A Saturday Joy - a few of my favorite things

I had to laugh at the joy I felt welling up at my center when I saw this still life.  There they are, the ABCs of me. This little configuration isn't at all inclusive, but pretty foundational.

a.  The coffee machine (in my antique kitchen)

b.  The dish soap, because I always have a dish to wash

c.  The paint brushes which accompany the toe in the water, the foot in the water, the jumping in with some art

d.  The empty salad dressing bottle ready for whichever version of Dijon Vinaigrette comes next

e.  The bamboo cutting board from my friend Joe, years ago.

And, my friend, I ask you:  What are the ABCs of you?

Leave a comment and you're in on the giveaway.

Sharing Christmas - These are a Few of My Favorite Things - Three

The day alone. Shhh. It's a day out of the office. The day to work on the details. The house, wrapping a few gifts, sometimes cards, but really, a day to regain my footing during the busyness. The busyness of finding a concert dress and shoes and then going to the concert, and on and on.

A day to breathe a bit or catch my breath while I do some organizing of what's ahead.

It's one of my favorite things. A day where the outcome is for everyone else...and me.

How about you?

Sharing Christmas - These are a Few of My Favorite Things - Two

I don't have an exact picture, but we had a slow, Christmassy Saturday morning breakfast (with this tablecloth) that lead away from bowls of cereal to a Bacon and Cheese Frittata.

Over low heat and in a covered skillet, I tossed:

• six eggs
• six pieces of bacon coarsely chopped
• half a cup of half and half
• and a little more than half a cup of shredded cheese

The kitchen smelled yummy with some Trader Joe's Winter Blend coffee dripping, and the oil of the orange I sliced wafting past our nostrils. We have much to do, but no great hurry today. A morning, gathered around the table is one of my favorite things.

Sharing Christmas - These are a Few of My Favorite Things - One

Carols and all kinds of Christmas music are wildly important to me during this wondrous season. And for some reason, this one is snugly wrapped around my ears and heart.

It's an unexpected combination of big orchestra music, Art Garfunkle and Amy Grant. The Frog, approaching the Baby Jesus is a favorite but, really, I can't address Christmas cards without listening.

And, while we're at it, I have to hear the Alfred Burt Carols and I just love sitting around with the candles burning, lights on the tree and, oh yea, the cards, with James Taylor singing his way through my night.

This year my son brought home the dazzling acapella fun of Straight No Chaser. These post college funsters met at the University of Indiana and have been singing fabulous harmony ever since. At our house, we love the 12 days of Christmas and the Christmas Can Can. My Dear bought tickets for the family to see them last weekend. The boy was beaming as Dad told the story was told at the Thanksgiving party table of procurring 3rd row for us all. Unfortunately, darling boy turned out to be darling fluish boy for the weekend, so he and I stayed home. His younger sister accompanied Dad and Uncle Scotty to the event. The next morning she came out to the living room where flu-boy lay, wearing a big T-shirt signed by all 10 members of the group. "Do you like my shirt?" she said. Of course he thought it very cool and responded with a quiet, "yes". At this point she peeled that layer and tossed it to him saying. "I got it for you Big Brother."

Check these boys out on iTunes. The big album is worth every penny - you get videos! You can also find Straight No Chaser on iTunes and YouTube, and their website is pretty fun.

So there it is. A few of my favorite Christmas music albums (and a sweet story of Christmas love).

Fa la la la la la la.