Attitude of Gratitude Day 13,14,15.....

Honestly I don't even know where I am with the Attitude of Gratitude.  I know that today is the 18th of November but logging on the computer is so far from my mind most nights.  But here are a few things I'm feeling blessed to have in my life....

 

Had a great weekend.  We spent time out by the fire both Friday night and Saturday night.  Saturday night was at Saude Creek Winery.  We also spent time getting back in gear with running at my favorite park, Henricus. Busy weekend indeed.  But we wouldn't have it any other way.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 13

With the cold weather here to stay I am more than grateful for the warm and yummy goodness of my morning coffee.  And now, thanks to my sister, I enjoy it just a little bit more.

I'm pretty sure it's not all together healthy....but it sure does make waking up at the crack of dawn a little easier.  And everyone in our house can appreciate that Mommy needs a little extra alone time with her coffee before she gets going, or is able to talk, or can function.  Ha Ha!  Happy Hump Day my friends!  Don't forget to appreciate the little things.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 12

 

Today I am thankful for beautiful reminders.  Not the best picture, I know, but none the less I smiled on my way to work.  Happy Tuesday people.  

Attitude of Gratitude Day 11

I know.  I know!  I missed a few days on here but isn't it the thought that counts? We've been busy making memories and being thankful even tho I haven't posted about it the last few days.

Today I am thankful for our veterans.  Saturday night Mark, the kids and myself attended an annual service at Poplar Grove National Cemetery, in Petersburg.  The service is part of a Veterans Day celebration that results in the illumination 6,000 graves of Union Soldiers.  Some of the luminaries have memorials to more recently fallen soldiers and veterans.  And some of the luminaries have messages of thanks to members of our armed forces.

During the service park rangers narrated stories of some of the fallen soldiers.  Then from somewhere in the dark a bugler would play taps.  Park rangers encouraged visitors to find a spot away from other visitors just to sit and reflect.  It was a wonderful service to be a part of and one I hope to take part in next year as well.

Thank you to all of our veterans...past, present and future.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 6

 

Today I am thankful for pet therapy days at work.  Our four legged friends always make me smile.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 5

Today I am grateful for November blossoms. 

 

With the weather being all over the place, these trees have gone through a little bit of a confused state and bloomed.  I know they won't last....but for today I got to enjoy them just for a moment.

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 4

Today was a long day...I mean Monday and all.  So having this little thing working for me all day was nothing short of a blessing.

Today I am thankful for my crock pot.  I have declared  my love for this thing on many occasions.  I love providing my family with a home cooked meal but there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done.  So having dinner pretty much done when I walk in the door after work and the gym is wonderful!  If you have recipes to share....send them my way!  Sometimes it's just the small things :-)

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 3

Today I'm grateful for the Thanksgiving Tree.  It reminds me every time I see it to count my blessings!  Hope you are doing the same.

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 2

On day 2 of an Attitude of Gratitude I am thankful for patient hairdressers!  It's not easy to walk in a place and say you need to have your hair cut without an appointment.  Much less walk in and say you need to have haircuts for 3 people :-/  But that is exactly what I did.  They fit us in without a problem and within about an hour all three kids had their hair cut.  I can now see Emma's eyes :-)

It's all about finding the pleasure in the small things.  I found mine in seeing all three of the kids finally getting their hair cut and then sharing cupcakes....Great afternoon indeed.

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 1

I am a firm believer in the theory that in order to find true happiness you need only count your blessings.  And in the days leading up to Thanksgiving I like to remember all the things I am so blessed to have in my life.  Some things are easy to bring to mind...other times I am so caught up in life and all that gets thrown my way that I forget how good I have it.  And during the times I can't seem to fight my way out of a paper bag....I try to stop and remember to have an attitude of gratitude.  Before long I have forgotten what was pulling me down.

So today, on day 1 of my Attitude of Gratitude....I am thankful for my messy kitchen.

You heard right!  My messy kitchen.  I have money for food, a home to cook in, a family to share my meals with and when all that is done I have a husband and kids who help clean it up.  Ok, yes I often have to threaten them within an inch of their lives to help, but they eventually see it my way and give in.  Looking for something to be thankful is not often easy.  But for me I need only look as far as my kitchen sink.   


What are you thankful for today?

Wine and Old Barns....Take 2

Today I'm posting pictures from Day #2 of our NoVA wine trip this past September.  We stayed overnight in Leesburg after touring all day Saturday.  Early Sunday we got up, had breakfast and headed back out to finish out our trip.

We started our trip at North Gate Vineyard.

 

Our second stop was at Crushed Cellars.  These people were awesome.  They told us about local parks to try and places to go hiking.  They pulled out crackers and stuffed animals for Emma and really made us feel at home.  The wine was great too.  

 

Third stop was at Sunset Hills Vineyard.  Back to the Barn theme in the area.  Beautiful place with lots of space outside to picnic or just sit on the patio and relax.  

 

 

The last stop of the day before heading home was my favorite!  The Barns at Hamilton Station.  This barn is over 100 years old.  One of the co-owners in a contractor and must have seen the potential in what was left of the barn. Very peaceful, not crowded or loud, lots of outdoor seating and a cigar out building.  The views alone were worth the trip.  They even had an outhouse....complete with spider spray.....lol.

I mean....just look at this view!!!!!

It was a whirlwind visit.  Glad I took plenty of pictures! 

I'll Have My Wine out in the Barn Please

Ever had wine in a barn that's over 100 years old?  I can't say that I had either....until now.  The third weekend in September Mark and I spent a couple days in Northern Virginia touring wineries.  Virginia has close to 250 wineries now....and we've only hit about 1/5 of them.  Many more days like the ones we spent here tho and we could have all of them visited pretty soon.  The thing about Northern Virginia, Leesburg and Purcellville in particular, is that the wineries are so abundant you and can literally leave one and be at another in seconds.  On this trip we made visits to 8 wineries.  We've been to wineries in this area on a few other occasions too....and we STILL haven't visited them all.

I tried to start as far north as possible and work our way south.  So first stop was at Notaviva Vineyards.

 

Our second visit was too Breaux Vineyards.

Next stop, 868 Estate Vineyards.

Fourth stop for the day, Hillsborough Winery.

Our fifth and final stop of the day, Doukenie Winery. 

 

The weather was great, the wineries were awesome and this was just day #1 of our trip. 

There were lots of old barns and silos.  Of the wineries Notaviva and 868 were my favorites.  They were a little more off the beaten path and my style.  Tomorrow I'll post pictures from the REALLY old barns.