February Faves

Well, we are now into February and there's only about 7 weeks left until spring! Right?

So let's pause during this wild winter weather we've been having here in eastern NY and look for things to be grateful for.  I do this by linking up at Susanne's site with other bloggers who share FIVE of their FAVE  blessings from the past week.  Won't you join us?  What made you smile this week and say "Thank You, God"?

FIVE FAVES

• MOVIE NIGHT! Saturday evening my husband and I went to the 5 pm church service and then decided to just relax and watch a Jane Austen  movie that's been on my "want to watch" Netflix list. It's based on the novel with the same title and somehow I've made it to age 60 and have never read the book! It's probably my fave stories by Austen so the novel is going on my "to be read" list.  My oldest daughter collects Austen novels and she owns it so I can borrow it once I'm done with my library books.  The movie was excellent as was the acting in it.  I actually like the story better than Pride and Prejudice (which I did read in high school and saw the movie).  Mansfield Park was Austen's third published novel.  I'm thankful we took the time to sit together after dinner and watch this movie. It's one of our fave things to do in the winter months.

photo is courtesy of my hiker-photogrpaher friend Cheryl A Blask

On the edge of the preserve is a large farm...note the silo in the distance
these trees are the boundary

trail on the outer loop

Me trying to cross the frozen, slippery creek
 because the bridge was out!

the trail on the inner loop

• HIKING! Sunday afternoon, I met my friend Cheryl who lives out in the central part of the state, at a nature preserve we've been wanting to check out.  Neither one of us had hiked it before.  It's in a little town about 35 minutes north-west of where I live.  It was lovely.  The trail system was three different loop hikes, and they all interconnect at some point.  We did the entire system except for about .2 of it.  So out total hike was 2.3 miles.  It was overcast, but the temps hovered about 34 F and towards the end a light snow was drifting down.  The kind that's light and fluffy and doesn't stick. The entire hike was flat except for when we had to go down an embankment and cross a creek due to a bridge being out. We also passed by a long pond but it was completely frozen over. I'm so thankful we spent time in nature and hiked a new-to-me trail making me get closer to my goal of 10 new trails by June.  I have now done 3!!

• SLEEP SCORE! I have a Fitbit Alta HR and I love checking my sleep score each morning.  Well, last month I had a score of 93 (excellent) for the first time (my average is "Good....at between 86 and 88). And this past week, my score one morning was a 92!  I guess it's based on how many times you wake up during the night (i tend to wake up 4-5 times although I'm only conscious once usually) and your REM, Light Sleep and Deep Sleep.  I was thankful to see an excellent score and my  body did feel the most rested it has in about 4 weeks.

• STAFF BREAKFAST:  I organized an all staff breakfast to welcome our new site coordinator to our preK.  She happens to be a former special education teacher in a school where I used to work part time!  We also said good-bye that morning to one of the assistants on my team and welcomed the girl who is taking that assistant's place.  It went smoothly and everyone contributed either money towards the plant I bought or donated a food item.  I'm so thankful to work in such a welcoming agency.

a bit of cheer on a grey, gloomy day

• DAFFODILS!  On Wednesday evening, my friend Diane (who has hiked with me in the past) and is a member of my small group this semester, surprised me with these pretty, cheerful flowers!  I love them. They're perfect for these grey, gloomy February days.  I'm thankful for friends who go the extra mile and for our Creator who made these beautiful flowers.

That wraps up my faves!

I hope you all have a restful, healthy weekend!