Thankful for books!

Supplies: Papers all from We R Memory Keepers "Autumn Splendor;"
buttons a mix of stash & Basic Grey;
birthday sentiment from Hero Arts;
stamped with Versamark & embossed with Stampendous Pearlustre Carnelian

I don't think I could possibly NOT give thanks for books this week. I read a lot, and it's probably how I spend most of my waking time. I always have a book on the go, and there is always a stack waiting to be read. I suspect that I have my own shelf at the library for holds...certainly there aren't many weeks that go by without me going in to pick something up. So, not only am I thankful for books, and the ability to read, but I'm thankful for the library. Thankful for the friendly librarians who always have a smile & a book recommendation, and thankful for the wide range of books I've been able to read for free.

What I've read in the past week:

right now, I've just started The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich.

Yesterday I read Smut by Alan Bennett, and Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett.

The rest of last week's reads were: The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt, Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard, and A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber. Sometimes a book ends up delivering just what I need - I cried buckets reading Second Nature and The Fine Art of Insincerity. Sometimes it's simply wonderful to lose yourself in a story for a while. That's primarily why I read - to entertain and escape.

And now for the big Thanksgiving cleanup - besides being thankful that we were together to eat it, and all ate the same meal, today was the first time that I've made gravy from scratch successfully. Would it be so wrong to drink it from a glass? I'm pretty excited about it.

xoxo,
Jessi

Thankful for Friends!

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.  ~George MacDonald

Yesterday I planned to give thanks for friends, old and new. This week I reconnected with a truly dear friend from high school that I hadn't spoken with in a long time. Four hours' time difference, busy lives, and it's easy to let weeks slip into years. Wednesday another friend came over for dinner, and she's headed over right now for coffee & girl talk. I know that I have folks I can count on, and friends who support me, and I am a lucky person to have them. 

That doesn't mean that I don't have rough days. I try not to vent too specifically here, but you know, sometimes life really sucks. Sometimes it's hard to feel happy, and to look on the bright side. Sometimes you have to do things like dedicate a week to being thankful to remind yourself of all the wonderful things that are part of your life. And sometimes you receive something so unexpected and lovely in the mail that it makes you cry.

Created by Emily Keaton, sweetest blogger EVER

Emily's card and sweet heartfelt note inside really did make me cry. And I feel like I'm going to cry again just writing about how much it meant to me to receive it. So, instead, just thanks, Emily. It means so much to me, and has a special spot right on my desk.

Supplies: papers from We R Memory Keepers "Autumn Splendor;"
'wheat' stamp from CHF; sentiment from Anna Griffin;
Autumn Leaves Kaleidacolor ink pad;
leaves from Prima, green one inked with the autumn leaves pad;
buttons from Basic Grey & stash;
Tonic edge distresser

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey "Indie Bloom;"
leaf punch from Martha Stewart;
fibres from stash;
'happy' letter stickers from Basic Grey;
'thanksgiving' stamp from Anna Griffin, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Supplies: papers from My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found 2: Sunshine;"
leaf punch from Martha Stewart;
'happy' from MFT; 'thanksgiving' from Anna Griffin;
Memento Tuxedo Black ink

xoxo,
Jessi

Wait no longer!

I know, it was mean to tease about Abby's new clothes & not show photos. She is still not too impressed. As you can likely tell, I think these are too small - they are medium sized, and she's 'only' 22 pounds, but  her poor little naked belly is still exposed. And this morning she was shivering even with the sweater. Two measly degrees Celsius, and this afternoon it's {gasp} SNOWING. On October 6th. Wrong, so very wrong. What was it, not even two weeks ago we were all wearing shorts & I was bragging about basking in the sun? Darn hubris'll get you every time.

I look ridiculous!

I look so ridiculous even the scaredy-cat came to laugh.

You can't possibly expect me to go outside in this.

Stop laughing. It's not funny! 

