Thankful Thursday - October 29th

From The Internet

My Thankfuls this week include but not exclusive to:

October 23rd Thankful: for the wide open space behind our home.  I am Thankful that there are horses being boarded at this farm so I can enjoy them in the field.  To me, especially in the summer, to see from our patio, 5 horses grazing with swishing tails is a sight to behold.  I am Thankful that I was gifted the love & passion of horses along with the ability to ride & be with them. 

Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Kent Nerburn

October 24th Thankful: for a day of leisurely errand running, no real have to do anything, more of a day checking out things that had crossed our minds to look for,  a time to take the long way home so that I could capture some specific photos for ideas I had about Helena's Pairs.  Thankful for the community of like minded ladies & Thankful for a safe place to share in some online fun.

" and whether you believe in such things or not, those roaming spirits probably believe in you, or at least acknowledge your existence, considering that it used to be their own. Even the air feels different on Halloween, autumn-crisp and bright."  Erin Morgenstern

October 25th Thankful: for the accumulation of points at the pet food warehouse that resulted in a free bag of cat crunch.  While I was waiting for the girl on cash to figure out how to process my free bag, I had a long chat with a beautiful black & white kitty, on display for a local rescue's Adoption Day.  I am Thankful that there are so many kind hearted folks that will finally give this & the other 30 or so kitties, their final & forever home.  I could easily be a known Crazy Cat Lady.  Mr Man is most Thankful that we have stopped at just two. I think five would be a perfect number.

Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.James Herriot

October 26th Thankful: for the ability to walk.  I had two walks, one for purpose, to get those steps in & a second wandering walk, which I needed for some thought processing & head clearing.  There was a surprising level of quiet in the neighbourhood & on this walk I watched the squirrels busy busy with walnut gathering & the antics of territory claiming.  Thankful that in this pause I saw over 50 Robins on the ground pulling worms from yesterday's rain.  I think this is their last big feed before the flight south. “Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn--that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness--that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasion

October 27th Thankful; for a massage, the RMT that provides this care is very good & she respects my needs, one of which is I don't talk during a massage, I find it hard to relax at the best of times, so I need to be in silence while trying to get into the "zone".  Thankful for Marianne & the nap I was able to enjoy afterwards, at home.
“Doing something positive will help turn your mood around. When you smile, your body relaxes. When you experience human touch and interaction, it eases tension in your body.” from Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles 

October 28th Thankful safe travels for both Mr Man & myself in our separate journeys in some very heavy rainfall & winds.  Most Thankful that the ease troughs on the house are clean & the curbs on the road are cleared of any leaf debris to allow rain to run freely away from homes & no standing water on the roads.  Thank you to the road works crew that ensured all were cleared ahead of the rains from Patricia.  I am most Thankful that Patricia's rains are moving out & will be all gone by Thursday evening. 
“The rain to the wind said,You push and I'll pelt.'They so smote the garden bed That the flowers actually knelt, And lay lodged--though not dead. I know how the flowers felt.” Robert Frost

October 29th Thankful: for a vacuum cleaner, a dishwasher & washer/dryer at home & that they work so efficiently.  I am, in spite of some grumbling, Thankful for the home that needs to be cleaned, clothes that need to be washed & dishes that needing washing.  It means I have all & more of my basic needs being met in a gracious way.  While our home may not suit all, it suits us perfectly.  I am Thankful that we both care for our home & that we both see our home as a sanctuary, a save habour in what sometimes feels like a too large life storm.  I think housework is the reason most women go to the office. ~Heloise Cruse


NOTE: Being that there are now only two days left in October - Friday & Saturday, I am going to do my final Thankful on Sunday.
 

From the Internet

Pairs - Oh Crops

Linking in with Helena at: http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.ca/

This week my Pairs are Corn Crops Harvested; Corn Crops Not Harvested. 

A busy time for the farmers & often at night you can see the headlights of the big combines out in the field.  So far this Autumn the weather has been good for the big machines to get out in the fields - not too muddy.  Most of the corn grown in this region is for feed or what we call silo corn.  Some of the Mennonite farmers bale the stripped corn stalks to use as bedding & some use the bales as snow fences as their farm fields border major roadways.  Nice to see the entire plant getting used.
Wednesday Update: these photos were taken this past weekend; today we are getting 60-65mm of rain from Hurricane Patricia - the fields will be a mud fest!

