This post is part of a series called Thankful Thursday, where I list some things to feel thankful for. To some extent, focusing on what is wrong appears to come naturally to most people, who often complain, complain, complain when they get together with family and friends. (I’m no exception, that’s for sure.) So focusing on things to feel thankful for seems like good spiritual practice, a way to counterbalance the tendency toward negative thinking.
Begonias
Confession time: When I first started gardening, begonias were not my favorite annuals. Instead, I was drawn to flashier flowers such as cornflowers, cosmos, and dianthus. Ignoring my shady yard, I planted these bright beauties, and I got a very poor showing. After a few years of throwing my money away, I finally turned to begonias, an unassuming yet lovely flower. And I haven’t looked back.
In my back garden, I plant a begonia border the end of May, and those sturdy little flowers bloom nonstop until the first frost gets them. Time was, that would be late September in. Now it is mid-October, and we have yet to have a killing frost. Times certainly have changed.
Begonias don’t get leggy, and they hardly need any dead heading. Who could ask for anything more?
Begonias, I salute you, and I’m sorry I ever snubbed you.
Cards from Blogging Friends
Every once in a while, I get a card from a blogging friend, and this always makes me smile.
Last week I got one from Carol Ann from Fashioned for Joy. How I smiled when I saw that sweet panda. Thanks so much, Carol Ann!
The card on the right is one I received from from my blogging friend Alys from Gardening Nirvana. Alys is a crafter extraordinaire, and knowing that chickadees are Maine’s state bird, she made that card for me. Many thanks, Alys.
Both cards will go on the metal bulletin board I have by my desk, where I can look at them whenever I want. And smile as I reflect on how grateful I am to have blogging friends.
Plant-Based Chocolate in Target
Clif, Dee, and I are all vegetarians, and the majority of our diet is plant based. We try to live as lightly as possible and to do as little harm as possible. As I mentioned in a previous post, we are far from perfect. We occasionally eat dairy—not too often as Clif and I are lactose intolerant—and sometimes eat eggs. I know I should be shopping at thrift stores rather than ordering online, but with creaky knees, I all too often give in to the temptation of online shopping.
Another confession: I absolutely love chocolate, but I am not a fan of dark chocolate. The texture always seems chalky to me, and I am not one who enjoys bitter food. (Brassicas, I’m looking at you.) For someone who wants to adhere to a plant-based diet, milk chocolate is problematic.
But glory be, things change and sometimes for the better. Hershey now makes plant-based chocolate that is available at Target. I have had other plant-based chocolate, but never Hershey and never from Target.
So yesterday, Clif and I made our way to Target to pick up some of that chocolate—almond mini-bars and peanut butter cups—along with a few other things. While the store had plenty of the almond mini-bars, they were out of the peanut butter cups. Although I was disappointed, I was also happy that the plant-based peanut butter cups were sold out. People are buying them! In Augusta, Maine, no less. There are some hip places in Maine, but Augusta is not one of them.
And how are the almond mini-bars? Readers, I am happy to report they are delicious. They are, however, a little pricey, but that might not be such a bad thing as it will encourage me to use some, ahem, restraint.
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Thankful Posts and Simple Pleasures from Other Blogging Friends
Cimple from A Curious Introvert’s Musings & about Life
Debbie from Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom
Jane from Robby Robin’s Journey
Barbara from Thistles and Kiwis
From Suzanne’s Mom’s Blog
Jill from Wiggins Words and Images
Notes From the Hinterland 
The begonias look really pretty!
Thanks, Anne. I have come to love them so much.
LOL. I was mystified as to how chocolate could NOT be plant-based. Aha, it’s the milk in milk chocolate, mystery solved. It sounds like it will definitely be worthwhile going back for their peanut butter cups! And thanks for the shoutout, Laurie.
Yup, milk in milk chocolate. 😉
Begonias have endeared themselves to me as well, especially the non-stop with the big voluptuous flowers. Mine are still blooming like crazy! Somehow, we escaped last night’s frost, and the weather is turning back to warmer, 70s predicted in a few days!
We, too, escaped the frost. I think it’s because we are tucked by the woods. Yes, warm weather predicted. Is this northern New England in October?
Well, frost finally last night Laurie! Frost-free until Oct. 18, last year it was even later.
But we’re heading back into the 70s and that means cooking and eating outside at least a couple more days!
No frost here yet. It will be interesting to see when we get a frost.
You’ve probably escaped it for a couple of weeks!
Thanks for the link, Laurie — great to share blog-love! I, too, am a fan of begonias. They’re so easy to care for, requiring nothing much more than water and a few peeks of sunlight. Mine are still hanging in there, despite a light frost the past couple of mornings. I didn’t realize Hershey made plant-based chocolate — how wonderful when companies start offering options for those of us nontraditional consumers! I found that Oreo now makes a gluten-free cookie, and they are delicious! They come in chocolate, vanilla, and mint.
