Running With Quills: Favorite Things

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Favorite Things

I've been a bit under the weather, finishing a book and scrambling with the holidays -- so over the weekend I dug out my sheet music, sat at the piano and took some time to play some lively, cheerful tunes. Hey, I have fun and the neighbors haven't complained. :-)

Never mind Beethoven sonatas (which I love), I was in the mood for Christmas carols and even my yellowed copy of "The Sound of Music." For the first time in ages, I played "My Favorite Things." I'd practiced it so many times as a kid that muscle memory kicked in and my fingers got with the program. It's a sentimental song that Julie Andrews uses to get the kids through a raging thunderstorm. Instead of thinking about the thunder and lightening...they think about their favorite things.

If you were singing with Julie Andrews on that stormy night at the mansion...what would be some of your "favorite things" -- the little things in your life that you appreciate when you're feeling overwhelmed, sad, frightened or just want to count your blessings? Not the big things. The little things.

I jotted down a few of my "favorite things" -- I didn't stop to think, just wrote:

1. Watching the birds on our hilltop: woodpeckers, robins, sparrows, wild turkeys, hawks, owls...so much entertainment!

2. A walk along the river. If it's above zero, I'm ready to go.

3. Finding a pink lady slipper in the woods.

4. Playing Christmas carols on the piano.

5. Listening to Beethoven's Ninth on December 16, his birthday. That's today!

6. Spring flowers. (That won't be for a while but just thinking about them makes me smile.)

7. Babies. Never hesitate to show me baby pictures!

8. Wandering through a bookstore...any bookstore.

9. Golden retriever puppies.

10. Snowshoeing during the quiet of winter.

I don't think I'd have any trouble of coming up with 10 more! What a reminder that some of the best things in life are free. We're in the heart of the holiday and flu season...I would so love for you to share some of your "favorite things" with us!

Have a great day, everyone,

Carla

17 Comments:

Rebecca Ringler said...: Hi Carla - I am definitely seeing the "you" that comes out in your books - birds, walking out in the elements, pink ladyslippers, flowers of all kinds, Beethoven's Ninth & snowshoeing. I have read about all of these things in your books. All of us that have read COLD RIVER are ready for the next one that you are just starting to write now. I don't know how you would enjoy any of these things if you speed the books up as some have suggested. We'll just have to wait... My favorites include my cup of coffee mixed w/ cappuccino & a cake donut from the convenience store, cuddling my cat & the cat that has adopted me (we do miss seeing birds & squirrels, etc. in the yard), hiking on a killer hiking trail in the campground at Mohican State Park, and just watching my kids have fun. Have a great day!! - Rebecca; 4:42 AM
Lori Foster aka L. L. Foster said...: Carla, what a lovely blog!

Let's see... kisses from my doggies and the kitties.

Hugs from my grandson... well, really anything from my grandson. He cracks me up all the time.

Super soft, thick white socks. I LOVE to have my feet all cozy warm.

Baby smells.

When the crocus first pokes out of the ground after the long winter.

The first spring breezes coming through an open window. They smell heavenly.

One of my must-haves is coffee in the morning. :-)

Merry Christmas to you!

Lori; 7:13 AM
Kate Douglas said...: Great post and neat photos! First of all, I am so jealous of anyone who can sit down and play a musical instrument--that alone would give me so much joy, but I have absolutely no musical ability, and on top of that, can't sing a note!

But favorite things when I'm feeling down or just need a "perk me up?" Books. I'll come up to my office and plop my butt down in front of the shelves and start looking through the old books. If I'm REALLY feeling down, I'll pull out the photo albums and take a trip back through the memories. If the weather's okay, I go out and wander through the yard and look for whatever changes the season has brought. This next week there won't be time for any of that, and I don't care--we'll have all five grandkids together!! I can't wait.

Happy holidays, all!; 7:14 AM
Carla Neggers said...: Thank you so much, Rebecca, Lori and Kate. These are great 'favorite things.' Mohican State Park...baby smells...books. We're on a roll. :-)

I can't sing, either, and appreciate anyone who can.; 7:47 AM
susan andersen said...: Carla, great post. And I'm with Kate, I envy people with musical ability. It takes sooo much practice to achieve it. :)

Some of my favorite things in no particular order:

full moons, sunsets, long walks, mountains, every cat ever born, every baby ever born, x-country skiing, good food. Bad for you food. Pretty gardens, old, craftsman built architecture, my silk trees in bloom.; 7:48 AM
Mary said...: Great blog, it's the small things that make me smile the most now a days.

