And I Want A Gravy Boat

I've decided what I want.  New dishes. I got dishes for a wedding gift.  I didn't pick them.  I didn't particularly like them.  But I used them.  And they were very functional.  I didn't think too much about my dishes.
Until Corelle ran an ad compaign that said when I said 'till death do us part' I meant my husband, not my dishes.  I was 18 years and 4 kids into my marriage, and pretty sure I was keeping my husband. Corelle had just released the Fruit Basket design, and I was pretty sure (did I mention 4 kids?) I couldn't afford new dishes.  And then I got a speeding ticket for driving 43 miles per hour out of South Fork.  Excessive speed.  One hundred and thirty five dollars worth of excessive speed. So   apparently I had $135 dollars to spend.  And nothing to show for it.  So I spent my next $135 on 2 sets of Fruit Basket Corelle and 1 set of coordinating Fruit Too.  Service for twelve, or two meals for six.  And I got coordinating salt and pepper shakers and canisters and the sugar bowl and butter dish. And a tea kettle.  And I added a fruit border. Because, apparently, speed wasn't the only excessive thing in my life in 1998.
Now another 18 years have passed.  And evidently that is about as long as I can be content with dishes. Because now I want Fiesta Ware.
For Christmas Santa brought me one four place setting of Lemongrass fiesta ware.  And I have picked out 5 other colors of fiesta ware that I want.  Scarlet.  Poppy.  Tangerine.  Sunflower.  And turquoise.  Two place settings of each.  Service for twelve.  I figure that Christmases, birthdays, anniveraries, half off sales and Kohl's bucks all considered it will take me about 4 years to complete my set.  The good news is that I only need two sets to make them my everyday dishes.  And I won't want new dishes until I have been married for 58 years.
On Christmas Day, on my way home from work, I was pulled over for speeding coming into Dodge City.  And given a warning instead of a citation.  I'm thinking that's worth at least two place settings.

Grow Your Own Tree

The Goob got his Christmas stocking when he was home for Thanksgiving.  It had one small gift to open every day that he was away between Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester.  Most of the gifts were edible.  But one of the first gifts was a flower pot roughly the size of a thimble.  Grow your own tree kit from the dollar section at Target.  It was the one thing I thought the Goob wouldn't care one thing about.  But when he arrived home for Christmas he had a tiny flower pot with two tiny green sprouts.  Which he has continued to care for. 

The Goob continues to surprise me.

Why there is no Christmas Picture

Took this picture when the Goob was home for Thanksgiving.  In a blinding snowstorm.  Sent for prints to add to the Christmas cards.  Lost in the mail.  Starting over?  Or giving up?  Can't decide.

Two of the Best

Not the best picture but two of my favorite guys.  Practiced some 20 second hugs this weekend.  

All good.

Thankful The Goob was home this weekend.  Good to see him looking good.  Less than 3 weeks until the end of the semester.  We'll see if we get along as well for 4 weeks as we did for 4 days.

Thanksgiving Day

91.  Thankful no one expects a lot from me in the culinary department.
92.  Thankful for old favorite dishes.  Cranberry jello salad.  Sweet potato casserole.
93.  Thankful the Goob made the crescent rolls.  Raised him to be a good Havener.
94.  Thankful for leftovers packed neatly away in the fridge.  No question what we will eat the next few days, just what form we will eat it in.
95.  Thankful for the STP who is an excellent turkey picker and kitchen cleaner upper.
96.  Thankful the girls could be together today.  Thankful they made cranberry jello salad and Aunt Sara's taco dip.
97.  Thankful to have face time with the best grandkids in the world.
98.  Thankful for time to finish a project.
99.  Thankful for a warm fire in the pellet stove and a warm cup of tea on a cold night.
100.  Thankful for dessert.  Turtle cheesecake.

All in all, a very good day.

Thanksgiving Eve

81.  Thankful for the STP and the relationships he has established with fellow pastors in Dodge City.
82.  Thankful for the Thanksgiving eve service and the chance to offer thanks together.
83.  Thankful that my Thanksgiving plans and preparations did not preclude me from worshipping.
84.  Thankful the Goob went with us to the service.  Thankful to hear him singing 'How Great is our God' next to me.
85.   Thankful for snowfall and a peaceful walk home tonight over snow covered streets from the Thanksgiving eve service.  Sweet time.
86.  Thankful for hot chocolate and thin mint oreos with the Goob before bed.
87.  Thankful the cranberry jello salad is all ready.
88.  Thankful for the bread cubes that hold the promise of stuffing.
89.  Thankful the grocery store lady talked me into a turkey.
90.  Thankful it is 2 degrees outside and I will not feel the need to decorate outside tomorrow.

