November----the “thankful month.” My brain is full of seasonal musings and short stories of thankfulness. I worked in the yard most of the morning----Mother Nature blesses us with a riot of color this time of year, but all of this color brings closure to another year of gardening and with it comes the annual clean up. I was already thinking about gardening plans for next year as I cut, trimmed, raked and swept away months of gardening happiness and pride.
He entered our lives (and hearts) about three weeks ago. At first he was just a quick shadow of movement in the yard and then the visits became more frequent. Naturally, he possessed that sixth sense to know he just might be welcome here after a long quest to find a home. He was dirty, rather thin and wore a few battle scars of life on the road. After many attempts to charm both of us, he won the battle. I gave in first! I marched inside on a chilly Sunday morning and filled a bowl with fresh cat chow------he is now a permanent resident of the household. His tummy is quite round, he is very clean, his battle scars are just about gone and he is one happy cat. He passed his vet exam with flying colors. He tentatively comes into the house, but he is afraid of the resident black cat. He calls the garage and the yard his new home. He sits on Richard’s lap when Richard rides his recumbent bike and follows us all over the yard like a dog. We gave him a name that celebrates his physical being and his new address----Jasper the Friendly Ghost. Did you guess he is a white cat who lives on Jasper Agate Court? I know we are all very thankful for each other.
A few weeks ago,we returned to Mendocino for a four day stay at The Little River inn. It was such a blessing to arrive and feel, once again, at home with a very good friend. We were greeted warmly by Lyn as we checked in and the aroma of dinner being prepared at the talented hands of Chef Marc Dym filled the air. Alan, the Host for the eveing, welcomed us and made us feel like we were special guests in his home. Of course, having Maria for our waitress was the icing on the cake. She always makes dinner a special occasion for us. Thank you for another memorable getaway.
Many times I have written about my place of employment and the warm and wonderful people who own Prospector’s Nursery in Nevada City. This time, I want to call attention to a fellow employee who helps make the work day so enjoyable. He, too, is “retired” like I am, but we both find “reinventing” ourselves to be quite rewarding. His sense of humor, work ethic and integrity make Terry who he is. He has a favorite saying that I like to keep in mind----”it is all good!” Thanks Terry!
Life would not be complete without wonderful friends and family who make the days worth living. I wish we could all sit around an enormous Thanksgiving table and share the bounty of the season with each other. I am thankful for your love, your friendship, your support and the very fact that you are in my life. May your blessings be many this season.
"Let your Career Start Here!"
By Diane Sawdon