Harvested Corn

Not Harvested Corn

The Big Equipment Doing The Harvesting

Me On Monday - October 26th

Linking in with Sian and all the enthusiastic Monday wavers connecting through http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.ca/

Myself walking a local pathway

This Monday finds me along with the rest of Canada either wondering or celebrating the result of our voting privilege last Monday - Justin Trudeau is our next Canadian Prime Minister / busy busy at the clinic, so many changes & adjustments with new staff, new procedures, new hours. It is interesting to me how much my own behaviour (energy) can influence (?) the enthusiasm of others at work.  Twice this week I went into the clinic on my time off to do some tidying & sorting of a couple areas that just drive me crazy; it was like I was giving permission to others to roll up their sleeves & dig in.  It feels good to have a tidy, junk free work environment; it felt like a team / lots of walking over the past week & weekend, back to exceeding those 10,000 steps a day, just wish I could get more of a grip on my eating habits; I need to grab myself by the shoulders & shake - health! don't mess about, stop starting! / happy dance, happy dance, as I was one of the 3 very lucky winners of  Deb's Paper Turtle (http://paperturtle.blogspot.ca/)  mandala kits - it has been a loooonnnnggg time since I have won anything - Thank You Deb / running some errands got me some new materials of Pairs / wallowing in the reading of Sophie's World - I have given up as time ran out on this library book loan / a recommendation from Ruth started with the first in C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series; Dissolution,  / happy to have Mr Man home again from his business travels / F1 racing watching, a crazy race / lots of Sunday night TV with Home Fires; Great British Bake Off, Indian Summers / thinking that I have a very tidy craft area but so few projects done; I have  huge Pinterest boards devoted to scrapping & December Daily but some of the most boring pages / OK Taylor Swift  let's you & me Shake It Off  this Monday & get things moving!  Happy Week everyone!

Thankful Thursday - October 22nd

From The Internet

This week's Thankfuls include but not exclusive:

October 16th Thankful: two trips to two local scrapbooking stores, for all the available beautiful papers & accessories, Thankful that I can reach into my purse & have money to pay for a few purchases.

If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done. Bruce Lee.  Rather an appropriate quote as I think about my ever growing paper stash & trying to find my mojo of creative decision rather than creative constipation.  Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

October 17th Thankful: we worked outside in the garden together, sorting out what goes into the shed for the winter, what needs to go to recycle, what pots need emptying, are there enough rose huts for all the rose bushes. Thankful that we had a wonderful summer in the garden & on the patio. I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant and autumn garner to the end of time. Robert Browning

October 18th Thankful: a hot shower.  It's easy to take a shower when ever, we have a functioning hot water tank always at the ready & running water.  We are on notice that our water rates are going to increase in the new year.  Our area gets  its fresh water from Artisan wells (underground water) so the care of the surrounding farm land is critical.  Thankful that in spite of the cost, it is readily available & clean. Thankful that I have a washer & dryer in my home & that I can do laundry when ever (although I do stick to the cheaper off hour hydro rotation schedule).We are coming down from our pedestal and up from the laundry room. Bella Abzug

October 19th Thankful: for so many ready & willing volunteers that man the polling stations, that staff the information desks at the hospitals,  Thankful that even at 6:30am the 3 older gentlemen staffing the information desk at the hospital for Mr Man's eye specialist appointment, were not only helpful but rather entertaining in their conversation with everyone coming in.  I am a morning person, but I must admit these 3 had early morning cheerfulness wrapped up in a bow!  Volunteers are paid in six figures... S-M-I-L-E-S.  ~Gayla LeMaire

October 20th Thankful: sunny breaks in rather a dismal rainy day.  I am Thankful for the rain which benefits the garden, especially the evergreens as we go into winter.  It is the winter winds that dry out the evergreens which causes the end of such a lovely living growing plant. I was Thankful for those breaks which allowed me a walk outside - twice; one walk was for pleasure, the other walk with purpose, I walked into town to the clinic.  Most Thankful for a job & that it is close to home.  Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while. ~Kin Hubbard

October 21st Thankful: Mr Man travels a lot for his job.  I am Thankful that he always ensures I have all the trip details at the ready, that the water jug is full (we use large purchased water as our tap water isn't very pleasant to drink), the garbage is stacked for recycle & bagged for garbage pickup.  All tasks that I am able to do, but Thankful that he does anyway.  Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret
 
October 22nd Thankful: today I have mixed feelings about my Thankful.  It's good to be remembering but I absolutely hate that we have to.  Today we are remembering Cpl. Nathan Cirillo age 24.  He was standing guard at the war memorial in our nation's capital, Ottawa.  He was shot by a lone crazed gunman - a needless useless death.  Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 53, was purposely run over & killed 2 days before Nathan by another extremists; another needless & senseless death. Both men died while in service to their country on home soil. 
I am most Thankful that there are men & women who give their life to service.  I have many family members in the forces; a sister that was in the Canadian Air Force, a brother who served in the Canadian Navy; and three of my American relatives serve in Army & Navy.   

