#10Thankful – Another Year Older
So my blog and I both had birthdays this week.
My blog is four years old. Imagine that. And me? Well, I’m four and then some. Birthdays have a way of prompting retrospection, don’t they. At least for me. I often find myself reflective around birthdays – take time to consider where I’ve been, where I’m going…just think.
So for starters, I’m thankful for another year of life and one that has brought many changes and surprises. It’s been a year of progress (my One Word, as I recall) and that is always a good thing. I spent time on my birthday with the people closest and most dear to me. I received many thoughtful cards and messages and gifts – all of which really touched me in so many ways. And the Hub started the day off by leaving me several little birthday notes in places he knew I’d find them. Too cute.
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I am thankful for CSA produce! I know I put that on here every week lately, but it really is awesome. I love having the fresh produce straight off our local organic farm fields. And it makes meal prep kind of easy, too. The ingredients are supplied; I just have to put my creativity to use and figure out how to use them.
![20160628_234621[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/20160628_2346211-1024x768.jpg)
This week we had another round of the sugar snap pea pasta we had last week. It was delicious. Again.
![20160623_185355[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20160623_1853551.jpg)
The new carpet on the stairs remains (knock wood) unspoiled by Rotten Cat deposits. We are very happy for that. And the dark color keeps the stairs from looking filthy the minute one of the Rottens drops even one black hair on it. I suppose the down side to that is that it’s easier to forget to vacuum…but we’re working on that not being the case.
I am thankful for things like Shark Week and Hallmark’s Keepsake Ornament week during which they show Christmas movies on TV in July and fireworks and summer theatre excursions…all the things we enjoy together as a family that help maintain and strengthen the bonds we already share.
We’ve accomplished a few more small projects around the house this week and have plans in place for many more as the summer unfolds. Maybe it’s a throwback to my years as a teacher or just to having time off from school in the summer as a kid, but to me summer is the time to work on projects and improvements. I’m not much of a spring cleaner, but summer gets me going.
I am very glad to be tackling at least one of my writing projects this month. Yup, I signed up for the CampNaNoWriMo thing during July and have committed to getting a few of the books I want for my kids’ book series written, edited, and illustrated before summer is over. My goal is to start shopping for some readers and (hopefully) a publisher come fall.
I’ve also been doing a tremendous amount of reading just for pleasure, something I used to do quite voraciously and over time due to college and work and marriage and work and buying a house and having a kid and grad school and just all the things I fell out of the habit. I have a huge list and pile of things I want to read and I’m so very happy to be working my way through.
I am always thankful for Kidzilla and the Hub. They are my loves, my life, and they make every day beautiful.
And now I am thankful to finish this list and get on to other things. I didn’t do so well at getting around to read other posts last week (sorry!) so I hope to do a better job in that department this time around. It won’t be until after the long holiday weekend, though, for sure. We’ll be off doing…
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Your turn – what are you thankful for this week? What are your favorite summer activities and habits? You know the drill – share ’em or link ’em. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the posts in the link-up by clicking that blue button down there.
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Happy blog and birthday week.
That CSA produce looks so fresh. I have been thinking of applying to be a member but never has.
Thank you, Carin!
The CSA produce is wonderful – better than anything! Even the local organic produce our market carries isn’t quite as fresh as this. We love it – definitely worth the membership.
Happy birthday!
I love my produce box, too. Meals are so colorful and tasty when made with fresh veggies.
I’m another former-voracious reader who doesn’t seem to take enough time to read as much as I used to.
Summer is definitely for projects–and fun!
Thank you, Kristi!
Summer is my catch-up time for all things, it seems. I’m enjoying this one particularly well.
Congrats on the birthday and the blogiversary.
Those CSA boxes look like a wonderful way to get more adventurous with meal planning. We eat a lot of different things here, but there’s still always that meal planning rut I fall into.
They really make planning fun and interesting, Vanessa. “What can I make with snap peas?” is so much easier than “What should I make for dinner?”
Did my comments work??? I keep losing them…hmmmm
Well of course the idiotic comment would be the one to work…
And I see this comment… But nothing else. 🙁
Well, I see this comment…
I love that you are off doing, as you put it.
🙂
I was planning on wishing you and your blog a Happy Birthday, when I realized the short form for the latter is MOM. Not all that you are, but it’s clear your daughter brings you great heaps of joy.
So excited for your book projects as well.
Happy B-Day/Blogaversary/4th of July to you Lisa.
Hah – yes, Kerry, it does abbreviate to MOM. I’ve noticed that and it’s interesting.
Thanks for the birthday and blog-day wishes. And tomorrow I’ll get back to the grindstone on the book project. I’ve been away from the computer for a bunch of days and I need to catch up!
An enormous amount of reading for pleasure sounds WONDERFUL and I’m so glad you’ve had time to indulge.
So glad your birthday went well (and your blogaversary too! Waheyyy!) and that you’ve had lovely times with Zilla and Fab Hub 🙂
I’m enjoying the reading. It still always feels like there are more books to read than I will ever have time enough to read…but I think I’m OK with that.
Birthday was wonderful and we’ve had a lovely long weekend besides. <3
congratulations on the fourthiversay! amazing how fast this time thing goes by, isn’t it?
Summer is much better than Winter (why, yes, I do have a certain gift for phrases…lol)
Thank you, Clark. Yes, time does fly. But this summer seems to be moving nice and slow…and I’m enjoying it!
Happy all things Lisa 😀 ‘
Ya know, I really do like your “new” look here. I like the colors and I don’t know, it just makes me smile 🙂
So yeah! What could be better than fresh veggies and fruits, especially in the summer!!! What is there NOT to like about this time of year?!
How exciting to be writing a kid’s series. I had once thought about it….and that’s as far as I got lol I hope when you’re finished you get a publisher quickly!
Hi, Girlie! I’m actively working on the look – tried about four different themes tonight and I think I’m going back to what I had an hour ago. The pink and farm flowers – just makes me happy.
I love the summer produce. There is nothing quite the same and I really miss it when the CSA ends.
Ah my series…slow going at the moment, but I’m trying. Here’s hoping I actually get something written!
Happy birthday to you and your blog! Many happy returns. Great retrospection, and I loved the photos. The pasta dish made me hungry 🙂
Thank you, Gulara! That pasta dish was actually amazing. We’ve made it twice already and my husband the carnivore loves it – asked for it the second time. It also reheats nicely. That’s a win!
Christmas movies in July?! What? How did I not know this? Some of my most favorite movies ever are : of course-It’s a Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn, The Bishop’s Wife or I am equally happy with The Preacher’s Wife. Were any of those showcased? Wait, maybe I don’t want to know! I might just be bummed.
Oh, yes! Hallmark Channel (although I think now they’ve moved it to their Movies and Mysteries channel) does Christmas movies during the week they release the year’s Keepsake ornaments in July. It’s fun! No, those aren’t the ones they play – strictly Hallmark originals, but still very sweet films.