidge... I want to meet her in real life because she tends to play the same sort of character in everything I've seen her on. I need to know if she's like that in real life. I love her though.

We ended up having breakfast for dinner on Saturday night & I dont know why that feels like a special, fun treat... but it was YUM. Give me all the avocado on my eggs please.

Saturday evening, some sort of cold front must have came through somewhere because I went back out to play with the dogs & it was so much cooler. It felt amazing.  We took advantage of it & worked on grooming Zoe for a little bit & then I read some more till it got too dark.

Sunday

I did a little bit better... slept in till 6:15. Geez.

I layed in bed for awhile though & watched some more Real Housewives & got caught up on a few other shows I watch... just relaxed. It was heavenly!

I started working on another hat, with that new blue yarn & messed it up & had to pulled it out & start all over again.... RIIIIPPPPPP.  Geez.  But I've got it back on track.

I went over & took care of the horses & it was such a cooler day, which makes it so much more enjoyable to spend time with them & not feel like a sweat ball.

Mom was all dressed & sitting up & I was going to go pick up her groceries so I asked her if she wanted to tag along to get out.  She said she didnt want to slow me down but I told her I had no other plans... so she was able to go with me & get some fresh air too.

I got home & had to pick up my book & finish it. I love when I can start a book on Saturday & finish it by Sunday.  This is a mystery & I couldnt put it down until I found out how it ends.  I really enjoyed it. Kept me guessing. That's for sure.

Rest of my Sunday was just the norm... time to prep as much as I can for the week & get ready for the next 5 days ahead. Adulting at its finest.

How was your weekend?

Did you get a snap in a heat spell?

Are your kiddos in school yet?

Did you watch White Lotus?

Thankful Thursday #321

 

That time again - Thursday!! Where I get to join with Leslie at Once Upon a time & Happily Ever After & Jennifer from Overflowing with Thankfulness to host all the gratitude.  Where we find joy in the every day & little things.  Would love to have you join us each week to share all the good news - because we need some good news in this world anymore!

This week I am Thankful for:

New Mask
I showed the little treat pouch that my friend from work made for Hubby - well, look at the mask she made me? I LOVE  IT. It fits so good & is so roomy from the face.  Perfectly placed rose too. This has been my go-to mask now!

Etsy Sale
I honestly forgot I had an Etsy store! LOL... & I sold a hat & was like, OH YEAH! I have quite a few new hats that I've made that I havent posted in there. So I really need to look at what I have posted - not a lot - & update it with all the new goodies I've made.... & get to work on finishing the 4 or 5 projects I've been working on to get them up for the cooler weather headed our way!

Hobby Lobby Trip
Friday after work, I had to wait while our food was getting ready to pick up & I stopped into Hobby Lobby & was so super happy to be walking out with 4 new sticker books. Yahoo!!!

Mom made it home
That was the longest stay from home for mom - but hoping that she's got some strength to stay on top of things & stay safe & in her house for a long time.

Breakfast sandwiches
I am loving that I've learned to meal prep my breakfast.  If it lets me sleep an extra 10 minutes - I'll take it. Plus, I dont have to rush to eat. I can eat whenever I want. I've warmed it up at work at 7am... all the way till 11 am.  I like the options of it too.  .... now to find some good lunch meal prep ideas! I'll be set!

Reading over working out
I came home from work with intentions to work out but we got a blessing of a BEAUTIFUL day last week.  I changed to put on my shorts & tee to get on the treadmill & went to let the dogs out... & said, nope - I'm staying outside. I grabbed my Kindle & stayed out reading until I couldnt see in the dark. It was really nice to just relax & enjoy the beautiful air.... & toss all the frisbees & balls for the dogs too!

Tell me something good!

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Click here to enter

10 on 10...Its School Time again!

 

Joining in with the always & ever lovely Leslie with her 10 on 10

1. How old were you when you started school?  Did you attend pre-kinder and/or kinder or go straight into first grade?
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I was 6 years old... isnt that the usual age? for like 1st grade.  To me, that was "official school" but now, I guess all the pre-kinder is like required now ... but I did attend all the pre kinder things mainly because my great aunt owned a day care & Kindergarten.  My grandma was always there & sneaking me all the favors for being family.  It was great.  

2. Were you a good student? What was your favorite subject?

I was a good student. I was someone who actually liked school, enjoyed learning.  

My favorite subject?  Well, being that nerd, I tend to like everything - EXCEPT Geometry. I think because our football couch "taught" that class & never really "taught" a thing. Basically a "read your book" & that was it kinda of teaching. I think if someone explained it- I would have gotten it because I love math.  That was frustrating I never understood Geometry.  I did love all the Algebra classes.

3. As a child, did you take music lessons? Or play a sport? Do you still play an instrument now?

I did take piano lessons.  I really enjoyed it & just told someone the other day I want to try & get into it again. I think i can still remember how to do it. Read music anyways.... Sports? I played softball when I was in elementary school but after that, it was just just tennis.  I would play basketball & kickball with the neighborhood kids, but my main sport growing up was kung-fu. I was in that when I was 7 years old & got my black belt when I was 16 & stayed active in it till about 18.

