Gratitude Monday -- Another Day

Crescent Falls in the spring.

It's another day. Possibly like any other day.
Possibly not.
And that's the beauty of it.
No matter what else the day turns out to be, it is another day and that is reason enough to be thankful.

Gratitude Monday - Strength

The Earth is strong and true. It is sights such as these that remind me no matter what happens in the world, the strength of the Earth will prevail.
For this I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday--Peace

My corner of the world is peaceful, and I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday -- Can You See The Difference?

Of course you can!

Several weeks ago I found myself on the receiving end of a minor rear-ender. It was icy, my brakes failed, and the gentleman behind me bumped into me. It was a low speed affair.
He cussed me out briefly while admitting my brake lights were on and turn signal engaged, then changed his tune and we got matters sorted out.

I got a few estimates and thought about getting the work done. I'll want to sell said vehicle someday and this sort of thing torques down the value. I let it go a few weeks as there was no hurry.
My husband decided recently that he could fix it for me so he made a quick trip to Canadian Tire for the materials, ordered the matching paint, and set about the work.


It's as good as done. All it needs is some clear coat protector which is on the way.
I am grateful for a number of things. It was a minor accident from which all parties drove away, damage was minimal and cheap to fix ourselves, and my husband cared enough to do it and to do a darned fine job of it.

Two things you may want answered:

The border around the license plate was put on upside down at the dealership when I got the car eight years ago. My husband put it on properly when he put the plate back on the other day.
The vanity plate is because I was a reporter for 20 years.

Gratitude Monday - I Can Read

I can read.
I am a happy about it.
Reading means worlds open up to me that might not if I didn't know what all those weird squiggles on the page meant.
I can lose myself in a book, communicate with friends and relatives online, and read a note from my husband telling me where he went while I was out.
Without reading it is unlikely I could write. I could dictate stories for others to put on paper or computer file, but I would never see for myself what I said and neither could I check the accuracy of what was written for me.
We often forget to acknowledge our basic skills. We may not need reading to survive, but it does help considerably.
It is something to build on, to use to our advantage, and to enjoy.
It's right under our very noses all the time and I've been taking it for granted.
Today I'd like to rectify that.
I can read, and I am grateful for the skill.

Gratitude Monday --They're Back, and They're Pretty

The bluebirds are back on the Kootenay Plains. We suspected they might be so we went looking a week ago yesterday.
We were rewarded, and I am grateful to see them once again.

Gratitude Monday - Panther

Panther's first appearance in our yard was about a week before Halloween 2008.
Later when she got used to us and knew she was welcome she came over often. She liked to sun herself on the front porch in the afternoons on warm days. On hot days she went to the back porch and found a spot on top of a tote or on me if I was relaxing in a lawn chair.
She occasionally helped herself to a bird, which we didn't like, but she took out a mouse or five and that was okay.
She always seemed happy to see us and often came over when she heard the door open. Sometimes she'd be waiting on the back porch for us to come out.
We called it "Pussycat Waiting" and we were tickled silly over it.
She lived in the house next door, but from spring to fall she was over often. She found her way into two of my manuscripts and was the inspiration for "Pussums Manynaps."
Panther went to her Great Reward recently. We are sad she won't be purring on our back porch anymore, or catching mice, or sunning herself out front, or bounding over to see us when the back door opens.
We are grateful for the time she spent with us and saddened we won't have Pussycat Waiting anymore.

Gratitude Monday - Out For A Bit

Crossing Kootenay Lake

This Monday I am grateful for many things. Most are to do with my upcoming trip to Cuba.
We almost went to Cuba two years ago, but I had heart trouble instead. When we learned last month that my heart works normally we decided to try for Cuba again.
Not only am I grateful for the second shot at it, the tour we've got this time is even better than the one we had two years ago. We're off for two weeks rather than the one week trip we'd booked originally.
We go to more places and see more of the land and the wildlife. There are hikes to do. If I can't do them, then I can ride in the support vehicle.
We're off a week from today in the stupidearly hours of the morn, but it gets us to Cuba (via Toronto) by early afternoon.
I will spend this week packing and repacking, selecting something to take and then changing my mind, remembering something I need, discarding others items I know I can do without. I'm grateful for that, too, as it means I have clothing to choose from.
I could go on, but you get the idea. I am grateful for the vacation and for every aspect of it.
We're not there yet, and I don't wish to deal in absolutes as I know the Universe has a wacky sense of humour about these things, so I'll just say that we have a trip to Cuba planned and I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday - Mundane is Good

I'm grateful for a great deal of things. This makes it difficult to narrow it down. It's always good to be grateful for the stuff we take for granted like the air we breathe, living indoors, and having food. Some people are stuck with terribly polluted air, are homeless, or so poor they eat only rarely.
I have all the food I need and then some, the air here is pretty good, the house I co-own and live in is paid for, and the above scene is a less than two hours west of me and makes for a lovely drive.
I challenge each and every one of you to be grateful for something mundane today. You can keep it to yourself or put it in the comments. Either way, say thanks for something you usually ignore and see what happens.

