TToT – Coldness and Light
I do not like the short dark days of winter.
OK, I really just don’t like winter. I can handle cold if it means above freezing. I don’t mind snow if I’m inside and it’s not in the double digits of measurable snowfall. But when the temperature reads in the single digits and the snow just keeps coming…boo. But what I really hate is the darkness.
But this week? I noticed that all of a sudden it is still light after 5:00 PM. In fact, it’s nearly 5:30 before it’s really dark. That is progress, my friends. Progress. Spring can’t be too far away. So that’s my first thankful for the week – it might be really cold right now, but there is a little bit more daylight to help us along.
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I am thankful for a week filled with laughter. I had so many things to laugh about that I filled up a post with them. If you have not yet checked out my Friday post, please do. It’s genius, really. I couldn’t figure out if I wanted to do my Friday Five or jump in on the Finish the Sentence Friday prompt. Inspiration hit me while I was reading Kristi’s FTSF – combine them! No idea what brought me to that conclusion, but I’m crediting Kristi for it. Thanks, hon!
I am thankful for some really good writing this week. I am pretty happy with how some posts turned out, especially the #1000Speak topic reveal. The book is coming along little by little. I feel pretty productive. Of course, the house is dirty and the clean laundry that needs to be put away has now occupied every available basket in the house, but the words are there.
I am thankful for the people in this TToT community and other blogging groups as well. I love the interactions that take place. I love the connections that are made. I love the support and encouragement and camaraderie and friendship that comes from them. It’s good. And that all makes for some really entertaining banter in post comments, too.
I am thankful for friendship. This has been a week in which I feel some friendships have sprouted like new green shoots and others have sent their roots deeper into the earth. In both cases, it is a good feeling.
I am thankful for the encouragement, support, and feedback I’ve received lately from friends and fellow bloggers (and some who are both) regarding things I’ve written in this space lately and some ideas I’ve shared offline. Again, this community of souls is a very good thing.
I am thankful for spaghetti and meatballs. I know, that’s completely unrelated and arbitrary, but I do. I think we’ve had it twice this week and I’m OK with that.
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I am thankful for my Daughter’s kind and thoughtful spirit. She has spent the greater part of the week making Valentine’s Day greetings and gifts for friends and family. The ones that have been delivered so far were well-received which is very good. Zilla gets to see the joy that a simple gesture can bring to someone’s day. Others have yet to be mailed because I need to finish up my job – addresses! But I can’t think of one recipient who will complain because it arrived after the date. They’ll go out tomorrow morning (I hope!). I am delighted that she takes such pleasure in doing things for other people.
Oh, yeah! I’m thankful that Zilla’s Valentine box turned out so well. Our first ever! She is so proud of it and declared it “the most beautiful Valentine box in the whole world ever.” I can’t begin to tell you how happy that made me.
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I am thankful that my Hub did not actually buy a ferret at the pet store on Thursday evening. That is also covered in the Friday post.
I am thankful for changes and encounters in my life lately that have reinforced for me one more time that my choice to leave my full time job and strike out on my own was the best thing I could have done for me and for our family. I am thankful for people who pass out my business cards and give referrals. Even if they don’t turn into active clients, it’s still word of mouth and I appreciate that people think of me.
I feel like I kind of rushed this along, but I have a family movie night waiting for me. Tonight we’re watching Dolphin Tale 2 and having a meal planned by Zilla from her Disney Princess Cookbook. We’ll be having Princess Merida’s creation, “Unbearably Delicious Fish Cakes” (breaded cod, very simple) with a salad and a vegetable. It’s a theme night – just like that old TBS program Dinner and a Movie. Remember that?
And so with that, I’m out. I’ll add my pictures after Zilla goes to bed and link up later tonight.
And now it’s your turn: What are you thankful for this week? What made you laugh? What changes have occurred in your life that make you feel like you’re on the right path? What are you having for dinner?
You know the drill…share ’em or link ’em!
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WHAT? You mean Bjorn was just a cruel joke? NO!!!! BJORN! !!!!
