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Ten Things of Thankful: Letter D edition


It seems silly to have a letter of the day post when it isn't the A to Z challenge, but as I thought back over my week, one letter stands out:  D.  
I'm thankful:

1.  I avoided danger while driving.  Just moments after arriving at my daughter's place, I heard a big crash in the nearby street intersection.  I didn't see the collision happen, but it sure left a lot of glass all over the road.  It appeared the cars sustained the only injuries.  

2.  I had a Disneyland day with two of my daughters.  We went, just the three of us this time, and rode rides we often skip over. Park attendance was light, and after 10 rides (and lunch!) in 4 hours, we called it a day and headed for home before rush hour. 

3.  . . . for Dumbo.  Though I don't often ride it, how can I not smile?



4.  . . . for ducklings.  This mother duck was parading her babies down the sidewalk just prior to park opening.  I just had to take a photo of her little fluff-balls.  (And that is when I realized I had forgotten to bring my real camera.) 



5.  We enjoyed delightful weather, and beautiful blossoms.



6.  I avoided danger while driving.  (Yes, this is a repeat, but the example is different.)  We were driving home, traveling smoothly in the fast lane, when traffic slowed.  To my left, on the shoulder of the road, a woman was attempting to throw a jacket on top of a pigeon.  Yes, you read that right!  I saw a car parked on the right hand side of the freeway, but I have no idea how the woman managed to make her way across all four lanes of traffic without getting hit.  I can only imagine that maybe she grazed the pigeon with her car, then felt obliged to rescue the injured creature.  I have no idea, but it was one of the more bizarre things I have witnessed on LA freeways.  

7.  We celebrated diversity at our Relief Society birthday party. The women's organization at church, Relief Society, turns 173 years old this month.  With over 6 million members, it is one of the world's largest and oldest women's organizations.  Our strength comes from diversity of talents, interests, and life experiences, unified in purpose.  John, representing the bishopric, related the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge to lack of diversity, and the strength of the new bridge to diversity acting in a unified manner. (If you haven't ever seen the collapse of Galloping Gertie, go do a quick youtube search.)

8.  . . . for the discovery of a new salad dressing.  While at Costco the other day, I noticed a display of Culinary Treasures Organic Lemon and Ginger Sesame Dressing and Marinade.  As I picked up a bottle to examine, a man stopped me and asked if I had ever had that dressing before.  He told me that he had purchased some months ago, but when he went back to buy more, Costco didn't carry it anymore.  He said he had returned to Costco every week for months in search of that particular dressing, and when he finally found it again, he bought 6 bottles.  I decided I would buy a bottle and try it.  As I was at the check-out, the bagger also volunteered that she loved this dressing.  Curiosity definitely piqued, I dressed a salad with the much-praised solution.  I might need to go back to Costco for 6 more bottles.  

9.  I've enjoyed a healthier diet this week.  I've been fixing a lot of recipes from drfuhrman.com.  One of my favorites (topped with the above dressing) is a salad of kale, quinoa, blueberries and mango. Yum, yum!

10. . . . for date night with John.  We'll go to the temple together this weekend.  We always leave with a sense of peace and love.  

What are you thankful for this week?  Leave a comment, and/or link your own post!


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Comments

  1. Good heavens! That woman could have gotten herself (or someone else) killed for a pigeon! Yikes!
    I'm glad no one was hurt in either driving incident this week.

    The photos of all your short-sleeved, flowered wonderfulness is getting me mighty impatient for spring. If only LA wasn't so far away. We'd be there for spring break for sure!

    That salad dressing story is so funny! What a bizarre thing for everyone to go gaga over. If we had a Costco anywhere near here, I'd give it a try. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am still shaking my head at the image of that woman trying to capture the pigeon.

      Well, if you ever decide to come out this way, I'd be happy to play tour guide at Disneyland.

      I did go back and buy another bottle. The salad dressing is pretty tasty.

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  2. I was just at a Costco for the first time this week...now I wish I knew the salad story... I gotta go back I guess! OH MY the ducks!!!! I have such a soft spot for baby birds! THey are so lovely! What a great photo!

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    1. I love baby birds, too, but especially ducklings. They are just so cute!

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  3. Wow, I can't imagine anyone being so daft, but thank goodness the danger was all avoided.

    I do like seeing photos of you and your family - you seem very happy, which is lovely.

    YAY for your springtime flowers :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, daft is a great "D" word to describe that situation!

      I'm heading out to the poppy fields today, and as long as it's not too windy out there, I should have some more flower photos for this upcoming TToT. It's rained "so much" (3 inches, I think) this winter, that the wildflower display is supposed to be really good.

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  4. A Dynamite week!!! As another Costco shopper now I feel the need to check for this salad dressing. So glad you have stayed safe.

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    1. I hope you can find it. I've noticed that sometimes my mom will mention something she finds at her Costco, and it isn't in mine, or vice versa.

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  5. For a turtle, I would stop the car. Not a snapping turtle, though. A box turtle. And not on an LA freeway. That's just stupid! Pigeons are gross and eat trash and poop everywhere.
    I love baby ducks! Duck mamas are not good mamas. They will walk or swim off and never look back to see if all of her babies are following. Geese mamas count and count and count. They do not leave babies behind.
    Glad you avoided danger this week!
    Do they still have Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland? That and Peter Pan were always my favorites.
    Enjoy your temple date with John!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Seeing that woman trying to capture the pigeon was really just the strangest thing!

