A whole handful

 

~ ~ ~ 

My daughter's sister-in-law snapped this sweet picture of me (on the left) and my daughters, 

Hannah (in the middle) and Bonnie (on the right).

I'm so grateful she captured us together.

~

My youngest granddaughter turned 5 over the weekend!

She's a whole handful now and truer words were never spoken!

~

My 7 year old granddaughter wanted to have a "slumber party" with me so all three children ended

up sleeping in front of the fire with me.

At one point I had me, Natalie, her giant stuffed octopus, and the big dog, Violet on one side of the

 sectional, Abigail on the other side, and Verne sleeping just beneath us in a cocoon of blankets. 

It was one of those very special moments when you stop to pay attention 

because you know it's not going to come around again. Needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep.

~

HUGE snowstorm!!!

Just in case anyone anywhere anyplace in the USA didn't hear about it....

lots of snow and frigid temps!

I had snow days on Monday and Tuesday!

Yay!!!

P.S. This is not my car.

~

Tucker loved having me home for most of the week. 

We had a few conversations about who was going to stretch out on the couch...

he won most of them. He looks so comfortable I couldn't disturb him.

Friday fave fives

Winter snow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I absolutely love walking about during a snowstorm!

Everything is so beautiful and still. It's almost like you're in a different world.

I was out walking on Monday morning and taking loads and loads of pictures.

I happened to hit the button that turns the camera to selfie without realizing it.

So...here I am.

Thankful for my health which allows me to scramble all over this little town I live in.

 I picked up this beautiful little chair at a local church rummage sail last weekend.

I desperately need a new sofa/loveseat and I have been trying to figure out what I want.

My style has been shabby chic for so long and I'm ready to move on!!

This chair has inspired me to find a new couch in the same sort of mid-century modern style.

I'll keep you updated.

~

Little Harbour in Marblehead is so picturesque. 

We had a bit of a snowstorm on Monday.

I went for a walk around the neighborhood of a morning. 

Everything was quiet and still because it was a holiday so people weren't up and about.

Almost the only movement was the snow falling from the sky and the waves 

slowly bringing in the higher tide.

~

I walked through the wood to old black Joe's pond which is almost all the way frozen over.

Not quite safe enough to skate on but well on it's way. 

~

I made myself a cup of hot cocoa and coffee, lit a fire, 

and Tucker and I settled in for a bit of a cat nap.

~ ~ ~

Friday fave fives

January brings the snow

 

Sunday. night and Monday morning we had some snow.

It wasn't exactly a storm as the tides were low and there was no wind but

we did get a significant amount of snow.

I got up early, bundled up, and went out walking.

Here are a few photos of my walk through the wood and down to both

Black Joe's and Redd's ponds.

It was absolutely beautiful out.

Nature Notes

Gleaning Grace

 ~ ~ ~

t

Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:

let such as love thy salvation say continually,

The Lord be magnified.

Psalm 40:16

Scripture and a snapshot

Sunday scripture blessings

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Laundry

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tucker climbed up on my lap as I sat at my desk the other day. He put his front paws onto the surface of the desk as if to say, "hand me a pencil so I can add kitty treats to your grocery list."

~

I work at a school so last week was my first week back to work after our 2 week holiday break. 

The commute takes me past a beautiful beach and I just had to pull over one morning

to make a picture of this beautiful sunrise.

~

Sunday morning I woke very early and walked past the town landing on. my way to the little 

breakfast spot. It was very foggy and misty and everything looked so quiet and still.

~

The last weekend of Christmas break my granddaughters came to stay over night with me.

Abby painted this water color and wanted me to take a picture of it to send to her mother.

Her grandfather is a talented watercolor artist and has been giving her little lessons.

She is seven.

The other night my phone rang and I heard both of my granddaughter's little voices.

"You forgot to send the picture to mummy." Abby said.

And I could hear Natalie (she's almost 5) say, "I took a shower and used conditioner

in my hair like we do at your house, Hopie."

I love when they call me! I texted the picture right away.

~

My new washer and dryer finally got installed!!

What an ordeal that all was...so frustrating!

But, all is well except for the fact that I have so much laundry to put away.

~ ~ ~

Friday fave fives

Gleaning grace

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

t

Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Almost every morning for years and years I pray this short little Psalm

as I rise from bed. 

It keeps me clear about where my heart and head need to be during the day ahead and

it asks for forgiveness and restoration from any mistakes that I made the day before. 

