SUMMER DAYS FAVES

 

It's Friday and time to share FIVE of our FAVE blessings from the past week. Join me and other bloggers as we link our posts to Susanne's site and learn what made each other say "Thank You, God" this week. 

Beecher Creek Falls
Edinburgh, NY
southern ADK

Copeland Covered Bridge 
the only standing covered bridge left  in Saratoga County

• MEMORIAL AND SIDE TRIP: Last Friday, I met my cousin Trisha, my sister Hope, and her husband Donny, at the memorial service for our older cousin Donna. We are all close with Donna's younger brother Kenny as he is my age.  We barely knew Donna but because Kenny lost his oldest sister Priscilla last year  due to  Covid complications,  and his other sister Barbara to brain cancer during Covid, all while grieving the loss of their mom (my aunt) Martha, (their dad died when we were teens), we felt we should be there for Kenny. He's had a rough couple of years and now is the only family member left of our generation from Aunt Martha (my mom's oldest sister).  Now, a memorial service isn't typically a blessing. The blessing is that we got to see our first cousins once removed..some of whom we had never met. After the service, Trisha and I went out to lunch at this place and then I took a side trip over to Beecher Creek. The creek was high due to all the rain we had the end of June/beginning of July and the falls were stunning as usual. I'm thankful for seeing our cousins and their families and for the time of fellowship with my cousin Trisha. 
  

River Road bike/walking path

Power walking feels good on a 68 degree morning!

Mohawk River/Erie Canal from the bike path
Thursday 20 July

That sky! 
First time in a month with no clouds or haze!

• BIKING and WALKING IN NATURE:  I honestly don't know how anyone can stand to go to a gym.  Especially from April-November! There's nothing like working out in God's amazing creation and the last few days have been perfect for it. Even on the hot and humid days last week, I took my bike out early to get a cardio work in before the temps rose. For biking I can't get to the town bike paths as we don't have a way to transport the bike.  So I ride in my immediate area.  I do hit up the bike paths though for power walking and that's usually where I see people jogging, biking, roller blading, and power walking ...or just walking leisurely.  Yesterday morning was just perfect so I'm sharing a few of my pics I took along the way. I'm thankful the last few days have been perfect summer weather!

image courtesy of church website
Our Senior Pastor

• CONVERSATION: After the  9 AM service, I ran into our senior pastor in the lobby and we had a conversation for a good solid 10 minutes which was just awesome as he has a lot of people to greet and speak with.  I wanted to introduce him to one of the women in my book club so that happened and then my husband joined us in conversation after he finished up his production duties. I'm so thankful for Pastor Rex and his teachings/leadership. He's the real deal. We have learned so much in the last 18 years from being at this church. 

Schroon Lake in Schroon Lake Village
at the town park/beach
eastern ADK
19 July

 

Loon Lake beach in Chestertown, NY
Eastern ADK
19 July

• LAKE DAY! Tuesday evening the high humidity broke and the hot, hazy temperature fell.  Wednesday morning dawned bright, clear and cooler!  I did some housework and then drove an hour and a half north to the mid-Eastern region of the Adirondack mountains. I started in Schroon Lake village at the town park beach. Parking is free as is the use of the park/beach. It has one lifeguard. There were several people...tourists..from out of state but it wasn't packed. I set up my chair and stuff in the shade of a large oak tree and then walked to the village to grab a sandwich.  I ate by the lake and the breeze was  awesome. The water was cold so I basically sat and read my book.  After a couple hours of that, I drove south a little bit and ended up at Loon Lake in Chestertown to swim.  It was less crowded and the water was warmer since the lake is shallower. It's a beautiful mountain lake and the beach is spotless. It was the first nice day since we've been back from Vermont. I'm thankful I had the afternoon in the mountains!

Squash medley

image courtesy of google pics

• FRESH PRODUCE!  I'm just over the top thrilled that I have time now to attend various Farmers Markets and local farm stands in our region during the week. This past week I was able to get fresh zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes.  I made several different salads and then a couple of recipes that I haven't used in a long time. (You can find them in my side bar). I'm so thankful for fresh veggies!

Those are five blessings from the week but I know there are more.  I've loved the morning coffee time with my husband, chatting in the family room together; I've been blessed with phone calls and texts from our daughters and email exchanges with my sisters.  A plumbing problem we had just seemed to disappear overnight! I still had the plumber come out since he was coming anyways, and also because he had to fix a different issue....and when he checked the upstairs sink where we had a LARGE puddle in the sink cabinet which SOAKED our extra tp rolls.....there was nothing. NO leak. He said the pipes all look good as does the sink. Glory to God!

I hope whatever you have planned for this summer weekend, that you find time to rest, reflect, and spend some time in nature! It's good for the body, mind, and soul!