Oh my, here it is Thursday again! My schedule has been pretty much off-track all week, but at least the train is still running. So what am I thankful for today?
1. Autumn. Even though the temperature is still warm, or once again warm, I love the cooler nights, the colors of the changing leaves, the different scent in the air and the shift in the angle of the light. Fall is my favorite time year. Not surprising for a person who's favorite liturgical season is Lent. Both make me want to pull inward, reassess, reaffirm. Both make me seek purpose and intentionality.
2. Apples. Fresh apples in all their many varieties are one of the joys of fall. I never liked apples growing up. All I knew were standard grocery store apples, red delicious I think they were, still my least favorite variety. I didn't learn to love apples until I moved to apple country. Although there are a wider variety of apples available in the grocery store today, I am happy to live in a place where there are apple orchards nearby.
3. Homemade yogurt. I can buy yogurt, even good yogurt, although not every store in town carries plain, unsweetened & unflavored, whole milk yogurt, much less organic whole milk yogurt. I buy organic milk from pastured cows. I make my own yogurt. It is still cheaper than the stuff I buy, but that is not why I make it. I make yogurt because I can, because it easy, because I can strain it to the thickness I like. I make my own yogurt because I can choose the cultures to make my yogurt the way I like it, creamy and rich, with a subtle tartness and sweetness, although I suspect much of that is due more to the quality of the milk than any effort of mine. I make my own yogurt because it brings me joy.
(pictured is a small bowl of yogurt, almond butter, and syrupy black-walnut balsamic vinegar)