Well it seems to me that April just started and that we just had Easter yet here we are at the end of the month already and it's a Friday....which means I'm sharing FIVE of my FAVE blessings from the past week. There's a good group of us who are intentional about finding things to be thankful for and we all link up at our host's site. Click here to learn more.
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| chicken tenders platter |
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| Sculpture signage |
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The Rejoice Sculpture
Freedom Park/Scotia NY |
- DATE NIGHT! Last Friday evening, Dave and I had a real date night. First time in about 3 months. We headed to this place as we hadn't been there in about 6 years and never for the dinner platters. It was a gorgeous Spring evening with sunshine, warm temps and just a slight somewhat chilly breeze off the Mohawk River. We live about 30 minutes east of this popular eatery so we don't get there often. After waiting in line for 45 min, we finally headed over to this park on the riverside (to the left of the sculpture pictured above) and sat at one of the picnic tables there away from the crowd. Everything was delicious. We ate slowly as our systems aren't used to all the junk food as we have been doing clean eating/plant-based/whole foods for a while now. But it sure felt great to have some junk food for our "cheat night" and we decided not to get the ice cream as we didn't like the vegan option and we were full anyways. The platters are still cheap compared to most places in the NYS Capital Region so we were thankful for that along with being thankful for the gorgeous weather and just the chance to hang out together after a hectic week. I'm also thankful we spent time talking and walking through the park.
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| The Hosta is up! |
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| Front flower garden peony bush |
- PLANTS! It seems like my peony bushes (I have three) and hosta around the cherry tree closest to our driveway were up overnight! I had gone for an evening walk around the neighborhood Monday evening and when I returned, I noticed the bright green of both plants as the sun had come out and it was just beautiful although chilly. I'm thankful for the green of God's creation and for the fact that my tulips have all bloomed and look so pretty.
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| more tulips are up around the cherry tree |
- LAUGHTER: One evening this week, my friend/neighbor Melissa texted me about a "road that just went under my fence into your yard and I wanna look at it". I was like ????? Road? I soon realized she meant toad. I went out to my backyard and she was showing me this odd looking frog/toad. We took a pic and just cracked up because 1. it looks like a hybrid creature....part frog (the head) and part toad (the body). 2. This is the first time in 28 years of living here that we have ever seen this animal in our yards. Rabbits, fox, racoon, a coyote a few times, deer and possum (before the guy behind us took out all the woods) squirrels, chipmunks and even a snake once.... and birds of all kinds.......but never this creature. We just laughed and laughed. I'm thankful for laughter and good friends who are also neighbors to share in the silly moments.
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First time ever seeing this in our suburban yard
and no, there are no ponds nearby
note the brown body but the green head. |
- AFTER WORK WALKS: I was able to power walk each day this past week except for Tuesday. On Wednesday, it was so sunny and nice with temps in the low 60s that I drove after work to the large park in the south part of town where I live. My goal was to do an actual power walk for 2 miles but I only made it to 1.4 before my hip for some reason started aching. The grounds were beautiful and this was the first time I had been there this Spring. I'm thankful for beautiful parks to walk or bike in.
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This section of the park is called The Ramble
As it winds around and loops through a wooded area |
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the part of the park called The Orchard
to the right of the pine trees is a farm (yes here in suburbia)
where baby goats were frolicking |
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The Orchard path loops around to the main road and then over to the pond
I loved how the pear blossoms looked here |
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| The Pond and the fountain is up! |
- TEXT: I had a surprise text from a young lady my oldest daughter used to hang out with when they were much younger. I can't go into the details here yet, but let's just say this text made me say "thank You, God". It had been well over a year since I've heard from A and I'm thrilled she reached out to me.
8 comments:
Hi Faith. Yes, that is an odd looking toad. We used to have toads (a lot of them) in our yard when we lived in Southern Illinois. I haven't seen any around here. Glad you got some good walks in and had a nice date night with your husband. Have a great weekend. See you again soon!
Your date night sounds fun. I struggle to eat a big meal if we go out these days because we're just out of the habit of eating out regularly. That is a strange looking toad (road/frog lol). Glad you were able to get out walking this week. Our weather hasn't been the best so I've been a bit lazy this week. Enjoy your weekend.
Nice pictures. There is a big park that I like to go to also. Sorry about your hip. I do notice more aches and pains. Glad that from made you laugh!
What a blessing to have such a lovely walk nearby. Our only walk is the track at the high school but it is so busy. I love the solitude of your track! I have never seen a toad in the wild and in truth I dont want to. Ate our daughter's she has tons of small frogs and garter snakes. some things we jsut do jot ahve. We will get a large black snake every now and then and I ahve come to not despise them because they do keep other unwanted wildlife away. but as I ahve gotten older, my sensibilities toward much wildlife ha gone south. Im afraid!
This must be the week for date nights, as Susanne had one, too! We need to do that more often. Glad you had some nice walks and a fun visit with your neighbor and the toad/frog. Yay fir the good text.
Your meals out sound fun. When we eat in a restaurant, we almost always either share the meal or end up bringing half of our dinners home as leftovers.
What a cute fr(og-t)oad. And I loved the story of your friendship with your neighbor.
Your walks are always great. I love reading about them.
Have a good weekend!
That's nice to go back to a place you haven't been for a long time and only you two. I have to say I also prefer squirrels and chipmunks (they don't exist here) in the garden than this disguised prince ! Maybe you both should try to kiss him, maybe he will look like a handsome Prince then ! I see from my 4th floor, squirrels and a fox family. Sometimes Mr. Fox sleeps in the middle of the lawn in the sunshine. I suppose the people here in the building feed them. The squirrels too, they are so cute, we only have the little red once not the big grey you have in the States.
Laughter really is the best medicine. How fun you had a good laugh to share with your friend over the road, I mean toad. LOL.
How fun to get out on a date night and enjoy fun food and each other's company.
I've taken the dog out for a walk after work a couple times but no power walking, it is crazy hot here. Like middle of summer hot. Today is going to be 84*F. Crazy, went straight from winter to summer with no spring.
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