Ten Things of Thankful, Week 36/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday I finished the bottom of my tray in single OT. Now I can start the fun part – weaving the basket above it.
• Tuesday we had a very productive group OT session. Everybody had a good time.
• Wednesday my husband and I joined the local gym. It will be hard work to get back in shape, but we are on our way now.
• Thursday I went to the podiatrist. There’s always such a good atmosphere at this place, everybody leaves with a smile.
• Thursday I felt quite sore from training the day before. Our OT-therapist told me not to give up, this was exactly what I needed to hear.
• Practicing relaxation on Thursday really helped me to feel better and less sore.
• On Friday we just relaxed. That was great.
• On Saturday I went to a charity event for bulldogs with my friend. I am thankful she drove all the way, because I don’t have a car.
• We met many nice people and had nice conversations on the fair.
• I even got some good advice for Sam, and how to improve his behavior on the leash. Priceless!

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 35/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday I didn’t go to OT, because my therapist had fallen ill. At first I didn’t like this, but after a while I enjoyed the free time.
• On Tuesday I bought new sports clothes. We are planning to join a gym, and I need something to wear.
• On Tuesday, our therapist was still ill, but her colleague took over, so we could have our group OT-session. I was very grateful for that.
• On Wednesday I was very grateful that my husband had another successful fishing trip. His holidays were full of tackling carps this time, just the way he likes it.
• On Thursday we bought some garden furniture for our new terrace. We got a big discount because summer is nearly over. Now everything is perfect.
• On Friday my parents came back from a short vacation. I am glad everything went well and they had a good time.
• Friday evening my husband’s friend and his girlfriend came over for a BBQ. It was a nice evening and everyone had a good time. The beer bread I baked for the first time was delicious, by the way.
• On Saturday we had ice cream with our friend and all of our dogs. It was the last really hot day of summer, and we celebrated it in style.
• After Truman was adopted, we didn’t take a dog from the shelter with us on our Saturday walks. That’s going to change, the shelter suggested another dog to join us. I am looking forward to meeting Luke!
• Sunday was a quiet day. It has cooled down significantly, so walking the dogs was a lot more pleasant.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 34/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• My parents gave me old photos. Looking at them brought up mostly good feelings. This of my mother and me is one of my favorites:
• On Monday I finished coloring the bottom of my tray in OT. Well, it is very colorful and I like it. It turned out the way I wanted it to be, and this is always a good feeling.
• On Tuesday my husband and the dogs came back from the fishing trip. My husband was in a very good mood, and the dogs were happy to be home again.
• On Tuesday evening we ate at a greek restaurant. It was a nice evening.
• On Wednesday we made big progress with the terrace.
• On Thursday I went to relaxation group and it brought up some unwelcome feelings, how I often felt left out because of my hearing disability. But there are nice people in my life now, and this is what counts.
• On Friday – tada! – we finished the terrace!!!! Look here:Ok, we still have to put away the gravel, but this is nothing big and will be done in one hour or so. Like I said, it’s nothing fancy and you don’t see all the important work below the tiles, but it’s done.
• We invited my husband’s friend and his girlfriend to have a BBQ with us this Friday, if somebody deserves this it’s them for all their help. I am sure this will be nice! My mother gave me a recipe for beer bread, and I am looking forward to try it.
• On Saturday wood for the fireplace was delivered. Now we are prepared for the colder season!
• My brother-in-law helped us putting the wood in the basement and we were very grateful for his help!

 

