sunday still banner
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: On the Brink of Giving #Thanks

The US celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday this week. As usual, there is plenty of food, fun, and family for which to be grateful and enjoy. If we were having coffee this week, I would tell you a few things I am very thankful for.

The season of Thanksgiving, depending on when you observe the holiday, seems to be a good time to take stock and remember things for which we can be thankful. I am in the habit of being thankful every day.

Gratitude for Seasonal Delights

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” ~Ecclesiastes 3

Four Seasons…

Despite the swings in temperature and weather patterns, I am thankful to experience all four seasons here in Northeastern Washington.

pink sunset on white winter's day
Winter’s Pink Glow
Dogwood Trees bloom in May
Spring’s Dogwood Trees
sunflower field
Vast Sunflower Field
Autumn Splendor
Autumn splendor

…Under the Northern Lights

“I tried to imagine myself a long time ago, in the lands where these stories were first told, during the long winter nights perhaps, under the glow of the northern lights…”
~ Neil Gaiman

In the almost three years we have lived here, I have been blessed to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis twice The first time was in October 2021, from my front porch.

Aurora Borealis from my porch
Aurora Borealis from my porch, 2021

I was thrilled to be able to see them again recently in early November, also from my backyard. These were all photographed in night mode with my Samsung Galaxy cell phone. This time a lot more color was visible through the lens, but not to the naked eye.

stars and northern lights
Ms Aurora, 2023
Northern lights and Big Dipper
The Big Dipper tried to steal the show

Appreciation for Abundant Wildlife

“Express gratitude for the greatness of small things.” — Richie Norton

You already know my love of wildlife and I see my share every day.

Goldfinch and sunflower
Goldfinch
Redheaded purple finch
Redheaded purple finch

My new phone has a great zoom and captured two loons which made for a dreamy image.

two loons on a lake
Loon Reflections

Deer visit our property daily, with Brodie standing guard…

Two mule deer and a brown dog

Thankful for Family Near and Far

“Always keep that little place where the magic grows inside of you…alive.” ~ Unknown

Last year my stepdaughter and her hubby flew from Arizona and spent the Thanksgiving holiday week with us. We were incredibly grateful for the time we spent with them.

people walking dogs in the snow

In a few days, my oldest daughter (pictured on the right) is traveling from California to stay with us through the holiday. This will be her second visit; her first was only for a few hours in June 2021.

two beautiful women
My Beautiful Daughters

The last time we spent Thanksgiving together was in 2020 at our former home in Sacramento. My daughters came to say goodbye to the house and COVID protocols kept our gathering distanced and masked.

We say goodbye to our family home

In September, my brothers and I circled the wagons and moved my dad and stepmom to Payson, AZ. After a physically and emotionally taxing two weeks, we did the right thing in getting them to a safe place to live.

DAd and me
Maroon house with car
Parents’ Home in Payson

Grateful for Health and Fitness

“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle

My GP says I’m in excellent health. But, having recently recovered from a nasty head cold (probably the flu), which morphed into a sinus infection, it was 21+ days of symptoms. I guess I made up for not having a cold or flu since 2018. Even my two tours of COVID weren’t this bad.

Aside from walking on local trails, I’m looking forward to snow-shoeing when it begins to snow.

snowshoeing
Snowshoe fake falling fun

We plan to be snowbirds in January 2024 and stay with friends and family in Arizona for the entire month. I know I said I love the four seasons, but winter wears me out when the whole month of January here in Washington is fogged in due to snowy conditions. It’s dark enough without unending days of fog.

And during these cold winter days ahead and all year long, I am ever thankful for my coffee!

winter white mug on cobalt cloth
Double Caffeine, please
brown swatch

Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week

Each week I find inspiration from my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I enjoy incorporating these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

This Week’s Featured Bloggers

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers, poets, artists, and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared their photos of things for which they are thankful. I add these all week as new links are posted.

I am also thankful for over 30 links to Sunday Stills last week when we shared shades of brown!

“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.”
— C.S. Lewis

For Sunday Stills this week, let’s share what we are thankful for in photos, poems, and stories.

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 to all who celebrate this week. Please join me next Sunday, Nov 26 as we explore things that are round.

signature autumn

New here? Subscribe to Second Wind Leisure Perspectives to receive my weekly posts.

© 2023 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved

Discover more from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.

