Over the Backyard Fence

I'm a day late with Friday's Fave Five this week. Yesterday, we were on pins and needles all day as we awaited the arrival of our biggest blessing of the week, indeed the year! -- our newest granddaughter!

Thea Violet ~ was born at 8:01 p.m. She is the fourth baby for Luke and Miranda, and she's perfect in every way! I can't wait to get up to Wisconsin and hold her. 💗

A mountain drive ~ The day after Christmas, I took a drive with some other ladies to a mountain town where we did some birding. We were delighted to see the Rosy Finches, spry little birds that love high alpine areas and snowy meadows. One species lives primarily in Colorado, and we visited a local naturalist who invited us into his home to view them in the feeders in his backyard. It was such a nice day, with great company, beautiful snow-covered mountain views, and good bird sightings.  

Kitchen renovation ~ It seemed crazy to decide to take on the project of enlarging our kitchen island, just the week before Thanksgiving. But, it worked out really well. We weren't sure what size we wanted or the exact location. So, Dan cut a template from plywood and we set it up on the old island. We lived with that through the holidays -- it wasn't pretty and we had to work around the C-clamps that held it all together, but it was extremely functional! Great for baking cookies, laying out projects, and providing seating for the crowded kitchen (where everyone inevitably ends up at our gatherings). Now, we know what works, and we'll be installing a permanent island and butcher block top.

Family time ~ I'll admit, it never gets easy not having my kids close at the holidays. But, we had some great family time this year with siblings, nieces and nephew, and friends. We celebrated birthdays, had our grandkids stay over a lot, and it seemed the house was always full with people coming and going. It really felt like Christmas and I loved every minute of it. 

And now, I'm ready for a little solitude as we welcome the month of January. 😏

Happy New Year, everyone.

This week was busy as can be, but I want to make time for Friday's Fave Five, to slow down for a minute to savor the good stuff.

A birthday party ~ Last Saturday, my dad turned 92. We celebrated his birthday the way he likes best with family gathered around the table and lots of laughter and good food. My friend Kathy made the lasagna, thick and dense, just the way he likes it. My sisters-in-law brought hors d'oeurves and I provided the salad and cake. I'm thankful for friends and family and the opportunity to gather together.

Gee, my track record for participating in Friday's Fave Five was pretty grim for November. I only joined in once! I have so much to be thankful for, and I was fully aware of that throughout the month, I just didn't pause long enough to write it all down. I'll try to do better in December ;) 

Taking a moment to pause and be present to some of the gifts, large and small, from the past week. Thank you to Susanne for always being present on Fridays, and giving us the opportunity to join in this tradition.

Calming an eager baby ~ I don't think I've announced this on my blog yet, but we are so excited to welcome grandbaby #6 in about a month! Last Wednesday, Luke called and apparently she was eager to make an early arrival. We held our breath for the next several hours while Miranda went to the hospital, wondering if we would be packing up to make a trip to Wisconsin. Thankfully, all calmed down, and she is still snug as a bug. We're hoping she stays put for at least another week or two!

Teamwork ~ A couple of weeks ago, Dan and I decided to tackle a project in the kitchen. Because Thanksgiving was just around the corner, and Christmas is only a month after that, so why not tear up the kitchen? Truthfully, Dan is going a bit stir crazy not being able to do everything he'd like, and there's no heavy lifting involved with this. So, we removed some cabinet doors to create open shelving, added a coffee bar to the kitchen, and we are testing out a larger island with a big piece of plywood over the little island. It's a bit Rube Goldberg for now, but when we are able to move the island (which will be after the holidays) and resurface it with butcher block, I think it will look really nice. I'm glad to have such a good partner to do projects with! 

Meaningful conversations and good movies ~ About a week ago, I got together with some girlfriends and our conversation turned to our phase of life and thoughts about what we'd like to do with our 'one wild and precious life,' (Mary Oliver quote here). It was such a good conversation, and by chance a few nights later I tuned into a movie called Chantilly Bridge, about a group of women friends who are in the same spot. Both of these things helped me turn from feeling a bit anxious and, truthfully, somewhat down about feeling sort of old and out to pasture. It happens from time to time. It's so important to have girlfriends on the journey, and I do love mine. <3

Lilly ~ Our sweet Lilly will turn 15 years old next week! She is aging gracefully, and like all of us requires a bit more patience and attending to these days. I treasure every moment with her and she is always by my side, while I'm working at my desk, reading a book in the living room, cooking something up in the kitchen. She's a wonderful companion.