 So, what can I talk about being thankful for today?
I had something in mind, but I'm going to save it for tomorrow. All I can think about right now is my warm coffee cup & how good it feels on my cold fingers...and the heat coming out of the vent warming up my purple toes...and Riley's cozy baby blanket tucked around my lap. So, today I'm grateful for warmth, for the knowledge that, although I do have to go stand around outside for about an hour and a half soon, afterwards I'll be coming home to my cozy little house.
And, that somewhere in the basement hides a bag full of hats, mitts, and scarves, that I need to haul out & get washed ASAP before we get frostbitten!

Supplies: paper from K & Co "Abrianna;"
die cut flower from K & Co;
clear microbeads (Michaels) & Mod Podge Dimensional Magic;
sentiment from Basic Grey, stamped with Dusty Concord distress ink

Supplies: papers & acetate die cuts from K & Co "Abrianna;"
flower from Recollections;
Labels 4 Nesties;
sentiment sticker from SRM

xoxo,
Jessi

Thankful for this....

It's not hard to find things to be grateful for, but it is a little hard to put it into words & pictures. Today I want to express my thanks for my creative outlet. My thanks for the folks who are crazy enough to read my blog (weirdos!), and the customers who reward me for loving what I do. And for not picking on my grammar. 

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey "Indie Bloom;"
gem flourishes from the $store, coloured with Sharpie;
Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink;
stamps from Inkadinkado, Kaisercraft, Autumn Leaves;
flowers quilled by me

 For eight years this coming weekend, I've spent almost every single Saturday as a vendor at Sackville's Farmer's Market. When I started going, it took no time at all to feel like a part of the family. Sackville is a wonderful & welcoming community, and I look forward to seeing the familiar faces every week, and meeting new ones as the students arrive each autumn.

The best little farmer's market around!

We just recently founded a Facebook group for the farmer's market if you'd like to take a peek or join - it's open to everyone.

Not to taunt the Abby lovers out there, but it's so rainy and miserable here today with the tail end of Hurricane Ophelia that we had to go out & buy her a raincoat. It's pink. Just wait until I get some pictures...

xoxo,
Jessi

You make me so happy...

Supplies: Papers from Basic Grey "Max & Whiskers;"
sentiment & puppy stamp from Inkadinkado;
Brads from Making Memories;
Palette Noir ink

"You make me so happy I could wag my tail."

Isn't that a great sentiment? Not many things look happier than a dog wagging its tail. Abby occasionally wags hers so hard that she ends up waggling her whole rear & falling over. As you might have guessed, what I am expressing thankfulness for today is my pets.

Gertie

Sophie

  

Maggie

gratuitous mitten  shot :)

Abby

I think an important element of gratitude is to remember the small things, the little pieces of life that make it worth living. Obviously I'm grateful for the big stuff, but it feels nice to remember how many things come together to be part of my life and give me joy. 

xoxo,

Jessi

ETA: I've added a "gratitude" label so that you can view all these posts in one section, if you're interested. Make sure you leave me a link if you're in the Gratitude Challenge too - button & link are up in the top right of my sidebar :)

A week of Thanks

A while back, Susan at Simplicity wrote a post about being grateful, and it resonated with me. And then, it got all official-like ;) Canadian Thanksgiving is a week from today, and I'd like to take this week to feature thanks of all kinds. First up, a Thanksgiving card:

Supplies: Papers & brads from Basic Grey "Indian Summer;"
graphic from The Graphics Fairy, printed twice & the bloom popped up;
leaf button from Dress it Up!;
Tonic edge distresser; Old Paper and Bundled Sage distress ink

I'm thankful that, this year, both of my children will actually be willing to partake in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It will be the first year that I've cooked a whole bird in what feels like forever, because with autism, it's common to have many sensory issues around food. We spent many years adapting what we all ate because really, who wants to cook 3 different meals for supper? Connor still doesn't like gravy, but I can deal with that. There have been holidays when we've just had hot dogs, because that's what the kids would eat. And beyond being grateful that they WILL eat a traditional meal, I'm grateful that we all can eat a traditional meal, and that all of us understand how lucky we are.

What are you feeling thankful for today?
xoxo,
Jessi