Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a beautiful day here. A nice day to reflect on the many things I am thankful for in this very moment. I am blessed with so many wonderful friends, healthy, happy family, a safe, warm home, three crazy cats and the amazing good luck to be aware of so much beauty in the world. There was a lot of time in my life when I wasn't as lucky, and the contrast is amazing. To appreciate the simple things in life is such a gift. The squirrel that was sitting a few feet away from me yesterday morning, chewing on a mushroom, while Canada geese, honking, flew south overhead, obscured by the morning fog; the way the sun shines sideways into my studio all afternoon this time of year; the aroma of decaying leaves and hemlock needles, lifting from the duff; the rooster's crow in the distance; the swaying trees, even appearing self-conscious without their foliage; the sounds of squirrels' teeth scraping nuts; the rustle of the brown leaves, still clinging to branches, in the breeze; wordless walks with friends through the woods; and the anticipation of good times with friends over thanksgiving dinner.