Right about now, many of you are dreaming about spring. What a winter. Blizzards, mudslides, floods. And it’s still only January.
But let’s not talk about climate change. In fact it could be dangerous for me to mention. After all the Attorney General of my own fair state, a global warming skeptic, is currently trying to prosecute a University of Virginia professor for fraud because of grants he received to study that oh-so-controversial subject. Watch out academia! Nothing is safe here. Studying, say, the mating call of the double-breasted cormorant could be next on Mr. Cuccinelli’s hit list. Mating. Double-breasted. It could happen. After all, this is the man who has redesigned the state seal to cover the naked breasts of the Roman goddess Virtus with armor.
Instead, let’s discuss what to do about the wintry months ahead. Today we’re going to talk about our favorite things. And when I say “we?” Listen up. That means YOU, too. In fact, I’m going to make sharing your favorite things worth your while, because I hope one of them might be an autographed novel from Emilie Richards. Details at the end of the blog.
Meantime, here are a few things that make me smile. Remember this piece of advice: “When the snow falls, when the ice forms, when I need to thaw, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so. . . blah.” (Ouch, so sorry.)
A Few Of My Favorite Recipes:
- Cuban style black beans. I have better results with 2 cups less water than this recipe calls for. Practice making and eating before reading Sunset Bridge.
- Oatmeal bread. A variation? Three packages of Quaker Hearty Medleys cereal and enough boiling water to make 2 cups, in place of oatmeal. No honey needed.
- Cheese grits. What more can I say? If you don’t “get” grits, can’t explain. But this recipe’s fabulous and simpler than many.
- Otsu. I make this with regular soy sauce and rice vinegar. Can’t describe how wonderful this vegetarian dish is.
A Few Of My Favorite CDs:
- Somewhere Along the Road by Cathie Ryan. Really anything sung by Cathie Ryan.
- Songbird by Eva Cassidy. Again, anything sung by Eva, but “Fields of Gold” on this album is one of my all-time favorites.
- Part II by Brad Paisley. Okay, not a huge country music fan, but when my husband and I heard “Two People Fell in Love” on our radio on a road trip, we pulled off at the next K-mart and bought the CD. His recent CDs are also great. So okay, they’re mushy, who cares?
A Few of My Favorite Websites:
- Pat Sloan’s Quilters Home. If you’re a quilter, Pat, an energetic dynamo, has something for you. She’ll keep you busy in a blizzard.
- The Secret Life of Diane Chamberlain. My good friend, plus an automatic buy for me when a new book is out. Curl up with a DC novel or ebook.
- Harney and Sons, Master Tea Blenders. The perfect tea for a chilly afternoon.
- Terrain. Just one of many “wish list” websites to browse. I just bought their chalkboard labels.
- Uncommon Goods. Lots of tastefully fun things when you need a laugh or a splurge. Who does NOT need an emergency clown nose?
- Peak Definition Productions and Two Ring Studio, and not just because a son is one of the owners. Because the photographs are just so beautiful.
So now it’s YOUR turn. What’ s just one of your favorite things, something specific that might make the rest of us smile or sigh contentedly? Tell us by clicking on “comment” at the top of this post, and you’ll be entered in a giveaway for one of five autographed novels to help wile away your winter evenings. Obvious spammers will be eliminated at my discretion, of course, and only one chance per commenter, although you can add as many favorites as you like. No links required. You have a week. Random.org will make the selections.
Come on, make somebody happy today. Spring’s on the way, I promise.
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Hearing my favorite song come on the radio and turning it up full blast so no one can hear me sing along!
Chocolate, lots of chocolate!
I love to spend time in antique malls or shops, fabric shops, and book stores.
Curl up in a chair with a good book on a cold day and sip tea. Oh, and be under a warm quilt. It doesn’t get better than that…unless a cat decides to sit with me.
pam
I just found your blog through Pat Sloan and I am so happy to be here! OK, a few of my favorite things: my family, my grandchildren, my friends, bookstores & books galore, fabric & quilting, walking outdoors on a cool, sunny day, and very dark, rich chocolate. Those are but a few of my favorite things. I will be enjoying your blog from now on! And ordering your trilogy!
Having your grandchild unexpectedly walk in the door and say they wanted to come and see Granny
Hearing my son’s ringtone on my cell phone.
For me, my favorites include…. reading (your) books on my new Nook, playing electronic games (currently addicted to Farmville, LOL), and spending time with my family and friends. I have a busy job, so these favorites help me unwind in the evenings and weekends.
By the way, cooking doesn’t rank on my Favorites list, because I’m lucky enough to have a husband that does all the cooking. I guess that’s another fave – watching him cook. LOL
Curling up with a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, my kitten and a good book always makes me feel better.
Knitting with my favorite yarn (Malabrigo) helps too.
One of my favorite things is to sit down in my chair and have one of my cats come and curl up on my lap and purr. No matter what day I’ve had or what is going on in my world, that sound is a great stress reliever for me. Of course I am also enjoying a cup or tea and a book at the time, which are also big favorites.
I love to cuddle up in an afghan and read,read,read.I read to my ten grandchildren constantly and when I’m not reading to them,I’m reading and rereading any book I can get my hands on.I love any genre.
Curled up in my favorite chair with a good book, sipping what I call “a hug in a mug.” An oh so warm, Big Train Spiced Chai Tea Latte!
Sun breaking through the clouds after a long, cold, rainy day! Mississippi isn’t supposed to be this cold! And, yes, good grits are great! Ever had Shrimp and grits?!?
Being part of bringing food to the needy people in my community and then baking cookies and desserts.
I would LOVE to win one of your autographed books! How cool could that be???
I love to travel, to see how other people live, what other people see. Then I take pictures of it all.
Oh and chocolate.
My favorite comfort food is my homemade macaroni and cheese! So very good when it is cold outside in NE Ohio.
My favorite things depend not so much on what I am doing but rather with whom I am doing it. I love unexpected get-togethers with my family, visiting with friends in person or on the phone, reading (especially your books), writing and playing on Facebook.