The Unexpected Day

We had the day planned. We were going to get up, be out the door, be at the restaurant, take a hike; all by a certain time. In short, we had the day planned and we were looking forwarded to our day. But it was not to be!

We woke up with sore backs and my neck was so stiff I couldn't turn my head from side to side. It was raining and raw out. We were running late first thing in the morning. We were on our way to Quechee VT and we were running late, we were not going to make it for Breakfast.

When we finally got out the door and to the restaurant, it was closed! I don't know why, there was a sign on the door telling it's customers that it was closed with 6 dates listed and of course one of the dates was the one when we were there.

Instead of being upset that our plans were falling apart, we laughed it off and found an unexpected day.

We found this restaurant nearby and decided to stop in for lunch. The inside was very clean and I really liked the decor

Don't you want to be sitting near the wood stove come winter?

                    

I asked for hot tea to warm me up and got this basket of a large assortment of tea's which I loved! So unexpected. 

So much better than a cup with one tea bag!

It was so nice and warm

                                                                                              

We began our meal with sweet potato fries with a very spicy honey mustard which was really good.  Very unexpected.

I had clam chowder which was wonderful and hubby had their signature dish "Shepherd's. Pie". Which he enjoyed very much. So this place was a unexpected find. We never would have stopped here otherwise.

                                  

                                                                                                              

       

We then went out for ice cream and Becke the wonder dog got a small cone just for her. It was vacation after all. No we don't get her ice cream all the time, but she really deserved it.

Then we walked to the Quechee Gorge  Bridge. We took some wonderful photos of this beautiful place. You can see that the trees are not turning yet, summer is hanging on! We didn't hike down but look at these photos! Just beautiful!

 

Since I'm Scottish, no trip to Quechee is complete without stopping at Scotland by the Yard. Where you can get all sorts of gifts. We picked up some chocolates and some gifts for Christmas.  When hubby and I were dating, and for many years after I wore a celtic ring. After many years, it became so thin that it was kept in my jewelry box. That box was stollen a few years back and the ring with it. Hubby got me new one.

Hubby and Becke 

An unexpected gift

We then stopped for more Christmas shopping at Quechee Gorge Village and had a great day in spite of sore backs and stiff neck. An unexpected stop at that.

Becke the wonder dog had a great time traveling. She had a bedspread in the back of the car that she would lay on while traveling and when we went into the Motel, the bedspread went on the bed so that her fur would not get on the bed.

In the car

In the Motel room, ready to sleep

So our plans were changed by circumstances beyond our control. We didn't whine about it, we just went with it and in return we got an unexpected day. These are blessings,...recognize them,...enjoy them,...share them.

Ever had a unexpected day? Tell me - I have on my bifocals and I'm ready to read your story. And have an unexpected weekend. See you all Monday

The Bucket List

Have you ever heard of a Bucket List? If not, it's a list that one makes of things they want to accomplish before they "Kick the Bucket."

I have such a list but it's not a formal list of 10 items written down but it is a list that I have. Recently hubby and I had the opportunity to cross off one of the items. In all the years I've lived in the Northeast, I have never been to Niagara Falls. Never been to either the America side or the Canadian side so we put Becke in the car and headed out. New York is an interesting state with lots of fun town names like Rome, Verona, Amsterdam, Corfu and it was quite fun thinking we were traveling the world!

The falls are breathtaking! I loved being covered by the spray. We walked the walking path, took photos, and enjoyed His beautiful creation.  Here are some photos we took.

Believe it or not these are people walking in the falls. 

These boats were giving tours through the falls! Can you see the boats down there?

Becke at the Falls

So I have now crossed off Niagara Falls/American Side off myBucket List.

Oh of course there has to be a "duh" photo!

Do you have a Bucket List? What have you been able to cross off?  

Count Your Blessings

I have had something on my heart lately that I could not put into words ever since I started this blog. This past week someone else asked a question that gave words to my feelings. The question was: "How can we know that we have turned something into an idol in our lives?"  Was I using this blog to "show off" or "brag about my life?" It is a question worth asking.  Why did I start blogging? What was I trying to do?

The answer to starting the blog was that when I was told by my eye doctor that I needed bifocals, he did so gently so not to have me feel bad but I still felt old. My mother was legally blind by the time she was my age. Was I going blind? I asked the eye doctor this very question, he checked my eyes again and told me no. I just needed help seeing clearly. Again he was gentle. Still I felt old. The doctor told me that no one would be able to see that I had bifocals and so I didn't have to tell anyone.

Not telling anyone felt like I was hiding-like I was running away and pretending that nothing was wrong. That was not true to who I am. I was depressed for a while and prayed about my feelings. Since I really enjoy new technology, I felt that using it would help me feel young or at least be honest with who I am. The "Life through Bifocals" Blog was born. I once heard the saying "If there is an elephant in the room, introduce it". So I introduced the elephant in my life. I was pleased to have so much love returned to me and so much support as well as suggestions for getting used to my new eyes.

So now the question about whether this blog is becoming an idol and how to avoid that from happening. I have been praying about that too. This is what was nagging me in the past. This is what I didn't have words for - but I do now.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a history that has contributed to who they are now. Everyone has a present that helps shape who they will become in the future. Everyone has a God who has loved us in the past, loves us now, and will love us in the future. They may not know God now, but that doesn't change the fact that He exists. This blog is my story. It's a story of blessings that I have so that when the time comes that I am in the valley, the pit of despair, and see no way out, I can come back here and read my words and feel encouraged again. Here I count my blessings. Here I record my failures and my successes. Here I make known the elephants that are in my life and maybe this will help someone else to see the elephants in their life too. Does that make this blog an idol? If my aim is to journal my feelings, share what I know, share Gods truth and continually pray for His will to be done, then the answer is no. This blog is a tool.

I pray that I never make anyone feel bad about where they live, what they have or what they do. I pray that I can find humor in what is around me and enjoy the blessings that God has given to me. I pray that I will accept your questions and comments in an attitude that He would expect of me. I pray that when things go wrong (and they will) I will not be afraid of introducing that elephant as well here.

Count your blessings; name them one by one. My first and greatest blessing is my Lord Jesus Christ.

What are you blessed with? 

Happy Labor Day To You All

For everyone who has the day off from work, everyone that has to work today, and for everyone who is out of work, I pray God will bless you.  Enjoy your family, your friends and count your blessings.

Meet The Other Pets

You got to meet Becke, our dog so I wanted you to meet the other pets in our life.

Eenie, Meenie, Miny, Moe, Do, Ray, Me

We've had fish for a long time. I started when there a time of great stress in my life and my doctor suggested it instead of medicine. Gotta love that - no medicine for you - go to a pet store and get some fish and watch them for 20 minutes 3 times a day!  Well it worked! We got fish. We've had Beta fish and lots of others but right now we have the 7 Goldfish and we've had them for a few years now.  

No walking, no training, easy to keep clean, easy to feed, keeps grand daughter entertained for a bit and the only issue is when we lose power in the winter! We hook up the tank to the generator then.

What pets do you have? Dogs, Cats, Fish, Pet Rocks?

Have a happy weekend.