Here’s the thing about a daily Thanksgiving journal that is also a blog.  Sometimes it’s hard to post, and I’m nine days behind!  Over the past nine days, I’ve been thankful for so much.   Likewise, the tragedy in France makes me unsettled.   Why do people have to do this to one another?    I do not understand it.

On November 7, I was very thankful I had the weekend to myself.  Mike went to Akron, and I had the house for three full days.  I enjoyed having this space.   I had started to go with him but decided against it.   I wanted to clean the house.    I’m cleaning and trying to sort through things that I still like but do not have a place for….does anyone locally want this?  I do not want to ship it.  If you want it, please message me.   I  am not selling it.  I’m giving it away.   I stitched it in 1986.   My kitchen was all done in Williamsburg blue, and I made this to go with that kitchen.    Love what it says “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want but the realization of how much you already have.”   Isn’t that true?

On November 8, I was so excited because I picked up a few things a local person, Pennie Jarrett, painted for me.  Here’s one of them..(excuse my.terrible picture).   She did this for me for $25.   Pennie rocks!  She actually made several things which I’ll show you later.

I’ll be using this at Christmas.  I’m decorating with Christmas carols this year.   All of my rooms are Christmas carols.

On November 9, I was glad that Mike was back home and had arrived safely.  I had the space I needed and was done with it.   On every day, I am grateful for this sweet face.   He’s enjoying having toys.

Who could not love River?

On Tuesday, November 10, I had a great day at work.  It was nothing special, but I am lucky to work for nice people, have interesting work, and I have a BFF at work.    I am grateful for my “real” job, and following that day, I got to do something I’d wanted to do for a while.  I also do a bit of work for About Face, a great (as in “the best” !!)  med spa in the Bristol area, and Sue, the owner, recently purchased an IPL laser.   We’ll be rolling this out in December, but Rhiana gave me my first IPL treatment for those “spots” on my hands.   We took a before picture.  This will take a few treatments, and I’ll show you the “after” pictures in six weeks or so.  They’ll be gone.   This picture is not of my hands but this is what I can expect.

This laser is really smart and our estheticians, Lisa, Rhiana, and Nina are loving what it can do for clients.   I’m grateful for my relationship with About Face and Sue.   She’s a sister from another mister.

So, Wednesday thru Friday flew by.   I so enjoyed listening to the book from Jan Karon called “Come Rain or Shine.”   I love a good book whether it’s on audio or in pages.  Oh!  And I’m thrilled that Hallmark has started Christmas movies.

I was fixing dinner one of those nights, and I realized how grateful I am for locally raised beef.  I’ve quit eating processed meats but I still eat red meat, and Mike fixed me a rib eye steak that was the best.   I asked him what was different, and he told me that “it was one of the steaks you bought from your girlfriend.”    I could not wait to tell Sabrina Fleenor.  I’d bought the beef several months ago and just not got around to fixing it.    If you are local and want to get in touch with Keith or Sabrina Fleenor for your beef, let me know.  I love small business people.  Local beef packed locally at Russell County.

Sometime during the group of days that I missed in my gratitude journal, I went shopping.  In Mendota.  Can you believe that?  I went up to the old store building in Mendota and bought a couple of things from “Doc”.    For $15, I bought this sled which I’ll put a wreath and bow on and have a great outdoor Christmas decoration for the porch.

This is all so counter to my plan to get rid of things, but I’ve wanted an outdoor sled to put up on the mantle or out by the door for a long time.

I also bought a chair to make a spring garden chair.  I have so many plans for spring.   Look at that chippy green paint?  I guess I’m thankful for chippy paint.  LOL.

There’s all kinds of good stuff in that old store.   After Christmas, I’m going to buy an old headboard with plans to do something like this for RiverCliff Cottage–our overnight guest house.   Someone tagged me with this on Facebook.  I love it.    Sorry it is so little.

There’s old wrought iron headboards up there that would look great on a wall.   I saw lots of old lanterns.  There is a Hoosier up there.   Lots of yummy stuff.

Finally, I’m thankful for those feet in the left of the picture –that’s Michael’s feet; he’s been hanging pictures for me.   He’s got some good help with our little man.

Thankful for so many things.