I’m grateful for big tools like SparkPeople and little tools like a quarter jar that are helping me reach a healthy goal weight. First mark has been met (Four pounds, woot!) and I’m on my way to reaching the rest. I’m grateful to be feeling so good! All the self-work is beginning to pay off! I am engaging with the world more, I’m more consistently cheerful, I’m relaxed enough to enjoy the kitty who helps me put away groceries and I’m confident enough to smile for husband and even share the photo here! Yes, the pantry is a mess, yes I’m still overweight, but I’m happy!

I’m grateful for a sweet husband who put lots of work into his teriyaki beef skewers and then wanted to preserve the moment with a photo!

I’m extremely grateful for a chance to pay Sandra a visit. Carmen and I traveled through the Altamont Pass (admiring the wind turbines along the way) to get to Pleasanton to reconnect with two dear friends and play beads!

Here is Sandra (on the left) and Monica engrossed in their work. I’ve known Sandra since I was nine years old! And Monica almost as long although we don’t keep in close touch, to my regret. I had so much fun hanging out with them.

Look at those gorgeous blue eyes! I still can’t believe that she wanted to be my friend! Oh, and her house is SO pretty! And she fed us so well!

Monica is and always has been so pretty! I think she looks ten years younger than she is!

Carmen had a lot of fun too. She loves Sandra and had a great time bonding with the pets. She also had a great time getting to know Sandra’s youngest son, Josh who is an amazing engineer and legomaniac. I think he’s 12? Anyway, Carmen just thought he was so cool! Here she is with Freddy the friendly feline:

Speaking of Carmen, I am very grateful to be the owner of an incredible piece of her artwork. Look at this amazing anthropomorphic portrait she did for school. It’s big too! And I even found a frame for it at the Half Off Sale at Goodwill yesterday.

Which brings me to my last very grateful thing. I hit the textile motherlode! I also got the coolest 70’s rainbow bedspread for Carmen. We’re going to be redecorating in there soon! But look at all these sheets and pillowcases:

Some of my favorites are:

and

and

Holy cow! I still can’t believe my luck! I’m not sure if I want to cut them up and make things or if I want to keep them intact and use them for tablecloths and such.

Anyway, I hope you don’t mind a long post full of me, me, me, but it feels awfully nice to feel so positive about my life! Also, I hope this has distracted you from thinking about two little dollies who are being held hostage by my inability to actually finish them! I will finish up Daisy and Rose very, very soon! I promise!