Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m starting a gratitude list and I’m going to add to it throughout the day today and tomorrow. The first item? Social Security. It has been an extra long time between checks and we have been getting by on a wing and a prayer. But relief arrives today.
Item number 2: a glorious sunrise this morning. I could see it from my chair in the den as the sky over the back forty turned a beautiful and fiery orange. Magnificent.
Item number 3: Yesterday, we were at a local grocery store grabbing a few items and as we checked out, the cashier informed us that we qualified for one of their free Thanksgiving items. You know, a turkey, or some other Thanksgiving treat, one of which was a free “turkey” roast from Gardein. We love this roast and it’s what we have on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We already had one on hand for Thanksgiving, but now we have one for Christmas as well! A very nice surprise.
I’ll keep adding to the list as the day goes on.
It will be a quiet day and a thankful one.
I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving (if you celebrate.)
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Ellen D. says
What a nice idea to focus on the positive in our lives, Claudia. I’m thankful that you mentioned it today! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Claudia says
You, as well.
Stay safe, Ellen.
jeanie says
I love the idea of your gratitude list. I used to do a daily gratitude journal and I still like looking back on that. It has set a practice, though not one always actually written but a nightly recounting. Three cheers on the turkey. I’m so glad — I know things have been tight but that is really a big expense so a free turkey is great. You can get some wonderful soups and leftovers out of that for a bit!
Have a beautiful Thanksgiving!
Claudia says
Not a turkey, Jeanie. A “turkey” roast made by Gardein – a company in Canada that only offers vegetarian fare.
We’re vegetarians.
Thanks so much, Have a lovely day tomorrow.
Stay safe.
jeanie says
That makes sense! But I’ve never heard of a turkey roast, and just thought you meant roast turkey!
Claudia says
xo
Barrie says
What a perfect gratitude list for this season! I love sunrises and sunsets, so amazing. That was a happy surprise to get the free roast, too. And perfect timing for the Social Security check, a nice relief. Claudia, I hope you and Don have a peaceful Thanksgiving. Thank you for providing this place of kind words, interesting perspectives, and sharing parts of your life…I really enjoy your blog.
Claudia says
Thank you so much, Barrie.
Stay safe.
kathy in iowa says
that’s a great list. gratitude is a wonderful thing.
and how nice and wonderfully-specific the store had your choice of “turkey” roast for you! when i lived in a small town, my employer gave us all a gift certificate for a free ham or turkey each Christmas. no vegetarian option there, so i’d get something for my brother and the gift was used (just not by me) and appreciated by all.
will get together here as we can tomorrow and have family favorites on the menu … green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie. turkey for some, not for me (haven’t yet been able to find your gardein veggie roast around here), watch football, hopefully take a walk and probably a nap.
a short version of my gratitude list:
God
my family
good health in many ways and help in the other ways
being able to do cross-stitch again (and that the longer scroll bars arrived yesterday)
reading
walking
the arrival of cooler weather
friends like you all
…
…
…
happy thanksgiving to everyone. be safe.
xo
kathy
Claudia says
Have a lovely day, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Judy Clark says
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Don. Am enjoying his music! We all have so much to be thankful for!
Claudia says
Thank you, Judy.
Stay safe.
kathy in iowa says
want to add … i know grocery stores sell a wide variety of things. that in itself is a blessing, but that’s not why i called it “wonderfully-specific”. i’m glad your store offers a vegetarian option … that is the “wonderful” part and that it’s the product you like is the “specific” part. i’m sure you already got what i was trying to say, but i said that above for remembering no vegetarian option was available to me back when i received those gift certificates for ham from a kind employer and, living in iowa, i heard too many times that i was “hurting farmers by not eating meat”. that was 28 to 34 years ago and thankfully lots of things have since changed for the better.
anyway, carry on and be happy and well whatever you’re doing!
xo
Claudia says
I became a vegetarian in the mid-eighties and there were very few vegetarian options. And it remained that way for a long time.
