By Patricia Belyea
SEATTLE WA As we move into a new decade, memories of the past and resolutions for the future filter into my brain bandwidth. Just as importantly, I want to think about what makes me happy. Selfish as it seems, it’s easier to spread happiness when I’m happy myself!
In no particular order, here’s my list of Things I Love:
- homemade cinnamon rolls
- peonies
- early morning walks on warm spring days
- fireworks
- healthy popcorn
- strolling along a long beach
- a nice glass of red wine
- gathering with my family
- lemon bread with icing on top
- brick pathways that click
- butterflies
- making dramatic quilts
- toast with molasses
- gardening with nothing else to do
- loons
- biking in kyoto
- holing up at the Cabin
- phone calls with my kids
- boughs of cherry blossoms
- seeing my mom
- pulling potatoes out of the ground
- cooking with fresh herbs
- first class plane trips
- nice shoes
- guild gigs
- meeting other quilters
- wooden floors
- Japanese temples
- sushi—sometimes
- a clean home
- fresh sheets on my bed
- a long bath
- upbeat music
- hand stitching
- tea time with girlfriends
- binge watching TV
- firemen in their blue uniforms
- my painted bed
- a car with rubber bumpers
- trips abroad
- visiting Hawaii
- being excited and inspired
- dancing
- swimming in fresh water
- Michael’s smile
- wandering through aquariums
- kittens
- small museums
- smart luggage
- warm rocks
- a hike with a wonderful view
- farmer's markets
- a cool new necklace
- slight sweet iced tea
- easy meals
- a comfortable chair
- colorful spaces
- summer flowers
- cheese & crackers
- Buche de Noel
- Gary’s paintings
- breakfast with my twin
- a good night’s sleep
- unfrizzy hair
- butterscotch ripple ice cream
- getting swept into a good book
- collaborating with brilliant people
- a tidy room
- BBQs—shish kabobs and corn
- finding money
- cleaning up clutter
- talking with kind people
- going to a movie by myself
- white cupcakes with lavender icing
- Jack in the pulpits
- starry nights
- studio time
- indigo
- playing Scrabble
- hearing an amazing choir sing
- afternoon naps
- the smell of a rose on a bush
- fresh peaches
- white picket fences
- successful clothes shopping
- good food in the fridge
- a sense of calm
- an easy writing pen
- bakeries
- tupelo honey
- a feeling of well being
- rosemary-scented soap
- kokeshi dolls
- hummingbirds
- sweet air
- little ones
- whipping cream
- a latte in the morning
- hand-dyed yukata cottons
- waking up to a new day
May your list of Things You Love be long and wonder-filled. Happy New Year!
Leave a comment
21 comments
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Patricia BelyeaHi Priscilla—Thank you. It was a pleasant task to think of the many things that give me happiness. We have a family tradition of eating homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, so the meaning of that line item is much richer than most people would know. PB
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PriscillaLove this list and love that you decided to list things you love instead of New Year resolution. Particularly love that #1 was homemade cinnamon rolls (even if you list is not in priority order). (^_^)
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S Penelope della MarniaI agree, I make time to stand outside and watch the clouds! Thanks Patricia for your wishes for the move, I know it’s going to be a positive one. SP
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Patricia BelyeaHi Lucia—You can see a pic of my painted bed in this blog post: https://okanarts.com/hot-water-bottle Best, PB
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Patricia BelyeaPenelope—It’s amazing that sometimes something very simple can make us very happy. And it’s often right under our noses! Best wishes on your move. PB
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S Penelope della MarniaWhat a wonderful positive way to start the year, thank you so much for posting this, it’s a great idea, I will do the same, adding to it every morning to start the day off smiling. At 73 I’m sorting and packing to move alone from one country to another. The bulk of my possessions will be in storage until I have another permanent home but all my beads and embroidery threads are coming with me and as much fabric as possible from my big stash. The same with books, I have over 700 on sewing and nature. Sewing will keep me sane!
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Patricia BelyeaThank you Sandra. PB
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Lucia Q. SantosI love the idea of making a favourite things list. I am starting mine today. Would love to see a picture of your bed. Wish you a wonderful new year. Safe travels.
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SandraPatricia have aa good trip in japan. Love the idea of your list and the sashiko machine- what cool ideas!!
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Patricia BelyeaRhoda—What a great idea. My husband said something similar—he mentioned that he needs to study my list so he can keep me happy! PB
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RhodaMy favorite New Year’s email ever! What an amazing challenge. I have challenged my family to make the list and share it so we learn to know each other even better.
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Patricia BelyeaSooz—I don’t have any pics but I can tell you that the Seattle team inspire lots of confidence! PB
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soozpost a pic of your firemen…our paramedics aren’t too shabby looking either…
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Patricia BelyeaConnie—You are one of my kind of gals! PB
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Patricia BelyeaDiane—Good for you! PB
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Patricia BelyeaMary—Making a list of 100 required some time but I liked giving it real thought. Best wishes to you in 2020. PB
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Patricia BelyeaMarilynn—I’ll send you a pic. PB
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MaryThank you for posting these things you love. You’ve inspired me to make my own list. And one of the things on my list will be reading your posts. Hope you have an wonder filled 2020.
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Connie KoontzI ❤️all things blue and white including japanese boro, sashiko, and yukata.
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DianeA husband who still adores me after 57 years and hundreds of quilts.
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Marilynn d-rOK I want to see a picture of your painted bed!! Have a great new year!