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 33/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• I made good progress with the bottom of my tray in OT on Monday. It’s very colorful, just the way I like it. Working with colors always makes me feel good.
• On Monday, my husband and the dogs left us for a fishing trip. I know how important that is for him, and I am thankful I am well enough he can leave me alone for a few days (of course I am not all alone, our cat Jackie stayed home as well :-)) Right now Jackie is supervising me writing this post – nothing gets by a cat!
• On Tuesday morning I went to my GP to have my blood sugar taken. Self care is difficult for me sometimes, but this time I did it.
• On Tuesday afternoon, we did something different in group OT and had ice cream.  A good time was had by all, and the ice cream was delicious.
• On Wednesday I met a friend. She isn’t doing so well at the moment and needed someone to talk to. I am glad I could help. While talking, we had dinner, and it was wonderful. Both of us felt better after our meeting.
• On Thursday, I was very grateful for our OT relaxation group. I am not used to living alone, and it calmed me down to see some friendly faces.
• On Friday, I met my father and we had ice cream. It was so good to see him and talk to him. He told me I will be fine, and I know I can call my parents any time. This is a big thankful!
• On Saturday I treated myself and went to a fast food restaurant. It may not be the healthiest choice where food is concerned, but I enjoyed every bit of the french fries and every sip of my milk shake!
• I took advantage of the relatively quiet house and the fact nobody worked on the terrace this week and cleaned everything. This was hard work, but I like the result.
• My husband asked me to take care of the fish tank while he is away, and all fish survived! I must have done something right 🙂

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 32/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday, I added more colours to my tray in OT. I like working with acrylic paint, and I am sure it will turn out great.
• On Tuesday we finished working on our mosaics in group OT. They look great, but I wasn’t able to get a good photo, because all four mosaics together are quite big. I’ll have to wait until it hangs at the wall for that.
• We got a big step nearer to the finish line where the terrace is concerned. Just four rows are left from thirteen.
• Had a few nice chats with strangers in the bus. This is always nice, I like to think those people wouldn’t have talked to me if I appear to be an unfriendly person.
• I have a cold, but it seems to run is usual course and seems to be nothing to worry about. They say colds keep our immune system fit, so I hope for some positive aspects as well while I am sneezing and coughing.
• We met the dog trainer on Saturday. She is such a nice person, friendly, but stern. She told us so much about Sam, and this was the first time she met him.
• The dog trainer said, Sam just wanted to protect us. That made us love him even more. Now we just have to let him now that we protect him.
• The dog trainer didn’t really tell us something new about Sam. I am very grateful that we know our little man really well. We just have to change our reaction to his behavior.
• The dog trainer also said there’s a bond between Sam and me. It was so good to hear this, because we had to work for this.
• On Sunday my husband packed for his fishing trip. I am thankful he has this possibility to unwind and calm down.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 31/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

It was a tough week, but I had some thankful moments as well.