Today I will remember & give Thanks to the bravery of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Office Patrice Vincent  Both men will be honoured in a service today in our nation's capital. Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.  Morihei Ueshiba   

From The Internet

Pairs - Spouting Off

Joining in with Helena's Pairs at:  http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.ca/

Water Fountains At Stonegate Senior's Residence

Pond & Fountain At Memory Garden

This week my Pairs are two full on fountains.  One set is in a man made pond at a newly opened senior's residence, the other is in a natural pond at a memory garden.  





My attention was drawn to both of them because all summer there was no sign of spouting water at either of these locations, only now at the season end both are turned on full spray.  A farewell to summer?  Mr Man thinks it is because they are draining the pipes.  No matter, both made quite a showing & I was entertained to watch the wind catch the spray & dance with it.

Me On Monday - October 19th

A Sleepy Hello & A Wave To All.  Connect with Sian & the other wavers at http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.ca/. 

Falls Street Near Conservation Park

Well it has been a week & weekend.  Medication is a wonderful thing when appropriately used; kidney/bladder infection cleared (oh so thankful); when I mentioned at the barn, one woman said she gets bladder infections at least 6-7 times a year, even a chill to the back causes them!!! the horror at that thought / pleased that our baseball team, The Toronto Blue Jays,  did well - not impressed by some of the bad behaviour by fans at the series final game between The Texas Rangers & Blue Jays; other than F1 racing, not big sports watching fans, but the last two baseball games of that series had us on the edge of our seats  / Mr Man & I had 4 days after Thanksgiving Monday off as vacation / lots of little odd jobs done around the yard & house, with another trip made to the household recycle centre to be rid of stuff / the patio was put away until next year - this makes me so sad / bought Halloween candy for the little darlings that come a calling - I buy stuff I don't like so as not to be tempted /  struggling with reading Sophie's World, pushing on, I'm told it is worth it / my riding friend that was thrown, I spoke with her late last week - thankfully much improved; still no memory of the accident / a trip & a spend at two of the scrapping stores; I do need to find my scrapping sweet spot to unload this ever growing stash & start creating pages but first I need to stop the thief of comparison & keep my eyes on my own paper & scrap / our federal election today - do we get the leader we want or the leader that we need? /  heavy frost 2 nights in a row have the leaves falling like rain & all the annual flowers done - I am not ready in spirit or mind, only the clothes readiness for winter is complete / feeling like we dogged a bullet because a city north of us by an hour, received wet snow accumulation!!!!  It's coming - oh the horror! /  I will be making an service date to get snow tires on my car / another work week starts - let the games begin!

Thankful Thursday - October 15th

From The Internet

My Thankfuls this week include but not exclusive to:

Oct 9th Thankful for: time in the garden, weather cleared, sun shone, I planted some Snow Drop bulbs.  For many years I have admired Snow Drops in others gardens and thought I need to plant, but wow were they expensive for so few in a package.  On Thursday I went to Costco and as I was dreamily walking the Christmas aisle, I saw a Costco size package of Snow Drop bulbs just sitting alone among the Christmas stuff. Odd.  I had a staff person scan and wow the price was low for 18 bulbs!  The Universe (bless her) presented me with this gift - I accepted with Thanks.  Next year I too shall have Snow Drops in my garden. "Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature’s rebirth?" ~Edward Giobbi

Oct 10th Thankful for the privilege & right to vote - we participated in the Federal Election Advanced Polls as on Elections Day (19th) Mr Man & I will be at 7am appointment with a specialist for Mr Man's ongoing eye problem & since we didn't know what was going to happen, we wanted to be sure we didn't miss our chance to vote.  This is a tight race, emotions are running quite high - please send Canada your positive energy for the leader we need to lead us.  I am so Thankful that I live in this great country. "With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." (part of our national anthem).

