Thursday, January 26, 2012

10 Things I Can't Live Without

Well I had a fabulous opener for the first day of the 10 things I Can't Live Without world series BUT I was shamed by my fellow bloggers into writing my own list first. Fair enough. 

  10 Things I Can't Live Without:

1.  GG of course and the Lab.  From our first dinner date at home when GG flung a dish towel over her shoulder and served the soup and then insisted on washing the dishes, I have been spoiled, encouraged in all my endeavors, pushed when I couldn't go one more step in the right direction, argued with, laughed with and occasionally at, praised, scolded and loved for just being me.  The real me, the goofy me, grumpy me, bitchy me, funny me. And the Lab?  I didn't know from unconditional love till I met her.



2.  The printed word: novels, magazines, blogs, newspapers, cookbooks,mysteries, bios.  I always have a section of the newspaper folded up in my purse in case I am caught somewhere without anything to read.  I didn't grow up in a TV household, we read.  It was nothing for me to stagger home from the library with a stack of 10 or 12 books, it still isn't.  I would hide a book anywhere.  I even tried to keep one behind my sheet music while I was "practicing" the piano or on the windowsill when doing the dishes.  I still have a book open when I grind the coffee beans.

3. Baths, long, hot, scented baths where I read of course.  But only books, it's too messy to take a magazine or the newspaper into the bath with you.  Trust me on this one. I go into the bath a tired, cranky overworked florist and come out flushed, smiling and ready to enjoy life again.  Hot H2O, it's a miracle.

4. Ice.  Except for a hot cup of tea on a cold winter evening I am addicted to tall glasses full of ice.  My lattes? Iced.  Lemonade, sparkling water both served on the rocks.  Abroad?  I'm just one crazy American in search of ice.  The one complete sentence I learned to speak in Germany?  Haben sie Eiswürfel ? Do you have any ice cubes? Usually met with a resounding no.  They wanted to lock me up in Italy for ruining their delicious coffees with ice .  I don't even think they'll let me into England. 


5. Gardens.  My garden, your garden, any beautiful public garden.  I love the hope of the spring garden, the hot hell that is the garden in July and August and the overgrown beauty that comes in the fall.  I'm at peace when weeding and watering and just wandering from plant to plant admiring a blossom here, a berry there.
My ego is at rest when I am digging in the dirt.


 6..  Friends and Family.  You have loved me when I didn't love myself.  You make me laugh, cry, think, learn when to speak up and when to keep a secret. I've known some of you since high school and some of you I just met these last few years on line.  But my life is richer and fuller because of you all.

7. Food.  Cooking for others has always been a big expression of love for me.  When I'm been in relationships that are ending I lose my appetite for both cooking and eating.
But when all is going well, baby look out and better join a gym, 5 pounds are coming your way.


8. My abs and my triceps. It's amazing what an hour in the gym or at zumba or yoga will give me.  A high never found from drugs or alcohol, I just smile for hours after.  My mind is at rest, I sleep like an angel, I have an abundance of energy the next day.  Exercise, what have you got to lose from it except a couple of pounds?

9. Garden tomatoes.  And the smell of a tomato plant.  That is summer to me.



10. My little house on the prairie.  Though I just glanced up and saw a few new cracks in the kitchen ceiling and it seems I work solely to support my home owning habit I love having my own nest to feather.  I have been called a homebody and I wear that title proudly.  Don't we all need a sanctuary at the end of the day?

30 comments:

  1. I love your list, Jane. Every word. You rock!

    Sue
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely my dear. Not sure I'm up for this challenge but you've got me thinking...we'll see.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Genuine and moving-- similar to the one I would write (especially #2) though better written and funnier. Didn't mean to shame you. This can be the introduction, or preface; the next one can be the opener. It's your blog, you can do what you want. But thanks for doing this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You said what I would have said, but much better!

    And don't even get me started on ice in the UK. The ONE drive-through McD's in Cardiff frequently DID.NOT.HAVE.ICE! I had to get my mum to send me ice cube trays that had cubes larger than a pair of dice!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have ice here, in all the establishments and at home, but we also like to taste the drink we are drinking rather than a cup full of ice and a squirt of coke in the top like you get in the USA.....

    The other Miss P who now seems to spend half her life in Wisconsin and has to say NO ICE all day.

    This is tunring into a long comment, most unusual for me.

    I like your 10 things very much, but then of course i would. They are you.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely list! Thank you.

    But I'm afraid mine would now sound crass and shallow.

    Or, if I started by stating that some things were a given, like friends, family, home, cats and dogs, I fear I might only be left with tea and slippers.....

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think these are all wonderful things to "need."

    Ice is nice but I don't mind drinking a room temp beverage, even a beer. But I'm almost all English and little but German.

    ReplyDelete
  8. love this insight into your world. am already hooked on this new series...xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amen to your list! I've English ancestry but dearly love ice. I drink iced tea year round--no sugar or lemon, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. A fascinating list Jane.

    Ice? Yes if you come to the UK you will have to make do with tepid - and you will need an asbestos tongue to drink boiling hot tea like the natives. When I'm Stateside I carry my own British tea bags, nice and strong, and pick all the ice out of soda drinks! You say tomato and I say tomarto eh?

    Louise x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Honestly, that could be my list, too. Exactly.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Jane, you are the best. You have your priorities in order. We are lucky to have you. Thanks for sharing all of these facets of yourself with us. I wish you a nice day, ending with a good hot bath and a book.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you posted a perfect list. To fine unconditional love is a blessing, and you can never have too many many books in my humble opinion. I adore your advice regarding reading material in the bath. It made me think of the warning on my ereader....Do Not Read in Bathtub. Truly a perfect list.

    ReplyDelete
  14. wonderful list jane. great way to start this series. i love that can't live w/o your abs. too funny.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a wonderful list - but no surprises. it's so you. And, I hereby bequeath you my entire life's supply of ice! xo

    ReplyDelete
  16. Are you kidding? Of course, yes. Tell me when. I'll start thinking. Thanks. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. No wonder we hit it of so well from the very beginning! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a fabulous list and a great post Jane. Yup, you'd have to ship your own ice to UK if you visited there I am afraid. However, plenty here in Oz if you want to come on over!! XX

    ReplyDelete
  19. That must be the ultimate Lifestyle list, and hard to match - good luck to contributor number two.

    You invited Rachel, I hope? I'd love to read her crass and shallow list: they're my favourite sort.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this Jane! The ice doesn't surprise me though it does make me shiver. Show the ornery Enlishman at the airport your blog, he'll let you in....and likely invite you to the Queen's garden to boot!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love how your list is full of the really simple yet beautiful things. All we need for a happy life :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your list Jane...and I love the way you write! Whatever that is in that bowl, looks really good!
    xo
    annie

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jane I think you have got it right! It's the simple things. You made me laugh with the ice though. We have an American friend who is affronted at the lack of ice she is offered in her Coke here! Love Linda x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Aha, a reader often makes a good writer. And that you most certainly are. I enjoyed reading your list very much.
    Camille

    ReplyDelete
  25. Whatwhatwhat!? How did I miss this post? Vintage SbC!
    I am too comfortable without my abs, this must change! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  26. And here we have those petunias, again, that I admire.

    ReplyDelete