~ ~ ~

Scripture and a snapshot

Sunday scripture blessings

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The Scully cap

 

I can hardly believe that my sweet and vivacious little Abigail has turned seven!!

I thank God every time I think of her.

She just turned 7 and Natalie will be 5 this month. It's crazy how fast it all goes by.

Tucker has become extra friendly toward me lately. As I sat at my desk doing some journaling one day he jumped up on my lap and laid his front paws onto the desk as if he was ready to sign some very important documents or something.  

I went for a short walk a few times this week when I got home from work.

I find if I walk before going into the house I am much more successful. Once I go inside

the chances of me going back out into the cold for a walk diminish greatly.

It's been so peaceful and quiet and beautiful.

~

I finally got a plumber in to fix the connector to the broken washing machine so that Home Depot

can remove it and replace it with my new washer and dryer set.

It's been such a hassle trying to line every one up!

Hopefully, I will have a brand new washer and dryer when I get home from work today

and I will spend the weekend happily catching up on laundry.

We always stop at the old-fashioned grocery market around the corner from my house when my grandchildren come to visit. We buy the things they like to eat, something for dinner, and we always get fresh flowers. This time Abby picked out some fresh cut purple Hyacinths which filled the house with the fragrance of spring and Natalie picked out a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips.

~

Friday fave fives

Screaming Woman's cove

 

I have been sick for the past 3 weeks with COVID, kidney stones, and a kidney infection that

put me in the hospital for 3 days. 

The first thing I did when I began to feel better was to bundle up and go for a walk in my

neighborhood.

I am so thankful for the beauty in the world around me!

Thankful Thursday
 

Gleaning grace

 

t

So teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

As I consider this past year and turn my thoughts towards the new one this Psalm

comes to mind. My prayers, my deep prayers for the world we live in is that we may all

find wisdom for the short amount of time we are here on this earth. 

I wish you peace and love in the coming year and in all the seasons of your life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Scripture and a snapshot

Sunday scripture blessings

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Click here to enter

Happy New Year

 

We had snow on New Year's Eve and New Year's day.

It was absolutely beautiful, so fresh and renewing. What a beautiful way to start 2026.

I didn't go out on New Year's because I am just getting better after a kidney infection that put me 

in hospital for 3 days...also because I haven't gone out on New Year's Eve in about 30 years!

~

I was so blessed by some old friends who called to say they would come over on Friday to help me

with a plumbing problem that has stopped me from getting my new washing machine hooked up.

He is a plumber. 

It is so nice to have such old and caring friends. Especially since I am in my "wisdom era" (age)

and have begun to lose both friends and family. 

~

Abby and Natalie

They spent the night last night and are still sleeping as I type this morning.

We were watching a show that they enjoy and Abby was giving us a run down on

everything that was happening. Natalie said, "Abby, don't spoil the beans." 

~

I'm so very thankful for my health. I spent three days in the hospital last week and the first night I was in 

emergency room pod because there were 50+ people waiting for a bed!!!

On either side of me there was an older gentleman with dementia who was hitting people and spitting

on them and had to be restrained, and a young man who had been born addicted to drugs and had 

the neurological problems associated with that.  I got a bed in a beautiful private room in a brand new

 section of the hospital for the next 2 nights and I was very thankful for the quiet, the push button/electric 

controlled bed settings and the dimmable lights. There was even a focus wall painted a beautiful calming

blue colour. 

As I was cared for by various health care providers many of them commented that I was very lucky

to not be on any daily medications and that most people my age took daily pills.

I am very, very thankful for my health.

~

I love the quiet and peaceful promise of early mornings.

The girls and I brought home so tulips from the market yesterday and they look so pretty.

~

My husband, Joe, told me that our cat, Tucker, slept on my bed the entire time I was 

in hospital. When we spoke on the phone Joe put me on speaker and Tucker would come

running over to meow and sniff the phone. 

~

Bonus:

I have been sick for just over 3 weeks! It started with aches and pains, I had COVID, and then a kidney 

infection that I didn't realize until I went to the ER and they drew blood. Fortunately, I work in a 

school and we were closed for the last two weeks of December so I only missed 6 days of work.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this little bloggy group and getting back to normal

by posting my Friday fave fives. 

I love reading about all of the things you are grateful for every week. You inspire me to 

add gratitude to my daily habits as well and I love sharing them with you. 

Thank you Sue, for putting this together and giving us all a place to come to.

I know that this year has been a difficult one for you. 

My wish for us all is that 2026 brings peace, love, joy, and hope in a world where those things 

are not always easy to find.

~

Friday fave fives