Day 18 ~ New Discoveries

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One of the things I love best about traveling is discovering newness!

Today's sojourn around Erie took me past this amazing shop.  My radar immediately went off and I had to do a U-turn to investigate.

Oh my goodness!  What a wonderful array of beautiful, exquisite pieces made from glass found along the shores of Lake Erie.  Neat!

I just might have found a new hobby!

* * *

Today I am grateful a multitude of new discoveries while visiting Erie, PA, just one of which is Lake Erie beach glass.  :)

Days 14-17 ~ The List Grows

I'm writing this from Erie, PA ~ where I've come to spend some fantastically fun & adventurous time with some dear friends.

Needless to say, my gratitude list is growing exponentially!

~safe travel
~new sights & sounds
~good food
~Romolo's chocolates
~cats!
~rabbits!
~amazing art by Marcy
~buying incense in a cute local herb shoppe
~bubble water
~espresso, espresso, espresso
~Nutella
~learning to explore and empower my body in new ways with Christine's dance classes
~time away to rest, renew, and refocus

* * *
Mmmmm...definitely basking in sunny gratitude today. :)

Day 13 ~ The Clean Scene

There is a car wash here locally ~ one of those new-ish versions with a laundromat in the same building.  It is a top-notch outfit, let me tell you.

For the low, low price of only $3.00 you can ride your car through the automatic wash & rinse.  It does a really good job. And on certain days, you can even get a token for a free vacuum session!

It is one of the best deals around!!

And....on top of all that...when you drive away, there is a sign that reads:


YOU LOOK FABULOUS IN YOUR CLEAN CAR.

That cracks me up!!!

* * *

Today, I am delightfully grateful for The Clean Scene car wash.  :-D

Day 12 ~ Tanner

We were meant to be together.  This I know for sure.

For almost three years now he has been a faithful, loving companion.

He is a magnificent specimen of the feline kingdom.

All 15+ pounds of his buff stripy self!

I love him dearly.

Oh my, yes.  I am *most* grateful for my Tanner Boy

Day 11 ~ The Marblehead Light

I don't remember how old I was when I fell in love with this lighthouse.  As best I can recall, it was a special site for me even back in high school.  And to this day, it continues to be a sacred space.

Each time I go, whether for just a few minutes or for a longer, more meditative visit, it is a reverent pilgrimage of sorts.  I find the energy there very centering, cleansing, and healing

Last summer, I had the chance (for the second time in my life, I believe) to tour the inside and navigate my way around the top open-air lookout.   The view is spectacular!

There's Cedar Point Amusement Park straight ahead in the distance.

And a wonderful view of the magical rocks below.  (More on those in another post.)

Then back down the 77 steps of the narrow, spiral staircase!

This is the oldest continually working lighthouse on Lake Erie, in operation sine 1822.  When the original light keeper died in 1832, his wife took over the role, making her the first woman light keeper on the Great Lakes.  (Click here to read more.)

There is a lovely museum house on the property now.  It contains an array of interesting historical treasures about the Lighthouse, as well as certain artifacts from the surrounding area.

If you ever have the chance to visit, I hope you do.  You will not be disappointed.

* * *

I am indeed grateful for the Marblehead Lighthouse. :)

Day 10 ~ A Good Hairdresser

Finding a good hairdresser ~ who can handle short hair creatively ~ is a true blessing.

Recently, my 'go to' stylist left her place of employment and I was unaware of her new location.  So, in the meantime, I took a chance on a local salon, to which I had never been before.

The results were great!  And I am happy to report that it was an enjoyable encounter with a good outcome.

Yes, today I am grateful for good hairdressers!  :)

Day 9 ~ These Trees

When I Am Among the Trees

~by Mary Oliver~

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, 

and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, 

to be filled with light,

 and to shine."

Almost every morning for the past six months, these trees have greeted me ~
faithful sentinels of strength and wonder.

Countless hours have been spent simply soaking in their beauty and majesty.

I am overwhelmingly grateful for their presence in my life at this time.

Day 8 ~ My Honda

Today, I am grateful for my 1994 Honda Accord.

18 years ago this week I purchased it new ~ and it has served me well ever since.

With more than 194,500 miles on it now, it seems fitting that my new bumper sticker reads:

Powered By Optimism!

Day 7 ~ Miracles

As we become purer channels for God's light, we develop an appetite for the sweetness that is possible in this world. A miracle worker is not geared toward fighting the world that is, but toward creating the world that could be.

Marianne Williamson

They are all around us.   Every day.  With every breath.

They arrive when a lifetime of pieces fall perfectly, astonishingly into place.

And sometimes, when we're incredibly blessed with amazing grace from the Universe, they sit across the table from us, hold our hands, look into our eyes, and speak Truth to our being.

Today was one of those days.

