Gratitude List #13: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry! ;)

Today's gratitude list is on the themes of 'Eat, Drink, and Be Merry' as part of my summer fun in terms of music, free concerts, and summer foods/drinks, in order of the events of this past week:

March Hare Band at Shipyards Market, North Vancouver, BC (my photo)

I have to tell you, I had a fabulous week this past week!

* Kirtan in North Van in someone's home in my old neighbourhood
* I knew the woman hosting the kirtan
* Creating a scrapbook page for a colleague leaving work
* A staff BBQ in a Vancouver park, near the water's edge
* A pair of new runners for walking (hope they work out fine!)
* An outdoor movie playing at the main library's plaza area
* A fun movie, "Into the Woods" with Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_%28film%29)
* Winning a popcorn prize for the trivia question what the movie was based on (I knew as I sang part of the song in a previous choir)
* A free slushie at 7/11 as it is 7/11 day
* Salmon burger - yum, yum!
* Summer fruit: cherries and apricots
* March Hare Band (www.marchhareband.com), a great band to dance to!
* Dancing in the rain literally with other folk: fun and cooled me while dancing
* Rain - finally! - for nature including gardens, wildlife, and us humans
* A volunteer meeting where I got to sample different iced teas
* A free concert of a boys chorale in North Vancouver
* The Maryland State Boychoir (http://www.marylandstateboychoir.org/)

Last week I had wondered if I "should" stop repeating that I love to air dry my laundry. Well I did on this list as I did'nt as we got some much-needed rain! (Needless to say, I really missed doing so this weekend.)

What are you grateful for at this time? Today/yesterday/this past week?

Quote Challenge Day 3: Quotes are mine!

Hazy smoke-filled sky (photo by me)

I have a number of phrases that I often say. I consider them quotes, my (own) quotes! Thus, I will feature different ones for three days as part of this challenge.

One thing I often say is: "There are pros and cons to everything" or similarly, "Everything has its pros and cons."

You cannot appreciate the sun without the rain, the warmth without the cold, etc. This actually makes me think of the hazy atmospheric conditions we have been experiencing lately in Vancouver and surrounding areas as there have been many wildfires in parts of BC.

Now after about four or five days, we are finally experiencing some cloudy skies and even some cooler weather and some sun (this afternoon). Let me tell you, I SO appreciated seeing the clouds today as it was a sign that there was no more haze or smells of fire, at least for now!

Vancouver area is known for its rainy season. When it rains, it rains! And oftentimes "raining cats and dogs" for hours and seemingly days on end at times! This occurs primarily during the late fall to mid-to-late spring.

The past year or two, I have started responding to people complaining about the weather that "It's better than ...." [fill in the blank]. For example, "I'd rather have rain, than a hurricane or flood" or something along those lines.

I recommend appreciating what you have now, if possible, for things could be worse. Bless the rains that come that give life to our land and life to us through food as well as for wildlife: trees, etc. as well as birds and animals.

Can you think of something 'good' about something 'bad?' Feel free to give an example.

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I have more quotes that I would love to share! Can I share them (with you) anyway?! Ok, just one? ;) This is one that I say from time to time:

"There will always be people who love you and those who hate you. You can't please everyone. It's best to just please yourself."

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I have been nominated for this challenge by Parul Kashyap Thakur, Shilpa Garg, and Usha Menon.

This is what the 3-Day Quote Challenge is all about.

1. Post one of your favorite quotes (different quote on each day) on three consecutive days. The quote can be from your favorite book, author, or your own.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers to challenge them.
3. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

Since the BAR (Blog-A-Rhythm) community that I am involved with have already been nominated already from what I understand, I will skip the nominations. However, if anyone is interested, feel free to pick up the challenge in case you haven’t already received it.