July Thankful Thursday

by Posted on

We are nearly a month into true summer, Wickeds. Despite our need to wear masks, distance ourselves, and avoid crowds, we still have much to be thankful for. Many barns in the Midwest and Canada display a five-pointed star. I found this one labeled, “Thankfulness.”

Barn star of thankfulness. (MikemoralVector: Richardprins / Public domain)

We are all thankful for our readers, always, and will each give something away today. Wickeds, what are you thankful for this month? Three-two-one : go!

Jessie: I am thankful for morning and evening walks along the beach and the new rush of ideas that have been flooding into my mind of late, especially during those walks. I’d love to give away a copy of Murder Cuts the Mustard to one commenter.

Edith/Maddie: I am thankful, as you can imagine, for our new 12-week-old rescue kitty Ganesh. He’s soft and sweet and playful, and he lifts our spirits daily. He likes to nestle next to me on the couch for his naps, and has made me both slow down and get more playful. I’ll give away a signed copy of Murder at the Taffy Shop.

Barb: I am thankful our family got away for vacation. The nine of us hadn’t been together since Thanksgiving and I missed everyone terribly. I’m also thankful for the people in the emergency room at UMass Memorial Hospital where I ended up on my vacation. (I’m fine.) When I think about what the last few months must have been like for them and how kind and careful they were with me, it makes me teary-eyed. I’m giving away a copy of Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody.

Liz: Barb, glad you’re ok! While I’m missing beach walks terribly, I am thankful for the time I’ve been spending outside. The dogs now have a lovely fenced-in area to call their “second home” and I’ve been spending mornings and evenings out on the porch steps watching them play, and enjoying the squirrels and bunnies that are on the other side of the fence. I will give away a copy of Witch Hunt to one commenter.

Julie: Also glad that Barb is ok, and loving Edith’s pictures of the kitten. I’m grateful for the internet. I’m launching a “Write Your Novel 5-Day Boot Camp” next week, and I’ve been thinking about how that would have worked in other times. A day in a space where I taught and people took notes. Great for the folks in the room. But being able to teach online in a Facebook group means that anyone can come and they can participate live or watch videos. Much as we all complain about being connected all the time, what a great gift this connectedness is right now. I’m going to give away an ARC of Digging Up the Remains.

Sherry: I am grateful for air conditioning. We are on day 20 of ninety or above temperatures and there is no end in sight. I’m also grateful for a couple of days where the humidity wasn’t bad so I could write outside on my porch. I’ll give away a ebook of any of my books.

Readers: What’s your July thankfulness?

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

76 Thoughts

  2. I’m thankful to finally be realizing our dream of moving south! Moving truck comes Monday! Virginia Beach here we come!

  4. After a slow start, I am thankful to be enjoying the bounty from my thriving balcony garden (salad greens, herbs, veggies). Like Sherry, we have had more hot days over 30C/86F with humidex (heat index) over 40C/105F this month, so I am glad for A/C at home since other ways to cool down are limited due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

    We have now dropped to @100 daily cases of COVID-19 in Ontario (pop of 14.5 million) so we are entering Phase 3 of reopening businesses starting tomorrow. This means that my Byward Market neighbourhood is finally coming back to life with more open restaurants, bars and small businesses.

    I only hope that we don’t act too stupidly with this increased freedom and be forced back to further shutdowns in the year.

    Edith: I am getting a daily dose of happiness by seeing Ganesh on FB, so thanks for that, too.

    1. Lower numbers is always good, Grace. And you are welcome. I figure, who doesn’t need a daily dose of uncomplicated kitten-cute?

  5. I’m glad you’re okay Barb.

    I’m thankful my son made it to 18 without me strangling him (teenagers). I’m thankful for the ladies who proofread for me – I’d never have caught all that stuff. Aforementioned son goes to college next month, and I’m grateful for the university for trying to make this as “normal” a start to his college experience as possible.

    I’m grateful for the scientists working tirelessly to find a vaccine (very positive news out of Pfizer yesterday).

    And I’m grateful for all of the people I interact with via Zoom, Facebook, blogs, etc. on a daily basis for lifting my spirits.

  6. Today we get to celebrate my middle daughter’s 17th birthday!!!

    So I’m thankful for family!!

  7. Thankful that I got to spend time with my brother after 6 months apart. It is nice to speak in person instead of just the phone.

  8. I’m thankful for kindness of others in this challenging time. Specific to this group, more than your generosity of giving away your written art, is the sharing of your talents so that those of us who are high risk and stuck at home can travel to the time and place of your books, meet your characters and solve crimes with you. Keep it up.

  9. This July we are very thankful.

    Thankful for a bountiful garden. It’s the first garden we have had in several years. We had tried to travel and see this countries wonderful sights while physically still able t travel. You can’t do gardening and then be gone a week or two or more at at time. The stay at home deal gave us a great opportunity to work the soil and benefit from its bounty. Nothing taste better than fresh picked veggies – especially ones you helped from seed to table.

    Thankful that we have both avoided this dreaded disease and remain virus free. With so many people/families suffering to be well is a true blessing.