118 comments

  6. Great choice this week, Terri. You’re so lucky to see the Northern lights. They have been seen over here but not by me unfortunately. One of these days… Lovely family photos too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Terri,
    Your daughters are lovely–I know you’re proud. Snow already?!? Wow, what is the elevation in Nine Mile Falls? As for me, I’m grateful that I still have my health, and the opportunity to get out and see the country. Great photos, as always. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Joe

    Like

    Reply

  12. Your daughters are lovely and I’m sure they bring you much joy. I’m thankful for my two children as well, even though they are far away. (my fault, I moved to Spain). The photo of the loons is fabulous.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. A beautiful post full of thankfulness, Terri. I loved that and your photos had me smiling ear to ear. The northern lights are on my bucket list and I hope to see them one day as I head north to enjoy some snow. I wish you a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends, and hope you get to play in the snow. (Love your fake falling photo. Lol). Enjoy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Happy Thanksgiving. I definitely can get behind a post that talks about thankfulness. Great photos. Love the snow ones as ours has melted (again). At least the sun had been shining, but I’m ready for the cold.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. I love that you can see the northern lights from your YARD!!! I love that third picture of them, with the little building in it. And the big dipper. I saw them this year, for pretty much the first time (I had seen tiny bits before). It’s amazong. I’m hoping to see more this winter. Love your daughters, great images!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you, Dawn! You can see the grayish mist with the naked eye, then your camera sees the aurora’s colors. I would have to go out to a particular area to see them with the naked eye, but it was good enough! I couldn’t believe the Big Dipper was so perfectly aligned. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  25. Loved your theme this week Terri, and agree with all of the things you’re thankful for. In most cases I am thankful for the same things (except anything related to winter, which is why we moved south!) One of the things I’m thankful for is the peace and serenity I find when walking on Kiawah’s beach, and also for the many travels we’ve enjoyed these past years. Since both are highlighted in my post this week, I’m linking it here. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2023/11/18/lens-artists-challenge-276-looking-up-looking-down/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi Tina! Thank you! Of course your post demonstrates thankfulness and gratitude–happy to add it to the mix! We had snow this morning–about an inch but by 2pm it was completely melted! I am thankful for the quick view but not ready for shoveling just yet.

      Like

      Reply

  29. Terri – I am likewise thankful for the four seasons, even if I whine a bit about Winter or Summer’s heat and humidity. I’m okay with Winter, but for the ice and snow. I took the bus to Downtown Detroit for 30+ years, so I’m used to dressing for the cold, but lack driving skills on snowy or icy roads – the bus was at the end of my street. We are both thankful for nature, a topic often found in our respective blogs. The critters are all special, from the tiniest bird flitting by to a skittish deer hovering nearby – all God’s creatures. I like the photos of the Northern Lights. I’ve not seen them – maybe someday. The last time it was a sure thing for viewing in SE Michigan, we had rain as I recall. How I would love to see a loon, especially on a golden pond like your photo. I heard their eerie cry in Northern Michigan but never saw one. Family is important – something I no longer have, but I am thankful for food to eat, a roof over my head and my good health – what more could I ask for in this life?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  32. That’s way too long to be sick, Terri. I hope you are feeling better. A friend of ours was scheduled to go to Iceland in a week. They cancelled because of all the upheaval there. I told her she could see the Northern Lights from Spokane. Your pictures are lovely. The loon reflections is so unique. I love the colors. I’m with Janis about wearing shorts rather than snow gear! I can’t wait till you come to AZ. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  34. Lots to be thankful for and your photos are fabulous, as always, Terri! I could happily live without winter, but, “three out of four ain’t bad”, to paraphrase Meatloaf. You have lovely daughters, just like their mother.

    I’m so envious you could see the Northern Lights! We never have and I think we’d need to travel further north to get a glimpse. One day!