Oct 11th Thankful for: a small family gathering for Thanksgiving celebration, one sister, one brother & us.  My hosting (older) sister is far from traditionally inspired, so the dinner was ribs & a ham for the meat eaters, I brought a soy based protein main along with my requested broccoli salad (I do have some fame in the family for this salad) along with a new recipe for a corn casserole. Sister did make a pumpkin pie to satisfy my "need" for tradition.  I am Thankful for the efforts my sister made. The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Richard Bach

Oct 12th Thankful for: a weather perfect long weekend as we celebrated Thanksgiving, ate lots, gave a collective thank you. Had one of the final mugs of tea I will enjoy sitting on the patio this year.  Thankful for tea, & as my Grandmother always said "tea cures all that ails you."

Oct 13th Thankful for: medical expertise readily found at 2am.  Long story made quite short;  I have a serve bladder/kidney infection. (How????)  Most Thankful already feel on the mend.

Oct 14th Thankful for: workmen that come into our home & show respect.  It was a follow up to the furnace installation a few weeks back.  Mr Man & I feel that our home is our sanctuary, so when someone comes into it we are concerned about the energy that is brought along.  “ Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space (& situation).” Jill Bolte Taylor.  After seeing Dr Jill interviewed & reading her book "My Stroke of Insight" I found her quote about bringing energy to every situation quite revealing & it has impacted a lot of how I think & conduct myself in many life situations. I do believe we are all connected with our energy. I want to bring a positive energy with me.

Oct 15th Thankful for: reminding myself of yesterday's quote & the energy I make/bring.  Being truly joyful for others happy news.  Sometimes when a door is closed (slammed) I can stand at the closed door for far too long before I notice another door of possibility.  I have a daily quote stand that I created using some of my scrap stash items & on one of the days I have a reminder to be Open To Possibilities.  Which reminds me of Albus Dumberdore's quote (JK Rowling) "Light can be found in even the darkest of times if we only remember to turn on the light."  Thankful for a life partner that will turn on the light for me when I seem to stumble in the darkness; who will take my hand & lead me on to the lighted door of new & different possibility.

From The Internet

Pairs - Naturally Odd

Linking in with Helena at: http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.ca/

This week my Pairs are a couple of trees that tickled my humour as I thought of people & body parts.  The first tree seems to be staring at me with a look of astonishment and the second tree looks like a person's bottom just about to sit down.  Natures does continue to amuse & amaze me.

Tree at Riverside Park

Tree in Burlington Park

Me On Monday - October 12th

Me, I'm giving a Monday morning wave to Sian along with several other of the Monday wavers.  Meet & Greet with the others through Sian's site;  http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.ca/


This is Canadian Thanksgiving Monday. A (bank) Holiday

So to the recap of last week & weekend / laid low with a nasty migraine; better now / some time was spent craft planning / time with a friend sitting in her new sunroom & thankfully there was some sunshine along with some treats. I am cat sitting for her over the Thanksgiving weekend  / work at the clinic was again more hours than normal / pulling out the coats, gloves & scarfs, checking that all buttons, zips work & are intact / finished up library books to return before due dates; no penalties for this reader / started new book, Sophie's World, a book about philosophy & religion / wonderful long phone chat with best friend far away / refusing to buy any chocolate bars & keep in the house ; resistance is futile or at least on my part / after watching Great British Bake Off wanting to make pastry (did not) / reminding myself about the no treats ban; going through yet again sugar withdrawal /changing up the walking route just a bit / enjoyed new to us TV; Raised By Wolves / also enjoying new series, Home Fires / happy news that a far flung friend is recovering from some surgery /shuffling through leaves / stocking up on disinfectant wipes for the clinic - cold/flu season has begun-patients if you are sick, stay home / another very early morning eye specialist appointment for Mr Man - staying positive / still not able to visit with my friend who fell off her horse; she is not doing well & her family have brought her Mom over from England to be with her; bones knitting back, it is the head injury giving concern / making corn casserole & broccoli salad as my offerings for a family Sunday dinner (only 1 sister, 1 brother plus us; rest of the local family traveling in Europe)

Ralph The Scarecrow in my garden

Thank you to Monday & all the rest of your friends, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday - I am Thankful to be able to greet & be with each one.

Summer of Doing Manifesto - Recap

I thought I would take today to recap my our Summer of Doing.  Back on June 5th I posted our Summer of Doing Manifesto list of all the things we wanted to do, places to see and adventures to be had. I declared it to be our Summer of Doing.   Without declaring a list, a manifesto, Mr Man and I often end up on weekends or vacation days going back and forth, "what do you want to do or I don't know what do you want to do?"  Because of tough work schedules we are often left to exhausted to think of anything, so pre-season making of the list really helped us.  I know it may sound odd but it worked for us.  I will do again.

I think we did pretty good with the list.  Some things that didn't happen were beyond our control, such as wanting to visit the art gallery.  The re-opening was delayed several times and while we couldn't visit inside the gallery, we did walk around the gardens were there were several art installations.  The visit to an ostrich farm didn't happen because on the day we had scheduled to go, it was just too hot to be outside and then it fell off our radar.  I did spend some time reading up online about ostriches. The ploughing match happened on a work day so we could not attend.  The visiting of waterfalls, which use to be such a passion for us, was something we just couldn't find the energy to do. (I have 2 scrap albums devoted to waterfall adventures.)  One of the things with waterfalls in our area is that those that are fairly easy to access, we have done, those left, require higher hiking skills that either of us have developed.  Visiting a friend's cottage, well our schedules never matched.  The highland games, no idea why that one didn't get participated in.  Maybe next year.

With Rinda's Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt we got all the items both on the main list and substitute list.  It was our third year of participating and the first time we scored all. In the Summer of Doing, Mr Man's favourite was the Puslinch Lake Boat Tour with Belwood Lake a very close second. We both enjoyed being tourists in our own region.  But I think the very best for me was when Mr Man thanked me for putting our Summer of Doing together.  Oh and the celebrating with gusto and cake - that isn't going on any list again - we embraced that one too much - DIET!

2015 The Summer Of Doing Manifesto

1. Explore Wellington County (separate plan list)
2. Tea on the patio every morning possible (weather permitting)
3. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries with gusto & cake
4. A picnic
5. Re-vist a favourite waterfall
6. Re-read the entire Harry Potter series
7. Participate in Rinda's Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt
8. Eat on a restaurant's patio or outdoor space at least once
9. Celebrate Canada Day 
10. Find 2 new restaurants to eat at 
11. Attend an outdoor concert or festival
12. Visit a friend's cottage
13. Attend a horse show 
14. Read at least 6 new books
15. Discover a new to us waterfall 

The Explore Wellington County List

• Puslinch Lake Boat Tour
• Belwood Lake Conservation Park
• Ostrich Farm Tour
• Guelph Civic Museum
• Wellington County Museum
• Walk in The Arboretum
• Strawberry Picking
• McDonald's Art Gallery (when it re-opens in August)
• Wellington County Ploughing Match
• Fergus Scottish Highland Games

One Photo Twenty Words

I am linking in with Abi at http://creatingpaperdreams.blogspot.co.uk/

Photo by George

She's my friend.  He's my riding coach.  He walks daughter to a new start.  He coaches riders to be better.

Thankful Thursday - October 8th

From The Internet

This week's Thankfuls include but not exclusive to:

Oct 2; Thankful that my boss made a special trip to the clinic to ensure I had my paycheque as he ran out of cheques earlier in the week on regular payday. We are paid bi-monthly (twice a month)  Money; I think that quote about it being evil is often a miss quote; money is not the root of all evil, it is the LOVE of money that spurs evil.  I must admit money & having it can be of great benefit in life, hence why I play the lottery.

Oct 3; Thankful that Mr Man is quite capable in home reno, maintenance & fixing just about anything.  Sometimes he even enjoys it.  "There's no place like home" - you were right Dorothy. I feel very blessed being able to have our own home, with garden, structurally sound building & a refuge to come home to.

Oct 4; Thankful it was so quiet in the neighborhood & the sun came out so I took the opportunity for a walk outside. We live in a very safe neighbourhood & I like that I don't have to give it a second thought to walk about outside. It is a mostly a well maintained area & pretty.  Most people will say hello after eyeing you closely. "Every man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary spies." Jane Austen.  As a women feeling safe is very important to me & it concerns me that many aren't allowed that right or need.

Oct 5; Thankful for some time to scrapbook, use my Silhouette cutter for some December Daily titles.  "She who works with her hands and her head and her heart is an artist.”  Francis of Assis.  I feel fortunate for some (slight) ability to craft.  I am fortunate to be able to afford to spoil myself with pretty papers, stickers & some of the latest technology gadget tools.

