Thanksgiving

Thankful

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What a rich world we inhabit, with so many things to be thankful for! As our seasons change in the North it’s been wistful to say goodbye to the colors and brightness of fall. The leaves have fallen, allowing the sunlight to stream unhindered through the canopy of trees. The wind rustles branches rather than dried leaves. With a bench in a strategic spot, I paused on my walk in the woods to listen, to observe, to think.

And within a short span the calendar changed, the wind direction shifted, and winter slid in. November came and the winds blew cold coming out of the Canadian prairies and brought the snow. It was beautiful to watch it float down. The flakes silently landed on the trees. Others melted as they hit the water surface. For this moment the world was calm. And quiet. And beautiful.

With snow falling down around me, I gave a nod of thanks for the scene surrounding me and the changing seasons. Thankful for family and friends, near and far, and for those that came before me, and for all the love that surrounds me. Thankful for the paths I’ve followed, the adventures I’ve taken, and the lessons I’ve learned. Thankful for all the simple things – a roof over my head, clothes, heat, five working senses, and my health. I look forward to the lessons to be learned in this upcoming winter season.

A Thanksgiving celebration of work and family

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Family after dumpster work 8056_StaatsWe’ve just returned from a quick Thanksgiving trip south – for warmer climes and family.  After large dinners and feasts, this group gathered together at my parents’ house.  Following both my mother’s and father’s deaths in the past year, their house of 57 years has many things in need of clearing and cleaning.  This group of people who I am so happy to claim as family all chipped in with sweat, work and lots of laughter to fill a huge dumpster in a short period of time. Decisions were made on what to save, what to donate, and what to pitch.  The pool table in the basement required the strength of the younger generation, along with the assistance of a chain saw and many recommendations (some heeded and some not) to find its way up the stairs to the dumpster.  What could have been a week-long project filled with angst and tears, became a joyful celebration of the family that my parents were so proud of.

Petals of fall

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I’m fortunate to live in close proximity to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Saint Paul.  No matter what season or what the weather’s like outside, there’s always a view of color and warmth at the conservatory.  And as we’re quickly approaching Thanksgiving, the sunken garden is filled with the warm colors of fall – yellows, oranges, and all the shades in between.  As I was photographing here this morning I was reminded of so many things I have to be thankful for:  my eyes, my health, my friends and family, a warm house, plentiful food, and the joy of living a wonderful life.  I hope your week of Thanksgiving gives you pause to appreciate all that you have and the world around you.

Harvest and Thanksgiving

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Yesterday I was south of the Cities near the town of New Trier, Minnesota.  This is a beautiful farming area with an abundance of rolling hills.  The harvest has been late this year, hampered by rain and cooler temperatures.  But on this unusually sunny and warm day there was much activity in the fields — something for which many farmers were quite thankful.  As we head into the week of Thanksgiving I’m focusing on the bounty of my life and all those things I have to be thankful for:   a roof over my head and a job, plenty of good food to eat, good health, good friends, good family, and a wonderful freedom we enjoy in this country.  May we all realize the good fortune we have.