Favorite Things

It’s The Time For Giving

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Giving doesn’t have to mean spending money. The best gifts come from you or ARE you. The people who are happy to see you, who are happy to accept a gift from you, are the people who merely want to spend time with you.

The time this season to give yourself as a gift to someone special. Visit a friend or relative at their home, wherever they may live. Guinness the Therapy Dog and I like to visit people at the library, the hospital, and a transition home.

Wherever they are, that is home–at least, for them. Help them feel special and visit them where they are. Do they need a candle or a wreath? Bring them one. Every time they look at it, they will think of you and it will be another warm and happy memory.

Celebrate your ability to give. Sonja

#advent

Today is the first week of December, which means you should be three days into your advent calendar. If you light the advent candles, you should have lit one candle last Sunday.

My advent calendar this year holds 24 packets of tea. I love to drink tea and I’ve been tasting new flavors every morning. In the afternoon I’ve been combining Vanilla Comoro with cocoa bean hulls. It’s a tasty treat that smells so good! The cocoa bean hulls came from Peru and give off a wonderful aroma.

If you want the smell of chocolate with a slight hint of the yumminess, but not a cup of hot chocolate, then the cocoa bean hulls fill the need perfectly.

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Have a sweet day. Sonja

Today is a day to remember your favorite things. Since it’s the day after Thanksgiving, I like to remember watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show.

What’s interesting is today is Square Dance Day, which melds nicely with the parade memories! You can try all those moves you saw on T.V., or, if you’re lucky enough, live while in New York City!

Guinness likes the dog show, too. A Bernese Mountain Dog has yet to win Best In Show, but I think Guinness has a shot at the title–especially if they score big points for lovability!

We spent Monday evening at the library and Guinness listened to some good books–read by some good readers! Those kids really know their words and even acted out the dialogue. It was fun! Guinness likes to lie right alongside the kids as they read. He rolls onto his back and hopes for a belly rub. He always gets one.

The Fairies of Carlow: The Commoner ebook is still under special pricing until midnight tonight. Hurry to the amazon.com page and order your copy! You can also use the link in the left margin of this website.

Have a great day after Thanksgiving! Sonja

Audiobooks v. eBooks v. Paper books

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How do you like to read a book? I use all three of the above formats. When I drive around in my car, I’m usually listening to an audiobook. But I have to be careful about which book I choose. If I get bored, I tend to tune out the audio. If it’s a complex story, it’s best if I read it as an eBook or a hard copy. I tend to lose track of plots and characters if I listen to a complex book.

I keep my e-reader in my purse. That way, if I get caught in a long line during an errand, I can pull out my book and read until I get to the front of the line. It’s a much better use of my time than standing around and watching those around me getting frustrated by the wait, although that can be fun, too. I read hard copies at home unless I can get it as an e-book.

Before I bought an e-reader, I was a confirmed hard copy book lover. I like the weight of a book in my hands and the act of turning the page. However, I am a convert to the e-book! It’s light and handy to have hundreds of books on my tiny reader. I download books from the library, which is a nice feature!

Tell me how you read your books! Sonja

Young Readers Day

Today is a fun holiday that is close to my heart. I love my young readers and enjoy hearing from them. I write my chapter and picture books with them in mind.

What is your favorite book?

Have fun reading! Sonja

My Favorite Things

Above and below are some of my favorite things. I see a theme–nature. I love to be outside. Water is important. So are trees and flowers. A good hike is the best! And a good hike with Guinness the Therapy Dog is even better!

He loves to be outside–and he loves water. When he hikes, he wears a backpack. When he finds water, he lays down in it and doesn’t bother about taking off his backpack first.

What are some of your favorite things?

Have a great week! Sonja

#Friends

They say you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose. I’d like to add an addendum to that: you can’t pick your friend’s nose… unless you’re really good friends. HA!

Now that the holiday fun is over, it’s time to look over your memories. I hope you made many with your friends. They are very special because you choose them.

The hard part is when friends grow apart. When you’re in a friendship it’s difficult to believe that it could happen. But it does. It’s unfortunate and it feels terrible while it’s happening, but friends do go in and out of our lives.

The memories of your friends usually happen during happy times. Listening to music, playing online, hanging out. Those are the times to cherish. I have friends that have been a part of my heart for years–even decades. I know I can count on them for anything–at any time. Those are the best of friends. I know I have a good friend when I wouldn’t think twice about calling them at any time of the day or night.

I hope you have friends you can call or text at any time! Sonja

Vacation!

I was on vacation for the past few days and was able to spend time on the water. That’s a real treat when you live in the desert!

South Carolina and Georgia were welcoming. I’ve never been there, well, I’ve been to the airport in Atlanta, but seeing the landscape was amazing. I love the tall trees and all the lovely streets. Of course, I spent a lot of time in the sand next to the ocean.

I grew up next to a large lake, but the ocean comes in second. I’m happiest when I’m near the water. What am I doing in the desert then? It’s a winding path that got me here.

Have a wonderful week, Sonja

One of My Favorite Things

This photo shows some of my favorite things: tea, flowers, and really pretty porcelain or china. I’m always looking for a deal on all three of those things.

I’m especially happy to have found a teapot for the holidays—at a killer price. The only thing better than pretty porcelain is pretty porcelain on sale.

I’ve already written about my favorite tea vendor. I stand by that and am so happy to try new blends! Right now I’m trying out a black tea flavored with maple. It’s called New England Breakfast and smells divine! It’s nice to inhale a bit before taking a sip and really enjoy everything the tea has to offer.

I hope you take some time today to enjoy one or two of your favorite things.

Sonja

I Love the Outdoors! Do You?

I’m a big fan of being outside, no matter how comfy my home is. The heat of the sun, a gentle breeze, and the smell of warmed soil really makes me happy. It doesn’t matter if I am hiking, strolling, or gardening, it’s fun to be a part of nature.

I think it goes back to my childhood. I spent a lot of time outside laying on the ground and looking up at the sky, or skiing, swimming, waterskiing, etc. I grew up on the shore of a mountain lake and was able to take advantage of all it had to offer. In the Spring I could snow ski in the morning and waterski in the afternoon. How perfect is that?

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Go Outside, Sonja