“Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings.” – Author Unknown
I made turkey soup this weekend. Even though Thanksgiving is two weeks away, our sudden fall-like weather made me crave turkey soup, plus I had some turkey bones in the freezer and a roasted turkey breast that I bought in the rotisserie chicken section of my local grocery store. And, I had this beautiful harvest pasta that I bought at Cost Plus World Market.
Yep, the photo above is a bag of pasta dumped on top of the crate I’m using these days for most of my food photography. Here’s a photo:
I dumped the pasta out onto my crate and took a picture because I photographed the Harvest Turkey Soup that I made (stay tuned for recipe coming soon!) and wanted to show readers what I used in case they wanted to make turkey soup this year with pretty harvest leaves and pumpkin shapes instead of regular egg noodles. While messing around with the dried pasta strewn across the crate, I had two realizations:
- It would make a pretty photo for a Thanksgiving quote; and
- I could use the pasta to make a wreath!
Here’s the Harvest Pasta pushed into a wreath shape on the backside of my crate. Haven’t made the actual wreath yet because, well, I needed this pasta to make the soup and I haven’t been back to Cost Plus World Market to buy more! I hope to get there this week and make a wreath before Thanksgiving; but even if I get the wreath made, I doubt that I’ll post it on this blog before Thanksgiving. So, here’s a good idea I thought I’d share just in case I don’t follow-through on the pasta wreath this year…
Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings…this simple and beautiful quote resonated with me. Most of my days these days are what I would classify as “common.” Although my husband, Charlie, has mostly recovered from his recent health crisis, we spend most of our time these days close to home. Traveling any significant distance is a challenge and the furthest away we have been of late has been about 90 miles and we have not spent any nights away from our home since his multiple hospitalizations this past Spring.
But, in spite of this drastic change in our lifestyle, I would much rather have “common days” at home with him than to be without him. And, that’s what I’m grateful for…that Charlie is getting better every day and I’m no longer in danger of losing him any time soon. And, I’m grateful for these common days.
Charlie had polio as a child and as he has aged, the polio has affected different parts of his body. Doctors lump all these things together and call it “Post-Polio Syndrome.” He has limited strength in his upper body (upper arms and chest) and he has developed pulmonary hypertension (his lungs now operate at 50% capacity). He uses an external ventilator at night (similar to a BiPAP aka Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure machine) that helps his lungs operate more efficiently throughout the day and remove CO2 from his system (he also “retains” CO2).
In addition, he can no longer walk and uses a mobility scooter full-time. But, in spite of everything that has happened to Charlie, he is one of the most positive people I know, who wakes up every day grateful for the new day and all that the day promises.
In fact, he is so cheerful in the morning that it used to irritate me because I’ve never, ever been a morning person and having someone wake-up beside me every day, bounce out of bed ready to go (in the days when he could still bounce out of bed) and start talking in a clear, strong, cheerful voice, when all I want to do is sleep 10 minutes more and can’t speak more than a groan or a growl, used to drive me crazy. And, add to that a cat, a boy named Coco, who is very vocal in the morning, literally caterwauling until I get up…well, you get the picture. I never, ever sleep in – at least not since I’ve been married.
But, even though I still wake up groggy and I still want to sleep “just 10 minutes more,” Charlie and Coco no longer irritate me. Because I’m grateful. For both of them. Unfailingly happy, cheerful, positive Charlie and a cat who loves me unconditionally.
And, I’m grateful for my common days…
Tootles,
P.S. I’m going g to have to look for those pasta noodles if I can get to a cost plus soon.
I went to my local Cost Plus World Market yesterday and sadly, they no longer had that particular package called Harvest Pasta. Right now my store has something different called Fall Harvest Pasta, also with pumpkin and leaves. However, it only has 3 shades of pasta instead of 4 and the colors aren’t as bright but rather a more muted gray-green, dull burgundy and normal pasta cream color. I bought them anyway, but probably won’t make them into a wreath! Hope you find the right ones at your store!
Likewise, we are grateful for the blessings of a simple life and the love and support of our family. Love to you and Charlie.