Long Week Faves

 

What a long week it's been. So I need to be intentional and look for the blessings because it's been a difficult week.

I'm sharing FIVE blessings and linking up with other bloggers at Susanne's site. 

FIVE FAVES

the beginning of the Red Trail  (all snow and ice)
at Barkersville Trails
Saratoga County

• WOODS HIKE!  I hiked the first real hike of 2021.  I've been sticking to power walking (throughout January except for one easy hike in a nature preserve) or the treadmill (most of Feb because of the bitter cold temps). This past Saturday my friend Diane rode with me in my car (she's in my Covid bubble as we power walk together just about every Friday) and we met my friend Cheryl from the central part of NY along with another new hiking club member, named Emaly (and her beautiful husky-lab).  We hiked on snow, ice (lots of ice!!), pine needles and a mix, plus crossed a creek (we were expecting bridges...nope...we had to sink into knee deep snow to find a place to cross without getting our feet wet due to HIGH waters and rushing cold water!).  That was a challenge.  We totaled 3.3 miles in this new trail system that just opened up in Nov about 35 minutes north-west of where I live.  I'm thankful for a fun day out in the fresh air and woods.

the middle part of the Red Trail had less snow and ice

a ridgeline that was almost total ice
Thanking God for stablicers and hiking poles!

We had to cross this creek.  

the Yellow loop trail that joined off the Red Trail
had lots of snow and ice to hike through

• PRAYERS AND SCRIPTURE:  I had a wonderful email from blogging friend Deborah from over here.  Her comments to me and her prayers are most appreciated as I deal with a physical issue I had told her about. I also got a text from my prayer partner Cindy which contained Scripture and healing prayers. I'm so thankful for fellow Christ followers who pray alongside me, lift me up in their own prayer time or add me to their church's prayer list.

Frozen Coffee Pie

• PAINT N PIE DAY!  Being the mom of a math major, Pi Day (3/14) has been a "thing" in our home since our oldest was in high school taking Honors everything.  And Dave is a whiz at math, as is our youngest daughter even though she says "it's boring". Both girls earned a level 5 on their Calculus Exam in high school.  They definitely take after their dad.  Well, Dave picked up a blueberry pie for himself on Sunday (Pi Day) but  Courtney doesn't care for blueberry so I saved her a piece from the pie in the pic.  I made that Sunday afternoon for my work's Professional Development Day on Monday.  We had the students for a half day (so for 2 hours) and then we had a required training via Google Meets and then we had an in person Pie and Paint session for some self care and to say "good bye" to our school social worker as she moves on to a different job.  She happens to be an artist on the side so led us through a fun sunset pic. We all brought a different pie and we all sampled MANY.  Mine was a hit.  You can find the recipe here.  I'm thankful for fun foods and a good time with work colleagues. 

image courtesy of Amaz*n

• DINNER ON THE COUCH!  My oldest daughter works from home on Wednesdays and Dave eats dinner at the church before his volunteer job of youth group leader.  So on the Wednesdays that I don't host my book group, I have some extra time with Courtney.  Wednesday evening we decided to do dinner together so I made potato gnocchi with pesto sauce and we sat on the family room couch together to watch another episode in season 2 of the Handmaid's Tale. What a good series!  Kinda creepy at times and now they're starting to deviate from the novel, but it's very enthralling.  I'm thankful for evenings like these with my young adult daughter.  I treasure them!

• EARLIER BEDTIME:  This past week has been draining for many different reasons.  I found out the woman who was my TA for years when I was a master teacher at a wonderful Special Ed PreK center (my very first teaching job out of grad school that I had from 1987-1995) died on Sunday.  She had been suffering from ovarian cancer the last several years. Then I had a horrible dry sinusitis attack...am still dealing with that actually.....doctor won't give antibiotics until at least 10 days has gone by and it's only been 5. If you've ever had acute dry sinusitis you know the pain I'm talking about!  So I've intentionally made myself go to bed earlier than usual by about a half hour.  Not easy for me.  I'm thankful, though, that I was able to fall asleep every night very quickly.

That wraps up my blessings from the week.

I hope you had some as well and I hope you have a restful, safe weekend.

HAPPY FRIDAY!