Crafting with friends ~ Every November, a few of us gather at my friend Kelly's house to make Christmas cards to be included with meals for homebound seniors. She has all the supplies we need, serves up tea and cocoa and home baked muffins, and we spend a couple of hours cutting and pasting and chatting at her dining room table. I look forward to it every year.

Over the past few days, we've put up the Christmas tree and indoor decorations. The outside lights went up just before Thanksgiving when the weather was nice and warm and balmy. (Dan was relegated to holding the ladder for me this year.) Thankfully, we have a one story house and I'm tall! LOL!

Happy Friday to all,

Karen🎄

I was reading a synopsis about C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters (which I haven't read, but it's on my TBR list). Apparently the book is a collection of letters written by the devil where he reveals his secrets on how he deceives the world. One of his tactics is that he gets people so focused on the horrible things happening in the world, that they become hopeless about what they can do to bring goodness to their own lives. So, they give up trying. 

It can be hard to remain positive about life, given what the world is going through right now. I give  myself permission not to watch the news, not because I'm not interested or don't care, but because too much of it pulls me down, and then I'm no good to anyone. So. This all brings me to Friday's Fave Five, which is a wonderful exercise in looking for the presence of the holy in my life, which inspires me to spread goodness and try to be a light where I can make a difference. 

Here are some moments of grace from my week ~

The enthusiasm of our grandchildren ~ Yesterday, for the first time in two weeks, Dan and I picked up the grandkids from school. The looks on their faces upon seeing us and the bear hugs we received were precious. I love how unrestrained children are in expressing their happiness. 

A peek at early Christmas lights ~ Driving home last night in the dark, I glimpsed some colored lights strung along a fence in the distance, with a little tree deck out in lights, too. It's a bit early for me to think about putting up Christmas lights. I insist that I want to fully enjoy the fall season, focus on Thanksgiving. But, there's a part of me that got excited seeing those lights glowing. I'm glad that someone out there couldn't contain their enthusiasm and just had to put up some lights early. A little bit goes a long way in the dark, and it was nice to see them shining bright across the field.

Beautiful sunrises ~ Every day this week, morning arrives with a burst of color, streaks of orange and red and yellow in the sky. I don't know what physical phenomena causes this to happen, but it's been a beautiful call to a new day, and I've enjoyed seeing all the photos on social media, knowing that friends are taking notice, too.

A low-key Halloween ~ I have great memories of Halloweens past -- coming up with costumes for the kids, baking for school parties, big nights of going trick-or-treating. It seems the latter is hit or miss in our neighborhood these days. There are so many other activities for kids to do instead, and that's okay. I bought some candy 'just in case' anyone came by, but as the time grew closer, we decided to sit this one out. We took the candy (yes, we did!) and sat in our finished basement working on a jigsaw puzzle. Checking the ring camera on our doorbell, it turned out there wasn't a trick or treater to be found on our street, so that made me feel a little less guilty.

A mountain view ~ In the fall, when the trees lose their leaves, I get a glimpse of the mountains between the houses across the street from us. It's a small thing, but seeing the snow covered peaks, the sun shining across that range, is something I'm grateful for.

Happy Friday, everyone.

It's so good to be back for Friday's Fave Five. Dan's surgery went well! He was in the hospital for six days, and is now comfortable at home. We have so much to be grateful for this week. His surgeon, the medical team, and all of the family and friends who supported us through this. And the little things we take for granted. There are too many blessings to count, but I'll try to narrow it down to a few.

Dan's medical team ~ I'm so in awe of people who choose medicine for a career. It's not something I could ever see myself doing. From the surgeon and his team, to every staff member in the hospital, he received excellent care. All the more impressive because hospitals are so short-staffed these days. Not that it affected how he was cared for in the least. They were there every time he needed something, with kindness and warmth. Truly angels of mercy.

Awesome friends and family ~ From keeping me company during the six-hour surgery, to coming over to my house and slipping a meal in my refrigerator so I had something for dinner after a long day at the hospital, my friends are awesome. My sister-in-law sent me a gift card to buy coffee each day on the way to the hospital. My niece would come by to check on us after her long shifts at work. We've been provided meals since we've been home, too. There is something so personal and nurturing about someone preparing a homecooked meal, filled with yummy food and so much love. 

