The Richest Chick in Town

I awoke at 3:45am this morning -

fully rested and ready for the day.

I've been sleeping like a log lately - and don't you think I take that for granted for one cotton pickin' minute.

Since I've been eating clean and exercising - I haven't spent one night up naked in the living room chair, hot flashing with insomnia.

Selah.

No sooner than my feet hit the floor - I do declare I did have the deepest sense of gratitude.

I knew the day was going to be a 'keeper'.

The kind of day that you fold up and put in your pocket for a day that your heart feels a bit gloomy.

As the morning unfolded - I began feeling like the richest girl in town.

My chores and workout were done by the time it was light out - and I went to let the girls out.

Chickens - if you have them - you get this -

if you want them - you'll yearn for this -

There's nothing like chickens in the early dawn light.

It's nirvana.

The fluffy butts coming down the ladder, stretching their wings -

I adore it.

This sense of gratitude continued as I opened the freshly painted gate with the John Deere green handle.

Things at this ole Hillbilly Haven are needing some repairs - but this little green handle gave me hope that they'd all get done in due time.

I remembered how it looked 20 years ago...

Out of the corner of my eye - I noticed that the lilacs had bloomed out.

As I came back in - I noticed what a nice combination the yellow petunias were with the nasturtium leaves, and I looked forward to the hyacinth beans climbing and covering the kitchen window frame.

The aroma in the kitchen was heavenly -

the Strawberry Pecan Bread was done.

(recipe tomorrow!)

There be peace up here in the Hillbilly Haven.

Riches I tell you.

You can't buy this stuff.

As I gazed out the kitchen window overlooking the cornfields - my eye caught my old chair that I'll sit in and ponder my ponderings this summer with my morning cup of English Breakfast tea.

How I love that spot.

I opened my email and found a sweet email from my friend Cheryl encouraging me in my weight loss.

Another wonderful email from my beloved cousin saying he'd take the same weight loss challenge as me and we'd do it together.

Then I got this comment:

Fresh Garden has left a new comment on your post "Take This Broken Wing....":

I'm always here with you, I promise.

It broke me in half.

Sometimes, gratitude breaks my heart - perhaps in a way that a Dr. breaks a bone to reset it to heal properly.

That's the only way I can describe it.

It breaks my heart - but in a good and healing way.

Just because I don't get around to responding at times - please don't ever think I take your comments for granted.  They mean so much to me!

All of this happened before 9 am!

I left to pick up my friend for a doctor's appointment.

I drove by a garden that nearly made me wreck the car.

I made a mental note to stop by this week with a loaf of Strawberry bread and tell the gardener that her (I'm assuming) garden makes me happy. 

I have a feeling I'll make a new friend.

The afternoon was spent catching up with my friend after her appointment, over chicken salads (sssshhhh)

at Panera Bread.

Although we'd seen each other not too long ago, it felt like years as we chattered away.

I came home to more incredible messages of encouragement, and a lovely gift from a friend that had stopped by whilst I was away. 

(Thank you Sandy!)

I just re-read all the comments from yesterday.

Law.

I'm as full as a tick with gratitude.

I feel so full, I need to lay down.

While I may not have much by this world's standards - I do believe I am the richest gal in town -

and if I did win the Lottery or some other tomfoolery -

what would I do?

Why, I'd make a big cup of English Breakfast tea -

I'd let the chickens out at dawn -

I'd notice the lilacs and the petunias -

I'd sit in my chair and ponder -

And I'd blog and tell you all about it.