Mid March Faves

 

There's just something about a nice quiet week that looked, felt, and smelled like Spring.  I'm embracing every moment and finding FIVE of my FAVE blessings God poured out in my life this past week.

You can join in too by checking out the guidelines found over here at Susanne's blog.  It is good to find things to be grateful for. 

• COFFEE AND CHATTING:  My good friend Diane from church came over last Friday morning for a much needed "Catch up" and some good coffee. She also explained my X ray results to me (she's a retired PT) a little better than what I found online and showed me a new -to me- neck stretch to help with the cervicogenic headaches. We talked about all kinds of things....our now young adult children, what God is doing in our various ministries we serve in, etc.  I'm so thankful for friends in Christ who love coffee and a good chat!

• AT HOME DINNER DATE:  Dave landed safely in Guatemala last Friday afternoon and this freed me up to have our oldest girl over for dinner when she got out of work. I had made a huge pasta salad and needed someone to share it with.  I also made some garlic bread to go with it.  We had dinner as a picnic style in the family room while watching another episode of The Handmaid's Tale. I'm so thankful she could dash over after work and hang out for a little bit. 

Tow Path Trail/Erie Canal
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve

Haughty Heron

Erie Canal  where young beavers were frolicking

• NATURE WALK:  Friday afternoon was downright balmy.  As in: I only needed a light fleece jacket!  I headed to  the nature preserve just to the north of our house and did a quiet, somewhat slow paced walk. Ran into an elderly gentleman who told me there were baby beavers playing in the canal. We stood for about 10 min and then finally saw one. Of course he was much too fast for me to get in a pic.  But I continued to walk to the end of that trail (1.1 miles), turned around, and went back the 1.1 to my car.  Before getting to my car, there is a large puddle from all the rain we had in previous days.  A heron was just standing there.  I've never been that close to one, even in my kayak!  I snapped a couple of pics and was just amazed at how he just stood there looking at me. Finally, he rose up and flew up towards the trees.  I'm thankful I had this path mostly to myself and saw some wonderful wildlife. 

Copeland Carriage Shop from the 1700s. 

Beecher Creek Falls
Edinburgh NY
Southern Adirondack Mts

photo compliments of my cousin Kenneth E

• ROAD TRIP:  Wednesday was bright, sunny and very Spring-like.  I drove north to the village where I grew up every summer at our family camp (my parents sold it when I was 15 and the property now belongs to a 2nd cousin and his young family). My cousin Kenny lives in the village about a mile from where my parents' had their camp and about 3 miles north of where my mom was born further down the road. We met up for some conversation and then went out to lunch in the next town to the east.  After lunch we walked down the road about a half mile to the famous Copeland Covered bridge and Beecher Creek waterfalls.  What a lovely day and I'm thankful I took the time to spend with my cousin who tends to be lonely.  I ended the road trip with a quick stop at a beach on the Great Sacandaga before heading home. 

Great Sacandaga Lake
at Providence town park/beach
Mountains are to the  north 

Looking west towards Hadley
 and the mountains of the Eastern Adirondacks

• LUNCH DATE! Our youngest daughter has Thursdays off (as well as Tuesdays...her "'weekend" and she uses Thursdays as a "Sabbath" for the most part. Today she came over to do a little laundry (where she lives, it costs just under $7.00 a week for one load!!) and then we drove 20 min north to our fave small city for lunch at this amazing place.  Oh my...how we love it there. This time I tried the Tofu Salad.  It was fantastic. The weather was glorious: blue sky, sunshine and temps of 65!! Afterwards, we walked a mile to one of our fave coffee cafes and she paid for a latte for me since i paid for lunch.  We then took our coffees to the downtown park and sat in the sunshine to talk.  I'm so thankful for Claire and spending time with me.  It was a really fun day and we got a lot of steps in.....2 miles worth! 

Maple latte with almond milk!

BONUS FAVE:  Besides some good phone conversations with good friends and family, I also had several pain free (from the headaches) days.  I still get the back and neck pain but the chiropractor now has my X ray results so will adjust what she's doing based on those results.  I'll see her next Wednesday to talk everything over.  Super thankful for pain free days. the power of prayer!!

that wraps up my fave blessings from the past week.

Dave returns from Guatamala tonight and I'm looking forward to hearing all about his trip and what the team did for the Kingdom. I'm sure many hearts and lives were touched 

HAPPY WEEKEND!