Over the Backyard Fence

Look at life through a lens of gratitude, and even everyday things can appear brand new. That’s why I like doing Friday’s Fave Five each week. Ordinary moments bring delight. I find beauty and a sense of wonder, sometimes in my own backyard.

Here are five of my favorite things from this week. It’s been a quiet week, balanced with lots of time at home as well some time with friends and family.

 I missed last week’s Friday’s Fave Five because we were on a camping trip. It was Brooklynn’s first time camping and she had such a great time. She’s a real outdoors girl! Here’s a wrap up of five things that blessed my week.

Camping ⛺ ~ We looked forward to going up to a higher elevation where it would be cooler. However, even at 8,000 the temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees. We enjoyed the cooler mornings and chilly evenings. Emily and Brooklynn had a tent and dubbed their camp spot ‘deer alley.’ They were on the edge of a meadow and the deer grazed freely, much to their delight.

How easy it is to rush through our days without noticing the beauty and the blessings that abound. I’m thankful for Friday’s Fave Five, encouraging me to slow down at the end of the week and count five things that made my life better.

Watching this little guy grow, albeit from afar! Miranda keeps me updated with photos, and no matter what I’m doing or where I am, when I see one come through, my heart melts and I’m so thankful for how blessed we all are.

Finished projects! At last - The landscaping that had to be redone for the sewer line, the pergola that we installed on the back patio, and the irrigation lines for the perennial garden are all in place. Dan did the lion’s share of the first two projects. I am just a little proud that I figured out how to set up the irrigation for the perennials. 😌 I’m thankful to have a plot of land to call our own.

On Wednesday mornings, Dan plays in a softball league. This week Emily and I went to watch his game. It was a lovely day, we hung out with another family who we adore, and afterward went to lunch. I’m thankful to have this time to spend with my daughter. ❤

📚Summer reading - The afternoons have been so hot and we are in for another week of it. I’ve been intentional about taking some time for reading in the afternoon. Admittedly, I usually fall asleep for half an hour first! But then, I get to my book. I just finished Eve Plumb’s Happiness Included; Jan Brady and Beyond. It was a fun, light read, and a nice change from the Theodore Roosevelt biography that I’m slowly working my way through.

As I type this, the sky is heavy and gray, and we are expecting snow this afternoon! I am glad for it, because our lawn is so crispy dry and any bit of moisture will help.

In the meantime, here are a few things that made my life better this week. Linking up with the FFF crew at Susanne’s.

🏠A new roof. The din and uproar of a team of men clamoring about on my roof all day was worth it, knowing we’ll have a dry house to live in. The next day, yet another team was here replacing all the gutters. I managed to find things to do away from home. It’s nice to have a big job completed.

☕The first morning, I took my iPad and escaped to a local coffee shop for breakfast. The sweet young barista wanted to ‘experiment’ with latte art and made a bunny on my vanilla latte:)

I missed out putting my favorites on my blog last week. I almost always keep a list going in my planner, but getting them on the blog is another matter. Whether I get a blog post up or not, I like to continue this practice that Susanne encourages us to do each week to view life through a lens of joy, to find the good that is always unfolding.

🌸 Signs of Spring ~ They just keep coming, reminding me of the possibilities of renewal and new life. The birds — of course — do that for me. The arrival of shore birds at our local lake — avocets, Wilson’s snipes, and yellow legs — seemed to migrate in all at once this week. A pair of sparrows have taken up residence in one of our birdhouses, and on a walk last Saturday our group spotted three active nests.

🌸 Shopping with the grandkids ~ After picking them up from school yesterday, we went to the grocery store. It’s been a while since I’ve shopped with little ones, and it was one of the busiest times of day. As we shopped for produce, I gave them assignments to pick out lemons, bags of carrots, bananas, peppers. At 10 and 11, they were good helpers.

