Season of Thanksgiving gratitude day 45

Wednesday November 26, 2025

Today I am thankful for vacuum cleaners, and brooms and dust mops, etc.  All the cleaning tools we have to help us feel civilized!  Tuesday while Ember was in day care, I rearranged the x-pen and cleaned outside the pen, around the edges of the room.  Ahhhh... how satisfying!

The plan is to gradually introduce the furniture again, get it outside of the fence, if you will, as Ember becomes more reliable about not chewing it to bits.  While she's a lot better than she was a year ago, she still chews when anxious if I'm not right on top of redirecting her to appropriate things to chew on.

For the holiday week, she's getting an extra half day in day care, on Wednesday, and I shifted her Thursday appointment to Friday.  

Tuesday evening it was very gusty winds outside.  One of the deck chairs got blown over, so I brought it inside.  I am thankful that Ember let me do what I needed to do.  

I have also been acclimating her to the idea that "mom cooks human food" and puppy sits or lies in her safe "hot zone" and waits her turn.  She gets dog appropriate treats when she does so.

Season of Thanksgiving gratitude day 44

 

Tuesday November 25, 2025

Today I am reminded that a year ago I was racing the calendar to get the kitchen appliances all installed in time to cook for the holiday!  I am thankful it was done last year!  I am thankful for a pup who while she's very interested in what I do in the kitchen, settles down to patiently wait for the oven to do its job!

The final week of the Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving Gratitude challenge: Day 43

 

Monday, November 24, 2025

For an "old man", The Prisoner was looking pretty spry on Sunday, perched safely out of Ember's reach.

Today I am thankful for the advancements in pet pest control!  I remember "flea powder" back when I was a child.  Nowadays, I just have to squirt stuff on the back of my cat's neck once every couple of months and give the dog a pill every 30 days.  

Not only that... Ember likes the pill and gobbles it down like a treat.

Oh, and for balance of humor, here's Ember snoozing in typical labrador sprawl for her Sunday afternoon nap!

Season of Thanksgiving Gratitude Day 42

 

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Today I am thankful for the people (family and friends) in my life who accept me as I am.  It's enough that these people care to check on me and include me.  And it is extra special that they accept that I am not a huge extrovert and let me be "on my own."  I really, really liked my quiet birthday!  Saturday afternoon's outing on a gorgeous day, with the dogs... perfect!

I've been in a little bit of denial about the US Thanksgiving Day.  You see, "the kids" are traveling down to visit with my DIL's mom's side of the family.  They are taking Carl along.  People are flying in, and they went through the process to get permission to take FGC out of state for the occasion.

My older sis will be traveling, herself, to her daughter's family.  I was rescued by my kid sis, the Ace, who invited me to join their small family for the meal.  Which was good, because I had something to say to my son's MIL when she asked about my Thanksgiving plans.

She, in her turn, made it plain that I was welcome to join the bigger KC plans, anytime.  But I don't really want to take that long a trip.  

The plan is to be with the younger sister's family.  A smaller group suits me.  And being in town, I don't have to leave Ember crated for as long.  

Ember, well-exercised and ready for a quiet evening and night's sleep time, snuggling at my knee!  

She and Carl were happy campers.  FGC organized a game of tag, which was pretty hilarious, as we counted the dogs, not just ours, but other dogs, as players.  So if "Ember" was "it", and she bumped into Carl, he became "it", and the next person that petted Carl became "it", and so on.  I tried to end the game by petting a great Dane that was on its way toward the exit, but then my son petted that dog, and he became "it", and the game continued!

Season of Thanksgiving Gratitude: Day 41

 Saturday, November 22, 2025

Today I am thankful for long-term weather forecasts.  I can now begin bracing myself for a "colder than normal" December!  Seriously, being able to look ahead for a week to ten days and pick a day to plan outdoor things or even things that I need to load up the car and drive to "this time of year" is very welcome.  

OK, they aren't always right about it, but more often than not they are.  I'm a weather wimp.  

Oh, and thankful that "the kids" think to ask what kind of birthday celebration I want to have, and I get the classic "trip to the dog park" whenever the weather cooperates on my birthday weekend.  So today is the day.  Ember and Carl can help celebrate.

2024's version of the birthday dog park outing

Season of Thanksgiving Gratitude Day 40

 Friday November 21, 2025

Today I am thankful for the incredible range of the spectrum from chaos to order, and for all the people who work to move processes and states from the chaotic to the orderly.  I am thankful for the human resilience that allows us to survive or even thrive within that spectrum.

Imagine the entire scope of human history, and how invention changed the course of civilization.  Each succeeding generation saw modifications and improvements in processes.  The ability to build shelters from different kinds of materials.  The methods of transporting ourselves and our possessions from place to place.  The control of fire and its transformation for use in various ways:  cooking, home heating, transportation.

