Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: Screen house, Champlain Chocolates, and Music

67 Comments

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.

Our Screen House

In late spring, our daughter Dee clicked on an article with the title Ten Items That Will Really Make Your Summer Better. Or something like that. Dee was skeptical about what would be listed, but because she loves summer, she figured, what the heck. Why not click on the article?

As it turned out, Dee found something she liked, a screen house that fits over an umbrella. Dee is quite the mosquito magnet; for some reason they are just drawn to her.  She figured that a screen house would give her some protection, allowing us to sit on the patio in late afternoon when those little biters come out from the woods. Best of all, the screen house only cost $50.

I’m happy to report that the screen house has been a smashing success. Clif had a wee bit of trouble attaching it to the umbrella, and he might have said a few bad words. But in the end he succeeded, and what a wonder that screen house has been.

This summer, with all the rain and humidity, the mosquitos have been out in full force, but in the screen house, we were safe from attack. The screen house has become a second living room, where we have drinks and meals and can stay outside as late as we want.

Best $50 Dee ever spent.

This photo gives a good sense of how our backyard snugs up against the woods.

 

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Vermont is home to Lake Champlain Chocolates, which are utterly delicious. Our daughter Shannon and her husband Mike went to Vermont last week, where they visited the Lake Champlain Chocolate mother store. And they just happened to bring us back some chocolates.

Confession time: the path to my heart is paved with lovely chocolate, and wowsah, those chocolates were wicked good!

Music, Always Music: I’m With Her

Yet again, from NPR and their Tiny Desk Concerts. I accidentally came upon I’m With Her on YouTube, which loves to give me music suggestions based on what I’ve listened to. More often than not, YouTube hits the mark, and they certainly did with I’m With Her.

Not only are the three young women luminous performers, but their clear voices blend beautifully, and they play with snap and style.

More Thankful Thursdays

As more of my blogging friends are posting Thankful Thursday pieces, Thursday is fast becoming my favorite day of the week. On her recent Thankful Thursday post, my blogging friend Ju-lyn, of Touring My Backyard, linked to other blogging friends who had their own Thankful Thursday pieces. I have decided to follow suit. When I mentioned I would be borrowing her idea, Ju-Lyn noted, “like minds are we.” Yes we are.

Read and smile! In the comments, feel free to list what you are thankful for.

Touring My Backyard: Tea Time

50 Happens: Thankful Thursday

Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom: Thankful Thursday (4)

Cimple: Thankful Thursday

67 thoughts on “Thankful Thursday: Screen house, Champlain Chocolates, and Music”

  1. What a great Tiny Desk Concert! They play and sing so beautifully together, which is so much harder it looks! Thank you for the mention and for spreading the Thankful Thursday idea.

  2. I’m enjoying thankful Thursday. We have so much to be thankful for and it’s interesting to see what folks single out. This week I’m thankful for days where I can turn off the A/C and throw open the windows. Oh, yeah!

  3. That mosquito net that fits over an umbrella is a wonderful invention! I am originally from the east coast, mosquito county. Out here on in my part of Oregon, the summers are so dry and hot, I have almost forgotten what a mosquito bite feels like, there are so few of them.

    What beautiful music from this trio! I am listening now. Thank you, Laurie.

    1. Nice that you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes. I was thinking about you when I listened to the music, and I had a feeling you would like it.

  4. I love the idea of screen house and your backyard. A nice place to relax.
    Actually we don’t have mosquitos here but I myself is a mosquito magnet. I don’t want to visit India in warm and humid season.

  6. What a great idea…the screen house. I’m a mosquito magnet too, and even when I wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt, they land on my feet and hands, and have the nerve to land on my kindle repeatedly.

  8. How wonderful, Laurie–I love it all! I love NPR’s tiny desk–I’ve found amazing artists that way! The screen tent and chocolate? Family and friends? Wonderful!!

  9. Wonderful good things! I would love some really good chocolate….and a screen house that works? I bet that’s so lovely during nice evenings.

  11. Wonderful things to be thankful for Laurie and the I’m With Her concert is truly fabulous! 💜🎶

  12. I really like the idea of the screen house – so practical and sensible. Listening to the music as I reply and enjoying it so much. Do you know the Swedish sisters First Aid Kit? You might enjoy them.