No Bjorn. Bjorn does not live here. Ever.
No Bjorn kinda deflates the victory of Frist. Not really. …FRIST! FRIST! FRIST! HAHAHA!
Nothing deflates the sweet victory of Frist.
Lovely Valentines. Dinner and a Movie theme night where Zilla picks the menu. Lovely family time. Things of future memories. Have a wonderful week. Glad you are feeling better and the energy and creativity are flowing.
She is a great little party planner – and this weekend she’s double-booked with Friday Movie Night and Saturday Valentine’s party. She covers all the details. It is the stuff of memories.
I am definitely feeling better than last weekend – ugh, that was terrible! The juices are flowing!
This is a truly lovely, thankful post. Sometimes it is difficult to remember that community comes in many shapes and sizes–I have to remind myself of that when loneliness seeps in. Tell your daughter that her Valentine’s box is fabulous!
Lisa, a friend is a mere message away anymore. And in this group of people, I have found that so true. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with people in this online community. I suppose there’s a part of us that can say “yeah, but that person could be ANYbody weird….” True – many of them are pretty weird, but it’s in a good and beautiful way. Somehow we all fit.
Oh, I agree about the gift of connection in the linky groups. What a wonderful world where we can make funny, supportive , fabulous friends without ever seeing one another face to face. I consider you one of the best!
And no ferrets. That’s the mark of a really good week!
Oh, thanks, May! I absolutely hold you there, too. Definitely. 🙂
No ferrets is definitely a win. 😀
Ooooooh I hate the winter too, but I have been feeling encouraged by the days getting just a little longer. That Zilla, she sure is a sweetie (I know where she gets that from). I have to agree, that really IS the best Valentine Box ever. I’ve noticed you are really on a roll lately and I feel bad that I haven’t been able to keep up with all your posts, but I’ll get to them, I promise!
The longer days are very encouraging for me. And really when we hit Valentine’s day and Lent begins it’s just a matter of time before winter’s over.
She is a sweet kid. She’s already dressed and prepped for our little party tonight.
I have been on kind of a roll. Not sure what sparked it, but it feels good. You’ve had a lot on your plate, obviously, so no worries about not keeping up. I do love when you are here and comment, of course, so I’ll look forward to them. I was feeling bad this morning that I haven’t chatted with you and checked in more this week. It’s been kind of nuts for some reason. Keep on getting better and moving along! You’re a rock star!
Oy the valentines things. I had so many ideas but the kid was embarrassed and ended up doing her own thing.
The light is changing it is coming back.
Zilla did the design, I just did the wrapping part. The rest is really all her. I’m pretty glad she went simple, though.
More light is a good thing. I’m kinda ready for the snow part to be over.
Love your themed dinner! Thanks for your support this week, too with crowds, parental meltdowns (which I forgot to mention) in my post (was that just this week?). I’m so happy with my online friends.
It was a good evening. The fish didn’t turn out quite the way we wanted – the fish cakes were more like fish blogs of separated stuff because there was clearly not enough binding agent in that recipe. Oh well. We’ll know next time. But the taste was quite delicious.
You are welcome. Anytime. I am too.
Looking forward to your post!
*grins* I hope so very much that your goading of Kristi and Dyanne was included in your ‘I love the fun in the comments’ bit of your thankfuls. Honestly, it’s why my comment box tells everyone “The comments are where the magic happens” because it’s so true – it’s where relationships are formed and extended and it’s WONDERFUL fun to watch.
I’m SO SO THANKFUL the light is coming back. The dark and cold and miserableness of winter just GETS to me. Hate it.
So. For dinner I’m having homemade pizza followed by homemade chocolate cake. Things which have made me laugh this week include my Soulie, rude jokes, puns, and the fact that today I learned I’ve gone yellow because of too much carotene in my system (yeah – it REALLY happens).
And I’ve forgotten your other question 😉
Yup, that was definitely part of it. And there was another set of fun banter somewhere (can’t remember where – here maybe?) that was good fun, too. I NEED my box to say that and I can’t figure out where to get “Leave a Reply” out of there.
