T is for Thankful

I had a lot of things going around in my head that start with T but finally settled on Thankful. I usually have a Thankful Thursday post but this month it hasn't worked in with the letter of the day.

Just so you don't forget what my Thankful Thursday button looks like, I thought I would show it off once again:) 

Today I am thankful...

#1...We returned on Monday night refreshed from a few days away. Nothing fancy but definitely relaxing.

#2...Hubby has been struggling with a back problem and he has NEVER had a back problem before. Monday he went got a deep tissue massage in Bend before we came home; today he went to the Chiropractor and I think (keep your fingers crossed) he is finally on the mend. 

#3...The five year old son of some friends was having a rash and stomach problems. They have narrowed it down to gluten. While being gluten intolerant isn't something to be thankful for, finding out the problem is!

#4...I walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes today. I really want to make this a habit!

#5...We are having dinner with some friends on Saturday. We haven't seen them for months and I miss them.

Well, that's it for today! I am trying to catch up with my A to Z Blog Challenge so have a couple more posts to write! Next year, I will write some ahead and have them ready to post...just in case. I am trying to think of a crafty theme for next year. Any ideas?!!!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time again for Thankful Thursday! This has been a good week! 

This week I am thankful for...

#1...Spring! It appears that Spring has sprung in my part of the world:) This week we have had much needed rain but could sure use more. Yesterday it was sunny and in the 60s! The longer days are nice too!

#2...finishing the My Digital Studio webinar series! As I said yesterday, it was really good and I learned a lot! Jackie Bolhuis was the instructor and she did a great job!

Our Great Dane, Beau

#3...figuring out how to get our Great Dane, Beau, to eat. He has been a poor eater since we got him a year and a half ago and is super thin even for a Great Dane. His previous owner fed him "people food" including burgers from the drive-through:( So, we have started putting a can of low sodium soup on his dog food and he eats every. last. bite! Maybe now he will put on some weight:)

My Morning Smoothie

#4...my morning Smoothie! For the last month hubby and I have been drinking a yummy Smoothie for breakfast using Sunwarrior protein powder, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and apples! Since we discovered our food allergies, a lot of typical breakfast foods are off limits so this smoothie has been amazing!

#5...It's only 4 more days till I go to my darling daughter's! I will spend a week with my daughter and granddaughter AND it will be my granddaughter's Spring Break! Lots of fun to be had by all:)

What are you thankful for today?

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I hope you are having a wonderful day and that your weather is sunny and bright! Now, didn't that sound a little Pollyanna ish?!!! We have partly cloudy skies today so have seen the sun periodically throughout the day. But the wind is blowing and it is just plain cold!!! It probably wouldn't be too but if it wasn't for the wind.

So, what am I thankful for today?

#1...I am thankful I didn't have a worse reaction to something I ate at potluck last weekend. I ended up being pretty bad on Sunday but by Monday was much better. We (hubby and me) have decided that I need to either stick with what I brought or don't go. Not going is not an option to me because I love the fellowship so will either take my own lunch or eat what I bring. How would you deal with this situation? 

#2...I am thankful that our taxes will be in the mail to the tax accountant tomorrow morning! I procrastinate so bad on this as does hubby but this year I am going to log expenses, mileage, income quarterly so I don't end up with a mess at the end of the year. I was thinking about software to keep track but not sure what so for now will continue with pencil and paper.

#3...I am thankful for some visits yesterday with special friends--three visits! You just can't have a better day than to be able to visit with wonderful people.

#4...Yesterday was my Happy Stampers Club and it was sooo much fun! I am so thankful I have this group of ladies to spend time with each month! The only thing more fun than creating is helping others create:) Thank you ladies for putting a smile on my face!

#5...I am thankful I got my new Knitting Bag! I picked it up from the Post Office yesterday and as soon as I got back in the car, I ripped the box open to see what it looked like up close and personal! It is absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you Carla for doing such a good job on this project and "hearing" what I was wanting. And thank you to my son for indulging his mother by purchasing the bag for me as an early Mother's Day gift! I am hoping to get pictures taken to show you tomorrow!

#6...I am so thankful I signed up to take a 4 week online course on using My Digital Studio! The class is one day a week, almost 2 hours each class plus homework. I have learned sooo much! I am excited about creating a new blog header with the skills I am learning (it's time, after all, it's Spring)! I have one more class.