Enjoying morning coffee together ~ It's so nice to be back in our morning routine. Almost. Dan is usually the one who sets up the coffee, but I've been doing it. Which makes me even more grateful that he's been doing it all these years. 💓

A new favorite series ~ In the evenings while Dan was in the hospital, it would take me a little while to 'wind down' and be ready for bed. I found a new-to-me series to watch: Love Comes Softly, based on the novels of Janette Oke. I still have a few left to watch 🥰

The return of the cranes ~ This is the time of year that the sandhill cranes return from their summer nesting area and go south again. In the past couple weeks, they are seen flying overhead, flocks of adults and 'colts' together. It's lovely to see, a sign of fall as these beautiful birds migrate back to their winter homes. I love hearing their distinct rattling, bugling calls. It's not a bad time of year to be recuperating at home. Chilly enough that it feels cozy indoors, but enough sunshine and warmth for some brief spells outdoors. That will change this weekend, however ❄❅❆

Thank you for all of the prayers and good wishes for Dan. I appreciate each and every one of them!

Karen 💗

In view of what is happening in the world this week, I have to remind myself more than ever that the hearts of most people are kind and loving. Looking back at the past couple weeks since I last posted for Friday's Fave Five, it helps to think about the communities of folks that I'm thankful for in my life.

🍁A few weeks back, one of my favorite bloggers, Billie Jo, celebrated her blog's 11th birthday! It's always fun to know other bloggers who have been at it this a long time! I only met Billie Jo recently, but she is an awesome blogger. She writes with her heart, sharing herself and the love for her home and family. She is a holiday girl! with such enthusiasm for the seasons and she loves to celebrate life. All this to say, that for her blog birthday, she celebrated with a lovely giveaway, and I was thrilled to win a gift card for Yankee Candle! I chose a couple of fall decorations and I was so excited to put them out with the rest of my fall decor a couple of weeks ago. I love our community of bloggers, all that we share and how we support one another. So thankful for each and every one of you.

🍁Another community of friends that I'm thankful for is the bird club that I joined a couple of years ago. At the time, it was going through a lot of transitions, so even though I am very new to birding, I volunteered to coordinate bird walks for the group a couple of times a month. Our members are wonderful, new and experienced birders alike, and while I often try to get an expert to lead the walks, sometimes it's just a group of us sharing our knowledge. The past few months, we've been working on updating our website and giving our group a new look. My son Joe helped and even designed a new logo. It's been so much fun, I love the new board members that I'm getting to know, and just like with bloggers, well, birders are the nicest people :) 

It's been a full day and I almost let it go by without writing a Friday's Fave Five post. But, here it is at the last moment, because the best way to sleep well is to go to bed with a heart filled with gratitude.

A few moments from my week ~~

Spur of the moment plans ~ Dan and I met some friends for dinner on Sunday night. It was spur of the moment when they called and said, hey want to meet up in an hour? We were both kinda whooped from the day's activities, but it sounded better than cooking! (and we love these friends) so we did it. Good food, great company and lots of laughs - and we were home by 7:30 which made it the perfect evening. 

A surprise package ~ On Tuesday morning, the chimes sounded on our doorbell ring very early. I saw the Amazon truck pull away as I opened the door, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what I ordered. Which isn't unusual. But I hadn't ordered anything. My niece sent me a book, 'just because,' and included a thoughtful note. Such a lovely way to start the day.

P.T. ~ I've been going to physical therapist for several weeks now for treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis. For the first time in a year, my foot is pain-free. The young woman is so kind and encouraging, and I'm grateful for her expertise and skill. 

Beautiful ~ Last night I went to a local production of the Carol King musical Beautiful. It was fabulous! I've always loved her music and bought the tickets as soon as they came out, so the seats were excellent. I am in awe of artists who have such talent to take the stage and bring a story to life. It's the last thing on earth I could see myself doing. It's magic.

A manicure ~ I treated myself to a manicure this morning. Just a plain, old-fashioned one, not gel or shellac or whatever they do these days. I wish I could get those, but I'm so allergic to the materials they use. It's a treat just to have someone else clean up the cuticles, put the polish on so beautifully, and the hand massage! That's the best part. I appreciate these services.

