Daily Gratitude: A Photo Journey

March 8, 2025March 9, 2025 / Apple Hill Cottage / 10 Comments

I’ve been taking photos and keeping them in a Gratitude folder. I’ve been trying to take one everyday, but honestly, some days it just doesn’t happen.

But then some days I manage more than one.

There are a lot of baked goods and a lot of cat photos and a lot of quotes—the cats make me laugh; the bakery items remind me that I’m serving my husband with love, and the quotes remind me that there is more to this life than what is happening right now.

Because what is happening right now is causing me lots of anxiety. I try not to doom scroll, but it’s so awful I can’t help it. It’s like trying to look away from a train wreck that is happening right in front of you.

So there are also photos that remind me that we are right to defend the poor, the immigrant, the war torn, the hungry, the sick, those who need justice…and to protest against those who would be kings (or tyrants).

There are also the obviously grateful photos— a baker is thankful for her new stand mixer, the extended warranty that was purchased on her stove, and the new Thrive food delivery service (which replaces Amazon and Whole Foods.)

Usually there are lots of nature photos in my folders, but nature hasn’t really been too cooperative lately.

Then there are small gifts from friends…

And there are my books…

There was also my winter fireplace mantle that started out being Christmas and gave me so much pleasure, I didn’t take it down until last week; and the two cats, who mostly pretend to hate each other but mostly make us laugh (except at 3 AM); and my faith, which helps to give me hope in these dark days.

I will leave you with three hopeful thoughts:

it is only 11 days until Spring begins,

people seem to be waking up to what is happening in this country,

and this lovely quote….

And yes, we need to remind ourselves every day what we are grateful for…

October 12, 2017October 13, 2017 / Apple Hill Cottage / 19 Comments

Well, yes, since you asked, there are several reasons I haven’t written a post in over a month:

I’ve been busy putting away the last of the garden: canning tomatoes, beans, pears, drying herbs, pickling peppers…
It’s fall and the light is failing even though it doesn’t FEEL like fall with 70-80 degree temperatures; life seems like it’s on hold. Surreal even…
The longer one waits in between posts, the less likely it is for anything to seem “write-worthy”.
The world is going to hell, so how can I write about recipes, gardens, planting garlic, getting rid of groundhogs, drying herbs, trying to write a novel, or working on a bathroom?
Devastating floods in Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico, earthquakes in Mexico, mass murders in Las Vegas, terrifying fires in California — puts all that other puny unimportant stuff in perspective, doesn’t it?
I have nothing important to say, except God have mercy on us.

And really, that is the most important thing to say…

Listen to this beautiful version of Trisagion by Fernando Ortega.