Today I am grateful because this is post #1,902 for me! I’ve been blogging a long time now, dang. (Valentine’s Day will mark seven years of bloggin’ goodness here at Wacky House.)

It is nice to have a place to put it all — these posts have turned into virtual baby books for my kids; I’ve collected enough recipes now for a cookbook; all the ups and downs and hard days and happy days — all in one spot. But the coolest, most unexpected part of it all has been meeting the readers/bloggers/artists/community people over the years, through my writings and ramblings. With the exception of the occasional troll (or three ;), it has been really good to get to “meet” y’all. (Some of you I actually know from “real” life, so that is funny, and sometimes unexpected, too.) With Facebook, Google+, Twitter and everything else, readership is way down, but whatever. Some of you are still sticking with me. I never check my stats or incoming links any more. So I am not sure of the specifics, but like I said, whatever.

So thank you. On this cold, dark November night, from my part of the world (North America, USA, the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Portland ‘burbs, specifically) to wherever you might be — thanks a bunch.

peace.

— nancy

Grateful for The Internets, because without them, I don’t know what we’d cook for dinner.

Vegetable soup, courtesy of Wil Wheaton.

Broiled cheddar, courtesy of Smitten Kitchen.

what are you feeling grateful for today? anything? nothing? leave me a note if you’d like.

— nancy

Today I’m grateful for the falling leaves. Our maple trees are almost bare now — I’ve filled and re-filled the yard debris bins about half a dozen times. Steve and the kids would have helped, if I had asked. But I kind of wanted to do it all by myself and use the time to meditate.

The small amount that was left today got swept out into the street. (Like how i put that into the passive voice? “The leaves found themselves swept into the street.” As if I had nothing to do with it.) I also put some under the burning bushes, to give the critters a place to hide out. (We’re reading “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” for the 2011/2012 Oregon Battle of the Books. It makes you eyeball life in a different way, thinking of it from a mouse and his boy’s point of view.)

In our former town, you could get old and wrinkled waiting for the street sweepers/leaf getters to come by. Out here, they stop by regularly. So I’m grateful for them, too. Thanks, dudes.

But mainly I’m happy today cuz I went to water aerobics, got coffee, stopped by the library and the store, then came home and worked on the leaves. I’m stretched out and relaxed now. it feels good. Am warmed up physically and mentally and now? I write.

have a superfine Monday.

— wm

I’m following the Lovely Laura’s lead here, and every day this month will post something I’m grateful for. It’s already the sixth, so I’d better catch up!

1st of November) As always, I am grateful for Steve and the kids.

2nd) Also grateful for our extended family and friends.

3rd) Grateful that the U.S. soldiers might come home from Iraq by end of the year. Please, oh please? I have been hoping for this for many years now. My son’s entire life, pretty much.

4th) Grateful that the entire house is clean. (thank you, moi. I love cleaning the house on Fridays so we can play on the weekend and get other stuff done.)

5th) Grateful that we ran to the mall, found the stuff my daughter needed for her band performance, and ran home. I remain relatively unscathed by the experience.

6th) Thank you, Daylight Savings Time. Really grateful for that extra hour this morning.

Whew, caught up!

— wm

“Beloved” (Toni Morrison) — I have tried, and failed, to read “Beloved” at least a half dozen times since it was released in 1987. “Song of Solomon” had a profound influence on my life when I read it for the first time, at age 18. “The Bluest Eye” is astounding, as well. But “Beloved” is the one that made everyone sit up and take notice of Morrison. All I could think was, About time. This time I won’t let it elude me.

“A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster” (Rebecca Solnit) — I think I picked up this copy at church one Sunday. (We have a great bookstore — it’s one of the many reasons I feel at home at my church.) I’m reading it slowly; it’s tough going. But Solnit is a gifted reporter, and has a good ear for dialogue. I also appreciate the way she presents/interprets her stats/facts and weaves in history.

“Blue Nights” (Joan Didion) — Just finished this one. So painful to read, but I loved “The Year of Magical Thinking.” Loved this one, too. It’s written like a love poem to her late daughter, Quintana Roo Dunne Michael. I have always been devoted to Didion, but after these two books, she has my fierce and appreciative loyalty like never before. I hope she can find peace. She deserves that.

“How to Be an American Housewife” (Margaret Dilloway) — Wow. Great read. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. I kind of love it when that happens, don’t you? It’s the story of the struggles and challenges facing a Japanese woman who marries an American following World War II. It’s well-written, and the heroine grabs you by the collar and keeps you next to her, right from the first page. Highly recommended.

This is one of my favorite posts ever. My kids are getting too big for tricker treat now, but don’t you dare try to tell them so. They’ll cut ya.

More later…

wm