Because this is the cutest thing 

4. Did you attend any kind of training or classes beyond high school? If so, what did you study?  Did you wind up working in a profession or job for which those classes or training prepared you?

I actually trained to be a pharmacy technician & really wanted to go to school to be a pharmacist.  The only pharmacy school near me was about 1.5 hours away & 2 issues. 1. I didnt want to leave my family & 2. We couldnt afford it.  So... pharmacy dreams dashed.  Oh well.

5.Have you taken any personal growth or adult education classes for fun? During the year that was Covid, did you home school, learn a new app to work from home, teach yourself to do something you might have paid someone else to do for you?

The biggest thing I learned was how to make bread - LOL ... but I wanted to do that for the longest time so I finally checked something off my bucket list.

6.What would you like to learn how to do that you don’t know how to do already?

I would love to learn how to groom dogs. I've always wanted to do that & have really thought about going to school to learn how to do it.

7. Name something that you learned easily. Then name something that was a struggle for you to learn to do.

Something learned easily - I want to say Knitting - but that's KINDA true. I tried to learn years before & I didnt get it - but then Julie taught me how to do it & I picked it up - I think it was the teaching that made all the different.

Struggle to learn? I'm going to go deep... I had a struggle with needing to speak out a lot - speak up - argue a point until I thought I could convince someone of something. It took me a long time to learn, that's a losing battle a lot of times. I've learned to listen more & keep my mouth shut. Make your words few but important - not many & empty.

8.What’s the last thing you remember learning? What kind of learner are you: visual, auditory, hands-on/kinesthetic, verbal, logical/mathematical?

I'm a total hand on person. Walk me through something, let me do it myself & I'll tuck it away.  

Last thing i learned?  My computer had so many issues & I reached  out to my Virus protection team & they  logged on & was trying to figure it out. I ended up staying up all night & looking online & found out the issue & then I fixed it myself - I honestly was so proud of myself. Computers & anything tech is so mind boggling to me so I felt like I was Bill Gates or someone genius with tech things.

9.Hard to teach an old dog new tricks, school of hard knocks, pass with flying colors, learn by heart, burn the midnight oil, pull an all-nighter, play hooky – which of these expression best fits your life lately? Why?

I'm going to go with PULL AN ALL -NIGHTER - only because my hormones are all a mess & they wake me up in the middle of the night - & I have been going into full blown panic attacks. So fun at 2am.  I have these horrible sensations that I'm dying.  I cant get back to sleep.  It's awful... & leaving me exhausted.

10.What is something you’ve learned from past mistakes?

Never leave your shoes on the ground. Not in this house.
Ozzie will have them outside & chewed on every time....You'd think after how many dogs? I'd learn that... but nope.  Still trying to learn from this one.... I was still out picking up shoes this morning from my back porch.

Bonus: Share your favorite learning/education quote.

Show Us Your Books {August 2021)

 

I had a slow reading month.  I guess getting back to the "in the office" mode has taken me out of anything enjoyable in life - LOL.. kidding... kinda.

But I did still get in 2 books so I'll pat myself on the back for that - & one that I just really had all the swoons over - so I'll really take that.

Click the button at the bottom to join Steph & Jana with this months Show Us Your Books!

Instructions for Dancing

***** / It was Amazing

Quick Summary:  Evie runs into a stranger that leaves her with the gift to see how people's relationships will play out by seeing them kiss.  So what happens when Evie gets involved in a dancing competition & she starts to fall in love with X - once she sees their future, how she will handle the relationship.

OK - this is the 3rd Nicola Yoon cook I've read & I've just enjoyed every single one of them.  I like her easy read style of writing.

This story - I just loved all the characters - & it held a little bit of every thing I look for in a book. Easy reading, humor, a little bit of fantasy, DANCING!!!!, & real emotion.  All the relationships that Evie had, I enjoyed each one of them - with parents, with friends, with her sister, with X.  

The story had a little twist I didnt see coming that really threw me & this book had me all in my feels by the end - & I appreciate the over all message that Evie learns through her gift.

"I think you got Zoltared!"

Big Summer

** / It was OK

Quick Summary:  Two childhood friends who were estranged get back together when one of them is getting married... only for the bride to be murdered the night before her wedding.

OK... I had NO idea that someone was going to get murdered in this book. I thought it was going to be a sweet, friendship, beach read sort of book. When one of the friends was murdered - I literally gasped so hard & loud, my dogs thought I had discovered all the eaten shoes buried in the yard.

For me, it took a downhill turn there. It was ok... but I just thought some of it was strange. How in the middle of a close friend's funeral, you're concerned about your outfit & CHECKING YOUR INSTAGRAM because you're an Influencer??? That was just so dumb to me. 

The mystery was just dumb too.  I felt like it was a LifeTime Movie... one of those cheap ones. I thought it could have held potential with the friendship healing, the issues of a plus size influencer in the real world - just so many other things.

Did I finish it? Yes.  So there's that... it was good enough for me to finish but everything else... meh.

"In space, nobody can hear you scream; on the internet, nobody can tell if you were lying."