Tomorrow I'm heading off a little adventure, catching an early flight, to spend a few days with a friend. I may not get around to visiting blogs right away, but I'll catch up as soon as I can! 

Happy Friday, everyone.

Karen

 

I'm still clinging to summer mode, even though our street is filled with school traffic on weekday mornings and my favorite hobby store is filled with pumpkins and scarecrows. We had a busy first half of summer, and I'm enjoying the - for us - slow pace of August. Here's a list for Friday's Fave Five.

AARP day at the Botanic Gardens ~ As card carrying members of the American Association for Retired Persons, my friend and I embraced our older status and went to the free day at our local Botanic Gardens. We strolled among the beautiful gardens, took notes of plants that we'd like to try in our own gardens, and ended the morning with almond croissants and lemonade (for me), chai (for her) at the coffee shop.

Pool Day with the Grandkids ~ As an end of summer celebration for Brooklynn and Bentley, who returned to school yesterday, Dan and I took them to our local water park. They are both tall enough to go down the slides by themselves now, which was confirmed by the neon green bands on their wrists after the lifeguard carefully measured them with his measuring stick. Brooklynn asked, 'Grandma are you going down the slides with us?' To which I gave the lifeguard a pointed look and asked, 'Do you have black wrist bands indicating one is too old and not allowed?' 

We had a fun-filled afternoon none-the-less, and Brooklynn gave me water ballet lessons, and I was a willing participant for that. They got to spend the night with us, and for supper we made individual pizzas.

Summer veggies ~ The garden has been hit or miss this year in supplying us with veggies. Peppers, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes are plentiful. Supplemented with corn, peaches and blueberries from the market, we are enjoying lots of salads for dinner and filling the freezer (and our friends and family) with zucchini bread.

Coffee with friends ~ Yesterday, I met a couple of girlfriends at a coffee shop and we enjoyed sitting on the patio for sunshine and conversation. It's my favorite local shop, located in an old house with a huge patio area filled with places to sit and fireplaces for colder weather. 

Quiet Days ~ The beginning of the week was very quiet with nothing on the calendar. It was an opportunity to get caught up with house chores, read in the afternoons, and just BE. I love days like this.

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Dan and I are heading out on Sunday for a couple nights of camping. As always, I'm thankful for my nephew Tommy who looks after Lilly for us. He's a gem, that one.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Karen

This week has been filled with delightfully ordinary days. After 10 days of excitement having the family here, our quiet life is a welcome relief. Although I do still miss the kiddos a tad💓 I'm so thankful for FaceTime.

Here are some ordinary moments that are blessing my week.

Unrushed days to put the house back in order. Each day, I choose a task and take my time completing it. Menu plan, laundry, grocery shopping. Even a day to clean the camper in preparation for our next trip. Then, the afternoons are spent in my den either reading (catching up on War & Peace), working on photo albums, or writing.

On Monday, I went for a walk with my dad to look for dragonflies and their smaller relatives, the damselflies. We found a swarm of a ebony jewelwings and a few ruby spots along a streambed. Dad's interest in butterflies and dragonflies is starting to rub off on me!

An unexpected visitor. Yesterday, I had just come in from the grocery store and put the refrigerator and freezer items away. Famished, I grabbed a burrito and put it in the microwave when the doorbell rang. It was a high school friend, Ann, who was in town for just a couple of days. Usually, we'll arrange to have dinner or lunch, but this was a quick visit. I invited her in and popped another burrito in the microwave. We sat at the kitchen island and chatted while having lunch. Casual fare and good conversation.

 

3. This morning I played golf with my friend Mary. Just a few weeks ago, her husband - our dear friend Gary - passed away. It was early in the morning and we had the course almost to ourselves. It's a place Dan and I often played with Mary and Gary. On the eighth hole, I commented how I always thought of Gary because when we were playing once, I hit my ball into the pond and he went to retrieve it. He had one of those long poles to pick up golf balls, and after he found mine, he kept fishing more out of the pond, until we had 11 balls! We were all laughing so hard as he flipped them over his shoulder to us. Well, this morning, Mary got a par on that hole! 👼

4. On Tuesday, we got to see Brooklynn and Bentley for the first time in weeks! They looked like they'd grown so much in that time. It seems to happen that way with kids. Either they are sprouting up over night, or I'm not paying attention. We received lots of hugs and though they did play t-ball in the yard for a while, they were also content to sit and visit with us for a long time, which made my day.

