Gratitude

As this month of thanksgiving and grateful hearts comes to a close,

I came across this video.

It's a breathtaking reminder that every day is

a gift for which we can be thankful.

Today is my favorite thing.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

I'm joining 

Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays

APPLES B&B

We spent Thanksgiving in the local mountains at a B&B with family ~ and it was perfect.

Day temps were in the upper 50's, crisp and clear.  Nights dipped down into the 30's, but we were bundled up and comfy.

No snow.

 The Innkeeper makes a fabulous traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all the guests, 

and then matches it with a huge breakfast the next morning.

We learned our lesson last year,

and forced ourselves not to eat every single thing

on our plate!

 

The wooded grounds are rustic and chippy,

dotted with whimsy

 During the day the kids "tubed" down the mountain on 

 man-made snow.

Evenings were spent in the village

for the tree lighting and arrival of Santa on a sleigh,

 dinner out, a movie and a bit of shopping

our adorable nephews (10 and 7)

 (this little guy is never without a hat)

 even the pooches were in festive attire

It was a wonderful way to officially start 

the holiday season

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Thankful Heart

Wishing you a blessed and cozy Thanksgiving

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving my friends

This song was on my heart, and low and behold,

I'd already done a post on it.

 Here's an encore performance, 
 accompanied by an old print titled "Thankful Heart" 

  
Give Thanks

With a Grateful Heart

Give Thanks

To the Holy One

 

Give Thanks

For He's Given

Jesus Christ, His Son

And Now Let the Weak Say

I Am Strong

 

Let The Poor Say

I Am Rich

Because of What

The Lord Has Done

For Us

 Give Thanks.

 Lyrics by Don Moen 

~  Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your loved ones ~

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Oh Magdalena

We recently celebrated my brother-in-laws retirement from the movie industry at a gala where he received a lifetime achievement award in Costuming, surrounded by family, friends ~ and a lot of well-dressed peers.

As we sat together at table, he proudly pointed out this one and that one  he'd worked with over the years, telling a little about each.  One gentleman had been the personal costumer to John Wayne, another was well known for her exquisite hand sewing.

And then there was Magdalena ~ sitting majestically across the room with her husband.  She was tall and thin, and had a beautiful smile, and he mentioned she still made all of her own clothes.  He went on to tell that she had, as a child, been in a concentration camp.

But the most astonishing thing was to learn she had recently competed in the Senior Olympics in SEVEN categories; including the 50 meter dash, the 100 meter dash, and the shot put!   And that she had won the triple jump!!

After the awards and picture-taking, Magdalena made her way over to our table to offer her congratulations.  She was introduced around, and when she was about to leave I whispered in her ear, "may I ask how old you are?"  She smiled warmly and said, "Oh, I'm always happy to tell.  I'm 81".

And for that reason, meeting Magdalena is my favorite thing this week.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy 

I'm hopping, not jumping, over to

Claudia's at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for

 

 A Favorite Thing Saturday

 

A Favorite Thing: Pink Sunsets

Our four day get-away to The River was perfect; great weather and enough time to relax.  The trip takes about 4 hours through familiar landmarks and I knew our timing was going to put us at our destination just before sunset.

Once we get out of the city, we pass by Palm Springs

and on to open spaces with no billboards,

and only the occasional offramp sign

Just before Palm Springs is an area called Whitewater.  

It's one of the windiest places in the country

 and its home to hundreds, if not thousands,

 of giant turbines that spin wind into electricity

It was a location considered by the Wright Bros. 

After that it's open highway for

a couple of hundred miles 

before our turnoff

As expected, we arrived at our camp just before sunset
and I snapped these from our porch

 The next afternoon, to his delight

 and the delight of 1000 mosquitos,

I went fishing with Pizza Man

The water was so still I couldn't resist taking pictures of the reflections

 this is where the fish hide

I didn't know until later that

these were decoys and duck season

had opened that day

 this was a muskrat cutting across the lake

not far from the boat just before

we "pulled up anchor"

Speaking of that, I'll save the rest

for another time

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

p.s.   say "thank you" to a Veteran this weekend

I'm joining Claudia

 at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for

A Favorite Thing Saturday