Things are much better now.
kathy in iowa says
agree … a lot more options, in stores and restaurants! and vegetarian/vegan cookbooks, too. not that i cook so many different things.
i’ve been a vegetarian for nearly forty-five years.
hope you and don enjoy good meals and good days!
kathy
Claudia says
Good for you!!!
xo
Kay in SE Wisconsin says
Wishing you and Don a Happy Thanksgiving.
Take care,
Kay
Claudia says
Thank you, Kay.
Stay safe.
Marilyn Schmuker says
A free roast! Surely something to be thankful for.
The older I get the more thankful I am for the non-material things like a beautiful sunrise.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Don!
Claudia says
It’s mostly nature and beauty and birds and animals for us. I agree.
Stay safe, Marilyn.
Wendy T says
What is on a gratitude list changes from moment to moment. I like what is currently on your list, Claudia. I’d put three things on my list right now:
1. I’m grateful for daughters who consider me their Mom and friend, and the laughter and love we share.
2. I’m grateful that I only injured my pride when I fell two days ago, missing the last step on the stairs inside the house. My knees have bruises but nothing is broken and I didn’t hit my head. I know the bundle of laundry I was carrying cushioned my fall. Maybe I should be grateful for dirty laundry?
3. I’m grateful that I have a fair and honest co tractor that replaced a leaky window and repaired all the places outside that had dry rot before the huge rainstorm we had a few days ago arrived.
Claudia says
I’m glad to hear you’re okay, Wendy!
Stay safe.
kathy in iowa says
i’m glad you’re okay, too, wendy! and I like the rest of your gratitude list.
happy thanksgiving and no more falls!
kathy
Barbara says
That is good news about the free turkey or substitute.
Regarding the buying of the tree later so it will stay fresh longer…all the trees have already been cut – have you considered getting it early and putting it in a bucket of water or the tree stand outside? That way it will get water earlier, they’re certainly not watering it at the tree lot. We have been doing it this way for years. As long as the bucket of water doesn’t freeze solid ( happened one year) it should work fine.
Happy Thanksgiving
Claudia says
I’ll think about it but we’re due for frigid weather in a few days, so perhaps it’s best to wait until we buy it from the lot.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
Jenny says
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Don, Claudia!! Your blog is on my gratitude list. :)
Claudia says
Thank you, Jenny.
Stay safe.
Donnamae says
I started my gratitude list yesterday, when my son helped my husband change out the battery on his jeep.
How fortunate that you were able to get a free Gardein turkey. Now, you are all set for Christmas. I love it when that happens.
Today is prep day for tomorrow…pumpkin pie, brownies, orange jello with mandarin oranges because it’s a must for the men in this family, and mashed potatoes. My DILs are bringing GF stuffing and green bean casserole…bless them.
I wish you and Don and everyone else a very Happy Thanksgiving, full of gratitude and joy. Enjoy your day today…and tomorrow!! ;)
Claudia says
Yes, and Gardein is entirey vegetarian, which is why I put “turkey” in quotes.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Verna says
Happy Thanksgiving Claudia and Don. Those are good things to be thankful for. I especially like #3 as unexpected goodness just feels good. Incredible photo. Have a beautiful day.
Verna and Scott
Claudia says
Thank you, Verna!
Stay safe.
Elaine in Toronto says
Your picture looks very mysterious. It has a certain vibe to it. Nice you were given a free turkey. Happy Thanksgiving🍗. There is a lot to be thankful for. Hugs, Elaine
Claudia says
Not a free turkey – a free vegetarian “turkey” roas. We don’t eat meat.
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Cheryl says
Thanks for reminding me about the Gardein ‘turkey’ products. Too late for Thanksgiving but I will remember that for Christmas for one of my family members. Happy Thanksgiving!
Claudia says
They’re really delicious!
Stay safe, Cheryl.
Leslie Hayes says
Love that beautiful picture of the tree. Happy Thanksgiving!
Claudia says
Thank you, Leslie.
Stay safe.