Watching chipmunks and squirrels playing in the tree's.

Watching a good horror movie and finding it is excellent!

Getting ratty kisses from my little fur babies.

Hearing a song that gives you goose bumps.

Reading a book you can't put down.; 9:36 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi, Carla -- Here's one for the list: New York City on New Year's Day especially if it's sunny. No one's around and we city rats have our home back. Great day to take a walk in the Park.
Thanks for giving us all a moment to reflect. Best, Les; 12:59 PM
Carla Neggers said...: Susan, one of these days I'd love to go x-c skiing with you! We can end the day with bad-for-us food. ;-)

Horror movies, Mary! But it's so true about the small things making us smile most often.

NYC on New Year's Day...now that's something I've never done. Hm.

I love all these comments. They're a great help as I get back on my feet.; 1:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Carla,
Ahhh yes! sitting dwwn at the piano--sooo theriputic ( as long as someone doesn't come along and start trying to sing along - that utterly jangles my nerves).

My George Winston "December" CD.

The sunrise over Mt Hood in October.

Wild irises in May.

A good long hike in the Columbia River Gorge, or up in the Cascades.

DOWN-hill skiing.

A good book, with good coffee, and good chocolet.

My teen-age son anouncing loudly to his friends, "I KNOW my Mom loves me!".

Seeing my daughter happy.

Rocking a baby.

My husband's clever jokes.

Those are a few. This is good, wow- I'm feeling warm and peaceful, just doing this! Thanks-

Jill; 3:42 PM
GatorPerson said...: Attending the annual Messiah performance last night. My husband sings in it; so he's away again tonight for another performance. Then yet another one Monday night.; 6:18 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Thank you for the reason to reflect, Carla.

Snow sliding from shiny wet leaves.

The smell of leaves in the fall.

Singing as long as others sing with me to keep me from faltering.

I love the Messiah, too. Hope to hear it tomorrow night. Used to sing with an alto section in a choir that sang the piece for midnight mass.

Too many songs and pieces of music to name except for the tenor choruses in Manon, Michael Crawford or Andrea Bocelli, or Medeline Pereaux or Dr. John, or Alan Toussaint, or so many, many voices I can hear singing if I close my eyes and will it.

Watching my husband read.

Talking to my children and grandchildren.

Having a think with my dog and cats squished in around me.

Stopping to visit with any furry friend along the way--doggy kisses are so sweet.

Sitting on the thinking bench with dog, Millie. Having her stare into my face as if she understands what I say to her!

Watching children play.

Lights on the ocean.

Sunsets...

These really are a very few of my favorite things:)

Stella

Gosh, almost forgot. A good, hot cup of tea.; 12:48 AM
Shoshana said...: Lit candles
the texture of petals
running my finger along stair banisters
stargazing
the smell of sun-warmed skin
warm feet
bubbles; 2:23 AM
kris b said...: I have lots of favorite things! this is my favorite time of year people are so much nicer! ;)
I love babies! (I can't wait much longer for the grandbaby to get here! )
books! they are the absolute favorite thing by far!
christmas music love it!
the furries and food that pretty much sums up what I like best during the week!

great blog carla just love reflecting!

Kris b; 3:53 AM
Catherine said...: Hi Carla
Favorite things???

Yosemite
Hiking with the family
Walks with hubby w/out the kids
Disneyland-WITH the kids (at 11& 13-each trip is different)
The spring when all my bulbs have bloomed..
just a few of my favorite things...

Catherine; 7:24 AM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Lovely blog, Carla. So sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Hope you're recovering quickly. I certainly remember that Julie Andrews song as well as just about every other song from that musical. Sadly, I couldn't play it on a piano or any other instrument, though.

A lot of my favorite things have been covered already but I would add the atmosphere in Seattle at sunset here at this time of year. The streetlights are on but there's still some ambient light in the sky. The rain glistens on the pavement. It is a wonderful sort of twilight that I never see at any other time of the year. Don't know why I love it, but I do.; 10:47 AM
Carla Neggers said...: These are all fantastic! What a great group. So many wonderful ideas and images. It's so cold in my office right now that I'm very into the idea of warm feet. :-)

And just was telling someone how much I love Seattle although I've only been there twice. Must rectify that.; 11:25 AM
Anonymous said...: Some of my favorite things are walking along the beach listening to the ocean, sunsets viewed from my front lanai, the sound of a child's "belly" laugh, the smell of the air in Hawaii (there's nothing like it).

Kathy H.; 3:04 PM

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Favorite Things

17 Comments: