Gratitude is the Attitude

Hello, Dear Friends, in this season of giving thanks, 

 come along with me on a late autumn drive, 

as we ponder the true meaning of gratitude 

with some favorite quotes of mine. 

As we descend the foothills that I call home, 

we see bright, glowing cottonwood against 

 dark evergreens. These stately trees are the last 

to loose their leaves and are putting on 

a final, luminous show. 

Mornings are frequently sprinkled with frost. 

The rising sun illuminates the trees 

creating silver and gold. 

I am out early 2 days a week

to help with my 3 little grandsons 

who I'm very grateful for. 

xo

"Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. 

It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation."

- John Ortberg -

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues
 but the parent of all others."

- Cicero -

"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that 

would be enough."

- Meister Eckhart -

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart."

- Seneca -

"If you aren't grateful for what you already have,

what makes you think you would be happy with more?"

- Roy T. Bennett -

"So much has been given to me; I have no time

to ponder over that which has been denied."

- Helen Keller -

"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls."

- Aesop -

We've had a string of lovely, late autumn days,
with mild temperatures and gentle rains.

Of course, that could drastically change.........
So I am enjoying each and every day.
xo

"This is a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before."
- Maya Angelou -

I have driven past this pasture for 37 years.
It has not changed, but I can't say the same for me.
xo

We climb the foothills road to home.

"True forgiveness is when you can say, Thank you
for that experience."

- Oprah Winfrey -

We take a left here.
***
"Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty."
- Doris Day -

A carpet of cottonwood leaves.

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty
and gratitude, then animals are better off than
a lot of humans."

- James Herriot -

The woodland lane to home. 

***

"I was complaining that I had no shoes

till I met a man that had no feet."

- Confucius -

"Let us be grateful to the people who make
us happy; they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom."

- Marcel Proust -

Thank you, Dear Friends for coming along with me.
I am so grateful for your friendship.
xoxo

Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving.

A Day of Gratitude

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that those of you who 

celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day! 

I was tasked with baking the pies, and the day before

the holiday, my kitchen was a busy place. 

A deep-dish apple pie ready for baking. 

It was an unusually warm November day (65 degrees), 

and even with the door to the deck opened wide, 

it was a warm, 76 degrees inside. 

But it smelled absolutely wonderful! 

I baked and baked all day long, and by the time I was done, 

the sun was setting, turning the clouds a lovely coral 

over the Cascade mountains. 

Besides the deep-dish apple pie, I baked some individual

apple pies for Ramblin' Man :) and a blackberry pie

from berries I picked myself. 

Can you see Kai coming in from his pet door?

A few raindrops illuminated by the outside spotlight, 

over my vintage gelatin molds, 

in the kitchen window as I clean up. 

By morning the clouds were lifting......

And as we approached the Narrows Bridge on our 

way to daughter, Jennie and Steve's, for Thanksgiving dinner, 

the skies were blue. 

The Narrows Bridge is actually two bridges - 

the older span on the right, and the newer 

span on the left, just completed a couple of years ago. 

Each side is one way. 

Its name comes from the waterway beneath, 

called, 'The Narrows' - a slender stretch of Puget Sound

which connects the Kitsap Peninsula to the mainland. 

Tall fir trees rise above the landscape on the other side. 

We are almost there. 

The beautiful table. 

There were 14 of us, including two little ones.

The sideboard holds the pies. 

A pumpkin pie was added later. 

Everyone contributed to the meal. 

Lots of yummy appetizers. 

I couldn't stay away from this spinach dip and bread!

The house is perfect 

for entertaining :) 

Flannel shirts are true Northwest style. 

xoxo

The host carves the turkey - charbroiled on the grill. 

There were two turkeys and a ham. 

We fill our plates. 

Turkey, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, green bean

casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and roll. 

Yum! 

Many toasts to all that we are thankful for. 

xoxo

We even celebrated a special young lady's birthday! 

The end of a wonderful meal. 

All too soon the day was over, 

and as we took the long drive home, 

we thought of all the ones we love.

The near and the far away, 

and those we've lost and miss so dearly. 

xoxo

So grateful for them all. 

xoxo

Thank you for joining me, Dear Friends! 

I am so grateful for all of you who 

fill my life with such joy and friendship! 

xoxo