    Sorry you were sick for so long. I had a nasty stomach bug that also lasted longer than it should have. Here’s to good health all around! Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Here’s my entry: https://thedogladysden.com/thankful-sundaystills-on-a-monday-memories/

    Like

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Debbie! Our northern lights are beautiful but not the jaw-dropping spectacle we see in movies. Still amazing to see and I hope you get to one day. I think while we were masked and distanced during covid, many of us lost our built up immunities and got hammered with illnesses this year. Have a wonderful week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  37. I’m sipping on my warm cup of coffee and I feel warmer and so happy after reading your post and looking at your joyful photos of thankfulness! Wow…that phone camera of yours caught those Northern Lights. Magical photos! Your daughters are beautiful just like their mom. I can see the resemblance of your dad in your smile too. I’m especially happy to read you’re feeling better and that your daughter is coming to visit you for Thanksgiving. I’m also jealous you’re going to get to escape the dreary January weather and warm up in AZ. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Terri! 🦃💖😍

    Like

    Reply

    • Thank you for the kind compliments, Shelley. I’m seeing a trend that you are waiting until Monday to post and that is good! I’m excited for my daughter to visit and we have some fun plans while she is here. Happy Thanksgiving this week and hope you enjoy it all.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • You’re welcome. It’s sort of a trend out of necessity. My last two weekends have been packed with plans that kept me from my computer. That is a good thing as I work from home at that spot, so a break is much enjoyed (needed).
        Yay, enjoy your time with your daughter. My oldest is coming home and we have plans too. Isn’t it the BEST feeling to hang out with our daughters and see how they’ve grown up? It’s heartwarming! Enjoy every moment!!! 🥰🤗

        Liked by 1 person

  42. The beautiful photos show that you do indeed have much to be thankful for! My spouse, daughter, and son-in-law all came down with an illness similar to yours, although without sinus infections. Glad to hear you’re healthy again. A very happy Thanksgiving to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  46. I love the snowy, wintery pictures, Terri. And I’m amazed by how your mobile phone took such wonderful pictiures of the Northern Lights and the stars They are so clear. I’ve never seen the Northern Lights, although they sometimes appear in the UK, it’s always too cloudy where we live to see them.

    I am thankful also for living somewhere where I can experience four seasons. I’d miss any one of them if they did not occur, even the hot summer.

    But what I’m mostly thankful for is life. I’ve had a wonderful life that I hope still has much to give to me before my ‘best by’ date comes around. And I’ve had a lot of fun, even while shovelling snow. I’m thankful for that.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the family.

    Like

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Hugh! I am also thankful for my life and my ability to be flexible and adventurous over the years (traits that do not align with my temperament). I have my hubby to thank for that. “Best by” date, that’s a good one!

      I’m also thankful for knowing you as a blogger and friend. What a great shot of you at work shoveling snow! It does keep us in shape! Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  48. I keep wondering if and when I’d have to give up coffee and until then, I’m with you on being thankful for my coffee. The aroma and warmth is what I look forward too every morning. Love your four seasons and wildlife pictures. Going through the parent relocation work is quite a feat and I am also thankful we got my mom moved last spring. Cheers and have a happy Thanksgiving with your daughter, Hans, Bodie and the turkey to be.

    Like

    Reply

    • Thank you, Cheryl! I am SO thankful for coffee and of course everything else! We’re picking up my daughter today and hope to see eagles at Lake Coeur D’Alene tomorrow! The it’s a huge family dinner on Thursday in Spokane. Have a relaxed and blessed Thanksgiving!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  49. You had much to be thankful for Terri. Love this. I too am thankful for4 seasons, though I consider winter with snow and we don’t get much of that here. Exciting to see your daughters. I totally spaced on posting Sunday Stills this week. too much happening and I just forgot. Hopefully next week.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  50. I read your post earlier and completely forgot to comment. Where is my brain? Thank you for including my post as a link. I will add this link to it. I know we’ve talked about your post, but I really enjoyed the pics and, of course, all the personal tidbits you share here. 🙂 I love how you use your Paaint program to alter some of the pictures to make them even more interesting. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Can’t wait till you get to AZ. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  55. This is such a beautiful post, Terri. I wondered where in the world you lived that you got to see the Northern Lights. I had no idea they were visible in Washington.
    Loved the burst of colors in the trees, the visiting birds, deer, and family. So much to be grateful for. Thank you for sharing this. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Smitha! Yes we live in northeastern WA about 100 miles from the Canadian border. We are close to Idaho and the skies stay very dark in the rural area where we live. We feel blessed and thankful to have been planted here. I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving (if yo celebrate).

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Sounds idyllic. Thank you for asking. I did enjoy Thanksgiving, too. But not because we celebrate it but because it was my daughter’s birthday on the day and the girls came home🙂.

        Liked by 1 person

What is YOUR perspective?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.