What was your favorite book of the summer?

The weekend I got to give cupcakes... 20 years later...

 Happy Monday!!!

Mondays take on a whole new sort of deflating feel to me now that I'm back in the office. I cant believe I'm kicking off my 4th week back.  Still pretty bummed out about it all.  Especially because COVID rates around here are SOARING.  & I got back in time for our office to go into a new mask mandate. Geez.

Our schools on our side of the river (Indiana) have started without any mask mandates this past week - but just in the first week of school, so many kids are out with positive results & classes that have to quarantine. So yeahhhh... what a way to kick off a year.  

Just 3 days into the school year, they said in our county they were going to put a mask mandate in place & you would have thought people's heads would explode.  I STILL ... a year & a half later... dont get how this is a hot topic, push the buttons, enraging topic that it is.  But here we are.  All the protests & Karen's complaining got it delayed.  

Meanwhile - the county over from us, they have so many kids out - again, just in the first week, they said, no amount of complaining to the manager is going to change it - they're back in masks today.  & across the river in Louisville, they start school on Wednesday & they've said before the first day of class, everyone will be in masks. Let all the ranting get out before school started.

Still a hot mess.... I am still amazed that people tend to forget - we're still in the middle of a global pandemic. No matter how much you hate masks, no matter how much you dont want to believe its true, no matter how much it inconveniences anyone... doesnt change the facts.  It just doesn't. 

All that to say - I hope you all are staying as safe as possible.  

How is that for a kick off to a Monday? Geez. What a time to be in this world.

How did the rest of my weekend go?  No complaints.

Friday, I had stopped & picked up some dinner for us from Chuey's & we haven't ate there in nearly 2 years. Well before the pandemic kicked in gear last March.  We knew it had been awhile when we called to place the order to be picked  up & they didnt have what we normally ordered on the menu anymore. The girl who took the order didnt know what we were even talking about - LOL. 

I am a 95 year old woman on Fridays because I am so exhausted by the end of the week & its the night I tend to go to bed the earliest... which is so messed up with it being the kick off to the weekend.  Old, I shall be.

Only to wake up Saturday at 5:30am... THIS is what working in the office does to you. Makes your sleep hours all jacked up.  I will say, it made the morning really long & enjoyable.

I got an iced coffee & sat outside with my Kindle & enjoyed the morning before the heat came in.  

I waited till mid morning & ran down to our local bakery & picked up some donuts for us & then had to pick up some cupcakes for our "new" neighbors.  I say "new" because actually, our next door neighbors, they have a son that when we moved in 20 years ago, he came over the night we unloaded our moving van & brought us cupcakes as Welcoming Gift. How sweet is that....

.... well, that "kid"is now a grown man, with 3 sons (I actually shot his wedding) & they just finished building a house just down the road.  So I had to make sure to get HIM cupcakes for his Welcoming Gift.  I told him it was the Circle of Life happening here.  So excited that he & his wife are just down the road because they are an amazing couple/family.  His wife was in my Bible study group too & I just think she's an incredible human being. I hope to be able to reconnect with her more being so close too.

The rest of my Saturday was the usual Saturday stuff.... reading, laundry, cleaning. We ran down & picked up a sandwich from Penn Station & then settled in to watch some Loki.  

I also binged through The Prince on HBO Max.... oh my gosh. When is Season 2 coming out because that ending??? Come on man - I need more! How funny are all these characters!

The Queen cracks me up!!!!
You gotta see all the stars who voice these people too!

Sunday, I wanted to finish reading my book, but SOMEONE was needy & brought all the outside toys to me the second I sat down - so I played with him for awhile & then the heat came in fast.  I didnt stick to sitting outside for long.  

I came in & made some breakfast... & then did some online church.... & then got caught up in some YouTube videos of freezer dinners/breakfasts.  YouTube is a time warp on TV.  How does the time zoom by so fast watching that?

I did finally get up & meal prep my breakfast for the week (See, YouTube is ALSO helpful) & then went over to see my mom.

& before you know it... its time to get ready for another week.  Only to start the cycle again. Adulting sure is fun, isn't it?

How was your weekend?

Do you meal prep anything?

Did you watch Loki or The Prince?

How are your COVID rates going in your area?

Friday Favorites

 

(Click PIC for LINK)

Favorite Mirror

How cool is this! You can hang accessories or clothes on the side.

I may need this in my bedroom ASAP!

Favorite Stapler

I like the beaver especially!

Favorite Patio Rocker

You know I love sitting outside or in my enclosed porch to read.

Give me a rocking chair on top of it & GOLDEN.

This is so super cute too!!!

Favorite Tab Dispenser

STOOOPPPPP!!!!

Look at this cuteness!!!!!!! A little record player looking dispenser!!

Favorite Necklace

Favorite Garbage Can Dispenser

This is perfect for little things like post it note trash.

I also saw it on the side of a dryer so you can put your lint in it.

Favorite Push Pins

Favorite Funnies

... me every morning when my alarm clock goes off at 5am now

.... me at 4:30pm today

Happy Weekend!!!!