Three Things Thursday is a  weekly tribute to being grateful for the good things in life. This tradition was  started by Emily of Nerd in the Brain and is currently hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.  

First, a book I won from Stafford County Master Gardener Association. This was a thrill on many levels, and could probably be used for all three things. Who doesn’t like to win a prize? Who doesn’t like to win a book? And, this particular book—Vertical Vegetable Gardening by Chris McLaughlin––is perfect for my part sun/part shade/part ledge, quite small yard. Anyway, many thanks Stafford Master Gardner Association! Such a treat to get the book.

But, there are other things to be grateful for, especially a recent conversation—via the Internet—I had with one of my blogging friends, Sandra from Wild Daffodil. Sandra wrote a post called “Fiction,” where she described Norah Pulling’s Miss Richards’ Mouse, a book from childhood that both scared and fascinated her.  As I enjoy reading children’s books every bit as much as I enjoy books for adults, I decided to see if Miss Richards’ Mouse was available in our library system. Unfortunately, it isn’t, but on doing further research I discovered that the illustrator, Susan Einzig, also illustrated Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philipa Pearce. I just happen to own Tom’s Midnight Garden, and it is one of my favorites, a lovely fantasy that involves time travel. As my own novel Maya and the Book of Everything illustrates, time travel is a subject I am particularly keen on. Anyway, how wonderful to have a literary conversation with a blogging friend. And Sandra, you might be interested in knowing that the illustrations in Tom’s Midnight Garden are nowhere near as dark as they are for Miss Richards’ Mouse.

Speaking of dark…when it comes to television shows and movies, my tastes can be a little dark. Clif and I just whipped through The Walking Dead, and I have a weakness for dystopian fiction. However,  I occasionally need a bit of humor and light to add some zing and fun to my life, and this brings me to my third thing to be grateful for: The television series Jeeves & Wooster, based on novels by P.G. Wodehouse. I had watched Jeeves & Wooster when it first came out in the 1990s, and I wondered if the series had stood the test of time. I was able to get the complete series via interlibrary loan, and readers, I am happy to report Jeeves & Wooster is still very funny. Stephen Fry, as the all knowing, very controlling butler Jeeves, and Hugh Laurie, as the dimwitted but endearing aristocrat Bertie Wooster, are the perfect team. Jeeves is the straight man, Wooster is the wild guy, and the show skips along with impeccable timing as Jeeves rescues Bertie from one scrape after another. The dialogue is so fast and funny that at times Clif and I actually laugh out loud. Besides, where else are you going to hear the farewell, “Tootle pip”?

Three Things Thursday is a  weekly tribute to being grateful for the good things in life. This tradition was  started by Emily of Nerd in the Brain and is currently hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.

First and foremost, summer, beautiful summer is here. And although we had a couple of brutally hot days, the weather has turned delightful—warm and sunny during the day and cool at night. Despite the sometimes stifling heat, I love this time of biking, patio days, and flowers.

Second, the dragonflies are here, and they have come in squadrons, zooming, zipping, and nearly hitting us as we bike. But those daredevils pull up at the last minute. They are expert pilots, and it makes me laugh just to watch them dip and dive. The fact that dragonflies eat lots and lots of mosquitoes makes me even more grateful for their arrival. Welcome, welcome, dragonflies!

Third, when irises are in bloom, I am always grateful,  and right now my irises are abloom. They are gone too soon, but while they are here, how I love them. I know. I’ve featured them in previous posts,  but I just can’t help myself.

A bonus: Chives, because you can never have too many flowers.

Three Things Thursday is a  weekly tribute to being grateful for the good things in life. This tradition was  started by Emily of Nerd in the Brain and is currently hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.

This week I have a rather odd assortment of good things to be thankful for. But truly, I am grateful for all three, which in ways great and small, make my life better.

First, National Public Radio or NPR, as it’s known. Truly, I don’t know what I would do without this wonderful broadcast service. From Morning Edition to On Point to All Things Considered (and lots in between!), NPR is my lifeline to the broader world. This morning, as I did quiet tasks, I listened to Former FBI Director James Comey  testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Comey spoke about Trump and the Russia Investigation and why he was fired by Trump. Comey even called Trump a liar. Whatever your political affiliation, this was one historic day, and I was grateful to be there with NPR.

Second, York Hospital, where I recently had my yearly mammogram. Here is the logo that states their mission, and this hospital isn’t just paying lip service to the notion of Loving Kindness.

From the moment I walked into York Hospital, there was a feeling of calm and tranquility, no small feat for a hospital. The staff is incredible, warm and caring. Best of all, I got the results of my mammogram before I left. They don’t let you fret about the results, which is a huge kindness. I have a friend who has had surgery at York Hospital, and she had glowing things to say about her overnight stay. (They even offered her a lobster roll for supper.) Never, ever, have I encountered a hospital like this.  It is a gem.  And here’s a big, big bonus: Seven years of being cancer free!

Third, and this is really another nod to my wee herb garden, scrambled eggs with herb and cheese. This oh-so-simple dish elevates humble scrambled eggs to a dish eagerly anticipated for supper. For Clif and me, I use five eggs beaten with five tablespoons of milk. I melt butter in my cast-iron skillet, and when the butter is melted I pour in the egg mixture. I sprinkle about three tablespoons of fresh, chopped herbs over the eggs as well as some salt and pepper. I stir it slightly, let it set as it cooks, and stir it some more, all the while keeping the heat high enough so the eggs cook but low enough so that the bottom doesn’t get too brown. When the eggs are solid but still a little shiny, I sprinkle about 3/4 cup of shredded cheese on top, turn the heat to low, and cover. In a minute or two, the cheese is melted. Add whole-grain toast and a side of apple sauce, and you have yourself a pretty good meal.