Eleven Lovely Things Not Including People

For my blog I think I will start a November tradition of listing "11 Lovely Things Not Including People" for a Thanksgiving post the day after Thanksgiving. Make your own but here is my list this year.

1)  the eyes of a child when his eyes light up because he understands how to play a game.

2)  the smile that comes to my face when I hear my Sweetheart playing his guitar in the other room.

3)  the excitement of seeing a friend's face at the door you have not seen in a year.

4)  the feel of a warm fire on my legs sitting on the couch on a cool night.

5)  the joy in the eyes of a friend you just gave a simple scarf gift to.

6)  the unexpected flowers I received from another friend for our Thanksgiving table.

7)  the text I received from our daughter wishing us a happy with a picture of her and her brother              playing checkers at her in-laws' house.

8)  the confidence of being a veteran cook to doctor up a recipe that just flopped the morning of               Thanksgiving dinner to make a delicious alternative that guest love and want to take home.

9)  the happiness seeing the lights lit up in my windows for the first time again this year at our house.

10)  the comfort of a man I love by my side, as always, telling me I have pretty, small, feet that he               loves.

11)   Lying in bed late morning watching a Netflix documentary on bears with my "Honey."

Life is good.

Thanksgiving Traditions

What are yours? 

Our tradition was to go around the table and tell one thing we liked about each person. 

In the years we did this there were times when people at the table thought this was lame but nonetheless they all would participate.  By the time we got to the end of thankfulness for each one, there was usually a tear in every eye.

Sweet words can be so healing.  Life gets so fast, fast, faster, faster, it is easy to gloss over these kind words that are so healing to hear each day. Years go by and although we are separate it is nice to remember why we loved to be together one time long ago.  It does bring a tear to this Mom and Dad's eye to this day.  Thankfulness is easy when you get your eyes off yourself.

So what is your tradition for this Thanksgiving? I'd like to hear in comments below.

You Can Always Make Memories for Someone

We were thinking about how many holidays have come and gone with our children far away whether it was military duties, a job, traveling and we thought we can still make memories for those we meet now that are also far away from home and family.

The couple that is coming for Thanksgiving dinner have an eight year old son. He never celebrated Thanksgiving or Christmas, it was not his family's tradition.  He loves coming here and seeing our decorations and lights, tasting our good southern recipes alongside some of the Yankee dishes Sweetheart makes.  So I guess the next chapter in our life is celebrating with our new friends and family and making childhood excitement all over for this little guy.  One day when he is graduating college we will be there and he will remember good times. 

Making fun memories is one thing we do well. Namaste.

Having a Halal Turkey This Year

Love having new friends over for any holiday. This year we are having this to accommodate but we are cooking the bird as they do not eat turkey, only chicken.  The dishes she makes are so delicious we can hardly wait for Thanksgiving dinner!  Thanks Wasan!

Happy Anniversary Quail Writer One Year

One year ago I had finished a Bob Proctor online class about changing my paradigm.  This paradigm thinking was new and interesting and the writing exercise he gave the class was to write a paragraph with your left hand every day for 60 days.  I began writing this everyday and at the end of 30 days I said why should I keep writing his paragraph when I really want to get in the habit of writing everyday for the purpose of finishing my first book, so I began writing the blog that my daughter had set up for me in July of that year.  Writing my blog to practice writing for the first book was more beneficial to me than writing Bob's paragraph. Thanks Bob for getting me started! Thanks Anna fro setting my blog up!

Yesterday my mother called to thank me for the gifts I send in the mail to her.  She says it makes waiting for the mail every week exciting to see what I have sent her.

She:"I want to get you and Charlie something, let me send you money. You both do so much for me." 

Me: "No mother, we don't need your money, we love sending you things you need or want especially now that you are a home body."

She: "You give so much and I love to give to others too. " 

Me: "Yes you are where I learned this from I'm sure." 

She:"What can I give you two then?"

I thought and told her, "To tell you the truth, we have so much stuff that I'm beginning to give things away.  I don't need anything, everything I ever wanted I already have."

She said,"That is wonderful. Did you ever think you would be able to say that in this life?"

Me: "Absolutely.  I fully expected to have it all."

She now waits to read my first book and I continue to write it.  The blog is fun, my mother likes to read it alongside my biggest fan, my Sweetheart.  The world is as it should be to want it any other way is insanity. Thank you Byron Katie.

The American Woman Citizen Will Not Adopt Other Cultures' Archaic Treatment of Them

As bad as anyone may think this USA is in the treatment of women, and the long road we have yet to travel through laws for protection of children, women, and yes even some men, we are still a BIG LEADER in the world of equality of the female across the world.

Whenever you speak with any immigrant and I do often and ask, "Why come here? You could go anywhere in the world...Why here?"  Every single time I hear one of these answers: "I can make money here. There is no civil war here. There is individual freedom and opportunity here. Once I have established business, the government will not come close me down, take it away with no reason. The health care here is much better, I don't have to wait in line for serious need of medical attention. My child can be educated and have a chance for a better life. Women are treated better here, they are free."

Women here do have opportunities that other countries do not allow for women.  An immigrant female friend is excited that she is allowed to drive a car and go through the city without fear of her or her child being hurt or kidnapped, allowed to dress without the hijab and be judged as a "bad" woman.

Men are not allowed by federal law to beat, harass, kidnap, rape, or slap women here.  Women need to speak up and file charges to have the man locked up.  So to think another religion or culture is coming here to change the treatment of women to be less that what is established...THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.   

An American woman is strong when she uses her voice and the law of this land.  We have a long way to go I know, but we will not be taken back to archaic cultures that submit women and children to abuse unimaginable.  You bring your religion here great. You hold onto your culture, great. But you had best remember you came here for a better life and you can have it, but you better learn the ways of a USA citizen and treat women with respect and the "equal to any man status they have by law here" or go back to your country, leave your women here, we will celebrate their freedom as they grow old in the good old USA.  Women are free here.

Don't get me started on how religion holds all women down, do not get me started...

Sable Fur and a USMC Boonie Hat

Sweetheart wanted to get out in the driveway at 2Am last night to see the meteor shower. It was cold. I went to bed at 10 PM to get some sleep before this annual event.  There are two or threee months each year we lie out in the driveway on a waterproof stuffed garbage bag with blankets and sleeping bags to view this movie put on by the heavens.

It turned icy cold last night.  I jumped up out of my nice soft comfy bed and put on my sweat pants and Marine Corps sweatshirt, socks and winter boots.  Heading downstairs I took a peek out of the front door and had a shiver. Next to the front door is my closet full of winter coats.  I wanted the longest and warmest one in there.  I grabbed my sable fur and a hat from the nearby hat rack, my eldest Marine Boonie hat.  Perfect!

Warm now. Let the show begin!