Up: Wonderful blooming Camillias on my neighbors bushes that border our property. I took this photo on Monday.
Last Saturday while we were having a very lazy day one of the “girls” talked about how she was making muffins so I scrounged around the kitchen and came up with the ingredients for these bran muffins. I’ll be posting the easy recipe on the MGCC blog on Monday. Fresh out of the oven they are the best. The down side…I ate more than one.
While we were in Kettle Falls a couple weekends ago I spent a few hours on Sunday with our daughter in law and her granny. Granny treated us to lunch at TJ’s Tavern in Kettle Falls. This sign is on the outside of the tavern and I had to post it for my Canadian friends. TJ’s is about 32 miles from the border between the USA and Canada.
I love the colors that were so brilliant in this rainbow that showed up outside Dan and Jamie’s place in Chewelah. Rainbows are always a welcome sign in the sky filled with hope that makes me stop and ponder and click a lot of photos trying to capture the glory of it all. The downer: I have been having pain around my left hip that has made me stay home from my exercise classes for the last couple of months. I was thinking the worst but I finally visited my doctor who diagnosed a muscle issue with a course of action that does not involve anything but physical therapy. It was not a joint issue and I am thankful and relieved to hear that news. So while my thoughts were down about that they have been lifted up.
The other down this week was an early morning phone call that my sister was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Dear and I showered quickly and headed to the hospital to sit with and wait for the all clear from many tests and her release. To see her in pain was a downer but to find out there were no life threatening conditions was good. To find things to laugh about while we were at her bed side was good therapy.
This is a tree on our son’s property. I’m calling it the cyclops tree and it’s the closest thing I have to a Halloween photo for now. Some choose to avoid Halloween but I really enjoy it for these specific reasons. I can give treats to my neighbor kiddies and it’s a joy to have them knock on my door. I meet people in the neighborhood that I haven’t met before. I buy candy we like so if it doesn’t all get given out we reap the benefits. Everyone who comes to my door gets the same love and candy on Halloween.
Even though the leaves have fallen and covered our lawn, planters, walkways, and gutters we are enjoying the color and weather of the fall season. It’s good to have distinct seasons to enjoy.
Tonight, Thursday, I’m headed to a Sounders playoff game against Kansas City and I really hope it will be an “up” experience instead of a downer! HOT OFF THE PRESSES: We won and here is a shot my DIL took last night at the game.
Josh, myself and Laura. It was a tense 95 minutes and a player we have been waiting on to score had the goal of the year for himself and all the fans cheered so heartily for this young man. We were so worked up it took a while to get to sleep.
Thankful to our creator for 1. All the reminders each day of His love and care over us through the ups and downs. 2. Good doctors who can diagnose and help us with our aches and pains 3. Signs in nature that point us to a good creator who is still in control even in the ups and downs. 4. The comfort of good food. 5. Creating our bodies in a way that allow us to work hard in everyday chores and on the sports fields.
So what were your ups and downs this past week that made you thankful?
Linking to Five on Friday, Friday’s Fave Five, and Foodie Friday and Everything Else.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
A lovely five. I was so glad to hear all went well at the doctors and that it wasn’t as bad as anticipated. It was a stunning rainbow and the sign made me smile. Take care.
Lovely photos that you are sharing. The rainbow is stunning. That is quite the tree and of course your name for it. We have so many things to be thankful for. Good health, good food, family and friends. Have a lovely weekend.
Happy to hear all the medical issues are on the up! I love muffins and don’t make them too often as I can’t stop at just one either!
It’s always a thrill to see a rainbow and remember God’s promises!
Have a blessed weekend!
Hi Ellen! I am so glad your hip is okay. I know that worry (and imagining) when something hurts. I’m so glad your sis is okay, too. My sister (the one in Spokane) had a heart attack yesterday. She had two stents put in and she’s okay (leaving the hospital today). I am so thankful for modern medicine. Bill and I are going to ask our doctor about WHEN we should go to a cardiologist. I’m happy for the Sounders! I used to go to Sounders games when I was in high school. I loved their theme song.
Pom Pom…so glad to hear your sister is okay and leaving the hospital.
Hi Ellen, Great photo of you guys at the game! Thankful that all your hip will require is PT. Blessings to your sister. I love your rainbow photos and the tree in your son’s yard – makes me thankful for the gift of sight. I hope you’ll enjoy the weekend. Take care and I appreciate your friendship thru blogging.
So glad that the medical stuff is resolved and that you have a course of action for relief snd that your sister is doing better, too. I do truly dislike the holiday you like. There should be another for handing out candy or something, though a bag of candy should never darken my door under any circumstances…just sayin.’
and…the thing is, I caught that one and was not allowed to fix it…sometimes the www drives me bonkers…
Sorry to hear you have had some downs, but glad you have had some ups too. I hope that all will be well for your sister and for you with your injury too. Take care of yourselves and I hope you are both better again soon. Enjoy any leftovers from Halloween! Thank you for being part of Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend!
