Daily Gratitudes 2018

[Lessstressedhemum]

A new thread for a new year.

A safe, quiet place to pause, breathe and count our blessings, great or small. Everyone is welcome: of all faiths or none at all, whether you post regularly or just once, whatever you are grateful for, you are welcome here.

We would love to share all the things that bring us joy or just make life a little more bearable.

continued sunny washing
elderflower cordial in cold fizzy water
time with my children

Lovely warm weather (and associated washing benefits!)
Thoughtful neighbour who reiterated her thanks for a favour I did almost a year ago
The prospect of spending holiday time with my children and their families

Lovely neighbour who helped with cutting back wayward hedge because I can’t manage whilst also wrangling very mobile baby.

Attempting to alter a dress pattern for my proportions and getting it right first time.

Husband making home made pesto for lunch

Small steps in the right direction
Learning to let go
Relaxing

A decent night's sleep
A slightly cooler day
Literacy and numeracy

Feeling better after a nasty (but thankfully short-lived) tummy bug
Happy for football supporters
Family arriving from overseas tomorrow

Hope you are getting better, Optimist. Tummy bugs suck.

Continued beautiful weather
Birds at the feeders
My kids getting rare fresh air and exercise (teenage vampires with rickets!)

100% now, thanks, Less

Family get-togethers
Dear adult children and their wonderful partners
Delightful grandkids

Time to paint
Strawberries for breakfast
Silliness and icecream on The Kitchen Cabinet (iplayer radio in general, in fact)

Rain to help things grow and to replenish reservoirs
Life, with all its ups and downs
Faith

Laughter
Feral roses in the hedgerows on my walk today
Talking to my sister

bumble bees
homemade strawberry and rose petal jam
peace and freedom to enjoy them

Yes to bumblebees! One came and stole some honey from the top of my porridge this morning!

Also dear friends, who are honest and kind and don’t care when we’re not on ‘company behaviour’

And being barefoot in a field like the grubby hippy I am.

@lessstressedmum any chance of a recipe? Your jam sounds glorious x

No problem.

500gms strawberries, with the green bits cut off
500gma sugar
1tblspn lemon juice
Petals from a couple of red/pink roses
2yspns rosewater.

Put thestrawberries in a large, deep pan and blitz with a hand blender. Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir with a wooden spoon. Heat, stirring, over a low heat until the sugar is melted completely. Turn heat up to medium and bring to a rolling boil stirring constantly. Stop stirring when jam is boiling. Boil for about 10 minutes or until it reaches 110on a sugar thermometer. Remove from heat, stir in petal and rosewater. Ladle into hot, sterilised jars and seal.

Thank you! I love rose (as a scent and a flavour), so that sounds perfect.

Blue skies again
Many opportunities ahead
My children

Thoughtful colleagues

Ginger tea

Home.

You're welcome!

Sunshine after the rain
The garden beginning to produce
DD being able to fix my hoover

Really good coffee.

Having a sister.

Sleepy breastfeeding cuddles.

I remember those cuddles well, Verbena. It's lovely, enjoy this time while it lasts.

Quietness
Hanging more herbs to dry
My children having friends

The noise of cheery grandchildren amusing themselves in my house/garden.
Fab weather means the constant stream of washing gets dry very quickly.
The anticipation of being away with all the kids and their kids next week.

I am desperate for grandchildren, Optimist. Think I might have a long wait, though . Enjoy your time with them. I love to hear children playing and laughing.

lessstressed you never know. My sister was unexpectedly pregnant with a fairly new boyfriend in her late teens. A decade on they’re married with 2 gorgeous kids and a lovely life. I don’t think mum was expecting grandchildren until now-ish, and of course it wasn’t all plain sailing, but its been much much more joy than trouble.

Iced verbena tea (so! Good!)

The sound of running water.

Kate Bush songs.

My DDiL is starting to feel the need to hve a baby but DS1 wants them to enjoy the life they have for a while longer, which , to be fair, I can understand completely. I will just have to content myself with fluffy bunnies and smelly teens for the time being, I think

Washing drying on the line
DD has had a friend to stay for a couple of days
A really quick x-ray appointment. I was only referred yesterday and my appointment is tomorrow!