🌸 My stepmom has been dealing with some health issues, and her care is a team effort. While it can be challenging, the result of working together is heartening. At a recent medical appointment, I accompanied her and my dad so that I could facilitate FaceTime with C’s daughter and the doctor. The doctor is a gem, and gives us all the time we need. 

🌸 Ice cream and BritBox ~ Watching English dramas on BritBox is one of my favorite pastimes. On Wednesday evening, I had the house to myself, so I broke open a carton of ice cream and spent two hours in 1840s London.

🌸 Coffee with a friend ~ My friend and I decided to have our coffee outdoors one morning and met at a local park. The sun gleamed off a nearby lake and skies were clear and blue. It was so good to catch up and the setting elevated our moods, in spite of the serious conversation.

Dan and I had a wonderful time visiting Luke and Miranda and the kids this week. There were so many favorites things about our trip, but keeping with Friday’s Fave Five, I’ll list just five.

One

Lots and lots of snuggles with this little guy. He’s so content and so happy, and I just couldn’t get enough of kissing those cheeks and nuzzling his head.

Three

A field trip with Ivy. We rode the bus to the Children’s Museum and had the best time! I’d forgotten how much energy first graders can have, and was exhausted after keeping track of my group (only two little girls!) all day. I’m surprised there isn’t an age cap to qualify for chaperoning! 

Four

Seeing the kids in their daily routines. Here is Ivy walking home from school, which is just across the street from their house. They moved into 100-year-old house (‘new’ to them) last fall, and are thrilled with all the space!

Five

Basketball! Siefer had a tournament that we all went to, staying at a hotel for the weekend where the kids had a great time splashing in the pool. It was such fun to see her play.

Another night, we went to the school’s open gym and played a family game. Yes, even me, who hasn’t been on a court in more years than I can remember. It was such fun!

Got home on Wednesday, and I’m missing these smiling faces! Love them all so much ❤❤❤❤❤

Friday’s Fave Five is hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. It’s a time to pause and find the blessings in our week. Sometimes, it’s an opportunity to find peace in a world that is not always necessarily peaceful. That seems to be the case this week.

First, my apologies if you stopped by in the last couple of days, only to be told you are not invited to read my blog! I decided to work on the layout and so I turned off ‘reader access.’ I had no idea there would be such a curt message 😳 I‘m so grateful for each and every one of you who takes the time to visit my little corner of the world, and of course you are always welcome here! Speaking of gratitude, it’s a little late in the day, but not too late to join in for Friday’s Fave Five.

❄ We found winter this week. Dan, my dad and I took a drive to the southeast corner of our state for a few days to visit my brother and sister-in-law. The weather driving over was gorgeous, and then just as we arrived, snow began to fall. There was a fire going in the fireplace, and the log cabin home has a large window that overlooks the property. We watched a group of deer come through and the snow made it look like a painting.

❄ On Saturday, we took a drive into northern New Mexico and over Brazos Pass. At 10,500-feet elevation, the snow was deep and so pristine! The views were breathtaking. We’ve had so little moisture this year, so it was exciting to see. We capped off the day with a stop for a lunch of flatbread pizza and beer.

❄ I joined Bible Study Fellowship this week, an international Bible study program that has been around for over 50 years. I’m doing an online class with 17 other women from all over the country and even different parts of the world. I’m a little late to the game (what else is new?) as it begins in the fall, but jumped in and I’m loving the curriculum and getting to know everyone!

❄ I had some mending to do this week, and my sewing machine was giving me fits. Today, I took it to a shop in town and one of the employees sat down with me, and we figured out the problem was not nearly as bad as I thought! She and a customer were both helpful. It was so nice just being in the shop, which was busy with customers choosing fabric and talking about sewing. I used to sew a lot, and I realized how much I miss the sewing community.

❄ The Olympics have been so exciting to watch this week! I especially love watching the skaters, and the ski jumpers amaze me. I could never be so brave to go flying down a hill that fast! It makes me think, what am I so passionate about that I would put my all into it the way they do? When was the last time I felt so strongly about pursuing a dream? 