On the chaos side is its use in weaponry and destruction.  On the side of order, its use in producing food and surviving the elements.  Also in being able to cross physical barriers like rivers, mountains, canyons to establish new homes for our families and communities.  It's pretty amazing stuff when you think about it.

This pumpkin was pre-started by a squirrel, but did not stop Ember from continuing where the squirrel left off.  Unrelated to the topic, just because.

Season of Thanksgiving gratitude Day 39

 Thursday November 20, 2025

This is another classically easy day of gratitude.  In fact, Alicia (Mamie Allie, not my sister) used this one for the 19th.  I am thankful to be alive, breathing, above ground, etc.  Why is that natural for me on November 20th?  Because of course it's the anniversary of my birth.

I remember mom telling me that I was born at something weird like 5 a.m., which might explain why I'm a morning person... or not!

Mom always used to say that we kept on living while we had something more to learn, or something more to give.  Sounds like a good reason to hang out... learning, and sharing!

Season of Thanksgiving Gratitude: Day 38

 Wednesday November 19, 2025

Today I am thankful for alternative sources of information.  The world is changing.  What used to be trustworthy sources of news and facts are no longer guaranteed to be such.  Things are chosen to be presented, only part of a story is told, or in some cases outright lies.

I have listened to actual words spoken, then to the talking heads interpreting what was said, drawing conclusions about what it meant when alternative interpretations are available.  It makes my head spin.  Sometimes these presentations are examples of "this is what I hope/wish it means", and sometimes they are "this is what I most fear it means".

Either way, consumption of news is no longer a simple thing.  Large grains of salt are required.

I am thankful that I am not "on the front lines", so to speak, and can sit between my two furry companions, in a house with heat, with hot water, with refrigeration and cooking means for food, with stocked shelves in a nearby grocery and the ability to purchase it.  

I worry when I sit amid this bounty that my gratitude may slop over into the Pharisee's prayer from the gospels, where the self-righteous one is thankful he is not "as other men".  It's tempting to believe we are deserving of all the good in our lives.  

I am indeed blessed, but with blessing comes responsibility, to do what we can to help others.  "Noblesse oblige" in a society of supposed equals applies to us all.

Season of Thanksgiving Gratitude: Day 37

 

Tuesday November 18th, 2025

Today I am thankful for my Ember's quiet approach to squirrel chasing.  She eyes them.  If they are on my fence I can tell her to "go get him" or "tell him to get off my fence" and she'll rush at the critter... but she doesn't bark at them!

I'm also grateful for her not being obsessed with them when we're out on leash!  We're pretty good at stopping and watching, as opposed to lunging or barking.

Decision time, I might be seeing one!

Week 6 of the season of gratitude - day 36

 

Monday November 17th, 2025

Observation:  I don't usually catch Ember in one of her breed characteristics: sleeping positions that look like a contortionist designed them.  She changes out of them and turns into a normal curled up pup as soon as I get the camera out.  But they make me laugh and puzzle me... how could anyone nod off all twisted around like that?

A nod to my mother, who was born on November 17th.  She's been gone for 29 years by now, but we always celebrated our birthdays together (mine is later in the week).

Today I am thankful for a good night's sleep and a warm shower in the morning.  Ahhh!  Great way to start a day... add coffee and we're complete!

Thanksgiving Season of Gratitude: Day 35

 Sunday November 16, 2025

Today I am thankful for the smooth transition of cell service providers.  Since my son provides me with my mobile phone service, he's the decider, and today was the day to change out to a less costly one.  He messaged me with instructions for what I had to do on my end, and... it worked!

Don't you love it when technology works to plan?  He paid for a year on this new service at a "black Friday sale" price, and the old service that amount of payment would only have covered two months.  Pricing of so many things is outrageously variable!  I'm grateful that my son keeps an eye on these things so I don't have to!

Season of Gratitude: Day 34

 

Saturday November 15, 2025

Today I am thankful for crate training!  The peace of mind this gives me to take a shower or dash out on a grocery run is priceless.  

I pretty much am at the point where I accept Ember's choice of "it's time for my nap", tuck her in, and go "do human things" for a couple of hours.  

But I also can ask her to "kennel up" so that the kitty can have safe passage, or a service technician can come into the house.

It's not always a given, but this is her den to sleep for the night, too, and I have my whole bed to myself.  I second guess this one at times, because when Carl comes to visit, he sleeps on the big bed with me (and often displaces me).  I don't know if Ember will ever get to that privileged level, but you never know.  

She does now take up the whole couch for naps during the daytime.  Sometimes she just curls up in a corner, and I take up the rest of the couch for a nap of my own.

Season of Thanksgiving gratitude: Day 33

Friday, November 14, 2025

Today I am thankful for the night sky.  While I did not get the vibrant colors captured, I did learn a thing or two about my phone's camera settings and got some interesting night shots.  My daughter in law got some pretty vibrant photos on Tuesday evening.  This one is from Thursday night at Ember's "last call" time, shortly after sunset.

