Things I Love
December 17, 2006 · by Christine
This is a “Things I love” meme that I found at Cathy’s blog. She assigned me the letter T. A little holiday fun and a good time to reflect on some of the things that mean a lot to me.
Ten things I love beginning with T:
1. Tea with cream and sugar, although I mostly drink decaf now because I find the caffeine aggravates my migraines. Right now I am drinking Ginger Peach Decaf from The Republic of Tea. My husband and I love the tradition of High Tea and the best one we have had is at the Butchart Gardens in Victoria.
2. Twilight, that time between day and night when the light is so stunning and mysterious, shadows lengthen and evening is about to begin.
3. My Terrific husband, who wrote me the sweetest love notes while he was away on his student retreat. Twelve plus years together and I am so blessed to have his unfailing support and love in my life.
4. The Turning of the earth and her seasons, cycles, and rhythms asking their profound questions of the human journey. They provide me with an anchor and compass point.
5. Trees! I love them all: bare trees, trees with falling leaves, flowering trees, trees in full foliage, short trees, tall trees, evergreens and deciduous.
6. Time and Talking with good friends. Friendship is one of the beautiful gifts of life. Making time for friends is a priority for me.
7. Taking a bath, I love the whole ritual of bathing, lighting candles, filling the tub, adding the bath salts (I am not a bubble fan), sinking into the enveloping warmth of healing waters, releasing my body into its embrace.
8. Taking photos: Photography is a practice of deep seeing for me. I am hoping Santa will be giving me a zoom lens for Christmas recommended to me by one of my readers! (I realize using “taking” twice is kind of cheating, but this is harder than it looks!)
9. Teaching, I love creating an environment of safe and stimulating learning for others. I love engaging participants in the creative process and helping them on their own journeys of discovery.
10. Tofino! A beautiful remote town on Vancouver Island where my husband and I are taking a retreat to over Christmas for several days. I love all of British Columbia, but when we visited Tofino last year I truly fell in love with its wild beauty.
BONUS: 11. Trish’s music! And if you go over to her blog at Story Midwife, she is giving away a free song of hers! Go over right now and request it, her voice is so wonderful (right after you leave me a comment requesting a letter so you can play too, it wasn’t so hard after all and lots of fun!)
If you want to play, leave a comment and I will assign you a letter!
-Christine Valters Paintner
Posted in Fun |
December 17th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Quite beautiful - your T words that you love. and I love the Ginger Peach Tea also!
December 17th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Have you tried Republic of Tea’s Cranberry Blood Orange? It has caffeine so it would have to be an infrequent treat but it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
An awesome decaf is Ashby’s decaffenated Apricot…
And while we are listing teas (I like strong blacks) I happen to love “Leaves and Berries” Safari Blend.
And the other day, I stopped at Dunn Brothers and had an iced tea and it was “Mighty Leaf” Earl Grey - I am not sure but at the time it tasted the best Earl Grey - I’ve had.
I guess after making you listen to that, I should take a letter.
December 17th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Mmmmmmmmm. . . Thanks for the tea recommendations! I like strong blacks too, another favorite of mine is Irish Breakfast Tea. Thanks Me, for all the mmmmmm’s you stirred in me, I will give you the letter M!
December 17th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Ok, this seems like fun. Assign me a letter!
December 17th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Hi Antony, How about a B for all things Benedictine?
December 17th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Taking time (there’s 2 T’s already) to think of things (2 more T’s) one loves seems good for the soul ~ another practice of gratitude. So, I’m ready for a letter! Cathleen
December 17th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
a little fun seems to be in order, so send me a letter and i’ll see what happens!
December 17th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
You did very well with your “T” list, ChrisTine
Lay a letter on me!
December 18th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Cathleen, I give you an “R” for your Red Barn.
Kayce, you get an “A” for your Awakening!
Bette, I give you an “H” for your Haikus!
It’s fun giving letters out too!
December 18th, 2006 at 5:51 am
I will take a letter. I need to stir my gratitude. I enjoyed your ten “T” things.
December 18th, 2006 at 7:25 am
I too, love most of the T’s you mention, but I don’t want cream in my tea and I haven’t been to Tofino. This looks like fun. May I have a letter please?
December 18th, 2006 at 8:57 am
This is such a wonderful list. I would take a letter if you felt like it. Also - yet another tea suggestion. Aveda makes a wonderful tea, Calming, that I just love. It is caffeine free, naturally soothing, kind of throat coating, smells delightful, and a bit sweet. Oh - I am just craving a cup talking about it. Blessings.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:08 am
Lisa, I give you an “F” for frogs.
Chartreuse Ova, I give you an “E” for eggs.
Rachel, thanks for the tea recommendation. I give you an “I” for Ireland.
Thanks all for playing! I can’t wait to see your lists. Once you post them I will link to all of them here.
December 18th, 2006 at 11:21 am
My top 10 “H” list is now posted on my blog
and I am offering to pass this idea along to my friends as well.
It is a helpful exercise to take an inner-inventory!
Thank you with hugs,
Bette.
December 18th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
M is posted…thanks for letting me join - I had fun!!
December 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Tofino, beautiful. But I am biased, I am a BC girl born and bred and the islands speak to me (and who I am) the loudest.
December 18th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Hi Krina and welcome. I agree that the islands are beautiful too. I have spent time on Saltspring and Mayne and adored them both. I am smitten with BC and have a secret desire to become Canadian.
December 18th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
How fun to be reading all of your wonderful lists! Later I’ll do a post that links to all of them. . .
December 19th, 2006 at 7:32 am
Christine, I was secretly hoping for “R”!!
Thanks! My list is on my blog. Cathleen
December 19th, 2006 at 8:14 am
I can’t resist! Set me up, Christine!
December 19th, 2006 at 8:55 am
Trish, you get an N for all those wonderful nests showing up in your life! And for blessing you with a new nest in which to roost.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:03 am
It is an astonishingly beautiful place, I would have to be hard pressed to ever leave and you would be most welcome to join the Northern side:) Can I request a letter as well? Could I please?
December 19th, 2006 at 11:34 am
I have actually looked into the point system required for immigration, I have a couple of things in my favor including good knowledge of French and advanced degrees. Perhaps one day if I get offered a job!
So Krina, I think it only appropriate that you take a C for Canada.
December 19th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
I’m on it!