  15. That screen house was a revelation. I’ve never heard of such a thing, and given that we live in mosquito heaven, I’m a little surprised. I have seen the (very) occasional naturalist out in the marshes wearing the same sort of screening from head to toe; if you imagine your screen house over a person, you’ve got the picture!

    1. Before Dee ordered it, we had never seen a screen house like that. My oh my do we love it. I can imagine my screen house over a person in a marsh. Needs must.

  17. The screen house is a great idea. We often sit on the deck outside in summer, and Paul always get bitten by mosquitos more than me, we often wonder if some people get more mosquito bites an others…

    Anyway you look at it, being under a screen house gives everyone a chance to relax and enjoy life!

    PS we loved the music from Tiny Desk, many thanks.

    1. Some people are indeed mosquito magnets. I think it must have something to do with their chemistry.

      So glad you liked the Tiny Desk Concert. I had a feeling you would.

  18. I had thought of joining Thankful Thursday because I love reading your posts and know that being thankful lifts spirits but actually making time each Thursday has defeated me! Mosquitos aren’t much of a problem here but we do have biting horseflies which give a nasty nip. That screen house looks a good solution.

    1. I do understand. Making time can be a challenge. Feel free to note in the comments what you are thankful for.

      We have horseflies in Maine, too, worse by the coast. Definitely not something to be thankful for. 😉 A nasty nip is right.

  19. Few things bring me more joy than chocolate. In all its forms chocolate is indeed something to be thankful for.

    I’m With Her are a good discovery. My sort of music.

    1. Oh, chocolate! Such a delightful.

      I was thinking about you when I posted the YouTube video of I’m With Her. I had a feeling you would like them.

      2. I’m notoriously hopeless at faces, and have only just realised that one of the band members (on the right, in the lavender-coloured top, played the banjo in the last number) is Sarah Jarosz. She is one talented lady…if you’ve not heard her sing House of Mercy you should track it down on YouTube…well worth listening to.

  21. I love the things you mentioned too. I know all about screened paorches being in the south. Oddly, I picked up my violin yesterday and made chocolate! Great minds . . . I am thankfu too to be back and in touch with you! x Michele

  22. I love the screen house. What a simple and practical idea. We are usually plagued with mosquitoes so it would be nice to sit outside mosquito free.

    this week I am thankful my family who live in France are holidaying with us. The grandkids are growing so fast… we only see them 2-3 times a year.

    1. I highly recommend that screen house. It is a bit fiddly to install but once it’s up, it’s up.

      How wonderful to have a visit from your family. A very sweet thing to be thankful for.

  23. I’m always thankful for chocolate and I’m very thankful you introduced me to the Tiny Desk Concerts!!🙂 Always love discovering new music and listening to old favorites in that wonderful setting. I will be adding the links to my Thankful Thursday posts and it’s one of my favorite days of the week too!🙂

    1. Tiny Desk concerts are gems. I have found so many musicians that I have never heard of and are now my favorites.

      Love those thankful Thursday posts. Thanks for leading the way.

  24. I remember the mosquitos in VT. At times, they could be unbearable. Dee’s find is perfect, and my husband (another mosquito magnet) would have loved it. And those chocolates… we ate our share of them! Thanks for the music too, Laurie. What a great way to start my day. 🙂

  25. The screen house is brilliant! I’m inside now, despite the mild weather, because I too am a mosquito magnet. Now, perhaps I and they can co-exist!

    And hooray for Champlain Chocolates! I’m a fan too, thanks to our local independent book store, One More Page, which sells not only books but also the wine and chocolate to enjoy along side. Thanks for giving them a well-deserved shout-out!

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  27. I LOVE the sceenhouse !!!! we could sit outside in the evenings, now we stay inside in the evening as there are too many mosquito’s, we can sit outside until the sun goes down.

  28. I’ve had Lake Champlain Chocolate so I know of what you speak. Delicious chocolate in beautiful packaging is indeed a treat. I’m happy for you.

    I am also a mosquito delicacy, so I understand Dee’s dilemma. That is a nifty way to keep the biters at bay and it takes on a cozy vibe as well.

    Lovely post, Laurie.

    1. I will be sharing this article with my daughter! Thanks for sending it. Lots of variables, and that screen house takes care of every single one. Such a wonderful nontoxic solution.

  30. Well done, Dee! what a find. Such a great idea to use an existing structure to extend its use. Good job, Clif, persisting with the installation.

    I am so delighted to be included in your post – it has made my day!

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