Happy August Faves

It's the beginning of August and I have just two more weeks of teaching summer school!  Then vacation!!  Hallelujah!  It's been such a great summer....so glad it continues to be a good one. Let's pause and reflect back on all the good things that came our way this last week.  Then join in at Susanne's site by linking up your post.  

Here are my FIVE FAVES:

blueberry pancakes, plant-based "sausage" and fresh peaches!

(photo taken by Claire)
We're not too shabby for 58 and 52, right?!

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!  Dave turned 52 (yes, I'm 6 yrs older!) and we started the day with dark,robust coffee, blueberry pancakes, plant-based sausage, and fresh peaches sliced up.  Oh my....it was absolutely delish...then church, home to relax a bit, then a mid-day dinner at this place....his fave Japanese restaurant.  We just love hibachi style so 3 out of the 4 of us did that, and Claire the vegan decided to try the Tofu dinner.  (I had a piece and it was divine).  Dave got his Hibachi Scallops, I had the Veggie Hibachi, and Courtney had the Chicken Hibachi.  We had so much food that we said No thanks to dessert.  Later that day, we enjoyed a cocktail instead of cake.  It was a great day and I'm thankful he liked his gifts and the dinner.

The Hudson River at Blue Ledges
Central Adirondack Mountains
30 July 2018

Blue Ledges along the Hudson River
Blue Ridge Wilderness Area
Central Adirondacks
Minerva, NY

• FRIEND VISIT! My very dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Deborah, came up from TN to visit her family in central NYS. (her husband had to stay down and work).  She always saves a day for me as I am in eastern NY, about 2 hours from her family.I had taken a personal day knowing she was going to want to hike.  I took her to the Blue Ledges trail which is located in the Central Adirondacks.  She loved every minute and she got to see and hear 3 loons for the very first time.  (we grew up in central NY just on the tip of the southern ADKS so hearing loons in our hometown wasn't a thing...they stick to the northern lakes).  After doing the 5 mile hike, we headed south to Lake George Village and ate dinner at this place before heading home. We ate on the terrace and it was a perfect summer evening!  I'm so thankful we had the day together.  We only get to see each other once a year.

• COMPLIMENT:  the executive director of the early childhood center/special education preschool where I teach sent me an email this past week praising some things I have done with the children and classroom. I'm always thankful to get compliments from the head person. She's a wonderful lady and really takes time to get to know us special ed staff.  She is the real deal and it's a pleasure to be working for this agency.

COUSINS! (minus one)
Courtney, age 25; Claire, age 19
Emma, age 15 and Mady, age 10

• FAMILY PICNIC:  Each summer for the last 10 years or so, my sister Hope and her husband Donny have hosted a family picnic.  It used to be my dad and mom and all of us girls and our families. Hope and Donny don't have children but the rest of us do. My sister Joy was there minus her son Luke because he had to work.  My husband and 2 girls were there as well as my youngest sister Jill and her husband Mike and their 2 daughters (pictured above).  The girls all get along and have fun together.  I also had a chance to talk with my dad's youngest brother...my Uncle Cliff and his wife Anna and Anna's daughter Patty.  Uncle Cliff was my favorite uncle growing up.  He used to take us boating when we would visit my grandmother up north in the mountains and taught us how to skip stones.  I also got to chat with my aunt Ruth (my mom's younger sister) and my Uncle Bruce. They are getting pretty frail so it was good to see them. I really only see them once a year and the last time I had seen them was at my dad's funeral. Although Mom and Dad are in heaven now, I'm thankful that the family picnic continues.

Courtney and her friend Amylia
Summer 2010
Great Sacandaga Lake
Southern Adirondacks

• SOLD!  I placed our tandem kayak for sale on the Marketplace page via Facebook and within one week we sold it!  A lovely family bought it and the mom came over after work to pick it up.  They are very excited to start using it. We bought it new in 2010 but rarely used it once Dave and I bought our higher quality single kayaks.  We did use it a few weeks ago at our Long Lake vacation and that's when we decided we are done with it. We prefer the way our singles glide through the water.  The tandem was actually made for the ocean and we were honest about that with the interested buyers but that didn't seem to stop this one family from purchasing it.  I'm thankful it's going to be a family who is excited about using it!

That wraps up my week.

How about you?

What were some blessings from your week?