My Favorite Things

My online and Etsy friend from rikrak studio challenged her blog readers to list their 10 favorite things here. 

So . . . here goes:

Family by Renee's Funky Country

1.  Family and Friends:  I love my family and friends.  We get together when we can for the good company and good food.  And the support.  And the teasing. 

Double Chocolate Fudgy Cake Truffles by lollidreams

2.  Chocolate!!!  I love chocolate almost as much as I love my family and friends.  It's yummy.  It makes me feel good.  It soothes me when I'm stressed.  It gives me energy. 

Baseball Scrabble Tile Pendant by threescoopsoflove

3.  Baseball:  My dad loved baseball so I watched and listened to baseball the whole time I was growing up.  I listened to Vin Scully broadcast the Dodgers games until the Tucson radio stations no longer carried those games.  I used to keep score while listening on the radio or watching on TV.  Now I love baseball because it's fun to watch and listen to while I'm doing grown up tasks.  It's comforting (except when the Diamondbacks go into a slump).  I watch it with my Significant Other and we watch it with my mother when we go to visit her.  When I'm ready for a break from my work, I can sit and watch for half an inning (or so). 

Valle Vidal in northern New Mexico

4.  Getting Outdoors:  We love to get out of the house and into the great outdoors.  Hiking, backpacking, camping.  We like it when life gets simpler.  No TV.  No computer.  No convenient phone.  You concentrate on the next meal and what will we do today?

The Charlie Pirtle Memorial Raffle Quilt that I made for the 2010 Becoming an Outdoors Woman in New Mexico workshop.  It's based on the Dusk 'Til Dawn quilt pattern designed by McKenna Ryan. 

5.  Sewing and Quilting:  I love to sew and to make quilts.  I get to play with colors (see below) and fabric and textures.  When I get to do that, I make things that are pretty.  Sometimes, those pretty things are even useful.  And it brings some family and friends together, too. 

Super Ricohflex camera by collectorsville

6.  Photography:  I've always enjoyed taking photographs, starting with the Brownie that my parents gave to me.  This camera above reminds me of the cameras that my parents used when I was little.  I have those cameras now.  I have a new Nikon now and I took a brief photography class, so I know a little bit more than I did before.  I'm enjoying trying to put those things into practice.  Oh, but the remembering them is so hard!

Vintage Collection of Steinbeck books by scoutHOME

7.  Reading:  I started reading with my dad when I was very young.  I love the entertainment and the learning.  What pleasure I get from books and stories!

Beef Roast for Company by $5 Dinners

8.  Food and Cooking:  I LOVE to eat!  I love to cook, too.  I also love to cook on a budget.  I have plenty of cookbooks, but I enjoy getting ideas from the Internet, too. 
 

My friend Kim's calla lillies

9.  Color:  It soothes and excites and warms and calms.  I love Arizona sunsets and sunrises.  I love flowers and other bits of color in the desert. 

Map Envelopes by DrakonsLair

10.  Travel:  We love going places.  I guess I come by it naturally, as my parents loved to travel and I started before I was two months old!!  I like to see new places.  I like to eat new foods.  I love to get a taste of local culture.  And . . . I love being away from home.  And . . . then coming home again. 

So, what do you think of my favorite things?  And now I want to know--what are your favorite things?  Think about them, enjoy them, and then share them.  I'd love to hear yours. 

I LOVE Baseball! It's Spring Training!

It's an annual thing here in southern Arizona.  Alas, this is probably the last year for spring training baseball in Tucson.  So sad for those of us who love baseball and love sitting in the ballpark in March.  But, for me, one afternoon last week was bliss.

An afternoon at Hi Corbett Field watching the Colorado Rockies play the Kansas City Royals.  Thanks to my friend and former co-worker Bill who provided the ticket for me to go. 

Is this the same Brian Anderson who used to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks?  I don't think so, but our group never reached a definite conclusion. 

And for the fans of Troy Tulowitzki: 

My friend Bill and I thought the duel between outstanding pitcher Zack Greinke (reigning American League Cy Young award winner) of the Royals and Tulowitzki of the Rockies would be fun the watch.  In Tulowitzki's first at bat, he hit the first pitch with a huge CRACK of the bat.  The ball rocketed into the outfield.  So much for that battle. 

In Tulowitzki's second at bat, there was indeed a battle.  Tulowitzki hit into a force out, but he hit it hard.  He is also very reliable at shortshop.  Rockies' fans will enjoy watching him play again this year. 

The Rockies' pitcher Jeff Francis was successful in the three innings he held the Royals scoreless. 

The day started out sunny and cool.  Then it got a bit warmer and I questioned my decision to wear my warm undershirt under my long sleeved polo shirt.  Then the clouds moved in later and blocked the sun.  While others around me talked about how chilly it was getting, I was feeling pretty smart and pulled my fleece jacket up around my shoulders. 

There I was.  Happy as a clam.  Sitting in the (mostly) sun at the baseball park watching baseball.  Sigh . . .