* * * 

My goodness, how grateful I am for miracles!!!

Day 6 ~ Squirrels

I find them endlessly fascinating and entertaining!

And...they bring an important message.  (Click here to read more.)

Here on the North Coast of Ohio there are mostly red squirrels.  Compared to the common gray squirrel in the city areas, these furry friends are quite fat and fluffy!

I especially like it when they pose for a photo!

* * *

Today, I am grateful for squirrels.  :)

Day 5 ~ Spring

The sounds of birds singing, especially first thing in the morning.

The greening of the grass.

The budding of the trees.

The emergence of an amazing variety of flowers, trees, bushes.

The return of migrating animal friends.

The extended hours of daylight.

The warming of temperatures (with brief cold spells to give us perspective).

The return of my urge to travel.

The sights and sounds of neighbors emerging from their houses.

The shedding of heavy clothing.

And, ultimately, the overall promise of rebirth ~ that life will go on ~ and, as a part of Nature, I can embrace the cyclical nature of things and trust that I, too, am being renewed.

* * *

Today, I am grateful for SPRING!  :)

Day 4 ~ TCM

One of my guilty pleasures over these past several months has been watching old movies on the Turner Classic Movies station.  And I've watched *a lot* of them.

I've discovered some real gems....like this scene of Gene Kelly tap dancing on roller skates.
AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC!!!




I so love the innocence, the romance (even the sometimes cheesy love scenes), the wonky humor, the nonviolent and clean-cut themes & acting, the goofy plot lines, the make up, the clothes, the sets...

...and...NO commercials!!!

* * *

Yes, it's true, I am grateful for Turner Classic Movies! :-D

Day 3 ~ Second Chances

From the wise & wonderful Brene' Brown

Today I am grateful for second chances ~ and those dear souls who provide them for me.

When I screw up...

When I try to speak my truth and it doesn't come out quite right...

When I get *really* dramatic and emotional...

When I can't seem to find my way...

When I want to give up...

When I just simply fall apart...

When I neglect to take my own advice...

When I think too much with my head and forget to lead from my heart...

When I lack trust in the process to which I am deeply committed...

When I keep repeating the same faulty behavior over and over and over again...

When I think my past has to define my future...

When I let my fears & gremlins get the best of me...

When I give up hope...

* * *

Oh, yes, today I am *most* grateful for second chances.

Day 2 ~ Pizza

(From Kinnikinnick Foods, Inc.)

Or more accurately ~ gluten-free pizza crust!!

Pizza has long been one of my favorite foods.   And for quite some time, perhaps a year or more, I was unable to eat it after adopting a gluten-free lifestyle.

Now, there are several GF pizza crusts on the market ~ and I have even found some restaurants that make it available!

Rest assured, that *every*single*slice*I*eat* is savored with an appreciation for what it represents ~ the return of a much-beloved food.

* * *

Today, I am grateful for gluten-free pizza!  :)

Day 1 ~ Hope

source of both images:  Jen Lemen

I'm not sure why, but I seem to be a hopeful person.  While despair, doubt, confusion, grief, sadness, anger, fear, (and just the general funk that sometimes descends over me) can also be my daily companions ~ they are not able (thank goodness!) to squelch the glimmer of hope that resides within the core of my being.

Each breath, each moment, each hour, each day, each week, each month....I hold onto hope ~ and wave my banner of possibility ~ knowing that, as Jen so amazingly said, "this is not the end of my story".

* * *
Today, I am grateful for hope.

Resurrection

The view from my window on Easter Sunday morning.

I feel as if I should start this post with, "Excuse me, Blogger, for I have sinned...it has been almost three months since my last blog post."

There....now that that's out of the way!  Whew!


I have been longing to blog again.  Truly.  But just haven't found adequate words or energy to contribute to this forum.  My life over these past several months has contained more than I am able to describe to you in words ~ and I just could not bring myself to show up here.

Now, though, I not only want to write, I *need* to write.  As many of you have experienced, the creativity we embrace and share is a valuable part of our healing journey.  And, wow, do I need it.

I keenly sense that emerging from this recent round of my darkness and adding to this blog home will help guide me through the next chapter of my Journey.

While there is much that could be written, I am still a bit guarded and uncertain about how to translate many of my experiences, emotions, lessons, and astonishments.  Therefore, I've decided to focus on gratitude.  It has saved my sanity and spirit on many recent days.  The power of it must never be underestimated.

And so, tomorrow will being my trek along the path of 40 Days of Gratitude.  Each day I will post something ~ a quote, a photo, a story (who knows!) ~ to represent the myriad ways that gratefulness still, and sometimes overwhelmingly, blesses my daily life.

I am glad to be showing up here again.  And I look forward to connecting with you, my kindred-spirit readers, as I explore where this gratitude chapter takes me.  :)