Happy Friday to all.

Following a spell of cold winter weather, we’re back to sunny skies and warmer days for a little while at least. I know we still have a couple of months to go before spring arrives, but it is nice to see the warm weather back again.

For Friday’s Fave Five this week I’ve been reflecting on how I’m grateful for other writers who share this hobby of blogging. It’s a special group for sure. Here are some of the reasons I’m so grateful for this community. 

One ~ I’ve met friends from all of the world through my blog. I liken it to having penpals. In fact, there are bloggers that I met years ago, and while they’ve chosen to leave the online community, we still email each other and exchange Christmas cards. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting some blogging friends in person, which is such a treat.

Two ~ I’m grateful to have been welcomed into a community of faith. People from all walks of life, different denominations and beliefs, there’s so much to learn from one another.

Three ~ There are so many good writers out there. I’ve learned by their example, and it’s a safe place to hone my own writing skills.

Four ~ Bloggers are generous in sharing. Some of my family’s favorite recipes come from other bloggers. For instance, I’ve been making these honey lime chicken enchiladas for years. And books! People that like to write also like to read, and book lovers love to share their favorites. I’m never at a loss for ideas.

Five ~ I think most bloggers have a very positive attitude about life. They keep it real by showing the ups and downs in life, but for the most part they will sift through experiences and come out feeling grateful. Friday’s Fave Five has been the best exercise for this.

We were supposed to leave for Wisconsin this week, to see Luke and family. However, a funeral has delayed our departure, and as we try to figure out our calendar, we’re not quite sure when we’ll be leaving. Everything is so up in the air now, and our plans are somewhat scattered, with a couple of trips planned in the next two months. I can’t promise when I’ll be posting here next. Take care, everyone!

 No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

Hal Borland

We are in the midst of a cold spell. After weeks of mild winter weather, the temperatures dropped to single digits and we even have a bit of snow on the ground. Yesterday, was the perfect day for wearing a warm turtleneck sweater, making a toasted marshmallow latte, and watching episodes of All Creatures Great and Small. As I type this, the sun is shining bright and I’m watching a couple of house finches at the heated bird bath outside my window. I think I’ll get out some Valentine’s decorations today, so we can enjoy them for a while. Bright red and pink hearts warm the winter days.

Here are a few things that made my week nicer.

One ~ a new flannel bathrobe. I found a sale after Christmas and treated myself. It’s nice and long, and the fabric is so soft, but not too heavy. 

Two ~ reconnecting with family. I had occasion to talk to some of my family who live on the east coast this week. One was a cousin who is my age, and when we were growing up we wrote letters to each other constantly. Back in the days when phone calls were almost unheard of, due to the expense. Now, we talk every so often and we easily pick up wherever we left off. I do miss the days of letter-writing, but it is nice to have a good chat, too.

Three ~ Speaking of snail mail, I received a couple of New Year’s cards in the mail this week. It’s always nice when holiday cards come after Christmas. Finding ‘happy mail’ in the mailbox is always a treat. I also received a note from my goddaughter, a ‘just for fun’ note. I love that.

Four ~ some good reads. My favorite this week is The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly. I can’t wait to start another book by this author. I was immediately drawn into this story of two sisters who inherit a dress shop from their mother in WWII London. In addition to a lovely story about the two women, the book is an interesting account about fashion during the war era. Constraints were put on the industry to use less fabric and materials, and designers were creative in coming up with clothing that made women (and men) feel well-dressed while still conserving materials for the war effort. I used to do a lot of sewing and dressmaking, and I found it quite interesting.

Five ~ Basketball 🏀 ~ Our granddaughter who lives in Wisconsin is a huge Denver Nuggets fan, which pleases us to no end. For her birthday, Luke took her to the game in Milwaukee last night, where our home team happened to be playing. We watched on TV and texted with Siefer a bit. It was so fun to see her enthusiasm. (She’s very easy to shop for, as we have plenty of access to gear here).