Note: Things I am not thankful for:  Verizon's Thanks-Getting Ad campaign.

Fast Thanks

70.  Thankful for my co-workers.
71.  Thankful for car insurance.
72.  Thankful for payday.
73.  Thankful for Thanksgiving break.
74.  Thankful Alex is traveling tonight before the worst of the storm.
75.  Thankful for friends.
76.  Thankful for tacos.
77.  Thankful to have things to share.
78.  Thankful to fellow bloggers.
79.  Thankful for bluejeans.
80.  Thankful for photographs.  And memories.  And Jim Croce.

Catching Up

61.  Thankful for the STP who took me to the Mannheim Steamroller concert Thursday evening.  An early Christmas gift to each other.  We had been to one of their concerts when we lived in South Fork.  Thankful none of us has changed a bit in 20 years.
62.  Thankful for a night away at a motel.  So good to not have to drive home in the middle of the night.  And to just relax and forget everything waiting at home.
63.  Thankful for music, which makes me remember things, and makes me forget things.
64.  Thankful for a limited Christmas list.  And the chance to get the bulk of my shopping done while I was in the city.
65.  Thankful for snow.  Just the right amount to accompany a Christmas concert and Christmas shopping.
66.  Thankful to eat out.  Lunch at HuHot Mongolian grill, breakfast at Stella's Kitchen and Bakery, lunch at Red Robin.
67.  Thankful for date night two nights in a row.  Stopped in Lovell to see The Martian at the Hyart.
Popcorn for supper? Oh, yeah.
68.  Thankful for creative people who write books and make movies that capture my imagination.
69.  Thankful  for a dog sitter.  I mean really thankful for a dog sitter.

More Thanks, Please.

57.  Thankful for my sewing machine and a day to use it.
58.  Thankful for my sister Nancy and a half hour to talk to her.
59.  Thankful for the return of the muppets to TV.  It allows me to continue to live with the delusion that someday I could be a puppeteer on the muppet show.  You know, when I grow up.
60.  Thankful for laughter.

Taco Thanks

54.  Thankful for the big room.  Had 29 people over for tacos tonight.
55.  Thankful for people who made two 9x13 pans of enchiladas to bring to Taco Tuesday.  And others who brought brownies.  And fruit salad.  And popcorn.  And taco salad bowls.  Thankful for people who rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
56.  Thankful for the guidance and provision of the Holy Spirit.

Kisses

51.  Thankful for hugs and kisses.  
52.  Thankful for chocolate kisses.
53.  Thankful for dog kisses.  Not.  But I am thankful for my dog.

Let's Move This Along

Halfway through the month.  Feel the need to get to 50.
41.  Thankful for Sundays.  Fingerpainted in Sunday School, sang songs I knew the words to in worship service, ate a late lunch, took a long nap, watched a little football, snuggled with the SLD.  I needed that.
42.  Thankful for my girls.  So glad to see the women they are becoming.  Don't know that I can claim any responsibility, but I'm glad to have a part in their lives.
43.  Thankful they are all thinking about moving to Wyoming.  This will make my life better.
43.  Thankful for my son.  I'm probably more responsible for the person he is than I would care to admit, but I like him.  Looking forward to hugging him next week.
44.  Thankful for sunshine. Love the way it spreads across the ground early in the morning, warms the air in the afternoon, and colors the clouds as it sets in the evening.
45.  Thankful for napkins.  And for the STP who points out food on my chin that needs wiped off.
46.  Thankful for toilet paper.  While we are on the subject of paper products.  Just sayin.
47.  Thankful for craft ideas.  I need to get moving actually making some, but it's good to have a starting point.  Lets just say it--I'm thankful for Pinterest.
48.  Thankful for my gratitude list.  The focus is good for me.  When the Goob was little, we would recount the story of the day and always end it with "all in all, it was a very good day".  It does me good to look back over the day and see the good that was there.
49.  Thankful for tomorrow off.  No pressure to go to bed early, to finish up things tonight.  There's always tomorrow.
50.  Thankful for starry nights.  Something so awe inspiring about the night sky.  Wyoming does starry skies like no other.  Thankful to be here.

