A Few of My Favorite Things

My dear friend and web hostess of http://www.selfindulgentlady.com/ has a fantastic suggestion on her site.

Sit down and spend a few minutes writing a list of things you like to do. Keep the list handy and take some time out of your day to do something you enjoy. Here is my list favorite things to do. Some are indulgences, others are the things that comfort me the most.

That wonderful first cup of coffee every morning

Sitting at the patio table, feet up, listening to the birds and slowly sipping that cup of coffee. Heaven!

Tending our gardens. This year I am enjoying the patio herb garden. The frozen tundra is an unforgiving place and growing anything from seed is very rewarding.

Cuddling up with my family and watching a movie. It does not have to be a new movie. Even though the children are teens, this is a family tradition. Family time is one of my greatest comforts.

Late night long soaks in a steamy bubble bath. Slathering great smelling lotion head to toe.

Girls night out, even if all we do is gather at one of our homes for snacks and drinks.

Fresh, ripe fruit and vegetables. There are times of the year when finding great produce is difficult. Summer brings a bounty of wonderful fresh produce.

Fly fishing. The charge I get while preparing to go. Feeling my body relax the moment I leave the city. Finding the perfect, private, peaceful place to toss the line out. Going all day without seeing another soul. The peaceful feeling of hearing nothing but the sounds of nature.

Spending time here: http://www.threemoose.com/ Each cabin is built in a very private setting. One of my favorite of their cabins is featured above - the cabin has a 'million dollar' view.

Climbing into bed with a great book and slipping between 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. On cold nights, snuggling under the down comforter.

Homemade lemon pound cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Very chilled Strawberry Zinfandel

Dining out

Hockey Games! Alaska Aces, 2006 ECHL Kelly Cup Champions! http://www.alaskaaces.com/

Early morning and late night talk radio. Especially enjoy listening to local radio hosts.

Spending an evening gazing through my telescope.

Geek TV. Love to watch programs on the Science Channel, Learning Channel, History Channel, etc.

Spending time with my five year old nephew. He makes me giggle and laugh. Love spending time with little people. Blowing bubbles, skipping rocks, drawing with sidewalk chalk, coloring... all the great things little children get such a charge out of. He's my little sweetheart.

The Alaska State Fair. http://www.alaskastatefair.org/ Making and entering baked goods and crafts. Our family has an extensive collection of ribbons for things we've made and entered over the years. Going to the fair is another family tradition.

Family camping trips to various destinations around the state. Several years ago we gave up trying to camp in a pop-up trailer and bought an adorable 24' travel trailer. It is a little 'home on wheels'. This summer the teenagers have been using it as their 'club house'. They've lugged a large TV, game systems, DVD/VCR combo, and other misc. things out there. I've made sure to load their fridge with with kid snacks and drinks. This 'home away from home' gives them and all their buddies the feeling of camping, even though they are only a few setps from our front door. I check in from time to time and every once in a while have a few pizzas delivered to their door. :)

Losing myself in a great book.

Spending an entire day on a wildlife viewing cruise: http://www.kenaifjords.com/733.cfm

Baking and cooking for the family. Trying a new recipe. Making the old tried and true foods my family loves.

The holidays. I love everything about Thanksgiving, Christmas and ringing in the New Year.

Always having one or more of my favorite candles burning on the fireplace mantle: http://www.foreverybody.com/en/index.php

Spending the day blueberry picking in our favorite secret spot. Picking raspberries from the enormous raspberry patch in our backyard. Making jams and jellies from the berries.

The smell of fresh salmon smoking. Every autumn my husband prepares his 'secret brine' and smokes pound after pound of our catch of red and silver salmon.

Crisp autumn mornings and seeing the first dusting of snow on the mountain peaks. (aka: Termination Dust)

A great loaf of still warm crusty, crunchy bakery french bread. Sharing a loaf with the kids on the way home from the store.

Listening to corny old 70's and 80's Disco music. It makes me get up and dance.

Thumbing through family photo albums and watching old family movies.

Dabbling with photography

Spending the day at the zoo, especially during feeding time when the animals are awake and active.

Watching a bald eagle snatch a fish from a river or stream.

Watching a gorgeous sunset - or sunrise. They are incredible sights here.

The unbelievable rich blue color of the sky on a clear winter day

A huge white moon shining over the mountains - for some reason it makes the mountains appear to be a soft shade of lavender.

Aurora Borealis - The Northern Lights




This list could go on forever... more soon.