I Love/Like . . .

 About a decade ago, I did one of the exercises in The Right to Write by Julia Cameron to make a list of things that I loved. The idea was to regularly peruse it to relax me and put me in a positive mood for writing. I have not edited nor updated this list through the years, yet I find most of the items on the list still are things that lift my spirits and remind me of the good blessings in my life. 

Try making your own list. Mine is in a composition book where I made notes from the books I read about writing and did the suggested exercises. I am not doing much writing now, but I still re-read the list fairly often to boost my mood. It is not a comprehensive list. I could add colorful sunsets, sound of wind in pine trees, et cetera. Maybe someday I will make a second list. For now, I am content with what I have.

I am mostly a homebody with simple tastes. Your list might reflect an interest in fashion/jewelry or attending entertainment venues or participating in active sports like zip-lining which are not part of my list. How many items on your list overlap mine?

With the exception of the first 5 items, these are not listed in any order of priority, just randomly noted as they came to mind.

Jesus--being a child of God--my husband--my two sisters--my home (condo)--pools of lamplight--sunny warm autumn days with cool nights--creme brulee--order, neatness--rain on the roof as I am dry and sheltered inside--cozy sweater--Skecher shoes--folders of decorating pictures--a good bargain--photos on computer--chili with cornbread--sleeping in my own bed--reading favorite blogs--butternut squash soup--zucchini bread--Indiana/Michigan blueberries--Lindt dark chocolate truffle--Tex/Mex food--farmers' market small tomatoes and corn on cob--reading newspapers--embroidered clothes--restaurant meals (eating out)--changing color of leaves in fall--good fiction book--hot chocolate--CD of hymns or easy listening music--rocking/gliding motion--sitting on front porch--beachcombing--meeting needs in retirement library--gratitude journaling--smelling roses--bouquet of flowers--wildflowers--watching birds at feeder--lighted Christmas tree--Willow Tree nativity--eating some meals in the sunroom--singing in choir--chocolate--freedoms living in the U.S.--wooden items made by my husband--hug and a kiss--electric blanket in winter--mementos in miniature box--being solvent--wedding ring set--walking in the woods--mountains--Big Bear--Swarovski crystal bear--cross-stitch of blue and white jug with tulips--padded hangers--crisp apple--apple cider--warm shower--people being nice/kind--crossword puzzles--jigsaw puzzles--ice cream cone on vacation--melty chocolate chip cookies--dining room set--knitted dish cloths--air conditioning--TLC when I am sick.

How to Winter

 In 36 days, the vernal equinox occurs. That fact keeps me going through my northern Indiana winter. The next 4 days we will not even get to 20 degrees. A countdown to spring helps. 

However, Kari Leibowitz in her book How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days says that the attitude of looking on the bright side that winter will not last, soon be over, reinforces negative mindsets about winter. It means we are not living in the moment and focusing on what is wonderful about winter. Our mindsets influence what we notice and what we expect. If we have a positive mindset about winter, we will look for opportunities to enjoy winter.

We in the United States suffer from living in a culture that is out of sync with yearly rhythms of light and dark. This is not true of all cultures, and she tells us of places she has studied and visited where the mindset about winter is very different from ours. She lived for several months in Norway above the Arctic Circle where there was no sunrise and sunset as she experienced where she normally resides; but there were the Northern lights which inspired awe. There were warm affordable clothes which she availed herself of. Trails were cleared to make walking in nature easy. She admits that how one's town, state, country responds to weather and facilitates winter life can make it easier or harder to embrace the season. 

She has formally studied mindsets and their influences. She spends lots of time explaining mindsets. 

Her strategies to embrace winter are to appreciate what makes it special and different, to make it special with coziness, rituals, meaningful events, and to get outside. 

Winter is a time for rest. It asks us to fill our days with indoor diversions: baking, knitting, quilting, reading, listening to music, sitting by the fire, doing crafts and puzzles, playing games. Refining our ability to make our own joys during long nights or cold/wet weather, empowers us to find micro-moments of happiness in any season she says. Cultivate quiet contentment.

She describes cultures that have special rituals in winter. A major one is gathering around a fire. Some others are "polar plunges", Christmas festivities, star gazing, hygge.

She is seeking winter ambassadors who will instead of whining about winter will extoll its wonders. She did not convert me. I do some of the comforting cozy things she suggests, but I do not find pleasure in being outside in dark cold days. I do not appreciate winter limitations.

Amaryllis, Act Two

 One of my amaryllis bulbs had a second stem. It has finally opened. The flowers are smaller than the first stem's flowers, but it is a nice spot of color.

You can see it when it was a little sprout next to the larger stem.

Pioneer Woman at Walmart

 As my birthday approached, my husband asked for gift ideas. I had none, but then the feed on my Samsung tablet showed some bowls that interested me. They were Pioneer Woman items available at Walmart. I browsed the Walmart internet site. I found several other Pioneer Woman things that I put into my cart. I told my husband he could buy the cart stuff or pick something else. He finished shopping the cart. Amazingly, the items arrived in a few days in two shipments all getting here about 4 days before my birthday even though they were ordered just 1 week before.

Ree Drummond tends to stick with a certain color palette that goes well with my other household items. My husband bought [I bought :)] two Fancy Flourish pasta bowls, two Brilliant Blooms kitchen towels, four Sweet Rose braided placemats.

Comments on Walmart about the size of the bowls had me wondering if they would be useful for more than pasta. They are bigger than most cereal/soup bowls, but not really too big to be used that way. Actually, I think they are rather modest sized for pasta. They will brighten up my winter days.

The towels are not the typical terry kind I usually buy, but I think they will be OK.

I really like the placemats, but the website said they were machine washable while the tag on the mats says spot clean only. That is disappointing because the other Pioneer Woman placemats I bought 3 or 4 years ago launder up so well in the washing machine.

My older placemats are the floral ones.

Reviewers of the braided placemats suggested using them as hot pads, "doilies" under vases, under potted plants for a spot of color besides as placemats. So far, I am using them as mats only, but I could see other uses in the future.

Ree's merchandise is pretty and made a nice and convenient birthday gift.