Yup, I’m over winter. Time for spring.
Ooh, homemade pizza is a favorite of ours. PLUS it means the Hub is in charge of dinner – that’s one of his specialties. Maybe we’ll have pizza this week. Now do you do homemade dough for crust, bought dough for crust, bought crust, or something else like Na’an bread?
That yellow thing DOES happen – happened to a girl in my high school class. Weird.
The other question was about changes in life that make you feel you are on the right path. And “bless your boots” for answering them all! Fun.
I loved watching Dinner and a Movie! The hosts were the perfect kind of cheesy. 🙂 how fun that you are doing your own version of it.
I noticed the longer days this week, too. PLUS I’ve seen a few robins. Spring is coming. Eventually.
I can’t tell you how thankful I am that my kids never made valentines boxes. Their teachers always just had the kids decorate bags in the classroom.
Dinner and a Movie was my single girl Friday night when I lived on my own. I had a tiny little sort of studio apartment (studio with a separated bedroom) and I lived alone for like six years. I loved it. We’ve done quite a few of these now. We don’t always do it every week, but when we do, the theme thing is fun. We did spaghetti and meatballs for Lady and the Tramp, Pirate French bread pizzas for Peter Pan. When we watched Prancer we made a pasta salad with chicken and carrots and apples (the Hub’s favorite) because the reindeer ate carrots and apples. Or something. Sometimes the meal is a stretch but we try to make it fit.
Zilla swears we saw robins the other day on the way home from school…I don’t know. They were pretty plain looking robins. But maybe. The little bit of extra daylight makes a huge difference.
I never heard of such a thing until this year – preschool and Kindergarten (which is in the same building as she’s in this year) all did bags. No idea why the box thing suddenly sprung up. We’re making use of it though. She has it set out for the party tonight. 🙂
Oh what a beautiful list of thankfuls Lisa!! I LOVE that you have so many dear friends and supporters of YOU and your words… I hope movie night was a lovely time and the food was delicious! Zilla’s V day box is AMAZING!!
What is this book you speak of? Giddy with excitement just thinking about YOU writing a book!!!! (Am I missing something? Oh, I fear I am.)
**I am thankful for friendship. This has been a week in which I feel some friendships have sprouted like new green shoots and others have sent their roots deeper into the earth. In both cases, it is a good feeling.** <—– LOVE this.
I didn’t know I had such a support network until several friends made very positive comments this week. Kind of all at once, too…so I’m wondering if it’s a nudge from above to keep plodding forward. You KNOW how I feel about that stuff…
The book is about our life as a family with ADD/ADHD and all the lovely things that go along with it. You’re not missing anything so much as I haven’t talked about it much. But somehow, suddenly, it’s kind of floating around out there. Not sure how that happened exactly.
am totally with you on the:
longer days…there simply is nothing that is not good about that
the internet (in general) and the blogosphere (in particular), the percentage of my time I spend with my online community… significant. a very nice addition to my ‘real’ world
(btw have always loved the FTSF bloghop… the first one I participated in…need to get back there on Fridays)
I am quite enjoying the longer days and the FTSF hop. Good prompts. Good people.
Hey, if the book is coming along and “the words are there”, the heck with clean house and laundry! I envy you the “words that are there”. For me it’s more a function of time. You are very fortunate to be self-employed even with the accompnaying challenges.
The light! Yes, the light! Isn’t it great? On the rare occaision I leave work on time at 5:30 it’s still a little light out! I love it. I’m not a fan of driving to work in the dark and driving back from work…in the dark lol
Laughter is a wonderful thankful Lisa. And yes:) read Friday’s post. Excellent.
Oh, that is the worst – going to work in the dark and returning in same. I always hated that. Once it’s dark I want to be home for the night.
Laughter is a great thing and I’ve had a bunch. Not only the things in my post, but the others I read from the FTSF? Hilarious!
Well, the dinner question is easy, since we just ate: okonomiyaki (a Japanese cabbage pancake).