Well, that's it for my Thankful Thursday! Leave me a comment letting me know what YOU are thankful for today!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I started out today thinking of things I wasn't thankful for and thought about doing an Unthankful Thursday but that just wouldn't be right! So, instead I decided to make myself a new Thankful Thursday button and see if I couldn't get a little thankfulness going on! 

So, today I am thankful for...

#1...My husband working away from home today:) He is a wonderful husband and works really hard to provide for us but he often works from home. Most weeks he will be gone two or three days but this week he was home EVERY DAY until today! Just a little too much husband if you know what I mean. So he and I were both happy he had to work away today! But, oh so thankful he has a good job!

#2...All the little things:

• Household appliances that work
• Toilet paper--you may think I am trying to be funny but I take toilet paper very serious; just ask my husband!
• The new laundry detergent we are using that only takes 1 Tablespoon per load and is natural--Charlie's Soap!
• Books to read--lots of them!

You get the idea!

#3...That we can worship God freely. In some countries that is not possible. I can't imagine being fearful about worshipping God. I frequently take this liberty for granted but need to be more mindful of it every day.

#4...Flowers:) Our daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are up and budding which means it won't be long before they start blooming. The lilacs won't be far behind and the world will be beautiful again!

#5...Inspiration! Everywhere you look there is inspiration! I am inspired by other bloggers; by nature; by books, etc. The other day I was inspired by a livingroom decor color combo--to use on a card! Looking out my front window I have a view of wheat fields greening up and Mount Hood in the distance--breathtaking!

I guess I had a few things to be thankful for after all--even if I was a bit grumpy and unthankful this morning! Now it's your turn! 

What are you thankful for? What inspires you?

Have a great day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It looks like it's time to make a new Thankful Thursday button--something springy! I am taking a class in how to use My Digital Studio better so hopefully will be able to make great blog headers and Thankful Thursday buttons:) The first class was great and I learned some ways of doing things easier. And don't we love easier?!!!

This week I am thankful for...

#1...So much yummy food to eat! My hubby is a great grocery shopper and has been bringing home LOTS of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables like strawberries, mangoes, asparagus, avocados, pineapple, baby kale, spinach, baby portabello mushrooms and everything you would want to put in a salad. I always feel sooo much better when I eat fresh food:)

#2...Great blog readers! I am so thankful for each and every one of you who visit and leave such nice comments. Thank you!

#3...My wonderful new custom made Knitting Bag that Carla is making:)

#4...The eczema on my elbow is gone. It has plagued me for 4 years but is now gone. For how long I don't know as it has come and gone several times over the 59 years of my life but it is so nice to have it gone for now!

#5...My precious granddaughter who is looking forward to Gramma's next visit on April 1! Sometimes I wish I had more grandchildren but most of the time I am just thankful I have one.

What are you thankful for on this fine Thursday?

Kat

Thankful Thursday

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus

It's time for Thankful Thursday! Last week I was at the Oregon Coast for which I was VERY thankful but didn't want to sit in the Business Center at the resort to blog. I love to sit in my favorite chair or on my bed, feet up, with a cuppa whatever beside me and blog at my leisure. Sitting upright at a desktop computer just doesn't get my creative juices flowing! I was sooo thankful that my hubby's brother and sister-in-law invited us along for the coast trip because it gave us time to enjoy them and each other!

So this week what am I thankful for...

#1...I am feeling better after a bout of the flu. Still don't have a lot of energy but I see the light at the end of the tunnel; just hope a train isn't coming! So glad I didn't get down like my hubby but even he is on the mend. This one really knocked him for a loop!

#2...I think I got the issues fixed with my blog not recognizing some of the photos in iPhoto! That one was REALLY cramping my style!!! Finally I just shut the computer down and when I booted it back up, tada, problem fixed! I hate computer problems because I am at a loss as to how to fix them.

#3...My Bible and other spiritual books to read to give me direction and hope. This is a privilege I take for granted but need to be more thankful for.

#4...I am thankful for wind today--free power! It is cloudy so if it weren't for the wind we would have had to turn on the diesel generator to do laundry, run the dishwasher and vacuum. Our wind generator humming away is music to my ears:)

#5...Hubby is paying bills today and I am thankful that he does it and not me. I am also thankful to have the money to pay the bills! I was concerned when I quit working nearly three years ago that we would be able to live on one income but it has worked out just fine. I thank the Lord and my frugal husband for that:)

Well, that's it for my Thankful Thursday this week!