How lovely to still have Camillias blooming so nicely! We planted one bush that didn’t thrive (it was next to the house and we gradually came to the conclusion that there’s more rock than dirt there), but I hope to try again with them. Funny about the “speaking Canadian” sign. So glad your sister’s situation turned out to be not as bad as originally thought. Hope they can find and treat the problem and she’ll be on the mend soon. I’m glad as well that your pain is a muscle issue than can be improved and not something that’s going to require surgery. Nice pictures of the rainbow and tree. We didn’t do Halloween for years but eventually I came to feel about it the same way you do.
Lovely pictures. Your ones of the rainbow are beautiful! Your speaking Canadian sign reminds me of my son when he was little and in Kindergarten. The teaching was asking if the children spoke more than one language and my son piped up that he spoke English and American! Happy Five on Friday
I wish camellias would grow here…too cold. They look good! It’s a bit different. EH! No rain…no rainbow! Looks like a Norway Maple. Good game.
Love how you ended your post with a recap of your 5 faves.
So much to like in your post today: the rainbow (it stood out so well); the Canadian sign (I graduated form Canada and have a soft spot for that country); good medical news. That is always a relief and another reminder that our sojourn here is temporary so get to LOVING each other.
Today is the first time I realized that the name of your blog is happy WONDerer and not WANDerer.
Have a great week.
Some beautiful nature photos – the camellias, the rainbow, the tree. Kettle Falls is an interesting name. It sounds as if you had a good time there recently with your daughter-in-law and her Granny. It’s good to hear that your hip pain problem will respond to therapy. I’m glad that your sister is out of hospital after being rushed there by ambulance. Trusting you will know God’s peace in these down situations of life.
I LOVE the tree photo!! We never did Halloween when the girls were little due to my husband’s convictions. Once they entered high school we gave them the choice. This year I bought a teal pumpkin to hand out non-food treats for children I know who are allergy/food sensitive.
I love that pic of you with your son and dil. NICE!
Prayers being lifted up for your sister! Glad you were able to be with her.
Happy weekend!
Let’s see: Ups: Volunteered in my grandsons kindergarten class. Sunshine on more than one day. Trip to the Oregon Coast and stayed in a new home on the beach. Watercolor class. Two days at home.
Down: none so far and isn’t that nice?
Some times what we fear is worse than the actual problem. Glad you got an easy fix for your medical problem.
Indeed, life is full of ups and downs, isn’t it? We’ve had both in our extended family this week, including THREE trips to the ER! Everyone is on the mend, thankfully, and I am glad to hear the same for those in your family!
The rainbow was a beautiful gift! I am glad you were able to capture it.
My ups this week were having a few days of nice weather to start putting my garden to bed – the down being stiff and sore the next day. Up – having some time with my sweet “grandlove” and making her a cozy car seat poncho….the down being it didn’t quite fit her so had to make another one (I’m the world’s worst sewer). Up – getting the office cleaned and organized … the down side – it only stayed clean for 1 day lol!
Love your rainbow picture and the way you passionately cheer for your team! So glad you and your sister are O.K. God is Good indeed! Hugs …
I’m glad the downs all had an upside. Love rainbows too, so magical. Get busy with those exercises so that your muscle strain goes š B x
To see a rainbow is such a pleasure…to see a DOUBLE rainbow is truly a gift, I believe.
Glad your trip to your doctor turned out less than you were afraid of..and that your sis is ok.
I am about half sick this morning…it’s gone thru the whole family and I thought I’d missed it but I can barely talk this morning…not feeling too bad, tho, and I wish I had your muffins with my coffee…Mr. Sweet made toast for me, tho, and with strawberry jelly, I will do ok. š
Nice photos, do you speak Canadian too? LOL
I’m glad your sister was ok. I can see why you call it the cyclops tree š Lovely pictures. Have a good weekend.
I’m so glad your sister is ok! Those phone calls are always scary.
And good news on your pain issue.
Love the autumn photos! That Tree!!!
What a beautiful rainbow, can’t even remember when I saw one the last time ! My mouth waters when I see the muffins ! Love them !
Gorgeous Autumn color and the rainbow made it even more special. The muffins look yummy. Good to hear your sister is ok and that your hip issues are not joint related. Relief! Love the sign on the tavern — made me giggle. Pretty camellias. Have a lovely week.
Ellen, I hope you are feeling better with your hip! Best wishes to your sister for a quick recovery as well. I love the Cyclops tree picture. Halloween isn’t my favorite but I love it for the fall essence, the colors, cool air and pumpkins on porches. We live in such a small town so usually we don’t get trick or treaters. I buy candy just in case but most if the time we eat it.
I’m glad to hear that all are healthy as can be. Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday but I don’t dislike it. The yellow tree is very pretty.
What a beautiful rainbow to see this week! So glad it wasn’t anything major with you or your sis. The yellow on the tree is gorgeous and the cyclops tree is a perfect name.
So glad that things went well for both you and your sister – I’m also experiencing an uncomfortable twinge in my hip although not as bad as yours sounds. I’m trying out a gym and perhaps went too hard on the treadmill. I’m going to try some stretching today and hopefully that will help. Like you, I don’t want to have to quit!!
Gorgeous rainbow!
Bet you were hearing some “ehs” at that tavern š
Glad your team won – and you finished your week on an upswing!