Friday, August 01, 2025

Goodbye, July Faves

 I really did plan to write up a couple of posts this week, but life has just been crazy busy.  Not bad busy.  Just busy.  I truly need to just stop today and take a breath and write down five of those wonderful blessings from this past week.  Here are my Friday Fave Fives, hosted by Susanne every week.

1.  We have entered the season of birthdays in our family.  Three of our four children were born within two weeks of each other (with a separation of eleven years). First in line is the youngest.  Younger Daughter, the Nurse, had her birthday yesterday.  We celebrated in the morning with a walk with the dogs at our local Dawes Arboretum.  Then in the evening, we enjoyed dinner at a local Mexican restaurant (her choice).  Happy Birthday!!


"Barbie Nails"



2.  If you have read my FFFs from last month, you will remember that our air conditioner quit working, and the AC/Heating company sent someone that day to fix it.  Knowing our twenty-five year old units were on their very last breaths, we decided to have a new AC and furnace installed.  Two very kind and diligent workers came this week and replaced them both.  I was thankful the work is done and that we have more efficient machines to keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

3.  On Monday, I had an appointment with the contact dermatologist to give me information for the results on the allergy tests I had done last week.  Well.  It turns out I'm allergic to all kinds of things.  Two of them are very common in lotions and cosmetic products.  My doctor gave me information on how to get an app on my phone that I can use to scan UPCs and identify what is in every product.  After checking shampoo, conditioner, soaps, creams, lotions, I found that almost all the products I have been using have ingredients I'm allergic to.  I'm down to one shampoo and conditioner, two lotions I bought this week after scanning their UPCs at the store.  Result:  I noticed almost immediate relief on my skin, and my lotion/cosmetics drawer is much more empty.

4.  While The Professor was at his physical therapy appointment yesterday, I popped over to Hobby Lobby and ordered a frame for the painting my friend made me from a photo I took on Aran Islands last year.  I can't wait for it to be done and hung on a wall in my home.

5.  The birds in my garden.  Catching photos of them is basically impossible, but I love to sit near the window and watch the goldfinches perched on the sunflowers and all the wrens and other birds pecking around at the bird feeder and on the grass and in the wildflower garden.  There's even a hummingbird that flies in and hovers around the petunias and nasturtiums.  I love the birds, butterflies and bees that visit my backyard oasis.

Now we are in the month of August.  And we have much more to look forward to in this later part of the summer.  And more blessings, I am sure.  

7 comments:

Tom said...

...we are thankful for AC this summer. I wish you An Awesome August.

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is great news about the dermatology appointment! And so cool that there is an app for ingredients!

ellen b. said...

Hooray for new efficient cooling and heating equipment. We are talking about replacing the furnace here for hopefully something quieter. Wow, glad you have that app and can know what product to buy to make your skin happy. Enjoy all your birthday celebrations!

Faith said...

so glad you found out what you're allergic to and have taken steps to get new products. I try to use as many vegan or plant based products as I can and I find that my lotions, etc have dwindled to just 3 different scents. I'm into the Native brand shower gel and deodorant. LOVE that brand. I do have to avoid the lavender one though as i'm allergic to lavender.
I'm watching cardinals as I type this eating lunch on my deck and realized I need to refill both feeders. We have a hairy woodpecker that gobbles up the suet! Birds are fun to watch, aren't they?
Happy Birthday to your youngest. Great pics of her and she has your smile.


Susan said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Good that you got your AC replaced now before things become more expensive. What products did you find that you can use now? I have sensitive skin to and try to avoid things with fragrances. I like to watch the birds in my garden, especially as they play in the birdbaths. Have a nice weekend!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter!! She looks like a fun and happy young lady! Wow about the allergies! That's amazing. Did they make you break out in a rash or something? I have started using mostly natural products with essential oils and tallow, and no artificial ingredients. They have been great for my skin. However I haven't changed anything with shampoos yet. I don't have allergies, but I do have some weird skin issues especially on my back and "trunk". Little by little they are getting better.
Oh, isn't it fun to watch the birds? I love to see them coming and going to our feeders, and the hummingbirds have been great this year since our bottlebrush tree has been blooming a lot and they love it. I also make nectar for them (sugar water) and can see them at that feeder on our back porch. They usually start leaving around Labor Day, but we shall see.
Oh, I know you are thankful for your new AC/heat unit, especially this summer with all the heat everywhere! I bet it will be a lot more energy efficient as well. I know we are very thankful for ours, that we had to replace in 2023. It has made a difference in our electric bills too.
Take care and enjoy your August days!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage said...

Three of my children were born within 3 weeks of each other from August into September. I call it birthday season. Then fall. Then Christmas!