What are you most thankful for this week?

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I hope you are having a good week! I look forward to Thursdays when I can share with you the things I am thankful for. Sooo, I am thankful for...

#1...A warm, comfortable home:) Not fancy but it's paid for and meets our needs without being a burden to keep up. Along with this, I am thankful for our wood stove and a good supply of wood.

#2...My health! I am still feeling good--no itching, no cold or flu! Still working on the energy part but it will come if I can just stay well long enough.

#3...Yummy food to eat! Hubby just brought home some mangos from Costco and they are delish! Plus we have been eating a big salad nearly every day--yum! 

#4...Good books to read! I have so many books lined up to read it will take months to get through them all but better that than to want to read and not have anything:) My favorite home decor includes LOTS of book shelves!

#5...The ability to knit, crochet and sew. I have my mom to thank for that and I was NOT a willing pupil as a child. But from the basics she was able to get through to me, I have been able to grow in my ability and make so many wonderful gift items for family and friends. 

Well, that's it for me today! What are you Thankful for today? 

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Whoo Hoo! It's time for Thankful Thursday! There is always sooo much to be thankful for, however I will try to concentrate on just a few:)

#1...We have a 3-day trip to the Oregon Coast in the planning stages for the middle of February:) I have been checking out used book stores, coffee shops (I love Iced Chai with Soymilk), a yarn shop which turns out to be a craft store as well, and a tanning salon (looks like it's right next to the yarn/craft store (BONUS)! All of the businesses I found were within 1/2 mile of the place we are staying--walking distance for sure!

#2...We have had wind/sun this week so our off-grid power is working without the aid of the diesel generator!!! That means money saved! 

#3...We have stayed healthy for the last week!!! After the previous month, that is really saying something!

#4...Hubby had a really good January! He works on commission so if he doesn't sell, he doesn't get paid! Sooo, we will have money to put away for a month that isn't so good:)

#5...My mom hasn't had any health crises in the last couple weeks! Now, that's something to be thankful for!!! My sister lives with my mom and dad so keeps me apprised on their situation. No news from my sister is usually good news:)

Okay, it's your turn! What are you Thankful for today?

Have a great day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday once again! I missed last week and very nearly missed today as well but slipping in just under the wire! Though feeling MUCH better, I still don't have my energy back so am not getting as much done and it's taking longer to do the little that I am getting done:( I just keep reminding myself to be patient! So, what am I thankful for this week?!!!

#1...I am thankful for a gift from my friend Barb of 4 beautiful hand-knit dishcloths. Check out the different textures! They are almost too pretty to use!

#2...I am thankful for a card I received in the mail from my daughter. We made a few Triple Time Stamping cards when I was at her house in September and she has gone crazy making them. On this one she used one of her new stamp sets, Papillon Potpourri and her new Butterfly Punch! And just the right amount of bling:) 

#3...The ice started melting today and I thought I was going to have sunshine but the fog rolled in again. However, instead of have 20 degree temperatures it warmed up to 33 degrees (F) today!

#4...Hubby has been working steady all month. Usually, he has a slump time in January and February but there hasn't been any slump this month!

#5...The internet! I know that must sound silly but I have found some of the best knit/crochet patterns lately via the internet...and they're FREE! Besides, without the internet, HOW would I connect with YOU?!!!

Be thankful today for the little things:)

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time once again for Thankful Thursday! How wonderful it is to take the time out to think of things I am truly thankful for and sharing them with you makes me doubly thankful!

#1...I am thankful I am no longer having Prednisone withdrawal symptoms! For five days I was super tired, had achy muscles and joints (especially lower back), feverish, stomach issues, headache--yuck! But now I feel sooo much better. I am itching a little but not bad and think it will just take time for the offending food proteins to work their way out of my system.

#2...I am thankful for beautiful blue skies and sunshine today! It couldn't be any more beautiful for a winter day:)

#3...I am thankful for good friends! Where would a girl be without her friends?!!! 

#4...I am thankful for each one of you who visit my blog regularly! When I started this blog I was mainly doing it for me but it is so much more fun to have others to share it with. 

#5...I am thankful for my bed! Now, I know that sounds silly but when you've not been feeling well, your bed can become your best friend! After getting rid of the memory foam mattress topper (oops! false alarm--read about it here) we purchased a down and feather bed topper--super yummy! Plus I have my down pillows and a luscious down comforter to top it all off. Hmmm...maybe I need a nap (just kidding--too much to do today for that)! Oh, and I guess I can be thankful I am NOT allergic to down:)

Okay, it's your turn! What are you thankful for today?

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! For any newbies reading my blog, this is the day each week when I share with you what I am thankful for! 

#1...I am thankful that I was able to get my new Thankful Thursday button up and running for today's post:) I can mark one item off my monthly list!

#2...I am thankful for my wonderful husband who loves me and does so many things to take care of our family...he works hard, takes care of the family budget, does the grocery shopping, takes care of the car's needs plus much, much more!

#3...I am thankful for Carla's January Decluttering and No/Low Spend Challenge to get me on track for the New Year! Today I spent $2.99 of my $20 on a listmaking app called Paperless for my iPad. I was hoping to put it on my iPod Touch but the iPod is too old:( Love the new app though!

#4...I have dropped 2 pounds in the last week. My doctor says that losing weight is easier if you're not eating foods you're allergic to. Maybe I will be able to lose that 30 pounds after all.

#5...I am thankful for the medication (prednisone) that is keeping me sane while I am weaning my body off the foods I am allergic to. Unless you have had chronic hives, you have NO idea what it was like! This little vacation has been a real blessing:)

Okay, it's your turn...What are you thankful for today?!

Have a great day! I'll be back tomorrow with an update on my January Decluttering and No/Low Spend Challenge!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday! I look forward to sharing with you today:)

#1...Yesterday was a crisis day for me with my rash:( Sooo, I am thankful for the Prednisone prescription my doctor gave me before he left for his two week vacation. He told me I would know when it was time to fill it and yesterday was definitely the day!  Plus hubby got me some new anti-itch lotion to try and it seems to be working!

#2...I have finally narrowed the cause from my rash down to BREAD! Don't know if it's gluten, wheat or yeast but it's one of them. That's the closest we have been yet! 

#3...Hubby bought me two new pair of pajamas:) I think it has been 3 years since I last bought a pair of pjs and these are super cute and soft! Thank you, Sweetie!

#4...I am a die-hard tea drinker! I love everything about tea...brewing, drinking, relaxing--alone or with friends. My daughter and her hubby got me a Teavana Camilla Cylindre and two Teavana teas (the best!)

#5...Christmas Day it started snowing at 6:30 am and continued snowing most of the day. We got 8" in all! It was truly beautiful and the fact we didn't have to go anywhere was even better! Today the sun was shining on the snow and it was so sparkly and pretty:) Snow on Christmas! Isn't that we always hope for?

#6...I am thankful for my wonderful family and the time I was able to spend with them over the last few days!

I am also thankful for each one of you who take time out of your day to visit my blog to see what I am up to! 

Have a wonderful day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I love being able to share with you the things I am thankful for:)

#1...I am thankful the doctor is getting closer to finding the cause of my horrible rash/hives. Will be sooo thankful when this is all over!

#2...I am thankful for my wonderful Happy Stampers stamping club! We have such a fun time at our monthly meeting and there is so much talent in our group! Last night we made gift tags and they were amazing! I will be showing you the tags next week.

#3...I am thankful for friends who encourage me to be the best I can be. What would we be without our wonderful friends?!!!

Thank you for joining me on this freezing, foggy Thursday (I am not thankful for that!). I will be back tomorrow with 5 Things Friday!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

The new Thankful Thursday button is just about finished so...next week. Also need to finish my new blog header! Although it's still fall, it almost isn't! LOL 

It is so hard to be in a thankful mode this morning as my hives are in full flare-up mode and my head is about to explode with this cold/flu thing I have going on but I do realize it could be sooo much worse!

#1...I am thankful for some cream I bought at the fair in September that has turned out to be the perfect thing for calming my hives when they break out. It's called Corium 21 and is amazing. I purchased it for my eczema but I have gone through almost two jars of it in the last three months with these hives. I mentioned to my hubby that we should buy it by the gallon but at $395/gallon, that's highly unlikely! 

#2...Christmas shopping almost done! That is always something to be thankful for:) I will pick up a few gift cards today and have just a couple gifts to make as soon as I can think again (stuffy head go away!).

#3...I am so super thankful for all my blog readers! My blogging adventure has turned out to be more than I ever hoped or dreamed! 

