Gratitude Friday

1. Lemon Poppyseed Scones from Whole Foods.

2. Found recipe for Tomato Rhubarb Chutney. I can’t wait until we have fresh tomatoes again, for eating and to try this recipe. Our friends had a jar of tomato chutney on Christmas, served with cheese and crackers, and I could have eaten it straight out of the jar with a spoon. It was so good.

3. The Great Clear Out. I’ve been working for close to two weeks on clearing out my office space, which led to cleaning the garage, the front closet and dresser, and the “dog cabinet.” It feels so good to clear out some space, let go of things that no longer serve me, clean up and make room.

new shelves in the closet for my journals

4. Meditation practice. I’ve been having some horrible anxiety lately, as we try to figure out what’s up with Sam, determine how to help him, keep him comfortable (he has some sort of nerve issue in his lower jaw), and meditating is one of the only things that helps me to calm down.

5. Being on break with Eric. He’s one of the other things that helps me calm down. It’s good to get to spend some extra time with him right now.

Bonus Joy: The way Sam sometimes curls his feet under when he sleeps. This morning, he got on this bed under my writing desk because Eric had started the dryer and Sam has decided he doesn’t like laundry. He digs himself a little nest in the corner and tries not to think about it.

magic elf door at lee martinez park, image by eric

1. Just enough computer knowledge, knowing where to find support and being brave enough to try stuff, to get things working again. Now if I just had the patience to not be so irritated, frustrated when stuff happens that needs attention.

2. A date to go visit puppies. On Monday, we are going to visit two litters of Cattle Dog puppies. One of them might be our boy.

3. Friends who invite you to dinner on Christmas, and even though they are the ones with two little kids, they do most of the cooking and all of the clean up, and they don’t give you a hard time when you go home early because you are tired.

4. Gifts, the kind given with love and attention to what you like, who you are. I got these kinds of gifts this season, which is why I have so many new blank journals and books.

5. The opportunity, the willingness to let go. I spent all day yesterday in the garage, purging, clearing space, making piles to donate and throw away.

Bonus Joy: Sam. How he let me take a picture of him wearing a Christmas scarf. How he snuck one of my cookies last night, possibly in retribution.