I had a few bags of clothes, accessories, and household items to donate.
I brought them to my favorite Country Thrift Shop.
The shop has been through a total renovation.
Donating is quite easy with a drive up area in the back of the shop.

When you enter the donation room, things are neatly organized.
It is easy to see where to place your bags, since areas are designated for various things.
There is an elderly Amish man who carefully handles the donations.
It is a pleasure to visit, even in this room full of shelving and bags.

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It was the perfect spring day.
The sky was a brilliant blue.
Not one cloud could be seen.
The humidity was low and there was a wonderful breeze.

I enjoy these kind of days.
If I could place an order for a picture perfect day, it would be a day just like this one.
I was approaching the bridge that I cross over every day as I travel to the main road.
I like to look out over the lake as I drive across.

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I heard the monotone voice as I pushed my shopping cart.
I could not tell the direction from which it was coming.
Wet clean up in organic aisle, the voice said.
I noted that the word, the, was forgotten.

The same statement was repeated.
The voice had no inflection.
The voice had no personality.
It almost sounds like a computerized voice, I thought to myself.

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I have never climbed a tree.
I never had a burning desire to go tree climbing.
I do not have any regrets.
I love trees, and admire their beauty, but I do not have to climb them.

A friend of mine shared a picture of her daughter.
There was a bike leaning against a large tree.
Up in the tree, where the branches make a natural V shape, her daughter sat.
Her daughter had a few books at her feet with one book in her hands.

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When we built the second home we lived in, we were one of the first houses on the cul-de-sac.
Another house was built down the street and around the corner.
A few other houses were scattered here and there.
I remember the sound of hammering and sawing wood long after we moved in.

It was a thickly wooded area where this section of homes was built.
A road, that had ended with trees, had been cleared for our new road to be built.
Each of us had beautiful woods around our property.
A friend once said, They only cleared enough trees to build your house.

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In less than two months, our second grandbaby is due.
Everyone in our family feels the excitement.
It is palpable.
We cannot wait to meet this little one we already love so much.

In less than two weeks, we will be having a baby shower for my sweet daughter-in-love.
Another shower was given by her extended family who live in another state.
It was decided that two showers were acceptable considering the distance.
Each shower considered the location of the women on both of the guest lists.

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I met a friend for breakfast.
She had never been to the charming little restaurant before.
The restaurant looks like and old farmhouse.
It has a wrap around porch, which is lovely to sit on in the warmer weather.

We hugged hello in the parking lot.
We were so glad to have this time together.
She is a dear friend from high school.
There were years, as we each were raising children, that we lost touch.

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Anyone can see it when they walk down our front walkway.
It is on a post right near the laundry room door.
That is the door everyone sees first.
A little further down the walkway, our main front door can be found.

The laundry room door is the door my children came through every afternoon after school.
They could see me in the kitchen; a snack would be waiting for them.
It was the door they came through if they were playing outside.
A powder room is located in the laundry room, which was helpful when they were young.

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Every woman wants to look her best.
It is not meant to be vain.
It is simply desiring to look attractive.
Attractiveness is not only something that is seen on the outside.

However, outside appearance is what a woman will spend most of her time on in the morning.
The right outfit and the right shoes are selected.
The best accessories to go with the outfit are chosen.
Perhaps a scarf will be pulled out to set the whole ensemble in place.

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I have a love-hate relationship with a tree.
There, I said it.
It seems ridiculous to even describe my feelings that way.
However, I can easily articulate all the reasons why I feel the way I do.

Trees intrigue me.
They loom large around my house.
They conglomerate in the woods behind me, giving an air of mystery to my backyard.
The woods hide all sorts of animals that only come out at night.

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