Three to Ten Things...

It's 30 something degrees this morning and I'm in a snuggly and rather reflective mood today. Since I'm reflecting but not snuggling, I borrowed this from Jess at Garish and Tweed who borrowed it from Claudelemonde. It has been edited just little...cause yall know my daddy might read it. But it kind of fits my mood today.

"Make a list of three to ten things that you could think about that make you happy, that are productive, that are worth pondering. I PROMISE you that just because obsessing over something feels all torturey and Victorian and inflexible, arduous, racking, brutal, chastening, fatiguing, and hair-shirty doesn’t mean that you are living some dramatic passionate poetic life."

I'm not sure about that "all torturey and Victorian and inflexible, arduous, racking, brutal, chastening, fatiguing, and hair-shirty doesn’t mean that you are living some dramatic passionate poetic life" stuff but okay here goes anyway...


1. Dogs...my dogs in particular but mostly all dogs make me happy. A dog's love is unconditional. They don't care if there are dishes in the sink or laundry that needs to be done. It doesn't matter if you are in a crappy mood. They are always there for you with a wet sloppy kiss, a cold nose and a furry snuggle. They love you simply because you are you.

2. Handmade quilts, cottages that look like MamMaw's house, pink roses and blue hydrangeas, blue and white Corningware, rose dishes, tea cups, pink depression glass, my cake mixing bowl that is just like the one my mama taught me to bake in...I am a nostalgic soul. There is just something comforting in old stuff.

3. Just being at home when it's clean, organized, uncluttered, candles burning, something homemade baking in the oven, curled up with the dogs covered with a quilt indulging in the newest Cottage Living magazine or a book I can't put down. It's seems like it's so seldom that I can completely relax at home because there is always something to do but when I can...it's the greatest feeling in the world.

4. Throwing myself into planning and pulling off an exciting event that makes A so extremely happy...I love making everybody happy!

5. Clothes and shoes that fit absolutely perfectly...The only thing that fits me perfectly right now is my fonky gray yoga pants. I love them but I can only wear them at home...if I don't want to be mistaken for a slob. I won't get rid of them because I can't find anymore just exactly like them. When I was pregnant, I bought pair of Easy Spirit suede-like boots that I wore until there was holes in the toe. I have yet to find a shoe that is as comfortable and as perfect. I'm on a mission.

6. Riding horses...when I'm on a horse, it's like everything bad goes away. I love experiencing nature at it's finest...being outside feeling the wind on my face and connecting with a living, breathing animal in such a way that we have to trust each other with all that is within us. I use all my senses and really have to BE in the present when I'm riding. Even so, riding is always an escape to a better time and place.

7. Getting "A's" in college...I wish I'd gone to college right after high school but I wonder if I would have learned as much and done as well back then. I have to work very hard on even the simplest assignment but I give it all I've got and it makes me gen-u-winely estatic when I make an "A"!

8. My faith and my church community...I love my church. It gives me a feeling of belonging and a feeling of community. For me, there is a peace and comfort in sacred routines and that is what church means to me. I am Catholic but that's not what faith means to me. Being Catholic is a choice I've made and one that makes me happy...but faith and church is much bigger than that for me. I am comforted by knowing that there is something bigger than me out there holding my life together...because God knows, there are times when I just can't.

9. Things that make me smell good...Shower gel, perfumes, and bubble bath...I even love the smell of laundry powder on my clothes. I love it when someone says..."Oooohh, you smell good!" For some reason, that just makes me smile. I guess because it's better than "Ew, you stink!"

10. Hot water...I love hot bubble baths. During Rita, I had to take a cold bath and I was happy that I could...but I learned to appreciate hot water even more. Hot water seems to wash away the world and warms me when I'm cold. It's refreshing and cleansing...unlike cold water is to me.

Just writing this post made me feel a little more content with life. But I still don't know what "hair-shirty" means.

Cheers to yall!