Oct 6; Thankful for a telephone plan that allowed me a two hour conversation with my best friend in Calgary Alberta.  It was wonderful to have a free thought, free flowing conversation with someone that gets me & I get her.  We talk about remember when...  you know what ...   I'm going to ....  She has an amazing laugh, & it is sometimes through this laughter shared that I feel for certain everything will be fine. This friendship is a gift.  

Oct 7; Thankful that medication for an awful weather related migraine  worked & that the day's schedule allowed quiet, dark & stillness time to recover.  "A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache." Catherine the Great. It reminds me what a gift good health & well being is; how quickly it can all change & if there is a change, how simple it is for me to get medical attention, medical intervention if needed. Living in a province with a blanket medical plan for all is SUCH a privilege.

Oct 8; Thankful for time with a friend to visit & meet my fur girls (she is also a cat lover), time to sit & properly catch up. Often our time together is workday lunch moments of 40 minutes.  She is a teaching assistant at a local high school & finishes at 3:30pm but today is required to return at 6:30pm for a staff meeting, so rather than make a long drive home, she will come to visit me, a 15 minute drive away.  I will make us tomato basil soup & grilled cheese for dinner.  Simple pleasures. "The only way to have a friend is to be one." Ralph Waldo Emerson

From The Internet

Pairs - I'll Scratch Your Back

Linking in with Helena's Pairs http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.ca/




































This week my Pairs are the most adorable little donkeys living at the Canadian Donkey Sanctuary in Guelph.  There is a herd of all sizes, colours & temperaments, the only commonality is that they are all rescues.  There are a few Mules (A Mare For A Mother) & last year one of the rescued donkeys was pregnant so they had a foal.  The donkeys are allowed to roan freely about the enclosure with the people guests.  They rotate the donkeys out of these enclosures every couple of hours, that way no one is getting overly stressed.  There is a large pasture with barn access for the donkeys off public relations duties. The sanctuary is run by volunteers & to raise money for care of the donkeys, they host two major fund raisers every year.  You can also sponsor a donkey with a monthly donation.  Some of the donkeys liked to be groomed so there is a basket filled with brushes & if the mood takes you and the donkey agrees, you can brush away.  It is a very clean facility, very knowledgeable volunteer staff.  We had several enjoyable hours with the donkeys.  To learn more:  http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ca/

Me On Monday - October 5th

As I take my mittens off, I am giving Sian a wave at http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.ca/

Meridith Keeping Watch

A big change in the weather, especially in the over night temperatures /  I am never ready for the change of seasons / Busy week at the clinic, I was doing a lot of extra hours as one person took vacation and another was just starting / Two books on the go; Rising Strong (Dr Brene Brown) and Big Magic (Elizabeth Gilbert) - ummm lots of ideas now rumbling around / Many more doctor specialist eye appointments for Mr Man.  Looking like a second  eye surgery might be the answer /  Seeking out comfort foods / In the final stretch of all those federal government election adds / New TV season in full swing - not enjoying most returns and found nothing new to interest me / The slow garden clear up has begun & finding evidence of a raccoon - dirty creatures!!! /  Learning new billing methods at work - my brain hurts / Enjoying the comfort of two adorable fur girls, such love / Helping to dig out the horse blankets; are all the straps there?; these horses have a bigger wardrobe than me / A few days on the treadmill rather than walks outside but still keeping to a minimum of 10,000 steps a day /All the basement reno, clean up, tidy through complete - yeah! / Monday begins another chapter; one that I hope is filled with lots of commas for pause to savour.

Thankful Thursday - The First

 

From the Internet

Today begins my adventure into Thirty One Days of Thankful.  I picked October as this is when Canadian Thanksgiving is.  This year it is Monday October 12th.  I would be very happy for you to join in with me.   I thought that doing a Thankful post everyday was a bit too much so I will post my Thankfuls on each Thursday of the month of October.

October 1st - Thankful for all the connections that I have made and am making through blogging.  I am Thankful for comments, suggestions and thoughts shared with me.  I am Thankful for so many talented bloggers sharing fully their stories, ideas, travels and examples of how to be better at scrapping, living and ways of thinking of things and situations differently.  When we know better, we do better. (Paraphrasing from Maya Angelou).

 What are you Thankful  for today?

From the Internet