So that's it for my thankful Thursday! If it weren't that I need to go to the doctor with my son today, I would be snuggled up in bed with a good book! A liberal slathering of the Corium 21 and some DayQuil should get me where I need to go!

Have you read any good books lately? Would love to know what they are!

Have a great day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

There is so much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day! Gotta make this quick today because there is still so much to do before company arrives. We won't be having a large group. To our three we will be adding my hubby's brother and sister-in-law and our dear sweet Joyce, a friend who turned 90 nearly a year ago.

On Thankful Thursday I share three things with you that I am thankful for, so here goes...

1. I am thankful that my dear hubby does the grocery shopping. He is sooo good at it--reads labels, picks out good produce, plus gets everything on my list! Yesterday he called to tell me the store was sooo crowded! I reminded him it was the day before Thanksgiving! I was very thankful it was him out there and not me!
2. I am thankful for the beautiful flower arrangements my son bought me for Thanksgiving! They really brighten things up around here. He is always so thoughtful to buy me flowers for Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving:)
3. I am thankful for the company that will be coming today. It is always so nice to have extra people at our table to share food and laughs!
4. I am adding a bonus this week...I am thankful our house is clean and most of the food is cooked and I didn't get sick in the process. My hubby was so good to help with much of the cleaning:) With Fibromyalgia I never know when just a little extra might be too much.
5. Oh, I am going to add ONE more! A couple weeks ago I sent a care package to a friend's daughter who is going to school in England. Yesterday, I received the sweetest Thank You note from her! Is it okay to be thankful for a Thank You?!!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! It is my wish that you are warm, dry and with people you love.

Kat 

Thankful Thursday #2

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! As you can see, I haven't made any changes to my Thankful Thursday button at the top of the page and finally decided to leave it and start working on my December one:) Looking outside this morning makes me VERY thankful I have a nice warm house--it is foggy, drippy and COLD:(

The NUMBER ONE thing I am thankful for today is my son who turned 40 TODAY! Happy Birthday, Scott!!! We have been teasing him about it for weeks:) He is the best son a parent could ever have! He is thoughtful and giving, patient most of the time (and he needs that with me), a hard and reliable worker, easy to please--the list could go on and on! Oh, and did I mention that I was just 12 when I had him??? Just kidding! That would still make me over 50 so who's counting after that?!!! 

The second thing I am thankful for today is my Happy Stampers Club! They are a great group of ladies and we have sooo much fun at our meetings every month. Last night we made the ornament (pictured left) featured on the front of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. I couldn't find the cute Faceted Buttons when I was making mine so used an old faceted button from my button box. I could make dozens of these IF I had a cool melt glue gun. 

I kept burning the tips of my pointer fingers and one of the Happy Stampers was not so happy after she got a huge blister on HER finger! The ornaments really did turn out pretty though. These were made with Stampin' Up!'s Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies.

And last but not least, I am thankful for some fun gifts my hubby brought home the other day. I have a mismatched set of wine glasses that I use to serve sparkling juice for holidays but had been wanting a real set where all the glasses match so...

Tada! I now have a set of 8 (doing the happy dance)!!! The best part is that they were $5 off at Costco bringing the price down to $20! But, I also had a mismatched set of coffee mugs (although we use them to drink tea) so...

Costco also had these adorable Button Candy Mugs for $15 so hubby put them in his cart too! Looks like I'm set for Thanksgiving company. Now if someone would just come and clean my house!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Have a great day! I will be back tomorrow for 5 Things Friday and a card from our Happy Stampers Club!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

My new Thankful Thursday button is a work in progress:)

Welcome to my first Thankful Thursday! Because I want to practice thankfulness, I am going to use Thursdays to share three things that I am thankful for! 

#1...I am thankful that I finished the applesauce today! I canned 65 quarts of applesauce in three days--whew! My back, legs and shoulders are sore but I am finished and we will enjoy the applesauce this winter:) The difference in colors reflects the different varieties or combination of varieties of apples. I tried to mix two or three varieties of apples for each batch.

#2...I am thankful for lots of free canning jars! I didn't think I would ever run out of canning jars but this year I did. My son was able to get me some free jars (all Ball & Kerr) from his boss' mother. What a blessing! I will make them some applesauce in return!

#3...I am thankful for our root cellar where we will be able to store food for the winter. It also acts as an additional refrigerator which comes in handy for the holidays!

What are YOU thankful for today?