      I love ducklings, too. Geese scare me a bit, to be honest.

      Yes, we rode on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. It's one of John's favorites, too. Peter Pan is closed right now for renovation. This year is Disneyland's 60th, so I suspect they are trying to make sure that the original rides (of which Peter Pan is one) are extra-spiffy for the celebration.

      I always enjoy dates with John, and especially temple dates!

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    2. And that is exactly why I'm scared of geese. I prefer my animals to be the non-aggressive kind.

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  6. From the photos, it is clear Spring has arrived in your area - I am encouraged that it will eventually make it over the Rocky Mountains.

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    1. I wish it would stay spring-like here. Summer brings the hot, hot temps!

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  7. Number 1! man, I love those… (no, wait I'm being serious… and yes a little provocative)
    But you would be surprised at the number (or maybe better to say, percentage of) people who would not appreciate the situation you are describing. It (this kind of situation where one can see what did not happy), is so full of potential for any us to appreciate life… in whatever context we may choose.
    (Of the people who do notice), some may say, "I am so lucky!" another might say, "there, but for the grace of god, go I" and still another might observe "life has many paths, the quality of my own acts is a big part of that path"
    I guess the point is, there is so much in Number 1 to appreciate, in a sense, a reminder that it is the everyday course of our lives that we can see how amazing life can be.

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    1. Good point! My mom always would point out situations like that. Usually, we came upon an accident just after it happened, and then we realized that our getting out the door late, or forgetting something and having to turn around and go back, or catching the red light, or. . . was actually a good thing. She is a great example of not getting annoyed at those kind of little things, because sometimes it is those little things that save us.

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  8. Wish we had Disneyland here in Singapore, Kristi. The nearest is in Hong Kong! Glad that you gals had a delightful day of it, to add to the Ds!

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    1. Though I really am not a desert person by nature, living within driving distance of Disneyland is definitely a positive thing for me!

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  9. Now that dressing sounds really good. I'll have to see if they carry it in my Costco. I find the same thing happens to me - I'll find something I love there and suddenly they won't have it anymore for a couple months. It pays to stock up! I am a big fan of Dr. Furhman myself too. So glad you avoided danger while driving TWICE and enjoyed your week!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm trying to incorporate more of his recipes into my meals. I'm never quite sure what will be a hit with the rest of the family, though, and what will be a miss. (And that is how the pan of black bean brownies with avocado frosting is mine to finish.)

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  10. So glad everyone was safe.

    Those baby ducks are the cutest! And that Tree is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. After posting that photo, I learned the trees are Tabebuia trees.

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  11. That is a wonderful list. Dangerous driving is all around us. And I love your photos.

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    1. Yes, there is no lack of dangerous drivers. That was the first time I saw someone trying to capture a pigeon on the freeway, though!

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  12. How scary!! Could you imagine if you were just a minute earlier at that intersection? No don't imagine!!!
    Date night sounds so lovely. I really need to have one with my husband. He had the flu on Valentines day and ugh....we've been battling the sickies for a good month now! Boo!!
    That tree looks gorgeous. We are still covered with snow. Hopefully soon we will see some green or any sort of colour!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Too late. Already imagined.

      Date nights were trickier when the kiddos were little, but the trick is to define "date" loosely. Watching a TV show together after the kids are in bed? That's a date! Beating your husband at backgammon once again? That's a date! (And it's also a way to retire backgammon from the game rotation. :-) ) The point is, recognizing those moments you can spend on weekends together helps define "date." We've even had dates in hospital rooms! John would bring me real food and we would eat and talk together. Hope your family gets over the crud soon and you and your husband can have a date! :-)

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  13. I am thankful for all the time I got to spend at school this week.

    But back to Costco -- don't you hate it when they introduce you to something new and yummy and then it disappears? May have to go check for that dressing.

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    1. I'm sure everyone at the school is also thankful you spent so much time there this week!

      I did go buy another bottle of the dressing. It is yummy!

      Delete
  14. Definitely a dynamite week - Disney with daughters - diversity - avoiding danger danger - have a wonderful week!!!

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  15. Delightful post, as always.(see what I did there?!) I love how a simple idea turns into a lovely blog again. Have to try your ideas for myself. I find myself searching for things to write about, besides our home and how much I want to leave it....
    Thanks for inspiring and sharing. (((hug)))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so clever! (And if I were as well, I could come up with a synonym for "clever" that starts with "d.")

      Go easy on yourself. Moving is such a huge project; it's certainly understandable that you would be focused on that right now.

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  16. Dreadful that you had danger while driving, but I'm delighted that you so deftly avoided destruction.
    I love those little ducklings...something about ducklings is just...darling.
    Good times and beautiful spring-like colors are just what the doctor ordered after so much snow around here! Thanks for your lovely post!

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    1. You definitely could have drafted that post for me! :-)

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  17. Anytime you avoid danger is a huge thankful but especially on the highway. Can be very scary.
    Love the ducks! and right there on the sidewalk. So cute. They weren't frightened?
    The salad sounds...intriguing:) I've heard a lot about quinoa and how good it is for you but don't really know what to do with it lol. Will check out the website.

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