Here it is Friday again and the first full week of July is gone!
I just love summer and even though I have to teach summer school and prepare learning kits for the students opting out, I still feel like I have enough of the day to get in some fun during the work week. There's a slower pace to the days and I love that.
So while we're slowing down to welcome in the weekend, let's share five of our fave blessings from the past week and link up at Susanne's site to read what other writers are thankful for.
- INDEPENDENCE DAY! Dave and I woke up rather early and enjoyed breakfast on the deck then gathered all the kayaking gear and our picnic I had packed the night before and headed north-west to the southern Adirondacks. We were meeting one of my younger sister's and her husband at one of our very fave southern Adk lakes: Algonquin Lake in Wells. Hope and Donny and I kayaked over to the beach (about a mile paddle) and Dave drove the car over to grab a spot and put his kayak in. The beach is a town beach and officially closed for the summer (due to Covid) but it's swim at your own risk and everyone was polite and social distancing. We swam, had good food, kayaked and even watched the locals do a boat parade with one boat playing the National Anthem. It was wonderful! After being on the lake from 10 a.m til about 3 pm we were all getting a bit sun-burned and ready for a special treat from the local ice cream stand. I ordered a small cappuccino crunch ice cream in a dish and it was absolutely amazing. I'm thankful we had this day for some fun and fellowship.
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| Dave (my husband), Hope (my sister who's 5 yrs younger than me) and her husband Donny on the beach at Lake Algonquin, southern ADKS 7/4/2020 |
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| beautiful Lake Algonquine Wells, NY southern ADKs |
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| taken from my kayak, heading towards the boat parade |
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| My two favorite patriotic boats in the Independence Day Boat Parade! |
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| Dave and I (i'm in the green kayak) watching the Boat parade |
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| image courtesy of change website (I never get a DD latte...I prefer lattes from St*rbucks)
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| image courtesy of cvs site |
- ICE PACKS! My toes are battered. From the steep descent in 90 degree heat and 68% humidity down that mountain I hiked last Thursday. I haven't been able to wear my sneakers or any closed toe shoes this week. I've had to ice my toes throughout the day (thank God for ice packs at work!). It's called hiker's toe jam and so far my toe's nails (just the big toes hurt) aren't black.....just bruised. I'm thankful for ice packs. I'm thankful I did the hike as it was a significant physical and mental challenge but I'm definitely reaping the consequences of this hot humid weather. And like my youngest daughter stated "you're no spring chicken, mother". sigh.
- CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING: I never want to take this for granted. Not everyone has the privilege of having central air. Almost every home in our neighborhood does. We've had it since the summer I was pregnant with our 2nd (and last!) child (1998). But before that, we just had the ceiling fan in the family room or window fans for the bedrooms. I prefer the windows open of course but when the temps climb above 85 with humidity over 60% I just can't take it anymore. The older I get, the harder it is to sleep in high heat. Plus Dave is still working from home and since the office is in our bedroom currently, it really must stay on. (It's not good for computers to be in high heat....did you know that??) I'm so thankful for central air and that with the push of a button I can set it to various temps for different parts of the day.
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| Cucumber Crunch Slaw |
- FRESH SALADS: I've enjoyed making several different types of salads since Summer began on June 21st. This one shown above is from the latest Taste of Home magazine. It's called Cucumber Crunch Coleslaw and I tweaked it a bit for our specifications. You can find my recipe here. I'm thankful for all different kinds of salads. Sometimes I just add garlic bread on the side and sometimes a protein like grilled chicken or grilled salmon.
That wraps up my first week of summer school faves.
How was your week?? what made you smile and say "Thank You, God?"
please do share!
6 comments:
The day on the lake looks lovely but sorry to hear about your toes after the hike. Ouch! The flavoured coffees look tempting but I've never been a coffee drinker so not sure whether I'd like these of not. Moot point at the moment as I still don't feel like venturing out to cafes etc. Enjoy your weekend.
Your 4th of July sounds lovely. The lake is beautiful and looks peaceful. And any kind of coffee flavored ice cream is my absolute favorite! Ouch for the toes. Heat and humidity is not my friend anymore either. In Costa Rica with OCC my feet swelled so bad I couldn't put my shoes on. Thank God they fit into my sandals but I had to wear them home and the weather here was almost at the freezing mark. Claire's comment made me laugh. Sigh is right. Still have to try that salad, but I'm going to!
Great post today! Amen for central air! I am just so grateful I don't live in AZ any more where it is supposed to be 117 today. Too hot for me, and when the air conditioning goes out, it is about unbearable! I can't take heat much anymore either. Your 4th of July sounded so nice. So glad you were able to get together with your sister and her husband. Hope your toe gets better soon. I know how that goes first hand. I recently lost a toe nail and had a bruised and swollen toe after hiking. Oh well, worth the cost in my books. That iced coffee sounds yummy. Seems like everyone is posting about ice cream today and I am getting tempted! Have a great weekend, Faith. Virtual hugs from UT!
Your 4th sounds wonderful! Your poor toes. I hope they feel better soon. I agree about central air. I didn't grow up with it--they didn't even have it in my college dorm in the later 70s. Our first two houses didn't have it. Wow--I just calculated, and our first house with central AC was in 1994. I really don't think I could live without it now.
Ha! "no spring chicken" made me laugh. I commented to my hiking buddy this morning on our very very steep climb to the water tower, "I forget I"m mummblle mumbble years old."
Oh your poor toes. Yes, ice packs help. I'm feelin' your pain over here.
Your holiday at the lake sounds like fun!
Sounds (and looks) like you had a great fourth!!! So nice to get out this summer and do things. I haven't tried the Butter Pecan iced coffee yet but YUMMMMMM I must try it soon!! That salad looks delish!
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