Gratitude

 I am taking a break from my busy kitchen where food preparation is happening for the big Thanksgiving Feast that will be taking place tomorrow.  My crust is cooling on the counter for my lemon layer dessert.  My future DIL is in the midst of putting together pies and baking corn bread for the dressing. When she is done I will get the dinner rolls baked.  We are looking forward to tasting all our family  favorites made with recipes that have been enjoyed over and over again through the years, as well as some new ones that are being introduced through new family members. Isn't that one of the many joys and blessings of the holiday season?

 

We were reminded as a family just how much we take for granted when a huge and tempestuous wind storm barreled through here almost three weeks ago.  The winds toppled hundreds of trees as well as power poles all over the Puget Sound, leaving over 230,000 homes and businesses without power. We get wind storms every Fall but this was one of the fiercest storms I can remember. We were without power for four days for a total of 91 hours! Two of the three roads to our property were closed due to fallen trees and live wires across the pavement. Fortunately for us, we had worked to "debranch" most of our tall trees last year and they all made it through.

Even though the trees were still standing there was plenty of cleanup to be done.  

 

We were more fortunate than many others to have a generator to keep our food cold. Also, our wood burning stove has a small cook top where we were able to prepare some simple food for the family and water to boil for cleaning up. Our outdoor camp stove was very helpful as well.

Between our fireplace and our emergency lanterns we were actually quite cozy. 

We were one of the last areas to get connected back to civilization.  This was our third night.  We could see lights across the lake but the only light in the darkness on our side was coming from the the full moon overhead.  

What a sigh of relief and genuine gratitude we shared once our power was finally restored. I was reminded of this wonderful video by Brother David Steindl-Rast on gratefulness.  I may have shared it before. It's such a beautiful testimony of how blessed we truly are in our everyday lives when we take the time to stop and look around. I really hope  it will go through, as I sometimes have trouble with videos.

It was 2 weeks yesterday when we returned to the modern world and with all the cleaning up, preparing for Thanksgiving, planning a 90th birthday luncheon for my mom for next week, and preparing for Christmas before my daughter's family arrives in mid December for two weeks, I have been peddling as fast as I can to get myself caught up again. All are joyful things to look forward to but stressful none the less. Still trying to take the time to stop and take in all God's daily gifts.

I am wishing each of you here in the States a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. May it be filled with many blessings shared with loved ones.

Oh! And I bought a new hat!  You know how I love hats! It's the little things, right?

“The root of joy is gratefulness...It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”

― Brother David Steindl-Rast

 

Adieu!

 

 

Hats and more Hats!

Did Adam and Eve ever wear head coverings?  I have absolutely no idea.  However, I do know that hats have been recorded to have been around since at least 3200 BC.

 I have always like hats.  I still have pictures of me as a little girl wearing my Easter outfits with my little Easter hats and matching gloves.  I remember having a little rabbit fur lined bonnet that tied under my chin with a little matching fur muff too.  Unfortunately, mine was the last generation to consider the hat to be a fashion  necessity. It seems by the mid-60's that only public figures were ever seen wearing hats. So, by the time I was a teenager a hat was considered "Passe" at least with the general middle class.   I still  liked hats and would try them on in stores, but I didn't have the confidence to be seen wearing one in public. 

That changed as I grew older and I spend much less time worrying about what other people think of my fashion choices.  I have managed to collect a few hats over time.  I have worn them at different seasons of my life and put them away for others.  This past year I came across my box of hats while I was cleaning out a closet.  I decided I was more than ready to bring them out and start wearing them again.  I have been having a lot of fun with them all summer and fall.  I wanted to share some of my favorites with you.  

This was one of my first "grown-up" hats.  I bought it in my late twenties which makes it about 40 years old. I would wear it to church on Sundays. I have not worn it in a very long time, and I am looking for the right outfit so I can start wearing it to church again.  It's still one of my favorites.

 

These two hats came along in my late thirties when I was battling breast cancer.  I really disliked wearing wigs and I would tie up my head with a scarf and wear a hat over it.  It made me feel feminine, beautiful  and fashionable.  The scarf tied around the green hat was the one I would wear under it all those years ago.  I am a survivor and these two hats remind me of that. They still make me feel beautiful and fashionable and I have been enjoying wearing them again all through the fall.

After my recovery I put my cancer hats away for a while and mainly focused on sun hats for a few years.

You have seen this hat before on my post for the color red.  Of course, it's perfect for the Fourth of July.

 

A simple black straw hat for a sunny afternoon.

I found this peach sunhat in South Carolina on a family vacation about 15 years ago.  It goes perfectly with this new summer dress.

And this navy blue is a lovely addition to this summer outfit.  I must admit, I bought it new this year.

 

This is my "wear everywhere, goes with anything" favorite hat, (And my two lovely granddaughters!)  I picked it up on a whim in Leavenworth a few summers ago. Ever since, it has been my "go to" hat whenever the sun peeks out.  Everyone should have one of those.

 

My oldest and newest hats sit perched on my dresser. This is my first time trying this mid 20th century cloche style.  I think I like it.

 

There are those who say that the kind of a hat you wear expresses who you are.  I don't do cowboy hats or baseball caps because I don't feel good in them.  Wearing the right hat gives me a certain vibe that makes me feel more confident.  I don't do ruffles but I do like things to feel feminine.  I guess I am a romantic at heart.  I think a hat can really give a finished look to any outfit and that most anyone can wear one.  You just have to find the the right style that suits your face and personality. So, how about you?  Do you like hats?  Do you wear them?  Do you have a favorite?  And if not hats, what is your favorite fashion accessory?  I would love to hear.

May the Lord bless you with joy this day and always.

Adieu!