Blooming Burgh Boomer

I read this and found it a fitting tribute to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. I hope that all took a moment from their activities to remember these brave men and women.

” Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have you will never have enough.”– Oprah Winfrey

Hard to believe that it has been almost a year since my last post. There has been an addition of a grandson -he is 5 months old and I have to say as cute as a button. It is hard to believe his sister just turned 6 and is finishing kindergarten.

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My Gratitude List (in no particular order)

1. I am thankful for my 2 beautiful grandchildren and that I am able to see them often.
2. My family and their unconditional support and love.
3. A group of friends who are so positive and motivating. They inspire me and I always look forward to our get togethers which usually end up in laughter and fun
4.  Work is busy as always but the fact I have a job and enjoy the people means so much.
5. My 2 dogs -they can drive me crazy but I always am thankful for their greetings and excitement when I walk in the door.
6. The start of the warm weather-it means I will be able to sit out on my deck and enjoy the sun, flowers and relaxation on a daily basis.

What is on your gratitude list today?

There have been a few changes in my life in the past few months: some good and some bad. Through all the changes I have been reminded that I need to be grateful for all things.

MY GRATITUDE LIST (in no particular order)

1. I have been able to restart my workouts thanks to Grace (the new lab). Training a dog does require walking and we are at least walking a mile a day. I find I have new energy and stamina
2. Realizing the importance of my blog. I have begun to take time for those things that are important to me
3. One of my neighbors recently sold their home. While this was a loss I have gained 2 very wonderful new neighbors who have helped me immensely in their short time here.
4. Thankful that I am going to again be a grandmother to grandchild#2.  My granddaughter is going to have a new sister or brother in December. It is an exciting time for all of us
5. Work has been hectic and busy. Grateful that new employees have started and the extra help is definitely welcomed.
6. Even though the past few days have been a hazy hot and humid, the ability to sit on my deck on the weekend mornings is very welcomed.
7. Having a farmers market at work with great vegetables, fruits and meat is a treat

What is on your gratitude list this week

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”  Robert Brault

That quote has seemed to the resounding theme of my days lately. The end of the winter season is always difficult for me. Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark seems to slowly deprive me of my usual positive attitude. These past few months seemed more of a struggle as just to do the everyday tasks.  Slowly I have weathered the storm and came out all the stronger

My Gratitude List (in no particular order)

• For the sunshine and warmer weather today. It was a joy to have to put my sunglasses on when taking the dog for her normal walks. I think I even saw a little more bounce to her step!
• For daylight savings time-yes I lost an hour but gained an hour of daylight!
• After many years finally having a ceiling light and fan in my bedroom. A prime example of little things meaning a great deal.
• Finding out God was looking out for me. I had an overhead kitchen light and fan changed yesterday. It had been there as long as I have been here and was put in by the previous homeowner. The electrician informed me yesterday it had never been put in correctly and was amazed it worked but was also a fire hazard as the wires were not correctly.
• Had  a weekend that allowed me to declutter but find that many of the things I have can help others . Giving some of my better clothes to charity for those who may need some clothes for that job interview or professional dress.
• Although Thursday proved to be driving only for the brave, happy that I was able to safely make it back home after some harrowing conditions. When I realized I did not feel safe to drive to work I also realized I was going to have to battle to get back home. Thankfully did get home safely even though the round trip took close to 2 hours (normally a 15 minute drive).
• Although I have not been meeting any of the goals I made for this year, I realize that I can start again.

What is on your gratitude list this week?

I found this recipe here at Iowa Girl Eats. I pinned it for use at a later time. Later came today. I came home late tonight and the meal I had planned would just take too long. I had gotten a couple of roasts this weekend so I decided this was a good night to try this recipe. I have to tell you it is fantastic and best of all easy.

Ingredients

2-3 lb roast ( I used a top round roast)
20 cherry tomatoes
Olive Oil
fresh or dried rosemary
3 cloves of garlic sliced thin
beef broth

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Drizzle olive oil in bottom of roasting pan or baking dish
3. Add the 20 cherry tomatoes to pan or dish

4. Place a roasting rack on bottom or pan or dish-I used rolled aluminum foil
5. Trim and remove fat from roast then take a knife and cut into meat. Stuff the slivers of garlic into the garlic into the sliced area
6. Rub outside or roast with olive oil then salt and pepper. Take the fresh rosemary or dried and sprinkle it on top of the roast.

7. Roast meat 30 -60 minutes depending on how you like it done. I roasted mine about 50 minutes and about 140 degrees
8. Remove the roast and allow it to rest for 15 minutes

9. While the meat is resting pour juices from pan to a saucepan and mix with beef broth and heat.
10. Carve meat and serve.

Leftovers, if you have any, can be served on bun with au jus or just cold sandwiches.

I had my beef with some butternut squash risotto.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week seemed to race by even with an extra day off.  Every day I learn something from my patients. They all have at least one chronic illness and still show resiliency and are very positive.

My Gratitude List (in no particular order)

• for my new Jeep but the best thing is saving 150.00 a month on car payments.
• Getting better at taking pictures with my camera and learning to use the tripod.
• feeling more like myself and gaining my energy back.
• watching my 8-year-old dog act like a pup in the snow.
• having great neighbors that shovel and salt my sidewalk while I am at work.
• sharing a wonderful evening with my daughter that included dinner.
• the great fortune to work with co-workers who pitch in and get the work done.
• enjoying a nice evening with my son and granddaughter.
• Laughing at my granddaughters love of taking selfies together

I have been trying to use Saturdays as a day to practice my photography. Today was no exception but this morning offered me some snow pictures. We haven’t had much snow here so it was nice to wake up and see 3 inches of new fallen snow.

Kibbles and I went out and the snow seemed to cling to the trees and the blue skies made a beautiful background. The nice thing about weekend snowfalls is you can stop and chat with the neighbors as they walk their dogs or shovel the sidewalk.

Here are some pictures from today’s walk

early morning deer tracks

neighbor’s dog

In all the pictures I had to quickly take Kibbles enjoying the snow. She was like a pup again with her face buried in the snow

It finally happened we had our first snow event.  It also brought with it frigid temperatures and I think the high with the wind chill was 19. This was not the magnitude of a Buffalo snow but somehow 2 inches made the road conditions as bad as 2 feet. Due to other circumstances I was not able to go to work today but I did have to go out and walk the dog.

The first sign of an approaching winter chill and snow began last night. Kibbles and I went for a walk and as we were coming back to the house I saw this small piece of beauty in the sky

It was the moon and there were no stars in the sky. The picture did not totally capture the beauty of the orange moon which lit the sky.

The snow came and dusted the area this morning and quit this afternoon. I have to admit I do like snow in December and January but then am no longer enamored with the white fluff. Kibbles on the other hand loves the snow and likes nothing better than to bury her snout in it.

I did manage to take a picture of the snow tonight.

The area will be in the deep freeze the rest of the week so I will definitely be layered when going to work of walk. Kibbles wanted me to remind everyone not to forget the pet gear before venturing out in the cold