My pleasure! I love the term “nontraditional consumers.” Our numbers must be growing if such food can be found in Target. Great news about the gluten-free oreos.
That is a discovery worth crowing about! Choco-lovers unite. 😉
You bet! Yay!
Good tip on the begonias for shady areas
They really are wonderful flowers.
Beautiful flowers, chocolate, friends and family. What could be better?
Yes, indeed!
Begonias always remind me of my mum – she loved them. We had a nice coconut milk based chocolate from the Wellington Chocolate Factory recently – you wouldn’t know it was plant based at all if that makes sense!
Sure does make sense. We want chocolate to taste like chocolate.
Indeed!
I always had to contend with a lot of shade, and yes, begonias! They are such an undemanding plant
Let us sing their praises!
Mrs Tootlepedal recently bought some plant based cheese by accident. It is not a bad effort, but it wouldn’t tempt me to change my eating habits.
Plant-based cheese is definitely the weak link when it comes to a vegan diet.
It’s funny how we always hanker for the plants – and other stuff – that are the least likely to flourish. Hooray for begonias…yours look gorgeous! As do the lovely blogger friend cards. And super hooray for companies who cater for all tastes and diets!
Right? We bought our home by the woods before the gardening bug hit me. Still, there is much I love about living by the woods that I can’t be too sorry. Plus, begonias to the rescue!
Our begonias are doing well this year; Alys’s cards are keepers
Let’s hear it for begonias! Alys certainly has a flair. So creative.
I don’t grow begonias but maybe I should. Something through the post from a friend is such a treat. As you say it can be kept and enjoyed whilst an electronic message is soon lost.
Begonias are perfect for shady spots.I keep all the cards that blogging friends send me. I so cherish them.
Begonias are wonderful plants that provide color all summer long. We had our first frost this week so I’m guessing you’ve had one too. Cards are a wonderful thing and getting one from a friend makes it even better. As for chocolate, I’m not particular – I like it all. 🙂
I have completely changed my mind about begonias. They truly are a plant among plants. No frost here yet. I think it’s because we live by the woods, which shelters our yard.
I was astonished to discover that begonias are used as bedding plants in commercial landscapes here. They do so well, and I think they’re usually put in as a fall/winter plant. (They change out the plants amazingly often; I don’t know who funds it, but the suppliers sure do profit!) I didn’t know until I moved to Texas that there are so many begonia species; every one of them is delightful.
Begonia are used for bedding plants here, too.
Flowers this time of the year are delightful pops. I’m all in on chocolates. 🙂
Oh, chocolate!
I’m with you on the subject of begonias. As a lazy and incompetent gardener I salute any flower that makes my life easier, and the begonia falls into that category. This year they have been particularly welcome, as the rotten weather in spring and early summer meant pleasing blossoms have been few and far between…except in the tubs where I planted begonias. Bless ’em, those humble horticultural heroes.
Let us sing the praises of the humble begonia!
Begonias are beautiful flowers! I have a couple I have kept for a few years now that have bright orange blooms.
Now if they make 100% plant based dark baking chocolate I am sold. 🙂
I have come to love begonias and their modest blooms. I think plant-based dark baking chocolate is available. Easier for dark chocolate to be plant based than for milk chocolate.
Your begonias are beautiful Laurie and I love the gorgeous chickadee card! ❤
Many thanks!
Very grateful for the shoutout. So it will sound ungrateful if I make you overthink chocolate, but there’s the child labor angle now. https://suzannesmomsblog.com/2021/11/07/child-slaves-sue-chocolate-companies/
Yes. Sigh. As I noted, we are far from perfect in the choices we make, but we do try hard.
Thanks for the begonia tip, Laurie. I too have a shady yard and never know what to plant. And the chocolate is definitely worth a try! Beautiful cards too. ❤
I have come to love begonias and the color they bring to shady areas. But it was not love at first sight. 😉
I used to plant a lot of impatiens, but I don’t see them often out here in OR.
Oh, too bad!
We had a few cold days last week, but it definitely doesn’t feel like October again as our temperatures are in the upper 70s, very strange. Thank you for sharing the plant-based chocolate, I’m definitely going to check them out at Target.🙂
Same here. Man oh man, it’s wicked weird.
I’m definitely going to have to give begonias a try in the garden next year. Thanks for the tip, Laurie.
I am late to the begonia party, but I have come to love them.
A lovely post and reminder, Laurie. I am grateful for my balcony garden. Roses and more roses, and now asters and sweet peas in various shades have joined the party.
Sounds absolutely lovely!
Wow. Did not know this. GO HERSHEY’S