Grace, Peace, Love

38.  Thankful for grace.  Several quotes about grace have crossed my path this week.
This one from the December issue of Real Simple magazine:  Hoping we've made the "nice" list helps reassure chiuldren that they're worthy,despite their failings and misbehaviors, of the love, goodwill, and yes, even the presents that come their way during the holidays.  It's not Santa's magic that children cling to and need, but his grace.
The second one from an old Esquire magazine article about Mr. Rogers who added the Greek word for grace to his autograph:  What is grace? He doesn't even know. He can't define it. This is a man who loves the simplifying force of definitions, and yet all he knows of grace is how he gets it; all he knows is that he gets it from God, through man.
A third one from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:  The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you.
I just share these just so I can ponder them a little more.  Thankful for the favors extended to me this week which I was surely not deserving of.
39.  Thankful for peace. A quiet heart in the midst of a turbulent world. Peace that surpasses understanding.
40.  Thankful for love.  Good to be loved.  Good to know I am loved. Even when I am not very lovable.

Claire Marie and Abigail Lee

34.  Thankful for my granddaughter (the best granddaughter in the world) who calls me up to sing me silly songs.  Love her gentle spirit and easy laugh.
35.  Thankful for her mom, my middle daughter.  The child who only knew sharing, and has grown up to be one of the most generous, compassionate people I know.
36.  Thankful for whomever told me during her junior high years that the most vocal teenagers make the most well adjusted adults.
37.  Thankful it was true.

Out of Nowhere

31.  Thankful the damage done by the deer I hit on my way to work this morning did not make my car undrivable.
32.  Thankful my dad taught me 'it's only metal'.
33.  Thankful the STP's first question was 'Are you okay?'

Three Little Things

28.  Thankful for anticipation. Have tickets to see Mannheim Steamroller in concert next week.  Spending the night in the big city.  Thirty percent off at Kohl's and $10 Kohl's cash.

29.  Thankful for Rachel Ray's taco seasoning recipe.   Good.  Easy.  Gluten free.

30.  Thankful for my oldest grandson.  Love his tender spirit.  His sensitivity.  His smile.

Monday, Monday

25.  Thankful for the STP to share my adventures with.  Even the nasty disturbing uncomfortable ones.
26.  Thankful for Hobby Lobby.  Spent an hour there today on sensory overload. Replaced my number 6 round paintbrush.  And bought a few supplies to update the Christmas wreath/frame.  I have a plan that involves spray paint.  So excited.
27.  Thankful that Diet Pepsi no longer has aspertame.

Sunday, Sunday

21.  Thankful for uninterrupted sleep.  Last night I got 5 hours.  Tonight I hope to get eight.
22.  Thankful for naps.  Sunday afternoons are perfect for napping.  Just me, my dog, an afghan, and the couch.
23.  Thankful for prayers.  Unspoken ones.  Answered ones.  Unanswered ones. Because they all stretch and strenghthen my faith.
24.  Thankful for pray-ers.  People who lift me up in prayer.  People who pray about the things I pray about.  People who pray even when they don't know what they are praying for.

More Thankful Than I Sound

17.  Thankful for shoeboxes.  Packed ours for a boy this year.  Thankful for getting things done on time.
18.  Thankful for nurses who really care for patients.  Privileged to see several in action today--providing care (including a hug) in a busy ER.
19.  Thankful that I had no need to be a patient in the ER today.
20.  Thankful for homemade salad dressing. And salads with strawberries in them.

Replace, Repair,...

 It was not a spectacular year in the garden, but I grew enough hot peppers to be deemed 'the pepper lady' at work and I had stellar crop of carrots.

But the SFG fell apart at the end of the season. 

So I informed the STP that it would need some attention, either now or in the Spring.  He went out right away to survey the situation.  One side completely separated from the other three.  All the decorative corner pieces loose and falling off.  He asked if I wanted it replaced or repaired.  I was not very committed to gardening this summer and I was not ready to commit to a new garden, so I chose repair.  The STP got right to work.  Reattaching the fallen side and strengthening the corners.

Two corners look like this.  Since I am not complaining this month, I suggested that this did not meet my expectations, because I only have 16 square feet of garden and he had made almost an entire square foot unusable.  

So he repaired the third corner like this.

Once again my photography skills do not do this justice, because you can not see that there are three staples holding the L-shaped brace together.  

And now just a reminder what these corners looked like originally.

So I prefaced my next comments to the STP by reminding him that I wasn't whining, BUT I realized that I did not want the SFG replaced or repaired.  I wanted it restored.  The STP reminded me that wasn't one of my choices.  Fair enough.