5. On Saturday, my niece Elsa stopped by so I could do a quick alteration on a dress she's wearing for a wedding this weekend. She brought a friend with her who she played volleyball with in college years ago (I remember meeting her way back when). She is the sweetest young woman, and the three of us had such a nice visit. Nice to reconnect.

On a side note, our state has set a new record for the amount of rain we've had in June. For the most part, that is a good thing as we've been in a drought for several years. But, it's brought on flooding, sink holes, and mosquitos :(  Fingers crossed for good weather this week.

Happy Friday to all,

Karen ☔

It's been a super busy week, on the heels of being away for two weeks. I'm glad for the chance to slow down with Friday's Fave Five and appreciate the blessings that came along with all that busyness.

A morning hike ~ On Monday morning, I took a hike with my friend Kathy to scope out an area for a bird walk with the bird club this weekend. It was early in the day before the heat set in and the air was cool and the sky clear blue. It was nice to walk and catch up after having been out of town. We spotted a variety of birds and I think our group will enjoy the area tomorrow. I'm thankful for the wonders of nature.

I've been AWOL and it is so nice be back! May was a busy month as evidenced by my posts here and here. Jumping in now with one of my favorite ways to blog -- Friday's Fave Five.

Best part of the week? Celebrating 39 years of marriage with this guy:

It's been a lovely, quiet week with few things on the calendar. I've had a chance to catch up on chores around the house and planning for the summer ahead. I love weeks like this, when the mornings are slow and easy, and the days are unrushed.

Yesterday, I took a walk just outside of town. Just a couple of weeks ago, the prairie was barely starting to green up. Yesterday, the fields were lush and green, colored with wildflowers, and the bird song was constant. The month of June at her finest.

On Monday, we celebrated Memorial Day, giving honor to soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I'm thankful for men like Dan's great uncle, Earl Mountain who died in WWI. Dan grilled brats and burgers and my Dad and Carol, and brother Matt and sis-in-law Lois came over. The day was warm and sunny.

One of my favorite things about summer is naps on the porch swing! When my kids were small, I learned to be a 'napper.' Just 20 minutes, and I'm good to go for the rest of the day. My favorite place to nap is the porch swing on the back patio.

Here's to summer and some good napping!

Karen 🍧🌞

"God spoke today in flowers, and I, who was waiting on words, almost missed the conversation."                                                                                                                         Ingrid Goff-Maidoff

🎕🎕🎕

Sometimes moments of gratitude come in the most unsuspecting ways. It might be something as simple as a housekeeping task, or waving to my neighbor across the street. It almost feels like God whispering, "So, are you liking the world I've created for you?" Here are a few moments from the past week. I am linking up with Friday's Fave Five.

Ironing pillowcases ~ My mom always ironed our pillowcases. In those days, most linens were mainly cotton, but even the mixed blends were carefully pressed and carried the faintest scent of laundry sizing. I still iron pillowcases, my brother says he does, too. They're easy to press and I think of the family and friends that will be resting their heads on the cool linen.

My reading corner ~ The soft, comfy chair in my den is a hand me down from a friend Mary. It is my favorite shade of celery green. When I sit there, book in hand or with journal and pen, Lilly is always curled up in her bed at my feet. I feel peaceful.

Lavender Soap ~ The soft fragrance reminds me of the soap that my grandma used to have. It was called Sweetheart soap, an oval bar with a delicate border carved along the edges and the name etched in the middle. The scent of lavender takes me back to the little bathroom where we would wash our hands before dinner, and my aunt would help my little brother, enclosing her hands over his, and he would giggle at the soapy lather. Isn't it funny how such a small thing can hold so much memory?

The clink of glass in a toast ~ What is it about raising glasses in a toast, when everyone reaches for each other's glass, and the smiles and goodwill at that very moment when glasses meet. In a group, you make sure you've touched each person's glass. It's a bit like a hug.

Geese ~ I can't help but be mesmerized watching geese land and take off on the water. It is an exercise in aerodynamics, dance, and comedy.