Gratitude Monday - Sunday Morning Well Spent

We spent a sunny summer Sunday on a nearby lake doing a spot of fishing.

We paddled around then took a short break. We were away from the few other fisherfolk on the lake and it was quiet. The lake is carved out of the bush and thus surrounded by trees.

We spent more than four hours on the water chasing after northern pike. The lake holds perch, too, so it is claimed. I haven't seen one.

I had a too-small jack on my hook for a minute or so. It set itself free, saving me the trouble. It was a thoughtful fish in that way.

Our only other fish-related excitement was when a pike hit us at ramming speed. It was scary.

I suspect it was a sign that we weren't supposed to be fishing. We ignored it.

We canoed down this inlet just to have a closer look. It was a pleasant and soothing side trip.

Our world is filled with wonderful spots to enjoy. No special equipment is required as Nature is there as She is. Fishing is an enhancement and an excuse to be out, and I'm grateful for the chance to do it and enjoy the abundance of our natural world.

Gratitude Monday – Roads Go Somewhere

Buck Lake might better be called Duck Lake.

We went for a drive yesterday to check out some local lakes. It was my husband’s birthday and it was something new to do. We wound up taking a few gravel roads in the rain. It made for adventure and a muddy car, but it’s a great way to see birds and the land.

The best thing is in this province if you take a back road you will get somewhere. Unless it’s marked “Dead End” or "No Exit” it’ll take you to another road.

You will get back to a highway and you will find your way home and for that I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday – The Gift of a Day

Cymbidium “Lucky Rainbow” from Asia. Displayed at the orchid show.

What am I grateful for?
Today.
Each day is a chance to grow, change, explore, experience something new or do something routine for the security of it.

Routine may seem boring, but it offers stability, normalcy, continuance, and calmness. Follow your routine and watch as your daily labors are completed. You can cast your mind away elsewhere or devote your whole presence, your entire mind and soul to the task you are doing. Be there. Enjoy it for what it is. All we have is now. Why spend it being bored?

New is exciting, exhilarating, scary. We need that. Shaking things up helps us to grow, getting back in the routine afterward helps us take our growth and get used to it.

Have you ever tried this? Take something in your life, anything, and take it down to its bare essentials. You like the fragrance of a flower? You can be grateful for the flower and for having it, but at its simplest form you can be thankful for your sense of smell.

Does that seem odd? Certain medications knock out the olfactory sense. When you walk in to your house on a cold winter day and are greeted by the savory fragrance of a stew simmering on the stove you are being given a magnificent opportunity for gratitude. You have a roof over your head, you have good, hot food, and your olfactory sense works.

Here’s something to think about. Construct the above scene in your mind when you have a few minutes to devote to it. What else can you find to be grateful for?

**

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.

Erin Go Bragh!

Monday Again. More Gratitude.

Yes, I’m grateful that it’s Monday again and the start of another fresh week.

I’m happy that my husband had the day off yesterday and we-- mostly he -- got some more of the spices harvested. The living room is filled with ragweed and savory and silver mound wormwood. If you’re curious about the latter, it’s in the tarragon family and it’s absolutely lovely on chicken. I’m grateful to know that.

I’m not sure that Gratitude Monday will be a regular feature of the blog. It’s important to be grateful every day and I like the idea of mentioning it when I feel like it rather than herding it into one day a week.

Why is being grateful so important?

Because it demonstrates to the Universe that you appreciate all you’ve been given, especially if it looks like you haven’t been given much.
If you can find it in your soul to appreciate what you’ve got, then you get more.
If you’re always grasping to get more, then it suggests that you’ve got a hole in your soul somewhere. No amount of stuff will heal that hole.
Material gain doesn’t get it done. All it does is feed your greed and stunt your growth.

So, here’s an idea. Find something in your life you can say thanks for. Maybe you watched a particularly pretty sunset, or you got the chance to see a sunset. Anything. Start small and soon you’ll find even more to be grateful for.

Happy Monday.