week four - gratitude

   for all these things, i am grateful:

1.  that ever-present roof over my head, which provides warmth and shelter

2.  the ability to express myself through my words and through my art

3.  the ability to whittle out a continued career after nearly 30 years of providing for myself, and for the boys, as a single mother and single woman, now in the middle of her 50's with boys grown and out of the nest.

4.  dearest friends.  you know who you are.   you know why you matter.  i love you, so much.

5.  my readers here at ornamental.  you matter very much, as well.  thanks for continuing to come back, for seven years and heading into year number eight (hard to believe) of comments and of sharing, of listening, of responding, of simply being there.

6.  my mother and sister and the boys.  i love them with all of my heart.

7.  the memories of my father and brother.  their spirits continue to live on through me, in me, around me.  they are in the wind, the trees, the waving grass, the flight of birds, the paths that lead through the woods.

8.  a doctor who kindly listens to me, who is willing to work with me on medication adjustments, who helps me with samples, who understands, who takes the time to sit and talk.  who treats me like a person, who thinks that i am worthy of being tended.

9.  my four legged wild child, who keeps me heading out into the woods on walks and adventures.  his approach to life is crazy and earnest and innocent, and i hope i will have half of his energy ten years down the road.

10.  inspiration

11.  production

12.  lessons that are learned every.single.day.

13.  changes of seasons

14.  winter.  i used to hate it, but ever since i moved deep into the countryside seven and 1/2 years ago, i've grown to love the bare tree branches, the exposed bones of the land - the rocks, the streams, the roots, the clear forest floors.  snow.  expanded mountain range view when leaves are gone.  flannel sheets.  good books.  a fire in the hearth.  homemade soups.  cinnamon rolls, also homemade, recipe by the pioneer woman, ree hammond.  essential oils burning into the night (thank you, wendyxo).  old movies.  red wine and chocolate.  french pressed coffee every morning.  flannel pajamas printed with clouds, worn soft and thin by years of wear.  cashmere scarves wrapped twice around my neck.  fingerless gloves.  the sound of the woods, all quiet now that most birds have flown south.  the occasional red tailed hawk circling, overhead.  two glimpses of owls, two days apart.  groups ("murders") of crows, calling into the dusk.  the thinnest crescent new moon, setting into the deep pink and blue western dusk above the mountain range that i can see from here.  poetry.  memoirs.  ken burns on pbs this sunday and monday night.  plans for traveling to alabama for thanksgiving.  candles.  hot showers with bath gel that is scented with citrus and evergreen.  hot water.  electricity.  laundry, washed and dried and folded and put away.  a new day.  a new evening.  a good night's sleep.  life.

15.  jewelry i made that speaks of silver linings.  jewelry that i was a little hesitant to list and sell, concerned that it might seem like exploitation of the emotions i've suffered these past few months.  jewelry that all sold in spite of those hesitations, all 30 pieces, in less than 48 hours.  jewelry that continues to be appreciated and purchased and collected by those to whom my work speaks, to those who understand.  i will never, ever, ever, take this for granted.  ever.

i received quite a few emails from readers who were dismayed that the jewelry was gone before they had a chance to purchase.  i've taken orders for several "silver lining" pendants, and will be more than happy to take several more, with the understanding that it will most likely be after i return from alabama that the pendants get made.  these slender tokens of affirmation mean that much more to me, knowing that they resonate with so many of you.  i am reminded of the way that sunshine breaks through clouds after fast and furious and heavy rain, the way that light shines down at times when we least expect to see it illuminating the path that lays before us, open and waiting and right there at our feet. 

if i don't have a chance to get back here before thanksgiving, i wish each and every one of you a time of love and warmth and closeness with family, with chosen family, with four legged companions, with friends.  i wish you a time of grateful reflection for all that has been showered upon you.  i wish  you light at the end of the tunnel, i wish you walks in quiet late autumn woods, i wish you time to sit and listen to the hush that softly surrounds you.  i wish you peace.  i wish you calm.  i wish you deepest, heartfelt gratitude for all good things that life happens to bring your way.  xo

 

Comments

[sandra]

Thank you. The best thanksgiving card are the ones from your heart...

[Tina M.]

Thank you dear friend. May Thanksgiving hold for you and yours those very same things you wished for us. It truly is a wonderful life, is it not? Hugs...xo

[Katherine Langford]

Nina, I knew the silver linings charm was speaking to my heart and soul too. I think many of us are in the same funktastic state and you are a light for us too! May you continue to be blessed by the best and the brightest! Much love!

