Thank you notes – April 2023
It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to appreciate the small miracles that happen every day. I created the monthly Thank You Notes post to help me relive the happy moments, savor the gratitude, and share them with you. I hope they also inspire you to think about what you have to be grateful for and share them with us.
Thank you desert flowers…
…for making my morning walks a nearly spiritual experience. I love the wild flowers that Mother Earth freely offers up…
…and those that require a little coaxing from us humans.
I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank my eyes and brain for taking in this beauty. And while we are on the topic of vision, thank you to my contacts and glasses and all those people who efforts went into providing those for me. I can’t imagine navigating the world with my blurry vision and all the amazing details which I would miss. And one more thing on a related topic, thank you RESTASIS for the recent relief from the dry eyes that have plagued me most of my life.
Thank you Harmons Neighborhood Grocer…
…for the free sample box. What a fun surprise to receive an unexpected package and have the chance to check out some things I wouldn’t otherwise have tried. And thank you Harmons employees for the excellent, friendly service over the years, not to mention the high-quality products. Thank you taste buds for allowing me to enjoy a variety of good food. Thank you healthy digestive system for processing all the nutritious and not-so-nutritious food I consume. (I did not, however, consume the pictured Monster drink. I’ll stick with coffee as my primary caffeine source.)
Thank you spinach, feta, and berries…
…for combining to make a treat for the eyes and the palate. Add some infused olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a handful of nuts, and you have a salad fit for a queen! I’ve already covered thanks to my body and my grocer, so let me say thank you Mother Earth for providing the sunshine, soil, and rain…and, of course, thanks to the farmers, delivery drivers, equipment manufacturers, and everyone else that contributed to this meal ultimately making its way to my plate.
Thank you copious amounts of precipitation this year…
…for providing these beautiful waterfalls at Gunlock State Park. The delayed start to spring and the ability to get out and enjoy nature was well worth the wait.
And thank you Larry and Buddy Dog for accompanying me on this outing. Thank you to all the friendly hikers with whom we exchanged greetings along the way. Thank you pension and savings for allowing me to retire early and have the flexibility to venture out in the middle of the week. Life is good.
Your turn…
- What are you feeling thankful for this month?
- If I were to visit your neck of the woods, what must I see while I am there?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
In case you are curious, Thank You Notes posts are based off my camera roll for the month. There are so many other things I enjoyed during April, like birthday celebrations for my husband and all three of our daughters, but of which I did not take a single photo, so they didn’t make the cut. That’s a good reminder to me to take photos of the people in my life.
Your Gunlock State Park photos are stunning! How beautiful! I hope to be able to explore that park someday.
It was so beautiful, Liz. You should definitely put Gunlock on your bucket list. You could stay at our house.
Thank YOU for sharing the pictures of Gunlock here and on IG. What a beautiful place on this earth. My parents took us all over the west as kids but somehow, we missed this park. We are doing a quick 3 day road trip to Austin, Texas mid-May and I was so excited when a post about some waterfalls near that area showed up in my Facebook feed today. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/texas/miniature-natural-wonder-tx/ Reminds me a little of Gunlock.
Fun to see many of the same wildflowers we have here growing there where you are. I sprayed for weeds a week ago but couldn’t bring myself to spray the little bouquets of wildflowers growing up in our rock landscaping. Just as pretty to me as a rose bush.
Hello Leslie. This world is full of so much beauty, isn’t it? Those falls in Texas look amazing. And desert flowers are so pretty against the rocks. I know what you mean about not spraying them. Enjoy your trip next month. I look forward to seeing some photos.
Wow to you and your images. I love how nature finds a way to make us smile by popping up in a piece of solid ground. Always enjoy reading your Thank You notes.
Warm wishes
Denyse.
Thank you, Denyse. You our so right about nature bringing a smile, especially when something surprising and colorful pops up out of the ground.
I always love your monthly gratitude posts Christie – all small things, but they add up to a lot of pleasure. What a fantastic local store to send you a free gift parcel and to continually offer great service – we need more of that in our world don’t we? Lovely seeing your desert flowers and waterfalls – definitely a sign of Spring at last appearing in your area.
Thank you, Leanne. It really has been a month full of small pleasures, and spring seems here to stay for a while. Yea!
Hi Christie, your photos and notes of gratitude are always inspiring. Those waterfalls are fabulous by the way! Hopefully spring is getting underway for you over there. If you were to visit here you’d see the lovely autumn colours of the vineyards and trees. It’s cooling down but we’ve had some nice sunny days too. I’m always grateful for sunshine 🙂
Thanks for joining us for WBOYC this month.
Thank you, Deb, for the kind words and for hosting WBOYC. If I someday find myself in your area, I know there are lots of beautiful trails I want to walk.
Sometimes, I feel I need the nudge your post gives to stop, be aware and be thankful. Much appreciated, as always.
You are welcome, Caree. We can all use the occasional reminder to stop and smell the roses, as they say.
I loved these pictures! How far is gunlock park from your house? I would love to be part of the Harmon’s feedback group. Did you sign up for that?
Also, I’m anxiously awaiting to hear your new word of the year!!
Thank you, Cindy. Gunlock is about a 40-minute drive, and it’s a beautiful drive. It’s been mostly dry for several years, so the falls reappearing are thanks to the plentiful snow and rain this year.
I did not sign up for the sample box…that was a complete surprised. I am enrolled in the Harmons Foodie Club rewards program.
Hi Christie it is always lovely to have you link up your post with us at WBOYC. I was looking at your Instagram or Facebook photos of a hike you did with Larry and the area is stunning. The desert can really be a surprise package with blooms, blue skies and red earth. Your Spinach, Feta and Berries salad looks delicious and easy to make. Enjoy your May and I look forward to reading about it at our next link up. x
Hello Sue. It really is a beautiful area, especially in spring with all the contrasting colors. Thank you for hosting the WBOYC. It is fun to see what everyone has been up to. Happy May to you as well!
Hi Christie! I love this gratitude post and more of us should do this! The western US sure got a lot of water this year. I’m thankful for healthy food and the ability to take photos of places I’ve been. Enjoy the desert before the warm-up begins!
Thank you, Terri. Yes, we have received a lot of much-needed water. Of course, it may be a little too much of a good thing all at once now that the snow melt has started. Hoping for everyone’s safety. I too am so grateful for healthy food and for the ability to take photos and preserve memories. Wishing you a happy May with lots for which to be grateful!
I like gratitude so this post resonates with me.
What are you feeling thankful for this month? Considering it’s May now, I’m grateful for new beginnings.
If I were to visit your neck of the woods, what must I see while I am there? The zoo and botanical gardens.
What else is on your mind? I’m pleased to say that not much is on my mind today and somehow that seems like a quiet blessing.
I couldn’t agree more, Ally…sometimes a quiet mind is the best blessing.
Hi Christie, thanks for taking us along on your desert walks. I enjoyed the change of scenery. For some reason, I hadn’t realized that your ‘notes’ are based on what’s on your camera roll. What a great idea.
You’re welcome, Suzanne. I always like seeing others’ nature photos and being able to enjoy different scenery from around the world.
Thank you Christie for the reminder to be thankful for all the small things. We certainly live in a beautiful place & this desert provides such beauty all around us.
You’re welcome, Becky. You are right we do live in such a beautiful area. I find myself in awe all the time. It never gets old.