Things I Love

Today it is overcast outside, but in typical Georgia fashion, it's still hot and humid. I have loved cooler weather all my life. My favorite season has always, ALWAYS been autumn. But I've found that chronic illness has me changing my mind about the climate. My joints really don't relish the cold any more, and I've found myself longing for warmer weather and looking forward to swimming pools and sunscreen. A fruity drink wouldn't hurt either.

I loved last summer. We took the kids swimming a few times every week and I'd float around that pool on my kid-restricted, only-mom-can-use-this floaty, and I'd relish every relaxing second, feeling the sun soak into my skin. I'd swim a couple laps before we would leave and then I'd come home feeling good-tired and I'd sleep like a baby... We'd eat grilled food and sip light tasting wines and consume our body weight in ripe watermelon. I just loved every bit of it.
Reminiscing over last summer got me to thinking about other things I love. I began by just thinking about them, then I got out a notebook and started writing them down. I found I had rather roughly categorized them by senses: sight, sound, touch, etc.

And then I thought I might like to share them with you here, as a lighter kind of post.

So without further ado, some of my favorite things:

Sounds:
The falling rain. The ocean. Laughter, especially from children. The mandolin. Music, all sorts. Maybe especially the lively, Irish variety. Church bells. Latin chants. Wind chimes. Crackling fires. Whistling tea kettles. Quiet.

Smells:
Coffee. Jasmine. Lavender. Beeswax. Clean babies, fresh from the tub. Cologne on my husband. Fresh laundry. Home made bread. Orange blossoms. Gardenias. Carnations.

Sight:
Soft light. Sunsets. The smooth, glassy surface of a body of water. Nature. Flowers, especially lilies, sweet peas, daisies, ranunculus, sunflowers, jasmine and lotus blossoms. A star-filled sky. Hummingbirds. Rainbows. Art.

Taste:
Sourdough bread. Fresh herbs, especially rosemary. Tea- all kinds- black, green, oolong, white, herbal. Scones with cream. Cheeses with crackers. Lemons. Gingerbread. Decent wine. Mineral water with lime. Fresh fruit, especially Honeycrisp apples or bananas or crisp, green grapes. Or sweet, ripe watermelons. Hot, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth pralines. French macaroons, most especially pistachio. Italian gelato. Nutella. Grilled asparagus or squash. Garlic mash. Crème brulee.

Touch/feel:
Hot showers/baths. Lathering up a creamy bar of soap. Snuggling under soft blankets with those I love. Crisp, smooth sheets. Deep, soft, fluffy pillows. Fuzzy socks. Soft, clean towels. Movements of precious babies in the womb. Massage.

Other:
My leather-bound Bible. Journals to write in. Paint! Fresh, blank canvases. Stacks of books on my nightstand. Candles. Beautiful yarn and smooth, wooden knitting needles. Packages/letters in the mail. Essential oils. Gardens. Uncluttered spaces. Art journals. Tom's shoes. Talking and laughing and sharing a life with my greatest loves. Libraries. Used bookshops. Simplicity. Poetry. Curly hair, freckles and glasses. Quick wit, sarcasm, snark, humor, and laughter. My bestie. Kindness. Text messaging sappy love notes with my man. Being called Her Royal Hotness. :)

As you can see, I got started and had a hard time stopping; there are so very many things that I love in this life. I've certainly not created an exhaustive list. By no means. But perhaps this will give a tiny glimpse of some of the things that make up me. Not to say that these things personify me, but certainly you can tell a lot about a person by the things they cherish.

How about you, friends? What are some of the things you love most?

~amy danielle