Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Baking means you have more than enough: more flour, more butter, more eggs, to make more cake than you need for just you. It means you have something to give away. Baking is an act of generosity, and thereby an act of freedom, since to be generous is to be free from the smallness of thinking only of yourself. Jessica Fechtor

What a beautiful sentiment from Jessica Fechtor's memoir Stir. This quote sums up what I so love about baking. The cake I recently made was lovingly shared with neighbors, friends and co-workers.

Saturday afternoon with my book on the patio. A curious doe approached me and got unusually close. I was reading aloud. I think she liked the story.

Spring babes. A mama turkey and her dozen poults scurrying across the yard. 

A new hummingbird feeder. 

New toys for my girl and boys.

A patch of strawberries has taken over my front flower garden. I had nothing to do with it. A little birdie must have dropped a seed and while they are taking over, I'm letting them bear fruit and ripen because my kids eat their weight in strawberries every week and why not.

Summer hours. A very short day today. 

Friends who are family. Fristers. My tribe. 

Champagne toasts to 50 years of life and 30 plus of friendship. 

A new pair of Reefs. They are my go to flip flops, but man have they gotten pricey. I found my faves at Nordstrom Rack for half the price.

The first brats of the season that Mike grilled for us in a total deluge in the dark.

Thunder and lightning. Cloudy days. 

My fave snack right now: rice cake with peanut butter and banana: sweet, crunchy, fast and filling.

Shopping my house. The way moving something can give it new life.

Commissions. Just enough for summer tuition and new brakes for the kids' car.

BLTs.

A trip to Arizona is in the works for this fall. A little anniversary surprise for my guy as we'll be married 30 years in October. 

My mil's bran muffins and that no one else in my house likes them so they are all mine.

Lily has a standing Thursday night tee time with friends.

JFK Jr. I applaud him for stating the obvious and taking on big pharma and the industrial medical complex.

Life, liberty and freedom.