Gratitudes...

Grateful for Tom, who made me smile every time I looked out and saw him or pulled in the drive coming home...

For a chocolate cake that came out just right for The Boys... large and small.

For the FUN we had at One Way Out!  An Escape Room in Tyler, TX... who knew?!  So. much. FUN!  Highly recommend this!! 

For the JOY of a scavenger hunt at Trail Creek Farm ... after finding our Christmas tree... (Also highly recommend this fun place!)...

Grateful for the beautiful weather we enjoyed... 

AND, for finding this little mouse from our OLD Advent calendar!  He had been missing the past couple of years and I found him while going through decorations for a fresh tree (we've tried artificial for awhile) and are back to the real deal this year.

It was a good Thanksgiving.

It was a sad Thanksgiving...

In less than two weeks, we lost two dear-to-us souls... I am grateful that Miss Evelyn and Johnny are no longer bound by earthly pain or suffering... They are well loved and will be deeply missed.  Any prayers for the comfort of their families are much appreciated.

The Christmas tree is up... a good many of decorations are out... still, there is a lot to do...

But, oh, how quickly this season will pass.

May Peace fill all of our hearts...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 21

They say it takes 21 days to create a new habit... I needed a new habit... a re-boot... a way of focusing on all the good and filtering some of the bad.  These 21 days of Scattered Joy have helped me refocus and REMEMBER all the good that still surrounds me...

Our young golf pro of the gentler gender says that, if you take the "power pose" or "super hero pose" for a short while every day, it will actually change the chemistry in your brain!  Hey, doesn't hurt to try it. Strike the pose, ladies.  ;)

And, I'm back to my 21 Day Fix exercises again... along with my walking.  I've had to prove to myself, ONCE AGAIN, that walking isn't enough.  I need some core and resistance training.  Twenty-two days down: a life time to go.  Back on track.

Over the past several years I've had my feelings hurt by folks I'd love to be closer to... but, seems they really only want to come around if they want something from you.  At 61, looks like I'd have learned better by now.  I'm really working on letting go... of the hurt... you just can't make someone love you back.  Nope.  I know this.  Feeling it is another thing... but, I'm working on it.  And, really who wants to chase after someone if they don't care enough to be around you just for the joy of it????  Right??? Right!  (Remind me of this if I forget.)   Moving on...

Yep, 100%.  So far.  LOL!  Thank you for sharing this 21 Day Scattered Joy exercise.  It's been good for me.  We still have some tough times happening with friends; but through it all, we are gifted with many, many blessings.  The Little Men & Co. will be arriving tomorrow and OH, HOW MUCH WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR BEING HERE!!  (I will admit that I am savoring the quiet in the house right now though... hee hee).  We have so much to be THANKFUL for today.   If I don't make it back until The Little Men & Co. have left, I hope each of you have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving.

May God bless and keep you and yours ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 20

This goes a long way on demonstrating how easily I am amused... 

I was dragging the trash cans to the road this morning for garbage pick-up... in my robe, no less... when I spot these giant mushrooms across the yard!  Of course, I had to run in the house and find my camera!  Wish I had put something beside them to show their scale.  That biggest one was at LEAST six inches across!  They were so beautiful with the early light shining on them.

Photos do not do their beauty justice... but, take my word for it, they would have made you smile, too.  ;)  We are surrounded by beauty every day and I absolutely agree with Monique, from La Table de Nana, who made this comment on an earlier Scatter Joy post:  I think being able to appreciate nature and having hobbies are 2 things that matter so much in being able to continue to find and seek joy in life.  Me, too, Monique.  Me, too.

May your JOYS mushroom today!  ;)  LOL!
blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 19

I never tire of the beautiful autumn colors... or light dappling through limbs...

Evan and I enjoyed a round of golf with Jeff today.  It was crisp and cool, but sunny... a perfect fall afternoon.

And, I've managed to move myself off high center with the sleeves... Number one is well under way.  Crossings my fingers I will stay on task.  LOL! 

Find your JOY...
blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 18

 

Because sometimes a little cocktail makes a dose of JOY... ;)

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 17

Brother Jeff... he was leaving me behind on the morning walk... because I could not pass by a little group of crepe myrtles that were a stunning shade of orange...  They demanded a pause... and a photo.

My little brother is a JOY to me... I love when he and my SIL, Brenda, visit.  We always have such a good time.

This is the sight that had me sidetracked... Oh, such beautiful colors!!

Seek and scatter some joy today!

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 16

Some snowy beauty from our Colorado trip in October...

My beloved with our friends "babies"...

The aspens were dazzling...

The marble sculptures are gorgeous...

Especially capped with snow...

This is Marble, Colorado and Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti did a WONDERFUL post about this area if you are interested...

My favorite of these was the momma buffalo and her calf...

Have a JOY filled day...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 15

A GIFT on my morning walk!  Such bright, beautiful colors...

Scattered JOY on my path today...

Maybe not so much JOY is being stuck not wanting to do the sleeves on this sweater... LOL... Always something with me and sweaters (Karen, do you recognize the stitch markers?  Love 'em!)...  I can't find my size 5 DPNs and I'm not liking the Magic Loop method... yet. 

May your path be strewn with JOY today...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 14

Sedums in September with their winged visitors...

Sweet, silent joys...

Set my soul to singing...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 13

The Sedums are singing their swan's song for this year...  Even as they begin to dry out and die down in late fall, they bring me joy.

They will be my first hope of spring next year... my summer delight... and my first sign of fall... a sweet goodbye and a welcome to winter... The cycle goes on... Reminding me of the good things to come...

To everything there is a season...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 12

We visited friends in Colorado earlier this fall.  This little pond is such a serene spot.

This was a couple of days later... such beautiful, clear water. 

Lina caught four trout to have for breakfast the next morning... while I marveled at the beauty surrounding us.

God's gifts are so generous!

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 11

Remembering...
Remembering and giving thanks...
Thanks to the men and women who have served or are serving our country...

Remembering their families, who sacrifice, too...

May God bless and keep them...

Scatter Joy -- Day 10

Something from nothing:  joyful.

A need to have something to do with my hands while spending some time waiting...

Meant grabbing a skein of yarn, a stitch book of crochet and a hook while running out the door.  Happily, it became a fun (for me) hippy vest.  LOL!  I learned a new stitch (cast on multiples of four) thinking I might make a lap blanket.  As I went along, the idea that I might WEAR this little "blanket" began to form.  I ended up doing a split a couple of inches longer in the front than the solid back and seaming the sides.  Finished the edges with single crochet and, of course, added fringe.  A quick and fun project!

This is the stitch pattern from Molly's Crochet.

I love a little quote I saw on a car sticker:

My superpower comes from sticks and string.

Ha!  blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 9

"Goodness is easier to recognize than to describe." ~ W. H. Auden

Look for the good...

blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 8

My first yarn with Yak... Nua by Carol Feller (StolenStitches.com)  60% Merino Wool, 20% Yak, 20% Linen.  On its way to being a sweater... hopefully, one I'll like.  ;)  The yarn is yummy!

Confederate Rose... so many blooming through our neighborhood!

Beautiful to behold on my morning walks... They start out pink and open to white...

And, I don't know what this wild plant is, but I LOVE it.

May you seek and scatter your own joys... blessings ~ tanna

Scatter Joy -- Day 7

Can you see how enamored I am with early morning light?  I loved the long shadows of the balls and flag...  Just made me stop and smile... and grab my phone (camera).  I should have been practicing my putting.  LOL!

Simple pleasures... Simple joy.

blessings ~ tanna