Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

The thirty-one days of October. I only wish for thirty-one more. Looking back on my favorite month mostly with fondness for the abundance received. Most importantly bounty of time well spent with family and friends.

Hosting the fam for Sunday dinner, Packer football and pumpkin carving. I made a double batch of Grandpa Vic's Beef Stew and two loaves of peasant bread. It's an October tradition to make this recipe in honor of his birthday. 

Date night with Pete and Sue. We visited the Sheboygan Asylum as an homage to when we were younger last Saturday. Every one of us screamed at some point and we decided that it was a solid spooky experience. We stopped for a delicious fall dinner in Port Washington on the way home. Think short ribs, meatloaf, pork shank and red wine.

 A short Friday of work. I had good intentions to get #$&! done this afternoon, and then I ended up carving the remaining pumpkins so I could harvest more seeds. And just writing that makes me realize that was a good use of time. It's Halloween after all!

Crisp and colorful end of day walks. We fall back tomorrow so for the next stretch of months we'll be doing so in the dark, and that's okay with me.
 

Crescent moons. 

The notion that Finding the way, is the way. - Marcus Aurelius 

The reminder to slow down, notice things and live in the moment. 

Sirius and when the song on the radio seems to be a message from beyond, above, within, ago. 

I haven't been taking many photos lately, but when I do it's the usual suspects.

 Gus's kissable little gray nose.

Hazel's gorgeous green eyes. 

 Gus's subtly striped tail.

And his Napoleon Complex. Because he's so small, he loves being lofted.

Hazel warming the napkins.

And then there are the photos they send me which I am always eager to get.

Face-timing with my girl.

 

And with Ted and Meryl when they are away so they can see their babes.

 

Lily left me a note in our journal when she was last home. It was so beautiful. I'm reminded how much I love that we have this line of communication and how I so appreciate our special mother/daughter bond.

Going on Amazon and seeing that Lily was shopping again. This time she was buying novels because she's decided  to read before bed instead of scrolling. That's my girl. 

Holiday sets at Costco. I couldn't resist.

Spending time in my kitchen again. Sunday I prepped a couple dinners for the week. Leftover dinner becomes lunch and I know that makes Mike happy. Me too.

 And the easiest most nostalgic lunch today: Grilled Cheese with a glass of chocolate milk made with American cheese slices and 2% milk mixed with dark chocolate syrup.

These sweet, silly personalities...

A day at the beach.

 

Banana Boy.

 

Camo Cat.

 

Hazel's new trick is to squirrel away all my Qtips.

Big Manny.

Big and Little.

 Avocado amore.

 

 

 

Busted. He was stealing my milk. See his chin.