Three Things...Gratitude Thread

[TiggerTrigger]

Fall colors/temps/smell - I haven't experienced it in 30 years, but I know it exists. I had really been hoping for a trip to CT, MA, RI and NH in a couple of weeks but that just didn't pan out. Still, I'm grateful to know it's out there for when I am able to travel.

Fall Baking Shows - I got the house all to myself last night for the weekly installment of the Halloween Baking Championship on Food Network. I got distracted a few times, so I might even rewatch it. While it started the last week of September, I'm happy to have weekly installments of the Great British Baking Show throughout the month of October.

Fat Bear Week - For those that follow the Katmai cameras, yesterday was a pretty sad day, but I'm still happy that we get to begin the annual tradition of the Fat Bear Week competition. I feel so silly sometimes saying that I have a favorite bear, but he's usually a contender and it'll be interesting to see how he does this year without certain favorites in the mix.

 

[leebee]

October means fall is here to stay! That means:
Gorgeous leaves
Sweater/hoodie weather
Snuggly blankets while reading at night
Casseroles and stews
Crisp, clean evenings with gorgeous night skies/stars
FALL BREAK... 5 days off!

(I don't want to think about what's coming AFTER October, hahaha!)

 

[Tink-osophy]

OCTOBER

Crisp air. Well, crisp-er, for now, anyway!

Colorful, crunchy leaves. Except for the 'clearing them up' part!

Comfortable boots.

 

[Tink-osophy]

#3 - Less Yard Work - Once I finish winterizing the yard, which I’m almost done with, then I’m done for the year. By the fall, I’m no longer in the mood to be watering flowers, pulling weeds and other chores that need to be done in the yard. It’s nice to have some time off from doing all that.

Oh, yes! I like having a garden, but it is nice to have a break from the work!

Casseroles and stews

Yes... and more slow cooker meals, here, too.

 

[bluecastle]

October is a beautiful month! The colors, the smells, and the Halloween decorations.

A brief respite before the craziness of the holidays! (I love them, but there is stress too)

Fall is tough on my sinuses, but I love the cooler temperatures and wearing jeans again!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Halloween

My Birthday

Beautiful Fall Colors

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Wed, 10/2) - 3 caretakers you're grateful for

 

[slo]

It’s…..HUMP DAY!


#1 - My Mom - She is the best caretaker not only for me, when she’s needed, but for others too. She is always there to help - she’s wonderful!

#2 - The Daycare Ladies - I was really blessed with a great daycare for my girls. The ladies there were awesome and I never felt uncomfortable leaving my girls with them.

#3 - My FIL - He’s an incredible caretaker for my MIL, who’s had a lot of health issues this year. He does almost everything. I hope my MIL realizes how blessed she is to have him.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

God by my faith is my most high Caretaker. Dad, by God's grace, sure is doimg so.much to help make day to day easier for me as I recover. God willing before the end of the year I will finally be back to normal. Thank you all for your extra love, support, and prayers.

Grandparents especially when I was growing up were a lifeline to me.

A kind college custodian who I became close with and a wonderful church couple who take care of all sorts of things.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

My next door mom - she all but raised my sister & me

My beloved Aunt - all the great adventures we ( my sister & me) in her HUGE yard and all the fun crafts we did !! I miss her so much !!!

The wonderful woman I used to babysit for - she taught me to drive and helped me through my teen years all the while she was going through a difficult divorce she was a very amazing person to me !!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

My mom- Knowing how hands off DH's mom was and seeing horror stories from friends about their siblings and cousins, it's made me realize over the years that not all moms are maternal and not all moms go beyond the bare minimums.

Good nurses & PAs- Sadly, there are some not so good ones. They make the great ones stand out as heroes. When I had DD18, it was my after hours nurse that was exceptional. When I had DD16, it was my daytime nurse. Just before I was hospitalized for my infected cancer removal incision, my dr's PA displayed some of the most incredible bedside manner I've ever experienced with any caretaker. Once admitted, I came to appreciate my daytime and weekday nurses as there were things they'd do that the night crew asked to push off until the morning team signed on.

My paternal grandfather- My maternal grandmother had a number of health issues. Later on in elementary school (while I was in elementary), she was diagnosed with her first brain tumor. The remainder of her life was peppered with additional tumors, serious strokes, and diabetic complications to the point that she was wheelchair bound. I'm not sure if it was city compliant, but he even built her a wheelchair ramp out of the back of their house. He was essentially her home health nurse and ADA handyman.

 

[leebee]

My Aunt Jean. She's not really my aunt, but my mother's college roommate. WHen my dad died unexpectedly, leaving my mom with four kids (13, 10, 5, and 4), with no job and having to deal with the youngest also having medical challenges, my mother was totally lost. She withdrew (unfortunately into a bottle), but Aunt Jean stepped in and took over leading the family, raising us until my mom got herself together (which never fully happened and she was alcoholic for the rest of her life) and we were older and able to care for ourselves.

The nursing and support staff at the local nursing home/care facility. DH had a bad outcome from knee surgery and was in this facility for 6 weeks, hooked up to IV antibiotics 24/7, pretty much. The nursing/support staff took care of him as well as me. I've always said, they kept us both alive. It was a very, very challenging time and these good people kept DH healthy and kept my spirits up; neither of us ever felt we were alone in this situation.

On a much lighter note... the janitors at work. Post-covid, the staff was cut to no daytime janitors and two part-time evening janitors for a large academic building that houses two departments, complete with lecture halls, classrooms, offices, teaching labs, and research labs. These two guys always make sure the trash is emptied, the bathrooms cleaned, and the floors/stairways vacuumed and swept swept every evening before they go off to the other three buildings to which they are assigned. I appreciate coming in to a clean place to work. For a while after covid, this didn't happen and it got really trashy, really quickly, and wasn't a very pleasant place to be (and I'm talking grey, sticky rings on the floor around the toilets... really gross).

 

[bluecastle]

My advice to new teachers was always the same, the first person to be nice to and befriend should always be the custodian! I have seen some teachers who don’t even say hello to them in the hallway and then expect them to run and help them at the drop of a hat. I was never demanding, always asked nicely, and we got along great! (They also liked my Christmas cookies)

My DH is the best caretaker for me. He was my biggest cheerleader during my cancer, drove me to every appointment, waited with me in the waiting room, sat in on every meeting with the doctors and was my best friend. I can drive if necessary, but it can really hurt my back, so he continues to drive me to all my appointments.

My dad, in spite of how he was not so nice to my mom when I was growing up, came through in their later years. He was on top of her care when she was in the nursing facility while he was in the independent living area. He visited her every day, usually twice, even when she slept most of the time. His devotion was truly amazing.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Caretakers:

• Definitely the custodians at the various schools I've worked at!
• Nurses!!!! - I could never be one, and I am in awe of people who are called to it.
• My mom - She was one of those wonderful people who just made everyone feel special.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Thur, 10/3) - 3 stuffed animals or toys (your own or your kids') that you are/were grateful for

@flyingdumbo127 for today's topic suggestion!

 

[leebee]

DD's "Kitty;" DD wanted a cat when she was little but we didn't live in a place where we could have pets. For Christmas when she was 6, we gave her a black and white stuffy cat that she named "Licky" (short for licorice) but who almost immediately became "Kitty." DD is now 31, but Kitty sits on her bureau and travels with her; in fact, Kitty came to visit the Poly with us in August (and I hear she really liked it!)

My jigsaw puzzles. I used to have one "going" all the time, set up on the dining room table. The focus brings some control, organization, and peace to my mind. Unfortunately, at the moment (and for the past 2 years) we haven't had the space for me to set up- and leave up- a puzzle. However, we always have one going at work, which is nice.

Barney and the Pooh Guys. Once again, toys from DD's childhood. She's an only child, and she'd play with Barney, Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet for hours on end. They were her first friends... and she still has them, safely packed away and awaiting children of her own, some day.

 

[slo]

Good Thursday Morning!

#1 - My Chrissy Doll - I still have her. Both my best friend and I had one and played “house” with them all the time. This doll is life size and pretty realistic. I dressed her in my old baby clothes my mom gave me.

#2 - American Girl Dolls - Both my girls loved them, and we had 19 dolls in this house at one time. My oldest has her dolls now, and my youngest has her dolls still here. We have the best family memories of going to downtown Chicago to the American girl doll store so they can get their new doll for their birthday. They also got a new doll from Santa for several years.

#3 - Barbies - another toy from my childhood that I loved. my best girlfriend and I played with these all the time too. My stepdad built me the most fantastic Barbie house with carpet, wallpaper, laminate floor in the kitchen and bathroom (left over from when they put it in their kitchen) and so much more. it was fully furnished. I had tons of clothes. So much fun. Good memories.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Aww love the early childhood toy memories, thank you dear friends and extra to PollyannaMom for posting this sweet topic.

Minty (Rabbit) and Benjy (Dog) are my two well-loved stuffed animals from childhood.

Dad has a special named Billy that I got him a few years ago for Father's Day. I know Billy isn't from my childhood but he does bring back memories of a huge teddy bear I had that my beloved late grandma knitted a red sweater for.

My playmobile kids probably meant the most to me growing up because playing with them was a safe and creative way to escape from not always healthy or positive situations. I have always regretted selling them as a teen.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Legos - one of the best toys we had as kids, because you could make them into anything!

Arts & Crafts Supplies - I loved coloring as a kid, and a new box of crayons was always the best! When DS was little, I was the mom who had all the neighborhood kids over to do crafts.

"Kiki" was my favorite stuffed animal as a child - a black cat I took everywhere (and even saved as an adult).

 

[WDWEPCOT]

My Snoopy - I still have them he’s in my cedar chest I used to sleep with him every night
My patches dog - just plain brown stuffed dog - I don’t even remember when I got him he is that old I’ve had as long as I can remember and again I used to sleep with him every night and he’s also in my cedar chest

My stuffed bunny - one of my aunts gave them to me for Easter when I was a little kid adorable Kept him all these years and he’s with my other two in my cedar chest

I can’t bring myself to part with them they are are a part of my childhood I’ve have so few things but I have them