    Thankful that we were able to travel to the state north of us and have a short but wonderful visit with hubby’s 90 year old Mom who had been missing time with loved ones. Although it was short, it let her know that we are still here and love her dearly. Did all of our hearts good.

    Thankful for Sncikerdoodle’s vet and how he pin pointed yet another problem with our 15 year old chihuahua on what was to be a shots only visit. Thankful that the new med is helping him breathe easier and back to having a good quality of life.

    And last, but surely not least, I’m thankful for wonderful authors like those in the Wickeds for all the wonderful books written to entertain so many (including me) during this stressful time. It allows us to laugh, smile and do a bit of sleuthing with our buddies taking our minds off the every broadcasting doom and gloom news.

    Thank you for this fabulous opportunity and for reminding us to take time to remember all the things we should be thankful for.. Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected.

    Be safe, stay healthy and by all means have a little adventure – even if through the pages of a good book.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  10. That the caterpillars we’ve been raising have survived and are turning into butterflies for us to release

  11. Thankful and grateful for my energy, and albeit forced time at home, to garden early this spring, plus staying home has helped me stay on track with weeding and mulching, getting much lettuce, herbs and first time for pea pods, AC!!!!, a state park pass that has given us new parks to discover and hike, PUA which has kept me afloat since I run my own business, morning coffee on the back patio and suppers on the front porch!

  12. Like Sherry, I have to be thankful for A/C. Summer here means three-digit temperatures during the day, and I would not be able to survive if it weren’t for that wonderful invention.

  13. I’m thankful for all the second chances and new chances we get in life. By extension, I am thankful for the ability people possess to change for the better.

  14. I’m thankful to be able to stay home with our littles while my husband works from home… it’s a crazy time, but it could be worse!

  15. I am thankful for authors. During the pandemic it’s you guys who give me plenty of reading material to keep me occupied physically and mentally.
    laurie(dot)anismom2(at)Gmail(dot)com

  16. After receiving some not so good news, I am grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, family & even co-workers. I am grateful for the wonderful authors who have provided me a respite from the “real world”. And boy oh boy I am ever grateful for A/C. After a really rainy spring, we are having a scorching summer.

  17. I’m thankful to have been able to feel comfortable having family from NH visit. February to June was a long time to go without seeing them!

  19. I’m grateful for all my friends who have kept in touch via the internet. I miss contact with people (especially the hugs), but at least I can keep in touch virtually. I am grateful for the Wickeds and all the joy you wonderful women bring. I’m grateful for living in a beautiful community where we can look out any window and a smile is brought to our faces. Nothing fancy, but very pleasant. I can’t imagine what it must be like living in a one room apt. in NYC with the only view a brick wall.

    I’m grateful that the electrician and the tree guys came today and took care of a couple of problems, professionally and efficiently. (That’s a real blessing!)

    I’m grateful and my husband and I are still COVID-free, and so is our daughter who is 2000 miles away and in a much more precarious situation.

  20. I am thankful for being on vacation and to sit on my patio to enjoy the beautiful weather before the next heat wave.

  21. I’m thankful that my family has been spared from COVID so far.

  22. I’m thankful that we are all healthy; even the 12-year old cat with lymphoma is doing fine and the kitten keeps us laughing. Also thankful that for the most part we are able to just hang out at home, alternating between enjoying the patio and the pond and escaping to the air conditioning on those days that are over 100 degrees.

  23. I am thankful for fresh fruit and vegetables in season, cool breezes from the ocean and days warm enough to wear shorts! (The Pacific Northwest is not always not like most of the country.)

  25. I am thankful that I bought ALL the extra books that I did while not having time to read then. I am thankful that books are now available as e-books to supplement that shrinking stash. I am thankful all the wonderful authors are writing more books to add to my must read pile.

  26. I’m thankful no one here has been sick. All my family, friends, and neighbors are healthy. I’m also thankful for air conditioning.

  27. I’m thankful for a trip to the beach. I’ll be diving into FROM BEER TO ETERNITY today, and the two chapters I read last night before I fell asleep were so relaxing I almost felt like I was at the beach.

  28. I’m happy Barb is ok!!! I love the new daily dose of Kitty from Edith I’m thankful all of my family are all doing well.

  29. I’m so thankful for my friends! We laugh , we cry, we share secrets (What’s said in this room,stays in this room😂) and have made great memories together!

  31. I am thankful that my family and friends are all healthy. I’m also thankful for my cats, Hamilton and Jefferson, they make me so happy. I’m thankful for books to read and the authors who have been so generous during this time and air conditioning so I can read in comfort.

  32. I’m thankful that my scattered family is healthy. I’m also thankful for all the great care we get at my assisted living home. Many thanks from all of us here.

  36. I’m thankful that after a grueling few months I retired from my government day job (in May—yay!) & finished my third cozy, Deadly Delights, & shipped it off to my editor this week! Now I can finally relax a bit & read again! (I’m also thankful for a husband who loves to cook & bake 🙂

  40. I’m thankful for the amazing staff at our assisted living facility/group home who have been absolute stars during this whole thing. I’m also thankful for my father’s new partner, Vicky, who has been sending me little surprises through this whole thing.

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