5 for Today

1. For that face, my little Walter Payton of sweetness. He has the biggest body, and the tiniest voice, and he loves to watch movies with his paw touching me. I love my big orange kitty!

2. That I live in an area where the Pea and I can take a walk at 11:30 pm and not worry about our safety. We can just walk and enjoy the crisp air, and fall deep in thought and prayer.

3. For the show The Shield. It rocks. 'nuff said.

4. Cuddling in my soft bed with my big down duvet. I love my bed, lots of down pillows, a huge fluffy duvet, pink paisley sheets. Come on...what's not to love about down and PINK? :)

5. For LaRochelle Pinot Noir Monterey '05
Without a doubt this is my favorite wine. If you can get it by you, grab some. Hands down one of the best Pinots I've ever had.

Beautiful Day Thanks....

1. Kayaking with my bestest friend. As you can see from the photo, she's watching closely so I don't try to leave shore without her!

2. Pumpkin Pie oatmeal! Gaaaa I love fall when I can make this again.

3. My son. He cleans, he cooks, he makes me laugh. :)

4. Chocolate Mint Whey Protein. I seriously love GS thin mint cookies. Mmmm wait...I adore, crave and lust for GS thin mint cookies. This is as close as I can get most days and still fit my jeans. It's actually pretty yummy!

5. New pink collar and leashes. For the Pea...not me. :) I mean, can the well dressed blonde diva dog have too many? Lemme answer that for ya. NO! You can get a peek of it in the picture above, and I'll put another pic of it in the main blog tomorrow. It's ca-ute!

Today I'm thankful for

1. The way the sun glistened on the water today, like thousands of tiny diamonds.

2. Sleeping in until 10am!

3. Reading out on the lake. The sun over head, the water sparkling, the breeze blowing gently. I was able to totally lose myself for hours.

4. Freshly painted toes! I so love a good pedicure.

5. Stretching out in the kayak on my side, just inches above the water, and feeling the breeze blow across my body.

5 with gratitude

1. For the way she loves the sun as much as I do.

2. For cherry vanilla yogurt. After 21 days of fasting, it was like a little taste of heaven in every spoonful.

3. For the way marinara sauce looks smeared all over the face of a 18 month old child. There is no analyzing if it's healthy or fattening, just pure bliss at what she is tasting. We all should eat that way sometimes!

4. That it's Friday, and I can sleep in tomorrow and NOT have to be at work. Work has sucked ass all week. I'm glad I have a few days off.

5. The house to myself for a couple of days. I love the manchild....truly I do, but it's nice to have the serenity of my home all to myself for just a couple of days.

A weed is but an unloved flower - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1. For my ability to see the flowers, when others see only weeds. These adorable daisies were growing in and around some old car bumpers. They make me smile every time I pass them. They are just there....happily growing where they have rooted. Someone saw me photographing them one day, and asked me why I was taking pictures of weeds. I replied I thought they were beautiful. They shook their head and walked away. I thought how sad their life must be....

2. The way Sweet Pea rests her head on my tummy when I read in bed.

3. My ability to loose myself on the floor of my shower and converse with God.

4. The last of the summer breeze coming through my window as I sleep. It's so nice when I can finally shut the ac off and just sleep with all the windows open.

5. Friends. New, old, those I haven't met yet!

Today's 5

1. For that adorable face and how happy she looks sleeping in the window and enjoying the warm breeze.

2. For words and the writers who use them and put little pieces of their heart on paper, for me to read. I so love a good book!

3. For living in an area where when I have a blonde moment, like I did this morning, and leave my garage door WIDE open all day, no one would dream of coming in my home and robbing me blind! Did I mention I was running really, really late this morning?

4. For the stillness of the lake tonight. It was perfect for what I needed . To be able to just float and read and unwind.

5. For my Pea, once again, there is no one else I'd rather hang out on the lake with. She is always ready for any adventure I set out on, yet totally chill when I am. While I read this evening she napped, and duck watched. We are a perfect pair!

5 I'm thankful for

1. For my Sweet Pea. She makes me smile everyday. She is truly some of the best company I know. I'm forever grateful for the day she came into my life.

2. For Gerber Daisies. They always brighten my day and my desk!

3. For the sounds of summer, lingering. The crickets and cicadas outside my window that lull me to sleep.

4. For the beauty of fall slipping in. I passed my first maple tree starting to get tinged with red. Each year I am once again amazed at something so awesome to behold.

5. For the sweet elderly man who came into work today. He knew exactly how many years, months, weeks and days it had been since he lost his wife. He reminded me that there really is such a thing as soul mates....that true love does exist.