• Working on my tablet in OT on Monday was fun.
• Tuesday we closed the gaps between the tiles of our mosaics. After working on this for over half a year that was such a big step. We are almost finished!
• The display of my mobile broke. I am very thankful that I have a spare mobile, so I can stay connected.
• I am also very glad my phone is insured.
• When I went to a shop, we found out the insurance company listed the wrong IMEI… So I had to call the insurance company. Hearing aid… No lip reading… You know the drill, but I was able to sort this out. I am thankful for the patience of everybody involved.
• We started working on the terrace again. We covered everything with a tarp, and from now on we don’t need to care about the weather.
• We started putting the tiles back on. This will take a while, because every tile has to be carefully adjusted, but it’s the last thing we need to do. That’s great (hey! Just 240 more tiles :-))
• Had a bad anxiety attack on Thursday, but was able to cut it short with relaxation techniques I learned in OT relaxation group. That was good.
• When I felt really bad I was thankful for my as-needed med, that quickly helped me to calm down. Exactly what I needed in that situation.
• We were finally able to arrange a meeting with the dog trainer our friend recommended. She contacted me, and we will meet her on Saturday.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 30/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday I continued working on my tray during my single OT-session. It still is fun!
• On Tuesday in group OT the last mosaic was finished. Next time we will go ahead and fill the gaps between the tiles.
• I painted again in group OT and finished my picture. I enjoyed painting so much.
• I had to make many phone calls last week to order material for the terrace. Talking on the phone with a hearing aid and not being able to read lips is always hard for me, but I did it.
• Of course things went not as planned with the delivery of the material, but I was able to figure everything out, and now our driveway is full again 🙂
• This material was the last thing we needed to buy for the terrace! Like I said, we can see the finish line from where we stand.
• The temperature dropped, and now we can breathe again, especially the furbabies.
• It rained a little bit, this means we can’t work on the terrace right now… Well, we enjoy the break, to be honest!
• On Wednesday I met with my father. We had ice cream and had a nice talk. I am grateful for these father-daughter-meetings, and I know he is as well.
• On Saturday I met with my friend and helped her set up her high pressure cleaner. We got work done, and we had a good time.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 29/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• Our OT-therapist was sick on Monday and Tuesday. I enjoyed having more free time. Sometimes this is nice!
• My single OT-session had been moved from Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning. I enjoy having OT in the afternoon, but doing this first thing in the morning with more energy was a good experience as well.
• We got a lot of little things done that steal time on our terrace. Now we “just” need to make it pretty again. We are not finished, but the worst part is over.
• I continue to be thankful for my husband’s friend, who still helps us and is always in a good mood.
• On Saturday we had dinner with my parents and my parents-in-law. We celebrated my mother’s birthday, because my parents have been on holiday on her actual birthday. A good time was had by all!
• My parents offered to help us covering the costs for our terrace. That helps us a lot!
• My PIL gave me my birthday present as well. Everybody has been so generous!
• My mother, my MIL and I agreed we will go shopping clothes together in fall. We never did this before, it will be fun.
• We spent Sunday recovering from celebrating and left the couch just for cooking and taking care of the furbabies. It felt good just hanging around together.
• Found a new recipe for making chicken breast fillets in the oven with a cheese crust, and my husband liked it a lot.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 28/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday I started working on my new project in OT after a lot of planning. Sawing the bottom of the tray was a lot of fun, and I like the result. I am more patient than I was last year, and I enjoy every little step.
• On Tuesday, I continued painting in group OT. It made me feel very focused, and I liked that.
• Later on Tuesday, my parents texted me that they safely arrived back home from their holiday, and that they had a good time. I am thankful for that.
• On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday our friend came to us after work and helped us building our terrace. I am so thankful for his ongoing support.
• On Wednesday, a container was set up, and I started filling it with everything that we had scraped from the terrace. It was a lot of work, but I did it, and this was a good feeling. I can’t carry heavy things, so I filled a little bucket and emptied it into the container a thousand times, but I pulled through. I am proud of myself, and this is a rare feeling.
• On Thursday, we were just two clients in our relaxation group, so we could choose how we wanted to do it. This was nice.
• On Saturday it was raining, so we didn’t work on the terrace. I went to our friend and helped her tidying up her garden after the rain stopped. I like helping her, and we had a great time.
• The grave of our friend’s dog (the Rotti-granny) looks very good. The hard work paid off. We saw a bumblebee, and I said to my friend: “You always called your dog bumblebee, this must be a sign!” It made us smile.
• On Sunday, I felt very tired. I was very thankful my husband took the dogs for a walk, so I could rest.
• Talked to my parents on the phone Sunday, and they are well rested and in good spirits after their holiday. I always like talking to them and I am grateful they are in my life.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 27/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Monday I started a new project in my single OT-sessions, a wooden tray. We will see how it turns out, but I am looking forward to it and enjoyed the planning.
• On Tuesday I painted in group OT. I haven’t been painting for a long time, and it was fun.
• On Wednesday I enjoyed a quiet day and enjoyed walking the dogs. They are wonderful companions, I am thankful they found their way into my life.
• My parents texted me that they safely arrived at their holiday destination and had a good journey. They so deserve this holiday, I am thankful it started well.
• On Thursday I had a wonderful OT session and left feeling very refreshed. We tried something different, and it worked.
• Later on Thursday, our friend texted me. She had to let her dog go over the Rainbow Bridge earlier that day 😦 She asked if I could come over and help? Of course I did. I get so much help, I am glad if I can give some of this back!
• My hearing aid had to be repaired, and on Friday I was called and informed it got back. That’s good!
• On Saturday my husband and I walked the dogs, went shopping and enjoyed eating out after that. It was a good time.
• Later, our friend called me: Could I go shopping with her, she wanted to get flowers for her dog’s grave? Of course I did, and even though it was a sad occasion, we had fun as well and enjoyed being together.
• On Sunday the local shelter had a charity event. I went were with Sam and Janet, and it was obvious Sam made great progress. He wasn’t at ease, but he stayed at my side and didn’t bark or tried to bite. I am so proud of our little man, and I am glad our training pays off.