[Jamie V]

Dearest Nina - What an awe-inspiring post! I LOVE it. I thank you for this! I know I missed Red Thread (new job) and wanted so much to see you there. I promised Lesley that I will be there next year. But I am happy to have a new, wonderful job! Can't wait to see the Ken Burns program. My grandma came from Oklahoma during the early years of the dust bowl. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! XO from Jamie in MT

[Katrina]

Thank you, Nina, for your posts, your photography, your jewellery. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your moods and muses.
Thank you for just being there. You make a difference. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Michele Unger]

Happy Thanksgiving to you, dear Nina. Happy travels, 'over the river and through the wood.' I'll be arriving in Delhi on Thanksgiving and you can be sure I'll be counting my blessings there. Listing our gratitudes is such a good way to put things in perspective. The more often I study all the bounty and joy and just simple "good things" in my life, the more humble I become. I count my friends to be my real
treasures.
XO

[susan]

Thank you for this lovely post, Nina.
I love your gratitude list. I need to make one too, but I'm sure mine will be very similar to yours (just not worded quite so beautifully).
Life is good. We all need to stop every now and then and realize just how truly blessed we are.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Safe travels to Alabama.

dusan xo

[Carol Weiler]

This was beautiful! Blessings abound when we seek and receive, open our eyes and hearts and see. A wonderful, safe, happy Thanksgiving to you.

[Monica]

Just now catching up on your recent blog posts, Nina. I just love that quote you created: 'gently polish every silver lining'...

This makes me think of a practice I have taken up in the past few months, of keeping a gratitude journal. It DOES feel like I polish the silver linings that make up my life, whether small linings (leftovers from a wonderful shared meal) or big linings (my creative skills, that I don't dare take for granted). Polishing is important to keep the linings shining brightly as we make our way in the world. Thank you for this beautiful quote Nina!!

[Sophie]

Your gratitude post was simply beautiful. I am very grateful for your presence, for your generosity in sharing your thoughts, photos and jewelry and for the way you remind me that beauty is everywhere. Thank you for being in my world.

[dorylyn]

Thank you, Nina, for always sharing a bit of yourself with me, no matter how difficult or easy the expression is, I understand the "silver lining". May this Thanksgiving be filled with happy memories for you.

[robyn]

Thank you Nina. Love and hugs and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours... and an extra hug for that four legged wild child.

[Vickie]

Wishing you and yours a wonderful, love-filled Thanksgiving. So much for us all to be thankful for. Thanks for sharing your.
vickie in kc

[Folk Heart]

I have a huge lump in my throat having just read this post. I am grateful for the lump. Thank you...and Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours. Travel safely.

[Vickie in Oregon]

amen sister Nina! silver linings for all. and gold too...

[Bonarita]

Happy Thanksgiving Nina to you & your family! Leroy & I will
be in Alabama for Thanksgiving too. A rare event! Hope your
holidays will be fun and peaceful. bonnie

[Laura]

the most beautiful words. have a lovely time with your family. safe travels, my friend.
love & blessings
~*~

[Mary]

Thank you for your thoughtful words of gratitude. After a miserable week this is a good reminder for me to enjoy some quiet moments of reflection. Stay safe.

[MaggieD (Dianne)]

Safe journey, and warm Thanksgiving wishes.

[Gloria Martin]

Dearest Nina,

A healthy, happy, blessed Thanksgiving to you, and yours. XO

[Nancy Krampf]

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[Martha]

Nina, your post was beautiful. It reminds us all of how much we have to be grateful for. I count your blog full of beauty, honesty, and creativity as one of my blessings. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Martha

[Maidi]

Thankyou, Nina. Love and blessings and safe journey.

[Katey]

Wishing upon you a peaceful spirit as you and Walter travel to Alabama. Thank you for opening our eyes to all the blessings that we tend to take for granted in our quickly passing days. You give us cause to rethink the beauty that surrounds us. Thank you my friend.

[bev b]

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[kim beller]

hoping that your thanksgiving has been filled with many blessings. i love coming here to your blog and have for a while now. i'm inspired by your words and your jewelry...your photos and your truth. thanks for always posting the raw and real here. after so many visits i had to take the time to leave a comment of gratitude.
xo
kim

[Teresa in California]

I come to your blog with awe. Your poetic posts are so profound, yet down-home, and gentle. We all need that guidance for our souls appreciating the less traveled road. This post is awesome and the myriad of nuances to have gratitude for is abounding in your telling of it, and flows straight from your heart.
This is why people love you...
Teresa in California
http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/

[Vickie in Oregon]

where fore art thou Nina from Carolina? December is here and I wish you well and more! sometimes checking your blog to see if there is an update makes me think of my Mom when I was a younger girl , she must of wondered about me when I didn't call for awhile, off on my adventures as I was...

[Vickie]

I too am in need of a "nina fix" altho I hope you are enjoying some good and productive blog free time.
vickie in kc

[Richelle Post]

Come back.. We miss you!

[susan]

thinking of you today, nina. and hoping you are ok. and just caught up in holiday stuff, as we all are.

dusan xo

[Kate]

Dear Lady....your blogs warm my heart, cause my lips to curve into a smile, bring grateful tears to the corners of my eyes, and remind me that I am not the only one. Thank you!