The Valentines and Valentine’s box looks great!
Yum – sounds good! We love Japanese, but I don’t think we’ve ever tried that. I’ll have to remember that next time we’re out.
Would you believe the Valentine’s for the family are still not mailed…yikes! But the box got another round of duty tonight for our little party. Zilla used it for a prize box and a decoration. Awesome!
No ferret is definitely worth about 20 thankfuls.
Glad your Dinner and a Movie turned out well. Such a cute idea!
I loved your Friday post! I read it on my phone and can’t comment from it, or at least not well. I went to bed last night at 7 p.m. And didn’t get up until 9 this morning. What the…?
I hate the valentine box thing. Some parents go all out and make elaborate boxes for their child; others give their child a shoebox and some stickers. I’d rather we decorated bags at school and call it good. That being said, I do love Zilla’s box. Very tasteful. Not over the top. The perfect vessel for valentines!
I much preferred the bags from pre-K and Kindergarten. I was a helper mom for the Valentine’s party on Friday and the kids’ boxes were mostly pretty middle-of-the-road. One or two were kind of crazy, but most were pretty simple. Thank goodness.
Dinner and a Movie was good. Tonight’s dinner rocked – I’m working my way through childhood recipes and trying to see if I can duplicate them. So far I’m on a roll and tonight’s was awesome. I will have to get it in a post.
That is a long night of sleep – wow! Either you were exhausted from the Valentine party week…or you were stalking people on their phones. 😀
This little cold virus I have has wiped me out! The actual cold symptoms are very mild, but it has stripped me of all energy. That, coupled with Valentines parties and stalking, made for one long winter night’s sleep!
You’ve had a busy week! 😀 Fatigue is a terrible thing. I hate that part of RA more than the rest, I think.
Such family rituals are so important, and you didn’t seem rushed at all. Wish I could share some snow, but It’d melt over here…we’re a degree north of the equator!
I will be happy to ship a box to you. How much do you want? 😀
I hope you had the bet family night, Lisa! Hubby and I had a movie night on Saturday, and even though I wasn’t a fan of the movie, I enjoyed the quality time with hubby again after a stressful week. The Valentine’s box is really beautiful!
Have a great new week, Lisa!
PS: Hubby officially declared your tomatoe cream soup the best tomato soup he’s ever had. Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
We had a great time, Stephanie – on both nights. We sometimes have nights like that where one of us isn’t totally into the choice of movie or game, too. But the time together is important and so often gets pushed behind other responsibilities.
Zilla was so proud of her box – I’m really glad she loved it and had a great time.
I LOVE that your Hubby loved the soup and thanks for letting me know. It’s Ina Garten’s recipe and it is our go-to tomato soup. We made it last week and I still have a Mason jar saved for tomorrow’s lunch! It really is delicious.
ohh I dislike the darkness too. Thankfully the days are longer. And Zilla’s VAlentine Box is so pretty. I hope it was filled with lovely cards from her friends. And next week the days will be even longer!
So good to see you on the TToT again, Pattie!
Zilla had a great time at her school party and we had a fun party here at home on Saturday, too.
HOORAY for longer days – I am so ready for more daylight.
I am thankful for the TToT community too. I look forward posting on being thankful things because of it.
It’s a great group, Carin!
Thank you for sharing your encouraging list, and lovely photos.
Have a great week.
Thanks, Romi. Have a great week, too!
I’ve already linked to TToT, but my girls always make me laugh. They are learning so much every day and I’m just trying to keep up!
Glad you’ve linked up with us!
Kids sure do have a way of keeping us on our toes, don’t they?
I’m not a big fan of winter either and had the same realization as you recently. I was walking to the gym and realized that daylight savings is a little over a month away which means the sun will set 1 hour later soon. I’m so excited. It actually helped to motivate me for the rest of the day!
Hi, Don. It’s amazing how uplifting that little bit of light can be, isn’t it? Sometimes it really is the little things in life that can make us happy. I know I’m pretty excited about a few extra minutes! And yes, Daylight Savings is not too far away!