“November is the month to remind us to be Thankful for the many positive things happening in our life.” ~ Unknown
Good Sunday morning, dear friends. I hope this finds you well and enjoying these beginning November days. It has been quite chilly in our lovely ‘Mountain State.’ Jack Frost has paid us several visits and I believe brought many of his friends along to the party.
When our nights fall below freezing and we bring out the winter jackets, the realization of the approaching holidays become clear. My mind begins to whirl with many things to do. However, especially in November, I seem to focus on all the good in my life and how very grateful I am for everyone and everything I hold dear. How fortunate I am to have been so richly blessed.
“An attitude of gratitude is a never-ending prayer.” ~ William Arthur Ward
When we hear of so many people in our world who are in distress, day after day, and do not have food for their table, I count my blessings when we have a simple dinner of soup and fresh bread.
Each of us will be grateful for different things, however, I believe we are all grateful for our family and friends, our homes, and our basic needs.
And a cookie or two for dessert.
“…all which we behold Is full of blessings…” ~ William Wordsworth, 1798
One of the things I treasure most in my life is I had a mother who taught me how to see. She wanted me to understand that beauty comes in many things ~ great and small. The magnificence of nature and the talent of human hands. Hands that are moved by hearts.
I thought I would share a few of the things which are precious to me. Perhaps, they are to you as well.
Stillness and peace rank high on my list. Working in a middle school office for thirty-plus years certainly gave me an appreciation of peace and quiet.
There is beauty and peace in a cup of tea or coffee. I am always grateful for the time to enjoy it. Something to be savored.
A few tiny blooms can create a magical space, especially on a rainy and chilly day.
You most likely have read the bumper sticker that reads, “If you can read this thank a teacher.” I would only add, “Be grateful to a teacher.” Many times I have thought, “How fortunate I am that I can read.” Truly, a gift that a dedicated teacher passed on to me many years ago. The enjoyment it has given me is remarkable. I wonder if she knew what her gift would mean to me?
“The ideal of beauty is simplicity and tranquility.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To me, the following three photos hold simplicity and stunning beauty.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” ~ Vincent van Gogh
The person who created this statue truly has a “heart that moved hands.” She has the most lovely face and looks so happy. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any information on her.
“Cape Cottage Amongst Trees” ~ Artist, Tony DeFreitas
Art speaks to each of us differently. While I may not want to bring home every piece I enjoy, that does not mean I do not have a great appreciation for the talent and the work.
“Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don’t unravel.” ~ Unknown
Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit.
Enjoy these November days, take time to collect your thoughts, focus on the things important to you and to those you love.
And. . .
Most of all, look around and say, “Thank you.”
Know I wish you and yours a beautiful day. May your blessings abound.
Be Well!
“Look closely. The beautiful may be small.” ~ Immanuel Kant
Amour,
Sandra
Images: Via Tumblr
Hello, dear Sandra,
Your images are full of stunning and quiet beauty this week. Quiet and calm are something I value, too, although I love hearing the merry noises of children at play. My mother, like yours, has an eye and an appreciation of the beautiful things in life. Gratitude is such an important part of living well, I believe. I try to be grateful every day and know that I am very blessed in many ways.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Lorrie
Good morning, Lorrie. Thank you so much for your kind words. You and I have been blessed and the real blessing is that we know we have been and treasure it so.
Enjoy these November days, we have blue skies this morning and I hope you will see them soon.
Good Morning Sandra! I so enjoy coming here Sunday mornings to get a dose of beauty. Have a great day!
Many thanks, Penny. You have a lovely day as well.
Good morning, my friend! This a lovely, lovely post with beautiful images, quotes, and your personal sentiments. The best medicine for a heart is to count blessings. I could fill page after page of blessings by naming them one by one. Thank you for the reminder to look closely and see as your beloved mother taught you. Happy Sunday to you and Michael ♥️
Many thanks, dear Pam. Know I truly count you as one of my treasured blessings.
Wishing you and your beautiful family a lovely day and week ahead.❤
Dear Sandra, this is such a beautiful post. I most certainly have a grateful heart. What you said about teachers reminded me of something my mom has said. She taught first grade for 40 years. She has always said she got great joy out of teaching children to read. She stated their was something so wonderful when a young child got so excited about being able to read. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead, sweet friend!
Good morning, sweet Shannon. Oh, your mom was right. Our teachers are a precious gift and they share their gift of knowledge with so many to improve our world. So many in our world take our teachers for granted and they never should be.
Wishing you a beautiful week! ❤
You have many posts I think of as my favorites — but this is clearly at the top of the list. It’s beautiful in every way. (I hope those food pix are yours and you share the recipes!) I think our mothers would have really liked each other — they sound cut from the same mold! November is a busy month for me. Reading this slows me down and takes me to a lovely space.
Hello, Jeanie. I am so happy you enjoyed the post. That is a compliment coming from you. Unfortunately, the soup and cookie photos are not mine. As you know, the camera is not my friend and in our kitchen, it doesn’t seem to be Mike’s friend either. Yes, I think our moms would have been great friends. She had a very dear friend who was from Ann Arbor. They were both flower show judges and would judge shows together. I hope November will prove to be delightful for you and send you into December as a happy Christmas Elf.
dear friend, finally … !!!! The day came when I could solve … whatever … because I still don’t know why I couldn’t comment on your posts. I switched to another hotmail account and here it seems that I have solved it.
I love your publications, they are beautiful and very much my style. The photos are magnificent and your lyrics always have a lot of wisdom.
I am very happy to read and comment. A big hug
Dearest Dolores – Goodness, I am thrilled beyond thrilled to see your name. A few days ago I saw where you had unsubscribed and then subscribed again. I thought, “Maybe this will work.” I don’t know what fixed the problem, but I am so glad it happened. I have missed you and your dear comments, I felt I had lost a dear friend.
We must catch up. Tell me, how is your shoulder. I do hope you are fully mended and doing the things you enjoy. I have not seen a post from you and your lovely blog. I hope I have not missed it.
Dolores, know I wish you a beautiful week and happy November days. Many blessings, dear one.❤❤❤
Sandra, You are a blessing to me. This post is one I want to save and read often. Being able to read is indeed a huge blessing that we take for granted.
My mind is whirling also. We are traveling to Texas to celebrate my husband’s aunt and uncle’s 62nd wedding anniversary. A beautiful blessing.
Then in December we will travel to Colorado and see our son and his family.
Dear Bonnie, thank you so much for your kind words. Enjoy your travels and do be safe. Sixty-two years certainly calls for a celebration. I hope you will be with your son and family for Christmas.
I read your post shortly after it went live last weekend and I meant to return to leave a comment (I think I read it in the wee hours). Let me say how much I ENJOYED this post of yours: the images you chose, the quotes, along with thoughts you shared from your own heart. My heart always find a solace and a restful place here on your blog. When it comes to thinking of being grateful, I am so grateful that our paths crossed here in blogland. Thank you, dear Sandra!