Thanksgiving Season of Gratitude: Day 32

 

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Today I am thankful for a sense of humor and the whimsey that marketers put into the delivery of entertainment with our coffee choices.  Buddy the Elf cups of coffee, and this time of year their special flavor is maple.  Turned out to be "too sweet" for me, so what's in that cup is hot mocha with a squirt of cherry syrup, making for my "chocolate covered cherry" festive cup!

Thanksgiving season of gratitude Day 31

 

Wednesday November 12, 2025

Today I am thankful for the Nebraska Animal Medical Center.  They combine veterinary services with grooming, and day care and boarding, as well as selling pet supplies.  Kind of like a one-stop shop.  Oh, and they are open for emergency vet service on weekends.

I am thankful that Ember loves everyone there, and on Tuesday she came home so totally chill, freshly groomed by Tony.  He has been her groomer the whole time she's been with me.

She looked so happy, I had to take the mug shot!

Thanksgiving season of gratitude: Day 30

 

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

This is Veterans' Day, the classic day to show our appreciation for and gratitude to those who have worn the uniform of the armed services of the USA and served in our defense.

My older sister posted photos of our paternal grandfather in his WWI uniform on the 10th, in honor of his birthday.  I found it interesting that he was in Europe as a Prisoner of War and Armistice Day came the day after his birthday.  Funny how family stories make history come alive for a kid.

The photo is unrelated, just the chili mac I put together on Monday.  Monday was the coldest day of the week, and it put me in a mood to bake a hot casserole.  

Thanksgiving Season Day 29 gratitude: start of week 5

 Monday, November 10, 2025

"Mom, there is ice in my outside water bowl!  I like ice."

Today I am thankful for a place to shelter inside.  I know The Prisoner and Ember are also thankful to have a warm refuge when the first snowflakes dance in the air, as they did on Sunday morning.  The temperatures outside are stronger this morning, and the wind is making the "feels like" temperature even colder.

Having a place to "hunker down" is certainly worthy of gratitude.

Thanksgiving season Day 28 gratitude

Sunday November 9, 2025

Today I am thankful that the government shut down does not stop people from caring and helping one another!

I am blessed in having "enough".  I'm not a rolling in dough rich person, mind you, but even though prices are freaking me out a shade, when something major breaks in the house, I can fix it and still have groceries in the pantry, if you know what I mean.

I may defer purchases, choose not to make purchases, but I am not in danger of freezing or starving.  So, I can donate money to the food bank or other charities that help, and I can purchase things to help stock a little free pantry.  For this I am thankful.  

And I am even more thankful that I'm not the only one who does, because it takes more than one or two of us to fill the gap of a program this big.  I was grateful to note that when I delivered my offering to the little free pantry, it was not empty, someone else (maybe more than one someone else) had already put things into it.

One of our regional grocery chains was offering free breakfast to children under 12 this weekend.  

I am hopeful that the courts will stand firm and the SNAP program gets funded.  In the meantime, I am thankful for every single person who adjusts their own lives to help "stand in the breach".

Thanksgiving season day 27 gratitude - posting late!

 Saturday, November 8, 2025

This morning, I told Facebook that I was grateful for good sleeping weather, and for good neighbors.

The good sleeping weather led to my "sleeping in" clear 'til about 5:50 a.m.  Which is why I'm late posting this blog.  I didn't prepare the night before, and this is the first I've got to my computer!

I'm grateful that Ember is a "big girl" now and doesn't have accidents in the crate unless she's downright ill.

There are LOTS of examples of why I'm grateful for Ember's almost grown up version.  She hasn't torn up my couch since the really bad "oops" bite in the Summer.  She is better about stopping behavior that she "knows better than" when I tell her, "You don't want to get in trouble!"

She's past her car sickness, which makes it so much easier to entertain her... just take her with on my errands!  The "good sleeping weather" ties in with this one, too, because it's not too hot to leave her in the car while I cart the recycles to the big bins at the center, or while I dash into the library to change out books.  The extra mental stimulation of going on human errands with mom helps keep her more ready for the quiet parts of the day, too.

Thanksgiving Season Day 26 Gratitude

Friday November 7, 2025

Today I am thankful for people who care enough to foster children in need.  Animals in need, too, but today, let me focus on the human children in need.

I am a backup to the back up when it comes to providing transport for a foster child to appointments in the middle of a school day.  Thursday was such a day.  I relished the brief time in the car, conversing with a curious child who seems to accept my role as his foster dad's mom, an extra grandma figure in his life.

Naturally, I did a little grandma spoiling in the process.  I've been on the periphery of this kid's life for a little over a year now, and I just know I will think of him as family forever, no matter the final outcome of the situation.